Friday, February 6, 2009

1st marking period Blog Posting February 2009

Once a marking you will post a response to the novel you have selected for independent reading. This response is called an Annotated Bibliography, and it should be a well detailed, extended paragraph. Follow the instructions outlined below to complete your comment:

1) Compose a clear topic sentence that includes the author and title of the novel you are reading and the point you wish to make about the novel. Do not use an “I” phrase.

2) Compose 6-8 sentences that:

a) Detail the main plot events (remember the paragraph should not be entirely plot summary).
b) Detail how the author uses one literary device to develop the plot (characterization, theme, conflict, setting, point of view, etc.)
c) Include transitions between your details of the main plot events and your detail of the literary device.

3) Finish your paragraph with a summation sentence that restates the topic sentence by explaining why you liked or disliked the novel.

DO NOT USE "I"PHRASES ANY WHERE IN YOUR PARAGRAPH AND REMEMBER TO ITALICIZE BOOK TITLES AND THE TITLES OF PLAYS.

18 comments:

David Oakes said...

David Oakes
2/6/09


Gabriel Garcia Marquez's purpose in writing "The Shipped Wrecked sailor" was to show a young naval Oficcer's will to survive. This story gives great suspense and example of true courage. The authorr gives Luis Alejandro Valesco hope that always keeps you and him going that why this quote was choosen . "That idea had hardly ripened when I thoght I saw a speck on the horizon". The reason this quote was picked, is because the reader wants to know whats on the horizon and that will keep the reader reading. Marquez was showing how difficult and almost impossible to be lost at sea for a long period of time. In fact, Gabriel didn't have a single reason to why he published the book. He said it himself: "It seems worthy of publication, but I have never quite understood the usefulness of publishing it" (Marquez IX). In the book, it is expected that Luis will do something miraculous, to become worthy of being called a hero.

Anonymous said...

Jessica Mallozzi
February 7, 2009
Block E


In Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, the author uses setting to maintain the reader’s interest. The story takes place in Vietnam in 1967, letting the reader know war was going to be the main topic. Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry couldn’t afford college, so, as a way out he signed up to go to Vietnam. Perry was assured he would be doing light work, nothing too dangerous, but he was wrong. While there he realizes the true terrors of life and tries to figure out the true meaning of war. To spare his brother and mother the worry, Richie hesitates in writing what is really happening in Vietnam. Perry saw one of his friends, Jenkins, die in Vietnam during the squads first patrol. As life there toughens, Perry soon writes a truthful letter home. “My father used to call all soldiers angel warriors, because usually they get boys to fight wars” (Myers 44). Guys that go to war normally are young, and it shouldn’t be that way. “Angel warriors” is the perfect title to give them because soldiers are warriors, and they are angels for risking their lives to protect others. Perry’s squad goes on a deadly mission that breaks out into a firefight. He had already been injured once, and had a bad knee to begin with so he shouldn’t have been sent on this mission. Richie and his friend Peewee are left with serious injuries and have to be hospitalized. Due to these major injuries, Perry and Peewee’s time in Vietnam had come to an end and they were sent home. As the novel each boy matured immense amounts. Walter Dean Myers uses setting in the novel Fallen Angels to portray that war is a frightening place, and that alone can change someone’s life.

ashley said...

Ashley Miller
2/7/09
E-block

"The once and the future king" by T.H. White is about a king and his shining camelot. The literary device that is used in this book is setting. The author uses setting by describing where everything is happening. King arthur is the main character and trys to protect his kingdom. Most of the characters in the book either live in the castle or work in the castle. Setting is used so we could know where the characters are.

Anonymous said...

Justin Roa
2/8/09
In The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane uses indirect characterization to describe the characters in the story. In the story, a farm boy Henry enlists in the army with confidence in hopes of living out his war fantasies. As the days go on, he starts to regret being in the army and he goes through various different emotions. When he finally enters his first battle, he flees and witnesses all of the horrors that come with war. Throughout the whole story, Henry is not only fighting against the rebel army, but with himself. Most of the story actually, is describing the emotions Henry goes through as he sees and hears everything in his surrounding. After running from his first battle, Henry begins to fight even though he does have his fears.The author uses indirect characterization to describe the emotions that the main character goes through, including fear. “His neck was quivering with nervous weakness and the muscles of his arms felt numb and bloodless. His hands, too, seemed large and awkward as if he was wearing uncertainty about his knee joints.” (38-39 Stephen Crane). The author describes the way the main character’s body reacts when hearing that the rebels were going to attack, rather than simply saying that the character was afraid. By doing this, Crane lets the reader figure out what the characters’ emotions are for themselves. This method of characterization also allows the reader to truly know what the characters are all like. Crane successfully uses indirect characterization throughout every event in the story and successfully shows Henry’s emotions and reactions without directly saying them. By using indirect variation, Stephen Crane successfully shows the characters’ emotions throughout The Red Badge of Courage.

Amna Baig said...

Amna Baig
E Block
In the novel The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley uses atmosphere to convey the conflict in the novel. Atmosphere is basically the vibe or the feeling surrounding the characters throughout the book. The Mists of Avalon spans through many generations of women during a time where Christianity was taking over. The protagonist, Morgaine, is a pagan and a priestess of Avalon who later becomes Queen of Avalon. Morgaine’s half brother Arthur is High King of Britain and although he is sworn to Avalon by his sword he still managed to betray it. All the little squabbles in the book lead up to the main conflict of the world changing. The book is set in a time period when everything about nature and paganism is suddenly being frowned upon and Christianity is taking over everything. The atmosphere or vibe of the novel is one of frustration and some sort of fear and dread of what is going to happen next. All the characters that hailed from Avalon are frustrated and hurt that their religion is suddenly being shunned and that their festivals and rituals are now being considered barbaric. Some of the Christian characters are very condescending about the idea of a religion other than their own, such as Gwenhywfer and the priests. “But in sober truth I thank it is the Christians who will tell the last tale.” (Bradley ix). This quote is a summary of basically the feeling of many of the characters in the book. The quote is said by Morgaine, who, being a priestess and Queen of Avalon, is deeply affected and hurt at the idea of Christians taking out all other religions being practiced at the time. It also shows the dread of the Christians “winning”, a prospect that scares those from Avalon. The pagans and Christians have a competition going on about whose beliefs will survive until the end. They have constant idea clashes that created tension in the novel. Showing the atmosphere of the novel in the very beginning, Zimmer gives the reader a feel for the mood of the story, as well as what is expected later on in the novel.

Danny said...

The Red Badge Of Courage by Stephan Crane talks about the civil war and how it was far from conflict to determine the issue of slavery. Although two issues interfered with political atmosphere at the time, it tells how the South felt and that each state was a sovereign entity and had the right to conduct its business and without any interference from the federal government. The North did not agree nor support this view form the South. The North believed that all states were subject to the laws of the federal government. This was a big disagreement between the North and the South.

Anonymous said...

In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses setting to address evil conquering over good. British boys are trapped on a deserted Island during World War II. These boys are alone, no help with no contact to civilization. Golding uses setting to present the unrighteousness of evil among young boys. When they lived in england they were civilized with structured rules to follow from the adults as their teachers. When they were upon the land of no where with no hint of human life on the island, it removes the obvious that could effect them. On a stranded island with no clue what to do it gives the boy's to much freedom which can cause disasters. They paint their faces hunt the wildlife, chant, shout, scream, and become savage with no rules listed on them. Therefore evil is lurking upon the heads of the boys, when jack sets terror on the island amongst the other boys. They kill Simon, the brains of the group with no hesitation, and no thought to what they are about to do, and roger [one of the hunters] commits premeditated murder. That right there proves evil became the triumph over good. Even when help finally arrives at the end of the novel, goodness has not won. There were two dead friends, killed by their companions, and each survivor will know the lurking evil, it's presence, the smell of kill, and what evil is capable of. In the novel Lord Of the Flies Golding also uses characterization to present the undesirable fact that even though people try to do good evil will always step on their hands. Piggy and Ralph are two usual young men. They think and act as adults, especially Piggy. Piggy sets out the intelligence, and order in the novel. Ralph looks into piggy and believes piggy will come to good, and bring justice so, they set out together. They come up with a civilized controllable but, with freedom of course society for the boys. In the beginning the boys see Ralph as good strong, well viewed ruler, so he becomes chief . However as evil begins to fill the boys with mischief. Ralph begins to lose control, the boys start making crude jokes on Piggy, and along comes Ralph the unwanted savior sticking up for Piggy. The boys soon realize that Ralph wasn't the ruler he saw out to be if he's sticking up for a loser like Piggy . Therefore Ralph and Piggy are now put to the test if they stand for good facing evil [Roger and the hunters] . Piggy was a symbolism for good, and Ralph for bravery and they sought out evil, but in the end they failed and two lives were lost. This proves that the hammer [justice, good] is no match for the destructible force of evil.

Anonymous said...

Martin Sanchez
february 8,2009
E block


In the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding symbolism is used to represent the different ideas in the book. The objects Golding used to show symbolism are a conch shell, a signal fire, and Piggy’s glasses. In the middle of world war two a plane is shot down causing it to make an emergency drop of a group of boys it was transporting. Two of the boys find each and start to realize other quickly their predicament. They walk around the island seeing what they could find and stumble upon a conch shell they believe can be used as a horn. They continue walking, calling for the others using the conch shell. Once the group of boys gathered, they elect each individual a position, putting them in charge of certain things. After exploring the forest, Ralph, the leader, suggested they make a fire to signal passing ships. The boys become more interested of the fact that there were no rules and adults. The group of boys let the fire burn half the forest down. One of the boys disappears, making the rest of them think he died in the fire. Golding uses symbolism to enrich the idea of the theme, which is civil versus savage. Early on in the book, Ralph and Piggy stumble upon a conch shell which is used to call the boys to meetings. The conch shell is used to represent civilization, as to be it keeps the boys in touch and assembles them for meetings. Another example of symbolism used is the glasses of the character Piggy. Golding uses the glasses to represent the intelligence of the group. Golding shows this by having Piggy use them to focus the suns rays on the dead wood and spark a fire. Finally, Golding uses the signal fire as another symbol in the book. How the fire is kept during the book measures the boys civil instincts compared to their savage one. “We got to find the others. We got to do something” (Golding 14). This shows that at the beginning of the boy’s quest for survival they were worried about finding the others and being rescued. The quote is a good example that the boys were still using their civil instincts and using this to make decisions. William Golding uses symbolism to enrich the understanding of his book Lord of the Flies.

Anonymous said...

In The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, the theme of the novel exemplifies the true knowledge of courage. The novel begins with a young naive recruit named Henry Fleming. Henry joins the army during the Civil War because he is drawn to the fantasies of the traditional military model of courage and honor. Throughout the war,as a soldier, Henry encounters the realistic experiences of the harsh and brutal battles. As a result, Henry becomes scared and flees the first battle. Ashamed of his cowardice, he finally faces combat and becomes a true hero of courage. In the end, he learns the real meaning of what it means to be a man of courage. In addition to, this quote reflects Henry becoming a man, "He felt a quiet manhood, nonassertive but of sturdy and strong blood.He knew that he would no more quail before his guides wherever they point. He had been to touch to the great death. He was a man" (Crane 130). Hence, the theme illustrates how Henry learned from his truculent experiences as a soldier to become a man. Thus, Crane's theme uses great death in the novel to suggest how true hardship can bring out the courage in oneself. Also, Crane explains and describes Henry's transition from an inexperienced soldier to a man of honor and courage. Henry reflected on his experiences, realizing how he no longer feels the desire of a "red badge of courage" to prove his bravery in combat. In fact, Henry proves what it takes for a man to achieve courage. By demonstrating Henry's courage through the theme in The Red Badge of Courage, Crane clarifies the difficulty of a soldier and captivates the reader attention of the real meaning of courage.

Anonymous said...

Paulina Plata
World Literature
E-Block
February 8, 2009

In the novel "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, the use of setting sets the mood for the entire story which is used as a hook to grab the reader's attention.“He was clambering heavily among the creepers and broken trunks when a bird, a vision of red and yellow, flashed upwards with a witch-like cry; and this cry was echoed by another.” (Golding 1). One can almost envision themselves being in this situation and vividly seeing everything that is going around them including the fear and isolated silence that looms through the pages of the book. The novel starts off with two little boys Ralph and Piggy being deserted on a tropical island and realizing they are by themselves with no adult supervision. Whilst having two very distinct personalities, the boys make friends and embark on their journey of trying to find other survivors and get rescued. Throughout the story, the setting of the island is used as a prime factor for the many conflicts there are among the boys and their lives. It is an important detail that helps with the outcome of the story and the author’s precise detail towards this literary element makes it all the more interesting.

Anonymous said...

Christina Tsang
2/8/09
E Block

In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses atmosphere in the beginning of his novel to give his reader hints about the darkness and gloominess that lies ahead, making it more intriguing to read on. The story takes place during the time of the French Revolution, where many people are scared for their lives and secrets are all about. Dickens writes in a gothic style, which usually sets the atmosphere to a mysterious and fearful tone, especially during the war between the French and the British where there is plenty of bloodshed. In the beginning, a messenger named Jerry Cruncher asks a horseman if he can send a message to Jarvis Lorry, a passenger. Lorry responds to his message by simply saying, “recalled to life”. The strange message Lorry sends back makes him sound strange, and foreshadows in the novel that there are many secrets to unravel. “A solemn consideration, when I enter a great city by night, that every one of those darkly clustered houses encloses its own secret; that every room in every one of them encloses its own secret.” (Dickens 16) The mood of the book is clearly established in this line of thought, because Dickens is telling his readers that secrets are everywhere, whether one realizes it or not, and these secrets may be ominous, such as death or betrayal. However, these buried secrets will slip out throughout the novel, and the atmosphere is what gives them suspense. The atmosphere is of great importance, especially in Dickens’ novel, because its mysterious path foreshadows the secrets that will lead to the climax of the book, making it more enjoyable.

Anonymous said...

Gina Ianniello E Block - Ms. Prevosti.

Colors of the Mountain by Da Chen tells vividly, the conflicts that Da Chen experienced growing up in China during the Year of Great Starvation in the late 1990’s. Da Chen draws in her readers with her life story. Da Chen grew up in a low class family that was treated terribly because of their ranking in society. Da Chen, being a driven individual, strives to obtain an education by doing everything she is supposed to and doing no wrong in school. Unfortunately for her, numerous amounts of obstacles made her goal difficult to reach. However, she still tries. Da Chen went underwent being falsely accused at one school, to having to go into hiding, to taking part in physical fights in a different school. Da Chen underwent both physical and emotional abuse while trying to reach her goal of being successful. Da Chen as the main character encountered both internal and external conflict. Da Chen had to struggle internally with the fact that she was born into a time where circumstances in China were not in favor of low class citizens like her family. Da Chen also had to strive physically against how people treated her. There was nothing Da Chen could do to stop the horrible treatment that she dealt with. “Ours was a big family, and I was at the bottom”(Chen page 3). Da Chen clearly had no choice regarding what family she was born into. Unfortunately, Da Chen was not fortunate enough to be a part of a socially accepted family during her time in China. Da Chen describes the struggles she encountered growing up in such a magnificent and unbelievable way in Colors of the Mountain that leaves readers with a "jaw-dropping" reaction.

Anonymous said...

Talisa Rosario
E-Block
2/10/09

In " A Tale of Two Cities " by Charles Dickens, the author uses symbolism to help portray the setting in the book. The setting of the book is in London, Europe and in France before and during the French Revolution ; Charles Dickens uses the broken wine glass in front of Defarge's wine shop and the peasants picking up the spilled wine as a portrayal of the hunger of the peasants. The hunger of the peasants is represented as the lack of food, and also the hunger for political freedom. Charles Dickens also notes in the novel that the peasants have attained a "tigerish smear about the mouth" (Dickens 33) and goes on about how a drunken figure scibbled the word "blood" on the wall with his finger dipped in wine. Later on the novel, you see that the blood of the higher class people is splattered on the same street. The setting in the story is written with such symbolism that the reader may actually be able to relate to the ideas Dickens is using. Symbolism plays an important role in the novel beacuse there are other 'books' that skips foward a couple years and switches between the two countries, and there are different symbols within them being used to represent different ideas.

Anonymous said...

Jose Valentin
2/10/09
f block
In the novel"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini the author uses irony to portray the regret that the main character Amir lives with after betraying his best friend Hazara. In the beginning the two friends spend a lot of their time in a peaceful friendly kite fight and just being boys.Later on Amir gets threatened by a bully and to prove of the good friend Hazara was he stood up for him,yet Assef(the bully) vowed to plot revenge.Later on as the Hassan and Amir compete for a kite fight Hassan runs into Assef,as he refuses to give Amir"s kite Assef rapes him.Amir who is concered about the time that his friend is taking to get the kite goes and looks for Hassaan and witnesses the rape.He refuses to help because he was to scared.He lives off in shame in not helping his friend.Amir and Hassan then keeps there distance from one another.The author shoews the ironic ways of how amir did not stand up for his friend like Hassan once stod up for him.

Anonymous said...

Clarisse Concepcion
World Literature
2-10-09
E-block

In Fallen Angels, Walter Dean Myers uses internal conflict to portray the main character's (Perry) confrontation about life outside his hometown. The internal conflict of Perry displays his inner most feelings about the war in Vietnam, which connects his outlook of the outside world for the first time. Fighting in battle raises even more questions to ask than the ones he left at home. "The army was the place I was going to get away from all the questions." (Meyers 15) Perry's personal decision to join the army was an escape to help him realize how real and mysterious the world really is. His internal conflict with himself develops Perry's insight on how the other soldiers dream to life their life after their time in the army. The doubt about his own future dissolves after his encounter with the outside world in Vietnam. Meyers set internal conflict so well in the novel that the reader can sympathize through Perry's every thought. Internal conflict sets a key role in Perry's emotional journey to discover his purpose in life by experiencing another in a foreign country.

Anonymous said...

Devan LaBarbera
February 10th
E- Block
Ms. Presvosti
Blog Post

Reading the book “Lord Of The Flies”, right away Willaim Golding uses Symbolism at the start of the novel. The book starts out by brining fourth two boys that seem to go by the name of “Ralph” and “Piggy”. One of the boys with fair hair walks down to the beach where he encounters another boy who is chubby, and wears thick glasses. The fair-haired boy introduces himself as Ralph and the chubby one introduces himself as Piggy. As they carryout a conversation, we learn that in the midst of a war, a transport plane carrying a group of English boys was shot down over the ocean. It seemed to have crashed in a thick jungle on a deserted island. Scattered by the wreck of the plane, the surviving boys lost each other and cannot find the pilot. Ralph and Piggy start look around the beach, wondering what has become of the other boys from the plane. They discover a large pink- and cream-colored conch shell, which Piggy realizes could be used as a kind of trumpet. He convinces Ralph to blow through the shell to find the other boys. Ralph and Piggy’s discovery of the conch shell on the beach use it to summon the boys together after the crash separates them. As they use the conch shell in this way, William Golding uses symbolism because the conch shell becomes a symbol of civilization and order in the novel. The shell effectively governs the boys' meetings, for the boy who holds the shell holds the right to speak Reading the book “Lord Of the Flies” by William Golding captures me in imagery formed by the symbolism the author uses and I want to read more; I am enjoying this book.

Anonymous said...

Breanna Pizzolo
April 1, 2009
E Block English

In, “One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich”, Alexander Solzhenitsyn uses characterization as a literary technique to portray the type of person Ivan is. Ivan, also known as Shukhov is living in a prison camp for a crime he did not commit. Living life in this camp is extremely taxing. However, no matter what Shukhov is given, he is always thankful, grateful and hardly complains. “Shukhov gazed at the sun and looked happy, a smile on his lips. What had he to be happy about? His cheeks were sunken, he lived strictly on his rations, he earned nothing. He spent all his Sundays muttering with the other Baptists. They shed the hardships of camp life like water off a duck’s back.” (Solzhenitsyn 36.) Solzhenitsyn uses characterization to impact and emphasis that Shukhov didn’t deserve to be treated the way he was; yet it all didn’t matter to him. Shukhov was thankful just to be alive and healthy and that was all that mattered. All Shukhov wanted to do was to do his time in the camp and live his life. No matter how tough and hard life was, Shukhov just put it all behind him and just took life as it is.

Anonymous said...

Clarisse Concepcion
World Literature
4-1-09
E-block

The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels, utilizes the technique of deliberative rhetoric to persuade the proletariat to take action their oppressors (bourgeoisie). Therefore, Marx presents the problem of expolitation amongst the proletariat through the use of wage labor. He discusses that wage laborers work more hours than they earn, promoting the wealth of the bourgeoisie. "In bourgeoisie society, living labor is but a means to increase accumulated labor." (Marx and Engels 84) Marx counters this assumption by stating that the laborers exist only to increase capital in the interest of the bourgeoisie. Thus the unity of the proletariat is necessary in order to eradicate the bourgeoisie from power. In addition to further convey his ideas, Marx repeatedly uses the word, "exploitation" to better understand the position of the proletariat underneath the rule of the bourgeoisie. As a result, deliberative rhetoric organized the declaration of intentions and opinions of the bourgeoisie to persuade the proletariat to revolt.