Shane (my adaptation of "The Drunkard")

Plot
The plot of The Drunkard was pretty much focused on the drinking problem of the father. He starts drinking only small amount at one point and then it escalates into a big problem. I liked how the son played into the situation and I would definitely keep this part almost exactly the same in the film. Although instead of the film being about only this one incident, I would expand the rest of the story and have this scene be like a flashback and an important part in the main character's life. The movie will be about specific events of the character's life and how it shaped it into the man he is in the present day in the film. Each scene in the present time of the film will be accompanied with a corresponding flashback explaining the character's actions in the present. So with this specific incident, the view will get a view of the character's family and how he started drinking in the first place and turned into a troubled individual.

Point of View
In the story, the plot is expressed through the point of view of the main character. Since the film is about his life and how he makes it in the world after a rocky start, he will remain the narrator of the film at certain parts. With film, not everything has to be narrated; therefore, some of the events will be express through the dialogue between characters. As expressed in my blogs about "The Shawshank Redemption", I feel like some of the meaning of written work is losses with addition of new elements or changing other elements. I want the meaning of "The Drunkard" to remain the same in the scene with his father in the bar, but since a lot of things will be added to the film (because the story was only about this one incident), some will be changed. My goal would be to keep the scene as close to the story as possible.

Characterization
Shane- Matt Damond. Just about the whole time I was thinking about the plot of this story, I was thinking about "Good Will Hunting" and how Matt Damond would be perfect for this role. He plays the "over coming adversity" role well and would do great in this film as well.
The other characters I haven't really thought about specific actors. (but that's not really the point of this section) The characters will be characterized through the narration of Shane and through their actions. The father, for example, will be characterized by a man who has an internal problem with his life. He wants to be a man to provide for his family, but he just feels so much pressure from his home life, his job, and other sources that the only way for him to escape is for him to drink. Specific scenes like this will shed some light on what the characters are like.

Setting
First the setting will have to establish the point at which the character, Shane, finds himself. It will sort of be like the first scene in "The Shawshank Redemption" only Shane will not be in court for murder. He will be in a bar with his buddies or somewhere like that. The setting will change throughout the film because it will consist of numerous flashbacks and events that add to the plot of the story. The scene portrayed in "The Drunkard" will be almost exactly the same as described in the short story. I really like how the author introduces the father's drinking problem and uses the funeral as an excuse to get out of the house and drink. Once they get to the bar, I want to make it like a traditional Irish bar that is relatable to life in Ireland. I want this film to be as real as possible.

Theme
This is the only element what will significantly change. The theme in the short story is caring about other's opinions. The mother though it bad that her husband went out and drank at night and she had to go to work in his place since he was hungover the next morning. She cared about what the other people thought of her husband and his drinking problem. Then, when Shane gets drunk from drinking his father's pint, his father tries to get him home quickly before the people on his street find out what happened to his son. By the time they get home, his mother already knows what happened. Shane's father was ashamed for what happened to his son. In the movie, the theme will be about overcoming obstacles and winning in the end. Shane will have a rough life in his young adult years but will eventually realize that he can't always live the same way he's living. In the end, he will fight his adversity and come out on top.

The Shawshank Redemption (aka one of the best movies of all time)

Plot

Although the movie The Shawshank Redemption loyally follows Stephen King's short story, there are a few differences. First, and in my opinion, most importantly, the Indian Normaden, who shares a cell with Andy in the book is never mentioned in the movie. I think Normaden is probably one of the most important pieces to the puzzle because he basically tells readers what Andy is doing. He says "It had a terrible draft, that cell" which is explained by the hole Andy makes in the wall. Another important aspect is that in both the movie and short story, Norton embezzled thousands of dollars. In the short story, Norton resigns after Andy escapes, but commits suicide instead of being arrested after the escape and after Andy makes Norton's crimes known. In the short story, Andy's assets are sold while he is still on trial. With a friend, he sets up a fake identity and transfers all assets there. In the film, Andy sets up the fake identity by himself so he can create accounts to sneak money from the warden then empties the accounts after he escapes.

Other events that happened:

• In the book, there are posters of Kinda Ronstadt, Jayne Mansfield, and Hazel Court in his cell at all times.. In the movie, he only has posters of Rita Hayworth, Marylin Monroe, and Raquel Welch
• The incident of Brooks threatening Heyworth, another prisoner, to avoid parole only appears in the film
• In the novel, Tommy gets transferred to a different prison instead of being murdered in exchange for not talking.
• Story- Andy uses two rock hammers; Movie- only uses one
• Although really funny, the record playing incident never happened in the story
• Story- ends with Red on his way to Mexico to find Andy, not sure that he will, and ends with "I hope." Movie- Red finds Andy in Mexico

Point of View

Throughout the whole short story, there is a common narrator: Red. Like stated in my blog about the story, Red is just the narrator who relates Andy's story and his revenge to Shawshank. The same applies to the movie, except for one part: Brook's parole. All of the events are expressed through Red's thoughts and feelings, but since he was still in prison while Brooks was living on the outside, Brooks was the one to tell his own story. He gave an insight of how some men who become so "institutionalized" can't or don't know how to live in the real world. They become so used to living in prison with rules, schedules, and everything about prison life that some will do petty crimes, like stealing, just to break parole and get send back to the only life they really know. Brooks portrayed his feelings about parole in a letter he sent Andy explaining his life outside the Shawshank walls. In the end, he couldn't handle his new life and eventually hanged himself.

Although sad, I thought that part of the movie was really insightful by getting another character's point of view. It's really fitting that Brooks would be the narrator of that part. He represents those on the "outside" since he was the only character introduced who got paroled. Red, on the other hand, is the spokesman for those on the "inside." He gives us what life is like inside Shawshank while Brooks reintroduces to the readers about life outside the walls.

Characterization

Once again, the makers of the film followed very closely to the original version of the short story. Since Red is the narrator, he is the one who portrays the characters through direct and indirect characterization. For example, his thoughts tell viewers of his reactions and feelings about the Sisters, and about Andy in general. Red's thoughts play a major role in the characterization of the movie. But being a movie, characterization is not only just told, its also shown. It is shown by the action of the characters: what they say, what they do, how they react to certain situations. Take "Fat Ass," a character in the movie (not in the story) who is a new inmate with Andy. From the moment he stepped off the bus, his actions- scared face, shaking body, worried look, crying for his mommy- characterized him. He eventually dies on his first night from injuries given to him by Hadley. That scene not only characterizes Fat Ass, but also adds to the character of Hadley. Since film and written work are very different, there were different ways to characterize the figures in the story.

Setting

I feel like I am repeating myself by saying that the movie was very similar to the book, except in one regard. The setting of the book was mostly in Shawshank except for Red's parole at the end. In the film, these settings are the same minus the setting of Brooks' parole. This setting is the only addition that the film included.

Since the settings are almost identical, I thought it was really cool to have a visual of the place the prisoners called home. While reading this story, I had a mental image throughout the whole thing. Some images I though of were different from what was present in the movie, but that is inevitable. Others, however, were exactly how I pictured them. Instead of just having a mental image, I was able to see a real scene that I could relate to. It was really interesting to see the images that I had drawn in my head on a screen.

Theme

There was absolutely no difference between the theme of the short story and the theme of the film. They both shared a common theme of hope. Throughout the book, Andy keeps the hope alive that he will one day be free of that retched place. This hope is also kept alive throughout the movie as well. Andy's face shines with the determination of digging his hole (although the audience doesn't know he is digging it). The audience just thinks that he has and inner light (which he does), a sort of nonchalantness about him that no one can shake. Some of the inmates think that Andy thinks he is better than everyone else because he "strolls" around the yard and doesn't walk. He strolls.

The book ends with "I hope Andy was down there. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope" (pg 107). These words are repeated at the end of the movie. The film ends with a scene of Andy and Red on a beach somewhere in Mexico, which means his hope helped to lead him to a place that was just a dream. His hope stayed alive.

Just a thought...

Reading this story, I could not help but think of a movie I have seen called "The Count of Monte Cristo." After doing some research, I have recently discovered that the movie was made from an original novel. In this movie, and I would assume in the book as well, there is a man, Edmond Dontess, who is falsely committed of a crime and is sent to the Chateau D'if, a French Prison where he is to live for the rest of his days. After a few years in the prison, a man breaks through his floor. This man, Preacher, had been digging a tunnel for many years thinking he was going under the wall but really ended up in Edmond's cell. Long story short, Edmond agrees to dig the tunnel with Preacher only if he will teach him to read (and learns other academics as well). Preacher dies in a cave in and Edmond escapes by posing as Preacher who was covered and wrapped to be taken out of the prison. Edmond comes across good fortune, becomes the Count of Monte Cristo, and gets revenge on the people who wronged him.

Popular Mechanics

Although this story is really short, there was a lot of information and drama stuffed into it. On the other hand, the readers have to assume a lot of things. For example, we never know what the "issue" is and what is "decided" at the end. We also don't know or find out why the man is leaving. The author's style adds to the bluntness of the actions of the characters. The author doesn't use quotes and portrays the story like it is just an event.

You're Ugly, Too

Although some people really hated this story, I found it really clever and interesting. I really like Zoe and her personality although she was kind of crazy and thought she was dying. I feel like she blew things out of proportion, like the growth in her stomach, and overreacted at times. Comparing Zoe and her sister Evan shows how unique and different Zoe really is. Evan seems like the "normal" sister who went to college, got a job, met a guy, and is getting married. Zoe, on the other hand, is completely different. They both went to college, but Zoe had a higher degree. She lives in her own house and is paranoid. Each character is a foil to each other.

The Drunkard

Since this story is titled "The Drunkard," readers have a good idea of what it is about. At the beginning of the story, the narrator explains how his dad turned to drinking and would go out every night, get drunk, and not go to work in the morning. The mom would get really upset and the father's drinking caused problems at home. The central irony in this story is the fact that readers assume the drunkard is the dad when it really turns out to be the son. The father's drinking ultimately leads to the son becoming drunk which then leads to the end of the father's drinking. And in that sense, the irony is shown.

The Lottery

The claim that this story is presented from the objected point of view can definitely be supported. The narrator never becomes acquainted with the townspeople by saying "we" or "us." The story is told with no emotion at all and adds to the "dispassionate, matter-of-fact tone." It feels like the story is just stating the facts and tells you the information. By doing this, the story comes off as more cruel and just a fact of life. It also helps portray the acceptance of the lottery that most of the townspeople hold.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

Plot
The plot of this story was absolutely perfect to parallel with Andy's character. The way the plot was advanced was sort of in a way that the events were just stated and explained. Red narrated the story by talking about one element, then building off of that element to explain a different one. For example, Red mentioned escape attempts and jailbreaks (pg 80), then went into how Andy escaped from Shawshank. The plot also plays off the passing of time. The way Red told the story seemed to have no limits. He went on whatever tangent he wanted to but it always correlated with the plot. He seemed to have no care about time because in prison, no one really cares about time. Andy worked on the hole for twenty-seven years before he made his escape. The plot was created over Andy's twenty-seven plus years at Shawshank and it is reflected in how the plot is shaped.

Point of View
Because of the story starting out with Red stating a few facts about his life, I thought this story was going to be about his life in prison and his redemption. But as the story progresses, I realized that Red is the narrator who relates Andy's story and his revenge to Shawshank. By Red telling Andy's story, readers are able to get a different take on the story and the situation. If Andy was to tell his own story, I think the readers would have lost important elements that made the story so moving. For example, if Andy explained his events, I don't think he would have mentioned his coy, little smile he always had on his face (pg 84). Without this smile, readers would lose a part of Andy's character, his almost always cool attitude he kept with him and which no one could break.

Characterization
Since Red is the narrator, he does a lot of direct characterization about Andy and some of the other characters. For example, "despite the problems [Andy] was having, he was going on with his life" (pg 31). Red was the relater of information about the characters to the readers. As explained under Point of View, I think if Andy was the narrator, readers would lose important parts of his character. Also, if there was an omnipresent narrator, the characterization of the characters would not be as deep. Red is telling this story was a witness to the situation and as a friend as Andy's. He had first-person details and personal contact with Andy and what he was really like.

Setting
Eighty-five percent of this story takes place in the Shawshank Prison. The other fifteen percent is split between Andy's trial at the beginning of the story and Red's parole at the end. Since the setting is mostly at The Shank, readers become familiar with prison life and how it works. Readers are able to have a personal connection with Andy, Red, and other prisoners by understanding what they are going through, like trying to escape (pg 80) or spending Sunday's in the exercise yard (pg 28). The setting contributes to some of the characters' actions and the feeling of being "institutionalized" (pg 79). The prisoners become accustomed to being locked up and eventually feel scared to go on parole or live outside the walls of the prison.

Theme
Although there were a few themes, like perseverance and imprisonment, I am going to focus on one that seems the most important to me. It is the power of hope. Throughout the whole story, Red talks about "an inner light that Andy always seemed to possess" (pg 55). Andy always had a composed and nonchalant attitude about him. It was as though he always knew he was going to get out of the prison, either it be a re-trial or him breaking out. With this hope, he eventually was able to leave The Shank behind him and head for Mexico. Hope is a very important element in this story because Red eventually picks up on it at the end and build up enough courage to violate parole and head to Mexico, just like Andy. "I hope Andy was down there. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope" (pg 107).

Miss Brill

Once Upon a Time

I feel like this was a sarcastic story trying to get back at the people who said Gordimer should write a children's story. She thinks that she "'ought' not to write anything." Therefore, the author gives in to write a "children's" story. This piece is definitely not something that should be read to little children. Especially at the end of the story, the author describes in detail what happens to the little boy. I would not want my children to read a story like this.

A Worn Path

"Is the grandson really dead?" I can see why someone would ask this question after reading the story. Phoenix annually walks numerous miles to town to get medicine for her sick grandson. After meeting different people, like the hunter who helps her out of the ditch, she always explains her situation and why she walks that far. I think if her grandson was dead, she wouldn't be walking. Taking a look on the other side, she could be walking to cope with the death of her grandson. It could be a way to remember what she had to do with him.

Eveline

Frank was sort of a flat character. He was the one Eveline was supposed to leave with. When Eveline's father found out about Frank, he forbade her from seeing him calling him a "sailor chap" and also that he knows that kind of man. To me, Frank seems like a kind fellow who would have provided for Eveline and tried to make her happy. I don't think he would have succeeded to make her happy because she would always be thinking of home and the promise she made to her mother. If she would have left, I don't think she would ever be as happy if she left after fulfilling her promise.

Bartleby the Scrivener

Before I started to read this story, I had to look up what "scrivener" meant. According to dictionary.com, scrivener simply means "a person who writes out deeds, letters, etc; copyist." Therefore, I came to the conclusion that this short story would obviously be about Bartleby who is a scribe and his adventures. Although the story is in fact about Bartleby, another narrator describes the story. The narrator is actually a lawyer who is the boss of Bartleby. He tells this story because he finds Bartleby to be the most interesting scribe who has worked for him. This story was long and a little hard to understand and stay in focus. Overall thought, I found it enjoyable.

Hunters in the Snow

Of the three principal characters, I find Tub to be the most sympathetic. At the beginning of the story, he is waiting on the sidewalk for Frank and Kenny to come pick him up and they are an hour late. Then, when they finally arrive, Kenny pulls a prank on him and tries to run him over then laughs about it. "The driver was bent against the steering wheel, slapping his knees and drumming his feet of the floorboards" (187). Throughout the story, Tub keeps getting picked on because of his weight and how he cannot keep up with the other two guys or get through the fence. Although Frank is the most level-headed of the three, he still at times treats Tub just like Kenny does. Tub never did anything to either of them so when he shoots Kenny out of self-defense, I am not surprised at all for him finally standing up for himself. It has been long overdue.

Everyday Use

The mother's refusal to let Dee have the quilts indicates a permanent change of character. Before this took place, Mother always had a dream that Dee and her would get on a talk show and come to good terms. It wasn't like they were not on good terms before, they just never talked. Mother had never done something like this before because of the dream. She loved her daughter so much that she couldn't do anything to put her in her place before this. Mother does this now because she was tired of Dee picking on Maggie and didn't like that she was denying her true heritage. "You just don't understand," was Dee's reply to the mother and Maggie. Although Dee claims that Mother and Maggie don't understand their heritage, it is really Dee who doesn't know where she really came from.

CrAzY!!

It is sage to say that this story is way weirder than the poem "Edward". Emily reminds me of some crazy cat lady who never come out of her house, minus the cats. At the beginning of the story, she seemed normal; but towards the end is where she started to seem a little crazy. First, she shuts her doors and never comes outside. No one comes to see her except to confront her about a foul smell or to collect taxes, which she does not pay. Even her Negro seems a bit odd. He never says anything to anybody so Emily's life becomes a mystery. It remains like that until the day she dies and the towns people find out how crazy she really was by the dead man still in his bed.

A Rose for Emily

An alternate title for this story should be "Rat Poison." When Emily went to the store asking for poison, one could easily tell she was not going to kill rats. For some reason, she decided to kill a man who seemed to like her a lot. Her murder of Homer Barron was not really a surprise. The speaker hinted to the fact that the townspeople believed her "[to be] crazy" (285). Also, the speaker mentions Barron entering Emily's house but never leaving it. The only think that was surprising was that she kept the body still in the bed. One can safely assume that Emily was in fact crazy.

Interpreter of Maladies

In this short story, the author provides an insight to two different aspects of life and culture. Both Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi are unsatisfied with her family life. Mrs. Das is "tired of feeling so terrile all the time" (164). These dissatisfactions lead to the central conflict of both people wanting something different in life. Although Mrs. Das confides in Mr. Kapasi about her problems and how she hates her life, the conflict is not resolved at the end of the story. An event like a child being attacked by monkeys will not change or resolve the conflicts of the story. Mrs. Das will continue to be dissatisfied with her life. Only a major change in her husband or in her life will make her happy.

How I Met My Husband

Throughout the whole short story, the speaker describes an event that eventually leads up to how she met her husband. Up until the last section of the text, readers assume Edie's future husband is Chris Watters, the plane pilot. Watters is an ex-army pilot who claims to move from the war. Really, he is just trying to avoid his less-than-pretty fiancee, Alice Kelling. After messing around with Edie, he promises to write her, then leaves for the next town without Alice knowing. Edie waits everyday by the mailbox until she realizes "no letter was ever going to come" (146). Her waiting for a man who the readers assume will be her future husband actually leads to her meeting her real future husband, Carmichael, the mailman. Instead of promising a letter, Charmichael pursues Edie and asks her on a date.

Edward

The mother in this poem is the one who should be blamed for the bad things that happen. I feel like she influenced her son to kill his father. When he tells his mother he is leaving, the mother asks "and what will ye leave to your own mother dear?" I think she planned this whole thing out. She was going to influence Edward, her son, to kill his father, her husband, so she could gain all of his belongings. Edward was going to leave the country anyway and not leave anything to his wife or children. Therefore, his mother wanted it.

Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead

The speaker is writing this poem to cope with the fact that his father is going to die. The father feels like he is ready to die and assures his son that they will meet again in heaven. The speaker thinks otherwise. He thinks that once his father dies, that will be the last time he sees him. He is "convinced his [father's] ship's gone down." This poem serves as a way to express the speaker's emotions of loss. He doesn't want his father to die but knows that death is inevitable.

Do Not Go Gentle into The Good Night

By repeating the first and third lines of the poem, the speaker describes different types of people who are dying. Wise men, although they know that death is inevitable, "do not go gentle into that good night" because there is still a lot of things to learn and teach on earth. Good men fight against the night because they see how good their life is on earth and don't want to leave it. Therefore, they "rage against the dying of the light." Wild men play around and waste their lives. When they realize the end is near, they also "do not go gentle into that good night." Grave men who are about to die "rage against the dying of the light" because they don't want to give into death. All of these men serve as examples to the speaker's father. The speaker wants his father to not die and to fight against the "dying of light." The repetition of the lines serve to emphasize the different meanings and interpretations that a reader can grasp.

That time of year

In each of the three quatrains, there are three major images introduced. In the first, the speaker is referring to the end of fall "when yellow leaves" turn colors from green and fall to the ground. The beauty of fall eventually comes to an end, just like almost everything in life. The image in the second quatrain is one of twilight and then night. "After sunset fadeth in the west," night comes and ends the day. Once again, the speaker is emphasizing that almost everything in this world will end. The last quatrain was a little hard for me to figure out. I think the image is one of a funeral or someone dead. These lines, along with the others reinforce the ending of something. The couplet at the end of the poem, though, contradicts the rest of the lines. The speaker says that although almost everything ends, these things will only make the love between him and his lover stronger.

A New Look

Instead of reflecting on one poem specifically, I think I am going to do a reflection over the poetry unit as a whole up to this point. I feel like this unit is very insightful and helps me to think more than I did before. The poems provide great practice for literary analysis, for example trying to understand the significance of "The Oxen" by Thomas Hardy. I am opening my eyes to new techniques to fully come to understand the meanings of works.

I think the group discussions are great. Today, for example, I felt completely lost about "The Apparition" by John Donne. I understood that the speaker of the poem felt depressed about the woman who wasn't returning his feelings, but with all of the "thy's" and "thou thinkst," it was hard to understand. In my small group, we discussed the poem and received other's thoughts. After that, I had a better understanding. The large group discussions also benefit me in the same way and I am very glad we have them.

Getting Out

I found this poem interesting and a little sad. The speaker in the poem is nostalgic about her situation and finds it sad herself. The speaker and the person she is addressing are deciding to separate. This separation was an agreement, but both parties feel sad about carrying it out. Coming to another point, I did not understand where the author got the title for this poem. It is titled "Getting Out," but neither of the characters want to get out of the relationship. They both feel regretful about separating. Even the lawyer in the poem was bewildered "when [they] cried, [on] the last day" (21). Maybe "getting out" could mean getting back out into the world to meet someone new and forget about the person the speaker was with before.

Crossing the Bar

First, sunset and evening star are metaphors for death. The sun is setting meaning your life is ending on earth and the moon takes the place of the sun. The person is in a different place with the moon instead of the sun. "Twilight and evening bell,/ And after that the dark!" (9-10). These are also metaphors for the last moments of one's life. The sky becomes darker with the twilight and the evening bell signifies the end of the day. After these things, the dark, meaning death. In line 15, the speaker refers to the "Pilot." The speaker "hope[s] to see [his] Pilot face to face." This is an allusion to God. The speaker wants to finally be in heaven to see the face of his creator and actually meet him.

My mistress' eyes

The tone of this poem is mocking towards the other love poems that compare lovers to nature (coral, snow, sun). These authors exaggerate with comparisons to flatter their women. The speaker is more honest in saying that his mistress is nothing like those things and will not waste his time with false comparisons. He believes that his love is more pure than any natural object and doesn't need to compare her to nature. The speaker wants to say that appearances don't matter because he loves his mistress the way she is. How she looks holds no meaning compared to her personality. She is just as beautiful to the women who are lied to.

Batter My heart, three-person God

I can also make a connection between this poem and Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll." The speaker in this poem feels like he is drifting away from God and can't find the way back. He wants God to "imprison [him], for [he], except [God] enthralls [him], never shall be free" (12-13). The speaker says that he has to hit rock-bottom and be completely vulnerable for God to fully enter him and bring him back to mercy. If the character in "Barbie Doll" hits rock-bottom with what people want her to do, maybe she will realize what she is becoming. Sometimes it takes a detrimental situation to bring reality to light. By being completely empty, in both cases, the character will most likely be able to find salvation and be the people they want to be.

Barbie Doll

What a sad poem. After reading this and Emily Dickinson's poem "Madness is divinest Sense," I feel like I can make a connection between the two. In "Barbie Doll," the character starts out as a girl who loves herself for what she is. She loves life and is a happy person. Then in high school, she is criticized for what she looks like, "a fat nose on thick legs" (11). The character takes this to heart and does what everyone tells her and thinks she should do. She completely changes herself and ultimately dies inside. This "sense is madness" (Madness is divinest Sense). Instead of standing up for herself and being her own person, she came to sense and conformed. Both poems teach us a lesson about being happy for what and who God made you.

Much Madness is divinest Sense

This whole piece is a paradox. Dickinson, in a twisted way of telling it, tell readers he views of conformity and madness. "Much Madness is divinest Sense-To a discerning Eye-Much Sense-the starkest Madness-" In these lines, she says that madness is sense, and sense is madness. Sense is madness goes along with the verb "assent" which means to agree or go along with. This also goes along with conforming to what society wants you to do. Having sense, in Dickinson's mind, is being a follower who can't make decisions and goes along with what everyone else is doing. Madness is sense goes along with the verb "demur" (7) which means to disagree with. It also goes with nonconformity. Dickinson is telling people to step out and be themselves, even if other people think you are mad. Become your own person and don't care what other people think about you.

next to of course god america i

I found this poem to be very interesting and creative. The lack of punctuation aided the author in achieving the central purpose. The author wanted to criticize politicians and patriots and express his view of military actions. The punctuation (or lack of) increased the speed of the poem and made it like a stream of thoughts. Readers could not really tell where one sentence ended and where another began. Also, pieces of patriotic themes, like the Star Spangled Banner, were used to add to the point the author was trying to make. Ultimately, the author ends with "He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water" (14). I feel like this line enforces the passion of the author and how he disregards politicians and some of their views. He wanted to make a statement and I think like this poem was a clever way to do it.

Toads

I found this poem to be very entertaining and creative. The first time I read it, I automatically thought about the toads that live around my house and how they behave. Usually they just sit there without movement when you walk by, occasionally taking a small hop if you come too close. The toads in the poem are different than the toads at my house. In the poem, the toad represents the normal business life. One can't step out of line or make a huge mistake without facing the chance of getting fired. If one wants to be successful in life, he or she has to succumb to their inner toad and squat until they reach their goals.

I taste a liquor never brewed

Once again, we have another Emily Dickenson poem. Although some people find her poems to be very creepy and nonsensical, I find them rather interesting and creative. Instead of just flat out saying what she means, she finds clever ways to express her ideas without actually telling the readers. Dickenson uses a variety of literary devices to reach her true meaning, but also leaves room for readers' different interpretations. For example, the first line (and title): "I taste a liquor never brewed." After reading the rest of the poem, a reader can see that she is not talking about an actual liquor. I found that she is expressing her emotions about nature. Dickenson gets "drunk" off the beauty of nature. She uses different types of alcohol and also words like "foxhole", "butterflies" and "sun" to compare the two. I think she is a very skillful in how she portrays her ideas.

February

The central theme of this poem is to call people to "make it be spring" and go do something instead of laying in bed all day or being unproductive. Essentially, the author is comparing cat behavior with human behavior. Cats like to lie around all day, relaxing, not giving a care about anything. They usually don't run and take their time to get from one place to another. More or less, they can be very lazy. In the poem, the speaker acts very much like a cat, staying in bed, eating, and watching hockey all day. Even though it is winter and it may be very cold, one should get out of bed and do something. They need to "get rid of death, celebrate increase, [and] make it be spring."

Dream Deferred

The central theme of the poem is having a dream that one puts off, but keeps bugging them. The goal is unreached and put aside. If the dreamer does not go after this dream, it will sit there and fester like a sore (4). They could eventually get mad and have the situation get out of hand. Instead of doing the work to reach the goal, the person kept it on the back of their mind and did nothing. The whole theme and lesson that Hughes was trying to convey was to go after one's dream and don't let it fester. He was encouraging people to go out and fight for what they wanted, especially since the time period he wrote this in was during the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes wanted people to act.

"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning"

Although this poem does not include many examples of figurative language, one example sticks out to clarify the meaning of the poem. The last stanza of the poem is a metaphor that explains where the speaker is actually going. He is not dying, just going on a long journey where he will be away from his lover for a substantial amount of time. In the last stanza, it states "like th' other foot, obliquely run; thy firmness make my circle just and makes me end, where I began." These lines are a metaphor comparing his love and lover to a compass. He is the foot that is going to go in many different during his journey. She is the firmness that hold him in place and steers him in the right direction, eventually leading him back to her, back where he began.

"London"

"London" has a very dark and cynical tone. The author mentions cries of various people and "marks of woe" (4). It seems like this poem describes a time after a period of darkness (but not necessarily the Dark Ages). "And the hapless Soldier's sigh runs in blood down Palace walls" (11-12). These lines stuck out to me like some time after a battle. It seems fitting because the inhabitants seem to be in despair. The part about the chimney sweeper and the blackening church means that there can be an actual black cloud over the city, or a black cloud of despair over the city. Either way, London is not in good shape.

"The Widow's Lament in Springtime"

After reading this poem, I found it sort of sad. The woman was obviously sad about the death of her husband and could not enjoy the beauty of springtime. The beautiful white flowers reminded her of the times she used to have with her husband (19). When her son told her about the meadow at the edge of the dark trees, she thought about going there, but didn't. She wanted to "fall into those flowers and sink into the marsh near them" (26-27). I took that as wanting to die to be with her love. After thirty-five years of being with the same person, I can understand how she would feel that way. Her son was trying to help her cope with her loss, but his plan did just the opposite. After spring, I think she will be able to deal with her husband's death and move on with her life.

"I fealt a Funeral, in my Brain"

Although poems can be interpreted in numerous ways, I decided that this poem was not about an actual funeral, but an internal conflict. The central purpose was to get over all the conflicts in this person's life and let go. In line 3, the author writes "kept treading-treading..." This line reminds me of a short speech in the movie "The Replacements." In this football movie, the coach asks the players what they are afraid of. At first, they throw out things like spiders and bugs, but that was not what the coach was really talking about. The quarterback says "Quicksand" and the rest of the players take it literally and agree, but there was a deeper meaning behind it. He compared quicksand to a situation in a game where everything seems to be going great until one wrong mistake. Then another happens, and another. You keep fighting back but the more you fight, the farther you sink until you are completely stuck. "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" seems to be parallel to that story, except in a mental way. The person keeps thinking about their problems until "I thought my Mind was going numb" (6-7). Finally, you just have to stop fighting ("and then a Plank of Reason, broke") and you eventually get out.

"Those Winter Sundays"

After reading this poem, a reader can easily tell the tone of the piece. Through words like "cracked hands" (3) and "blueblack cold" (2), the tone is one of harshness and working. The narrator of this poem grew up in a household of "chronic angers" (9). The father obviously worked hard, but no one thanked him. It seems like the father cared for his children but maybe had some sort of problem with dealing with them since they were slow to rise in the mornings. He kept his relationships distant. The narrator seems to be putting pain, anger, and maybe being regretful in this poem as well. Pain (maybe mental pain) for dealing with everything his father put him through. Anger towards his father. Being regretful for not caring about anything nice the father did, like shine his shoes or make the house warm in the morning. The poem ends with the rhetorical question "What did I know...?" At the time, the narrator did not realize what the father was actually doing for him.

"Spring"

In the poem "Spring", there are a few different sound repetitions. The first two examples can be found in the second line: "When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush..." Both of these examples of alliteration adds to the imagery of actual spring time and new, abundant life. Another, in line four, states "rinse and wring." In line 8, "fair their fling", line 10 "being in the beginning", line 12 "sour with sinning" and in line 14, "worth the winning." Each of these sound repetitions end the lines of the poem.

Not only do the first letters of the words sound alike, but the words in general also sound similar. The author ends each line with a word that rhymes with another word above it. This added rhyming makes the poem softer and tells the readers of the joy of spring. It also helps the poem flow.

Perrine Poetry

In my opinion, I don't believe that there are right and wrong ways to interpret a poem. I agree with Perrine's statement that "there are only readings which differ more or less widely from a statistical norm." Who is to judge if an interpretation is right or wrong? A reader has that freedom to describe a poem any way he or she believes is correct. The only criteria the interpretation must fall into is that it "must be able to account satisfactorily for any detail of the poem" and the interpretation must rely "on the fewest assumptions nor grounded in the poem itself." The account cannot be too far-fetched and ridiculous. It must account for as many known facts without being contradicted by a fact. Although this may seem restricting, I think it is an excellent way to stay on track when trying to interpret the meaning of a poem.

This article gave me a new insight on how to analyze poems. I need to look deeper into the meaning and not go for the obvious answer. For example, I took the Melville poem to be about an army march through the darkness when it is actually about the stars and the night sky. When Perrine first mentioned this, I was shocked and could not believe how far-fetched he sounded. But when he started to explain the poem and provided examples of the words used ("bright", "beaming", etc.) I began to understand. If I never read this article, I would have never guessed that poem was about the stars. Now, I understand that I must look at the symbols and all the different meanings of words to interpret the real meaning of a poem. It may take a long time, but I believe that will be able to analyze the real meanings of poems.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thought this book was really great. I would probably read it again if I ever feel in the mood for a war book. I would also recommend this novel to anyone who has an interest in the lives of soldiers. My mom, for example, was in the Navy. I told her about it and she asked me if she could read it when I am done. I am excited to see what she thinks of it.

I found it very interesting reading about the attitudes of the soldiers and their actions. I did not agree with how they treated the dead, like how they shook the hand of the old man by the pigpen (214). But that was just their way of dealing with death. If they treated dead people like they were still there, death was something that they didn't have to fear or be worried about.

I now look at wars and fighting in a whole new manner. I have a new, deeper respect for people who risk their lives for the well being of this country, especially the ones who don't even want to be there in the first place. I am glad I read this book. It was a great experience.

Linda

Although the part about Linda is very sad, I loved how the author incorporated the death of his childhood sweetheart into the book. It was fit in perfectly and related to the purpose of the book. To me, the novel was about loss, courage, and experience. Linda had it all. Tim needed to show courage in fourth grade to tell Nick Veenhof to stop messing with Linda's cap, but he didn't. He never stood up for her. Then at the beginning of fifth grade, Linda died of a brain tumor. We don't know for sure, but this probably was his first real loss. In Vietnam, he loses people close to him and able to cope with it. He had the experience of loosing someone close to him, someone who he truly loved (216). O'Brien also had the experience of creating stories to keep Linda with him. I think this is what he is doing to his fellow soldiers in Vietnam with this book and the others he had written.

Mood

The mood throughout the book was one that was kind of... I don't know how to describe it but the book made me feel like the war was never going to end and people would keep killing and keep getting killed forever. The author really made me feel like I was in the jungle with him and his troops experiencing and seeing the same things he did. The part where O'Brien described the man he killed really stuck out to me. It is like I can picture the man walking out of the fog and feel the adrenaline through my veins when he through the grenade (122).

The mood was one of sadness, too. I was sad to read about all the men who died, especially the ones in O'Brien's patroon. I felt like one of the group and was able to feel the loss of one of the men. Curt Lemon, Ted Lavender, and especially Kiowa. The mood was perfect for the book and does a great job of moving the audience.

Really?

I understand that O'Brien feels anger towards Jorgenson. I would too if I got shot in the butt and was lying there dying because the medic couldn't muster up the courage to come and help me out. Anger, bitterness yes. But revenge, probably not. Then again, I was never in that situation, I was never shot, and I was never lying on my back for a few weeks with bacteria eating away my flesh.

Although I think O'Brien's plan for revenge was awesome and very well thought out, I still think it was wrong. He could have done something else or handled the situation differently. He was pretty lucky that Jorgenson only shot at the sandbag (206) and didn't call in reinforcements. Azar and O'Brien would have been in deep trouble if that would have been the case.

Down the Road

I've had family members in the military who have fought in combat. I don't know if they have ever killed anyone or if the memories of the war still haunt them. They don't seem to be bothered by that but then again, I've never asked them. I know my grandpa is proud that he served his country and is apart of the American Legion.

I find the fact that O'Brien wants to tell about his experiences to millions of people to be very interesting. He wanted to share his thoughts and personal feelings to people who he didn't even know. I am very appreciative for that because other readers and I have a new insight to what war is really like. Yes, we have movies too, but Hollywood can only take you so far. This book is a first-hand account of what really happened. A true war story.

Characterization

The characters in the novel are really interesting. Most of them are flat and static characters, but on some occasions, like Rat Kiley, some are dynamic characters. Mostly, the author describes the characters by indirect characterization. For example, O'Brien does not come out and directly tell the audience that Azar is someone who is sneaky and loves the war. Azar says the words himself, "The Vietnam experience. I mean, wow, I love this shit" (202). The readers are able to form their own opinions about characters by what they truly are.

The most complicated character in this novel is, obviously, Tim O'Brien. Since this book is about his experiences in the war, it is critical that he has more dimensions to his personality. In my opinion, the book would be very boring if was not a round character.

Ambiguity

When I first read the title of the chapter called Night Life, I thought about actual night life, like parties and what they do for fun in the night. But as I read on, I got the real meaning of night life. Before this chapter, I kept wondering what happened to Rat Kiley and why O'Brien didn't tell us about his story. Then, I realized why. The author did a really good job of explaining the "night life" and why Kiley was taken to Japan. Because the troops had to travel during the night and sleep during the day, their whole schedules were thrown off. In addition to that, there was a blackness in the night, almost like death. Nobody could see. They were "a bunch of dumb Cub Scouts chasing the phantoms" (210).

Ghosts

Tim O'Brien is not the same person he was at the start of the war, and even the person he was in the bush actually fighting the battles. Now he loads up helicopters and does work like a civilian on a base. He says the field took everything he was. There was a coldness inside of him. "I wasn't myself. I was hollow and dangerous" (197). Although in this book ghosts refers to the VC, it is almost like O'Brien turned into a ghost of a man. He doesn't feel part of his patroon anymore now that he is working at the base. It's like he's still numb from the morphine when he got shot in the butt. O'Brien seems like he is stuck in a cloud of negativity, wanting revenge on Jorgenson and feeling bitter that he's not in the bush.

Pun.

Field Trip. To me, field trip (in this context) has two meanings. First, it is a field trip like the ones school kids take to museums and apple orchards. In the book, O'Brien and his daughter took a sort of field trip to Vietnam. The field trip was the whole trip in general. He wanted to return to show his daughter his experiences in the war and wanted to "[offer] her a small piece of her father's history" (174). The second meaning is in a more literal sense. Literally field trip; a trip to a specific place, specific field. This field trip was to the place that "had swallowed so much" (176). O'Brien wanted to return to that little field where his friend had died and where he was changed forever.

Symbols

Up to where I am at in the book right now (pg 172), I have picked up on a few symbols that O'Brien uses, but two have really stuck out to me. Both occur in the chapter titled In the Field. To me, they are very similar and can be grouped together to mean the same thing. They are the monsoons and the rain. On page 155, the author states that "the monsoons seemed to be a lasting element of the war." The soldiers feel like the weather will never stop. They think that the monsoons will last forever. They are tired of the weather and just want to get out of it. Now substitute the word "war" for weather and monsoon. The soldiers feel like the war will never stop. They think that the war will last forever. They are tired of the war and just want to get out of it. Along with the monsoons is the rain. "The rain was the war and you had to fight it" (156). The soldiers were not only fighting the enemy, but also the rain, a two-front war. They are just tired of it all and seem like they want to go home.

Speaking of Courage

Norman Bowker wasn't necessarily a torchered soul, but he did have some issues readjusting to the normal way of life after the war. The story portrayed Norman as someone who had a lot of time on his hands and didn't know what to do with it all. So, he just drove around the lake for four hours a day and try to tell the time from just the light off the lake (pg 144). Nothing he did seemed satisfying and eventually, Norman ended up killing himself.

I understand culture shock; I've been through it. After seven weeks in Spain, coming back to the United States and normal life was not easy. I can only imagine what Norman and other soldiers had to go though after a long war. I wish that Norman would have picked something else than just killing himself. I just wish he would have done something different.

Conflicts

I've never been to war and I don't know what it is like to kill someone, but after O'Brien's reflection about the man he killed, I have a pretty good idea of what it is like. He used such detail and his diction that I was able to imagine the scene in my mind. I can see the fog in the daybreak with the man slowly emerging (pg 126). The details make me feel like I was almost there with Tim and watching him throw the grenade. Then afterward with him still looking down at the man he killed laying "with one leg bent beneath him, his jaw in his throat, one eye shut, the other was a star-shaped hole" (pg 124).

It is obvious that this scene still haunts him. He can't seem to forget what happened and why it happened. It is almost like it was yesterday that he was in the jungle with Kiowa on ambush. O'Brien can still remember all the detail from that day and still see the face of the man he killed.

Explication

Although I am about half way thought the novel, I am still trying to understand the meaning and point behind it. Regardless, it is still a great book and I enjoy it, but I just don't get why. Why write this? Why share gruesome experiences and bring up the pain again?

This is a true story: After writing the paragraph above, I left the computer to get something to eat because 1. I was hungry and 2. I didn't know what to write next. When I get back to the computer to start typing again, I dropped my book and it opened up to page 78. There I looked and saw a sentence that I underlined. "Often in a true war story there is not even a point." So there is my answer. There might not always be a point to a story, but that doesn't make the story not worth telling. Maybe the author just felt like writing a book and thought his experiences in the war would be perfect. Who are we to judge what a person wants to write about? Maybe he felt like telling someone other than his friends and family. Maybe something else. I don't know. But what I do know is that there might not be a point to the story, but there is always a point to the book.

Tie-Ins

The chapter Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong reminds me a bit of the movie Avatar. At first Jake Sully arrives at the base, unwanted and trying to fill his dead brother's shoes. Once his tour is done, he will rotate back home and forget about Pandora. Mary Anne is only in Vietnam for Fossie. Once the war is over, they will return home to lead the life they always wanted. Then Jake discovers a world that is completely different from the one he is used to. He loves his Avatar body and how he has his legs back (he was paralyzed on Earth and can't walk in his normal body). He falls in love with the forest and the native people who of one he is trying to become. Mary Anne loves the forest and the different way of life. It is like she never wants to return to normal life. Jake Sully is the same way. In the end of the movie, he completely abandons his human body and his original race to join the natives of Pandora. He has a whole new way of like now just like Mary Anne, ready for the kill (pg 110).

Tone

Although the tone is a major part of every story, I want to focus specifically on the tone of the chapter titled Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong. While reading this chapter, I was intriguing and very interested. I found the transformation of Mary Anne from a girl right out of high school to a woman of the forest fascinating. She was defiantly a dynamic character because when she first arrived at the base, she was a girl of innocence and sweet; but after a few weeks at the camp, she started to change dramatically. Mary Anne had almost no fear of anything. She wanted to learn about the war and how to survive in Vietnam. She learned to load, shoot, and clean a gun and was almost like one of the army guys. Mary Anne was not an innocent school girl anymore.

To portray this transformation, the tone of the chapter had to be happy and bubbly (like her personality pg 91) at the beginning when Mary Anne first arrived but with a slight dark feeling, a feeling like something is going to go wrong. Towards the middle, the tone shifts to one that signals independence and change. Mary Anne was becoming more self-reliant and less like the girl who first arrived at the base. Then finally, the tone shifts again to something more ominous and dark. Mary Anne leaves for a long time with the Greenies, and when she comes back, she is a completely different person. She became one with the land and the jungle. Her feelings changed from love of Fossie to love of the environment. I think I can say that Mary Anne went wild.

How to Tell a True War Story

1. A true war story is never moral. If a story seems moral, do not believe it. (pg 65)
2. You can tell a true war story if it embarrasses you. (pg 66)
3. In any war story, but especially a true one, it's difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. (pg 67)
4. In many cases a true war story cannot be believed. (pg 68)
5. You can tell a true war story by the way it never seems to end. (pg 72)
6. In a true war story, if there's a moral at all, it's like the thread that makes the cloth. (pg 74)
7. Often in a true war story there is not even a point. (pg 78)
8. You can tell a true war story by the questions you ask. (pg 79)
9. You can tell a true war story if you just keep on telling it. (pg 81)
10. And in the end, a true war story is never about the war. (pg81)

While I was reading this chapter, I came across a few new literary terms. On page 66 after Rule 2, I found (what I think to be) an epanalepsis: "If you don't care for obscenity, you don't care for the truth; if you don't care for the truth, watch how you vote." I found this epanalepsis a bit humorous and very true. I understand that sometimes obscenity is necessary to tell the truth, and if you don't want to know the truth, then how can your actions (especially voting) be creditable?

I also found that Rule 4 is an antithesis. The subject of the sentence is "a true war story," obviously something that is valid. But the verb of the sentence is "cannot be believed." How can something like a true war story not be believed?

Another literary device is Rule 6 which is a simile. "A moral is like a thread that makes a cloth." It is necessary because with out it, there would be no cloth, no point to the story.

Enemies and Friends

Some people were really messed up from the war. Some couldn't trust anyone, others weren't able to relax, and a few thought enemies were everywhere. This happened to Jensen, a man in O'Brien's group. He got into a fight with Strunk, another guy from the group, and broke his nose. When Strunk returned from the hospital, Jensen was paranoied that Strunk was going to shoot him. At one point he completely cracked (pg 60). After a while, the men became friends, and eventually Strunk was killed in battle. I'm not surprised that some men were like this. War did things to soliders. Even after the war, some people still have issues.

Internal Conflict

The internal conflict that Tim O'Brien goes through in this chapter is intense. He has no idea what to do now that he has been drafted. He has two options: stay and fight, or leave for Canada. O'Brien kept running both option through his mind: "Run, I'd think. Then I'd think, Impossible. Then a second later I'd think, Run" (pg 42).

While I was reading this chapter, I felt surprised about how much this situation was actually bothering Tim. I didn't really understand how much conflict he felt until he was standing in Elroy Berdahl's boat crying about the fact that he was in a moral freeze. Then he asks the rhetorical question "What would you do?" (pg 54). My response is that I honestly don't know. I understand the difficulty of turning your back on all your family and everything you are, but in that moment, with all those emotions of hatred and distress, I don't know what I would do.

Overall, I feel like he made the right decision. One should not run away from fear, but find the courage to face it.

Anecdotes

I grouped chapters 2 and 3 together for this post because they are very similarly structured. Both mention specific reflections on the war that O'Brien remembers and decides to share. For example, his meeting with Jimmy Cross many years after the war. They share a good conversation about memories from the war. Then in chapter 3, the author shares anecdotes and other experiences. Ted Lavender's puppy, for example, was a short story that was told to explain the fact that although these men were supposed to be tough and hard, they were still only 19- and 20-year-olds; still just kids. These anecdotes shed new light on the lives of the men and their experiences in the war.

The Things They Carried (Chapter 1)

Although I am only finished with chapter 1, I think I am able to say that I already like this book (at least better than The Sun Also Rises). The first chapter was sort of an introduction to the lives of the men and what exactly they carried. The author is very clever with the verb "carry" because he uses the word in more than just one way. It is used not only to describe the physical things the soldiers carried in different situations, but also the mental and psychological thoughts and burdens.

First, Tim O'Brien mentions the personal items the soldiers had with them, like chewing gum and letters from girlfriends. The anaphora used with explaining this adds to the weight of the things that are carried. O'Brien then goes on to explain the military weapons and how much each weighs. Along with this, the items used for missions are also included in the next section. After , the author shares the things the soldiers carried because of superstition, like a good-luck pebble or a rabbit's foot. Next are the things they shared; for example, the weight of memory, the weight of a comrade's body, or the extra gear that someone else couldn't carry. Finally, the author explains how the soldiers carried themselves: how they acted, how they lived. This adds a new depth to the novel, something other than just the physical things they carried, but the emotional things as well.

Pics!

Over the summer, I went on an excursion to Spain for 7 weeks for an IU Honors Program. While I was there, I was able to see and experience an actual bull fight like the characters in this novel. Also, one of the places my group and I stopped at one day was a little hotel/cafe/bar that reminded me of the place the characters stayed at while they were in Spain. I thought it would be cool to post the pictures I took while I was experiencing some of the same things Brett, Robert, Jake, and the other characters experienced.

Final Thoughts

I really don't know what to think of this book. It was interesting at times, but also very boring. I did not like the part where Hemmingway vividly described how the bullfighters killed the bulls with "the sword high between the shoulders" (pg 224). I also didn't like the ending. What happened with Brett and Jake? We don't ever know if they get together or if she goes back to Mike.

I honestly don't get how Jake and Lady Brett are two of Hemmingway's most unforgettable characters. I think after this semester, I will most likely forget most of the things about them. All Jake was was a depressed, at times layed back guy who liked to get drunk to solve his problems. All Brett was was a bold woman who did what and whoever she wanted. She had no feeling for the people who loved her most.

The other characters were interesting. Robert Cohn was a crybaby who shouldn't have been so week. I say, he was a boxing champion! I feel sympathy for Mike. He loved Brett and wanted to be with her, but she lost interest in him and ran off with some nineteen-year-old bullfighter. Bill was amusing. I thought he was more of the logical character and was cool with just about everything.

Over all, this book was okay. It was interesting at times (like in Paris) and then it started to become slow. Would I read this book again? Probably not. I'm not saying it wasn't good, just something I wouldn't consider reading for pleasure.

Books 1, 2, and 3

I thought splitting the book up into three parts was really clever. Each book's setting was in a different place which made following the book easier. Discussion about the book as a whole will also be more simple because one can just talk about the bullfights and you will know that they are only talking about Book 2.

Book 1 was set in Paris. It was all about Jake's activities with his friends in the wild nightlife of the city. This book was different from the other two books because it was set in a different country; therefore, the culture is different.

Book 2 was all about the bullfights and the fiesta. This was my least favorite section because it felt like the characters were in a different time period then they were in Paris. It seemed less in touch with reality.

Book 3 seemed like it was almost a turning point for Jake. He was away from Brett and from his reoccurring depression. He was able to relax by himself in San Sebastian. Then, Jake was summoned by Brett with the message "could you come Hotel Montana Madrid am rather in trouble" (pg 242). Of course Jake was going to go to Brett. I think this letter put Jake back to where he started in regards to Brett.

Mood

The last chapter was concerned with only Jake and Brett. The author creates the mood for this chapter to be relaxed and layed back. Jake seems like he is getting to be happy with his life. He is not depressed anymore and is able to deal with the situation with Brett. Usually, when he was feeling bad, he would drink all the time. But in the first half of the chapter, Jake hardly drinks at all.

Then Brett sends Jake a telegram saying that she need him in Madrid. "That meant that San Sebastian was shot to hell" (pg 243). Jake's days of relaxing and feeling fine were over. Brett once again used Jake as a crutch to get through the feeling of getting rid of another one of her lovers. And once again, Jake started to drink and get drunk.

Bull Fight

Sometimes, I don't get where Hemmingway's inspiration for his topics comes from. Chapter 18 was all about the last day of the festival and Romero's bull fight. His descriptions were quit detailed about killing the bulls. Hemmingway also used short sentences. At times, I was confused at the point of spending a whole chapter on bull fights.

I was surprised at the fact that Brett took off with Romero. I fell sorry for Mike because he couldn't keep a hold on the woman he was supposed to marry. He had to drink his sorrows away and changed into a person who was rowdy and obnoxious. Maybe it is a good thing that Brett is gone so the whole love thing does not get in the way anymore.

Dramatic Irony

Cohn has finally cracked. It was good for him because no one really wanted him there anyway. Hemmingway added dramatic irony in this chapter when we knew where Brett was and Cohn did not. He became very made and eventually ended up punching Jake, one of his best friends, and Mike in the face.

Then he cried about it. What kind of guy punches someone in the face and then cries about it? It was a good thing that he decided to leave though. That was one of the best decisions he has made throughout the whole book. Robert was too blind by love to realize Brett was never in love with him and didn't really care about him. That was why he got so made when he found out Brett was with Pedro Romero.

Rhetoric

What is up with Brett and being in love? She saw Pedro Romero in the bull ring and was immediately in love with him. She knows she is hurting most of the men around her yet she still does what she wants. Brett even says it herself: "I do feel such a bitch" (pg 188). And she should. I don't think she cares for anyone around her. She may say she loves Jake but I think that is all just an act, a form of irony.

Then Brett goes and actually talks to Pedro and flirts with him. The kid is nineteen years old! And what is she...thirty-four?! That is just wrong on so many levels. She successfully uses rhetoric to get Pedro to leave with her. Jake should stay away from Brett because all she will end up doing is hurt him and add even more to his misery.

Similes and Metaphors

In chapter 16, the author used a few different similes and metaphors. I thought this variety of literary devices added positively to the novel. Instead of using regular comparisons, Hemmingway spiced up his writing by using the metaphors and similes.

On page 157, the author wrote "the cafe was like a battleship stripped for action." He used a simile to compare the cafe to a battleship instead of just saying "the cafe was really busy." Hemmingway also compared a firecracker to a bomb. He wrote "the ball of smoke hing in the sky like a shrapnel burst..." This comparison makes the writing more interesting. It also provides imagery because a reader can picture the burst of light in the sky.

Along with similes, the author also used metaphors. For example, Hemmingway compared "a guard of soldiers" (pg 159) to giants. He was able to compare two different things with out the use of like or as. The variety in his writing keeps the readers interested and enthralled in the novel.

Jake Part II

Jake seems to be in one of his depressed moods again. He has mixed feelings about Brett and Mike and Robert. He uses the excuse of alcohol to get rid of his troubles. I think he should just forget about Brett and find someone else. He has to realize that she is going to marry Mike and there is just no chance for him. Once again he says "to hell with you Lady Ashley" (pg 152). I think Jake would enjoy this trip way more if it was only Bill and him who were there. He loves bull-fighting but he can't get past the fact that Brett is there and so are Mike and Robert.

Foreshadowing

Jake, Mike, Robert, Bill and Brett are all finally in the same town in Spain together. I was starting to think that they would never get together. In chapter 13, I was surprised that Mike was the one who went off on Robert for being obsessed with Brett. Although what he said to Robert was rude, I think Robert deserved to hear what Mike had to say. Robert had no right to join Brett in San Sebastian and "follow [her] like a steer" (pg 146). I think this situation foreshadows something big to come. Either Mike or Jake will somehow make Robert leave since he really is not wanted there by any of them. If Robert refuses to leave, I feel that someone will end of fighting him, and since he was a boxing champion, I think the opponent will loose.

Irony and Pitty

Bill Gordon is a very interesting and fun character. He is a writer so he says things that are entertaining and sometimes confusing. I am still trying to figure out what he meant by "show irony and pity" (pg 118). Then he starts to sing the song and says "when they're feeling...oh, give them irony and give them pity" (pg118). I think he means when someone is feeling sorrow or maybe even anger, one is supposed to say something that they don't even mean but will make them feel better and show pity on them. It is like a false act and pretty much lying to the person if you don't really mean what you say or show. This may be foreshadowing the fact that Bill may use this later in the novel with the situation of Jake and Brett. He will try to comfort Jake when Brett is married to Michael, but actually, I don't think he really cares.

Traveling

To me, this section of the book is a little bit boring. It was getting old reading about their journey to the town where they were going to fish. I thought the novel was much more interesting when the scenes were in Paris and there was interaction with some of the main character. Now that Robert has stayed behind to wait for Brett and Michael, the story has become plain and a bit repetitive.

I think the story will pick up again once Jake and Bill make it to their destination and the other three meet up with them. With the three men who all love Brett in the same place, it is bound to become interesting again. At times, I get the feeling that Brett will break it off with Michael and go to Jake. How could she marry someone who she doesn't even love? Why is she going to marry him anyway?