In the book “Tao of Pooh” author Benjamin Hoff uses a specific style to portray the ideas of Taoism. With the use of Winnie the Pooh characters, Hoff presents the variety of personalities that exist in the world. Hoff begins to mention the principal ideas such as the “Uncarved Block” also known as P’u. Furthermore, Hoff elaborates on the principle of the uncarved block by stating that things that are in their “original simplicity contain their own natural power” (Hoff 10). Hoff portrays Pooh as the figure for the “uncarved block.”…
People say that Canada lacks a unique identity, but Strange Brew took this opinion as a challenge with its extreme, satirical exaggeration of the stereotypical Canadian. Everything from the language to clothing is a Canadian exaggeration. The plot takes a Canadian pastime, beer, and revolves the story around it. What this really shows is the true identifier for Canadians, the ability to be at the butt end of our own joke. From the toque to the skates and all the Canadian stereotypes in between, scratch Strange Brew and it bleeds red and white.…
In the book Tangerine, how did Erik Fisher’s choice have an effect on Paul? Was it good for Paul? Well, for the second question the answer would be no. Erik’s choices impact Paul by Paul despising Erik, Paul feeling ignored by his parents, and Paul not able to have his friends over.…
Helen Keller, a deaf-blind American author, political activist, and lecturer once expressed, “People can’t change the truth, but the truth can change the people.” Tangerine, a novel by Edward Bloor, depicts the journey Paul Fisher takes to discover the truth about himself, and how he became legally blind. After Paul moves to Tangerine County, Florida, he meets Luis Cruz, the elder brother of his friend Tino. Luis Cruz impacted Paul Fisher by aiding him with uncovering the truth and helping him to become more truthful to others.…
“Pig the Fibber” is part of a series of “Pig the Pug” written and illustrated by Australian author, Aaron Blabey published in 2015. In this humourous picture book, the main character, Pig the pug, behaves badly and tells fibs. His loyal ‘long’ suffering friend, Trevor, a sausage dog is blamed for Pig’s lies and misconduct. This story has a moral and is a good lesson for young readers, as in the end all the bad behaviour catches up with Pig. The illustration on the front cover draws the reader in with a simple illustration of a defiant looking Pug with mischievous exaggerated bulging eyes and red crayon nonchalantly resting on his bottom lip. The text “Pig the Pug” in black print has been altered by Pig and his red crayon he has crossed out…
From Soc, to Greaser, to in between, who is Cherry Valance, and why is she helping the enemy? Enemies are Enemies, but sometimes all people need is a little reminder that everyone is the same, even if that means becoming friends with the enemy. Cherry valance, known as popular, spoiled, and snotty, may not be who people think she is. If they get to know her, they might as well get to find out who she really is; a peaceful, helpful girl, with a sassy positive attitude.…
The sky was raining ever so slightly over Canbourne Cove High School. In Canbourne Cove, there was a student named Sam Salvatore. Sam was what every kid would call a nerd. He would complete all his learning tasks to a high standard. He was a typical kid, he had brown eyes, brown hair and wore glasses. He was one of those students who would do their top button up. If he didn’t have it done up he could not continue his day. However, Sam had a sad side. Other students would tease him because of his physical appearance. Especially ‘The Bower brothers.’ Bradley, Barry and Ben. They weren’t really brothers, that’s just what people called them. Sam was a little bit over weight compared to the other students.…
Everyone at some point of their lives will experience a Chicxulub. Something that will change your entire life for the better or the worse. It’s what you choose to do with that change that will build your character. Take Maureen and Ted for example. Late, one rainy night, they get their Chicxulub. A call that delivered the heart-wrenching news of their daughter, Maddy’s accident.…
In the story Otomen the readers were introduced to a very interesting character named Asuka. This character is a very popular high school student who is very athletic, and smart. He was famous with the name "the men's man " At first he acted very mature and manly in front of everyone around him. He joined every sports club in school and usually won many sports prizes, he got good grades, and always avoid sweets because he thought that eating sweets would make him look less manly but no one know another side of him which is secret to everyone. He also secretly does the sweet hobbies that he really like for example cooking, baking, knitting and etc. Later in the story, Asuka started to show his true personality in front of his friends and later in front of everyone because he learned a lesson that he doesn't have to care what other people think he just has to be himself. These are some example of the event that shows Asuka changes throughout the story. For example, when he met some new close friends who never judge him because of his secret hobbies he started to make a lot of beautiful and delicious Bentos(lunch boxes) for…
According to Stephan R. Covey “while we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose our consequences of our actions.” Tangerine by: Edward Bloor was about this boy name Paul Fisher moving to Tangerine, Florida where he learned to face his fears about his brother Erik. The character in the story that had the biggest impact on Paul was Erik. First of all, Erik knocked out Tino, Erik and Arthur killed Luis, and finally he was the reason for Paul’s eye problems.…
Author, Gary Soto, in his autobiographical narrative "The Pie" reminisces about the first time he committed an evil sin when he was only a six year old boy. Soto's purpose is to portray the different characteristics between good and evil through psychological references. He uses an overwhelming tone to describe the guilt and self-conscious he felt in a vividly manner to connect emotions with his adult readers. Soto interprets a glimpse of paranoia and a disturbing imagination which incorporates the belief of a psychological disorder within a six year old boy.…
Dead parents are extremely common in young adult literature, and although these characters are obviously absent throughout the story, they are still relevant and necessary to the plot because of the effect they have on their children. Because “dead parents are so much a function of middle-grade and teen fiction at this point,” it is no surprise that Collins sets up the Everdeen family with one parent deceased (Sales). However, instead of viewing deceased parents as enhancing the plot of a YA novel and adding to its complexity, many authors see dead parents as the product of “lazy writing” (Sales). These authors claim that since novels are centered on different characters’ relationships with one another, omitting a parent via death is simply…
Throughout Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral,” the nameless narrator, the main character develops emotionally through a situation that creates fear in an already introverted man. He does not want to go outside of his comfort zone and he is caught off guard when he is forced beyond his current developmental state. But, through a lesson from the blind narrator finds himself enlightened to the sentiments of the handicapped.…
In the stories the main conflicts has differences but even has some similarities. The difference with both conflicts is that, in “The Screech Owl Who Liked Television there trying to figure out if Yammer belong with the family or in the the wilderness. In “A Crow Knapping” the conflict is that Crowbar has to decide if he should stay with the family or leave with his kind. The similarities is that they both are internal conflicts where the characters have to decide what to do in this situation, another similarity is that they both have to do with belonging and not knowing where they belong. Those are the differences and similarities with both stories.…
In The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff uses the characters from Winnie the Pooh to explain the fundamentals of Taoism. By observing the actions of Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Tigger, and Pooh, he decides that the action of the character Pooh best describes Taoism. The most important principle of Taoism is the Uncarved Block. Hoff uses Pooh to best explain the Uncarved Block. The principle of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed. He uses these characters to show how things can be spoiled and lost and also how things can just work out. Hoff uses Rabbit to show that when you always have to be on the run doing something and being busy, usually you miss things and you do not enjoy life. It can often screw up things to always have to figure things out and always feel like you are important. He uses Owl to show that when you are always looking for a reason for something then it often makes things too complicated. Hoff uses Piglet in the sense that Piglet is always scared and hesitating things, if Piglet would not hesitate, he would get things done in a much more efficient way. He should just do, not think. Hoff explains the character of Eeyore by showing how he is always worried about things; he frets a lot. If he would not do that, then life would be much easier for Eeyore. And finally, there is Pooh. Hoff shows how Pooh does not think or ponder about things; he just does them. Things always work out for Pooh because of this. Pooh works along with nature and he does not try to interfere. Pooh leads a simple life. This can also be explained as the life and actions of a Taoist. Hoff's purpose of this book is a didactic purpose. He wrote the book to inform people of Taoism. He wanted to teach the ways and beliefs of a Taoist. He wanted to teach in a way that everyone could understand or relate too, that is why he used Winnie the Pooh. Everybody…