Rhapsody In The Rain Dialectical Journal
Salvador Avina
AP English Lit.
Mrs. Butterfield
July 05, 2012
Review Chapter Four
1. Review the definition of “theme” in fiction.
Theme is a perceptive statement on life based upon the literature piece encompassing of significant details without specifying, overgeneralizing, or restating a familiar cliché.
2. Describe the best way(s) in which the theme of a story may be stated.
Theme of a story may be stated very briefly or at greater length (Arp and Johnson 189). If the story is encompassed to multiple lines expect a shortened theme, on the other hand if one has a complex story expect an insightful theme.
3. Distinguish between the theme of a story and the central purpose of a story.
Central purpose of a story would be what …show more content…
the author wants to accomplish whether that be to entertain or inform the given audience. The theme of a story is what the author wants the audience to form based of the story usually a more in-depth meaning behind the purpose of the story. The theme states a perception of life and central purpose defines the reason why an author has written a literature piece.
4. Differentiate between the typical themes of commercial vs. literary stories.
Commercial stories affirm a common knowledge that supports the reader’s views. Literary stories construct a contradictory view or reveal a completely new observation that can support or deny common knowledge.
5. Review the six principles relating to theme as described in this chapter.
a) Theme should be a complete statement.
b) Theme should be a generalize statement.
c) Don’t overgeneralize a theme with unsupported clauses within a story.
d) Theme encompasses all major events of story, details are not “forced” or overlooked in order to fit our theme, and there is no hypothetical conclusions within the theme.
e) No one theme is the right answer. Multiple correct themes are acceptable that include the previous elements within their separate theme.
f) Avoid clichés in your theme. Clichés lessen the degree of perspective in a theme downgrading the comprehension form of author to audience.
Salvador Avina
AP English Lit.
Mrs. Butterfield
July 05, 2012
The Lesson Question
1. Define the nature of the conflict between the narrator Sylvia and Miss Moore. What are the differences between that conflict and how the other children respond to Miss Moore? What conflicts exist among the children themselves?
Sylvia does not agree with the lifestyle of Miss Moore which in her view is one of showing off with her fancy clothes and outsmarting the residents with her college education. Sylvia is a poor girl that is stubborn to compromise with Miss Moore in the beginning. The others don’t hate Miss Moore but are not hostile to her are more interactive and participative of what Miss Moore is lecturing about. Rosie Giraffe doesn’t like Mercedes. Junebug is punching Q.T. for more potato chips.
2. What strengths and weaknesses in Sylvia’s character are illuminated in being the narrator? How is her language evidence of both strengths and weaknesses? Is she a developing character?
Sylvia has the weakness of wanting to have fun instead of learning something new with Miss Moore. Sylvia will be brutally honest which can be both a strength and a weakness sometimes her opinion is more damaging than understanding. Sylvia can analyze what happens throughout the day in her own self-reflective lapse but at the same time she likes to challenge other people have adventures and live for the fun of the city. Sylvia is a developing character as the story unravels Sylvia is more open minded and speaks about the wasteful actions of the rich but falls short in responding to Miss Moore’s question when directed upon to add on to what Sugar said.
3. What is the relationship between Sylvia and Sugar? How are they contrasted?
Sylvia and Sugar do things together and always are looking out for one another. Sylvia is the more stubborn and Sugar is more opened minded. Sylvia is a little more conservative hateful towards Miss Moore and Sugar is friendlier and converses more with the Ms. Moore.
4. How does the sorrowful look that Miss Moore gives Sylvia in that paragraph suggest there is more to the lesson? What more? Explain the effect of Sugar’s definition of happiness as “an equal crack at the dough” on Miss Moore and on Sylvia.
Sylvia was holding back Sugar from expressing her view in other words the lowest class makes self-depreciative actions that limit the success and happiness of the less unfortunate. Miss Moore will be more open to discussion involving Sylvia in multiple occasion maybe even have something a day that the kids create the lesson or have a say at what they want to learn about. Sylvia will give Miss Moore a less disruptive student and start interacting more with Miss Moore.
5. State the theme of the story.
The world is for those that look for opportunities to be successful in the pursuit of happiness to which in many instances the lack of accomplishments is brought by upon our own community, family, and friends.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
July 15, 2012
Gooseberries Questions
1. What are the major events and actions in each? What are the personality traits of the characters in each? What are the plot conflicts in each? What theme does each story have?
The frame story introduces the reader to Ivan, conservative thoughtful man, and Burkin, dynamic intelligent man, who got caught in a rain storm with no shelter or above them when Ivan was going to tell Burkin about his brother. Alehin allows the journeyers to relocate in his two story house with Pelagea a quite servant with stunning physical attributes gently receiving the men. The three men take the time to shower in a magnificent bathhouse that Ivan embrace fully claiming joyfully the wonders bathing brought to him. The theme in the frame story is nature has infinite objects to offer with careful exploration can be a drag or an exclusive beauty. Nikolay a governmental official, who is not satisfied with his lifestyle, Nikolay’s wife, Ivan who would see his brothers’ ambitions with worried relevance, were the characters of the other story. Nikolay had dreams of living in the natures beautiful horizons after his wife died. His ambitions were secluding him from society placing him as an outcast. Ivan would always see that his brother, Nikolay, always wanted gooseberries which brought him happiness. Ultimately Nikolay was content with his life away in an estate with gooseberries. The theme for this story would be that one’s personal interests are important but one must take into account what our actions result within the people that surround us.
2. What correspondences exist between the frame story and Ivan’s narration? What parallels are there between Nikolay’s estate and Alehin’s?
Similar correspondences between the frame story and Ivan’s narration are the nature of beauty, how Ivan was euphoric with the bath and his brother’s content emotion when eating the gooseberries. Both estates have a water source, account for servants, and give shelter to various types of people.
3. Account for these seemingly contradictory descriptions, and find other passages in the story that seem equally self-contradictory. Are such contradictions characteristics of both the frame story and the narrative?
The contradictions are bringing a redundancy to the stories but are far more compelling to the reader with in depth analysis of what Ivan is narrating or the reader is reading. “I am oppressed by its peace and quiet.” (Chekov 44). Paragraph 44 is one of multiple instances where Chekov contradicts descriptive words in Ivan’s narrative. Both are contradictory throughout the passage one cannot misinterpret the reading for the reading is in itself a great misunderstanding of what is common knowledge.
4. What does Ivan see as the lesson to be learned from his brother’s history? Why does he urge that lesson on Alehin? What does Alehin think of Ivan’s story and its lesson? Is either Ivan or Alehin entirely right or wrong? Ivan sees the lesson to be mindful of what your goals bring to others surrounding you.
Alehin is in the same situation Nikolay was back when Nikolay believed only in finding peace in his estate. Alehin disregards the story to him the story does not relate to him. Alehin is entirely wrong in the end all the residents stayed in silence maybe finding the correlations between their lives in Alehin’s estate and Nikolay’s tragedy of happiness.
5. Explore the symbolism of (a) Ivan’s swim, (b) Ivan’s pipe, and (c) the gooseberries.
Ivan’s swim symbolizes a burden he carries in not being able to reach the bottom of the pool. One would think his previous experience with his brother of realizing how his sorrows where brought by Nikolay’s happiness. At the same time the swim is a joyous experience that could represent the good times when his brother and him where young. Ivan’s pipe is the tarred relation he had with his brother and the relive of letting the sorrows go from his bad experience with his brother. The gooseberries represent the ambitions of a man with no consideration of what his goals are causing to other people.
6. Coherent Theme
Beauty is found in nature to a point that this unique attributes only found in the world’s characteristics can blind the effects of our ambitions of being close the essence of
nature.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
July 17, 2012
A Worn Path Questions
1. Theme of the story.
One can accomplish goals that require major efforts from oneself with the remembrance of who the deed is for and who it is affecting.
2. Minor Themes.
The number of the seasons one has lived is ultimately insignificant.
Being in the quest for opportunities is of great importance not speculating what might be with the various factors that can deny such predictions if one entrusts our ambitions solely on the randomness of life.
3. Discuss the way the characterization of Phoenix contributes to the theme.
Phoenix is an old female, African American, clever, poor, and delusional. Her character is the epitome of a person not able of reaching success stereotypically and she defines the greater truth that a human of disadvantaged traits within society can obtain no matter how difficult a goal what they propose to reach.
4. Analyze the minor characters. What do they reveal about Phoenix and about the world in which she lives?
Phoenix is a person that is ready for the opportunities presented toward her. She takes full advantage of her supporting characters such as the hunter and the nurse who she with one stole a nickel and the other character accepted the offering of five cents to buy Phoenix’s grandson a little windmill. The doctor has given health provisions to Phoenix as long as she comes for the medicine. Phoenix is a disadvantage person within this world that is receiving health for free that she would otherwise not be able to afford. Her grandson brings to Phoenix the determination and dedication to go to the city and obtain his medicine for him to be healthier.
5. Discuss the elements of plot and structure that dramatize Phoenix’s journey. What are the obstacles to her quest, and how does she overcome them?
The fence, the maze field, the scarecrow scare, and the black dog, the swamp, and thorns were obstacles Phoenix faced throughout her quest to the medicine for her grandson. The fence she steps on a log for support to pass under the fence. The maze field was all instinct I guess there was no trail. The scarecrow was just a scare which she just had to confront open handedly with nothing. The black dog the hunter saves her and kills the dog. The thorns walk through them with no ease. She was trembling at the end of the thorns.
6. What might have led the student to ask that question? How can the author’s remark be seen as an answer?
Phoenix’s stone-cold lifeless, expression reaching the medical facility may have led the student to ask this question. His complete disregard to paragraph 92 where Phoenix states that he is not dead referring to her grandson may have led him to this question. Phoenix is alive is an answer because of the youth and determination her grandson brings to the actually aged, fragile Phoenix in her travels to get his medicines.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
August 1, 2012
Once Upon a Time Questions
1. What two causes for the sound does she consider? Which one is the more significant cause for her fear? How do these together create an emotional background for the “children’s story”?
A voice in the echo-chamber of the subconscious and a burglar invading her house are what she considers to be the rise of this sound. The burglar is the more significant for her fear she has known of certain situations where thieves overcame all types of security measures within her neighborhood. The reader is from the start engaged with her fear of this thieve theory and the torture she would have faced.
2. What stylistic devices create the atmosphere of the children’s stories? How is this atmosphere related to the story’s theme?
The stylistic devices in children’s stories a plot dedicated to the struggle around the main the character that gives of a meaningful message of life. The characters have a fast action start and prompt finish that brings every discussed value or topic to an encompassed enlighten message for the audience. Children stories have simple language and a fight of the good versus the evil. The overall message is similar to children stories because it has a simple intake of the overthinking of a deficient social problem when dealing with security measure.
3. To what extent does the story explore the motives for the behavior of the wife and husband, the husband’s mother, the servants, and the people who surround the suburb and the house? What motives can you infer for these people? What ironies do they display in their actions?
The actions and behaviors of the characters are simple and dull. The characters are with no depth to their thinking process throughout the story. Social pressures of the rumors and things the people would see completely overcame them and inside of them grew a panic and fear to protect disregarding the actual internal repercussions the over exaggerated actions they took. The housemaid is trusted when in today’s society housemaids are labeled as untrustworthy and thieves. The husband and wife always showing love to each other which is odd in society where more divorces are occurring then marriages.
4. Can you fix the blame for the calamity that befalls the child? What are the possible meanings of the repeated phrase “YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED”?
No, the family brought it upon themselves. The worst enemy/thieve was always them with no regard of what the drastic security methods were to bring against them. The simplicity of which the parents handled the situation with no thorough assessment of the situation in hand brought to them the calamity of the child getting injured. The repeated phrase is a message that the family disregarded and therefore endeared the unfortunate fate of a distraughtly scene seeing their child stuck on the barbed wire.
5. What details of in the introductory section and in the children’s story imply the nature of the social order in which both occur?
The details of the burglars successfully robbing neighbors give of a social order of an existing thieve problem that has caused panic throughout society. The story has people begging in the streets mainly degrading the society due to the lack of jobs and a worst case scenario builds a profound anarchy of repeated stories of burglary and the useless security that the citizens have in their homes.
6. How does it help to elucidate the theme?
The wife and husband in trying to protect the child and themselves ultimately caused a greater damage when the child got stuck climbing through the razor sharp fence.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
August 1, 2012
Suggestion for Writing Questions
1. Three alternative themes for: Hunters in the Snow.
Condemning a person on their flaws is ultimately the most damage one can do to another human being.
The habit of assuming another person’s defect(s) is both judgmental and sinister character.
In life having the camaraderie is a definite good to surpass the bad times one faces.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
August 1, 2012
Six Paragraph Answer
The validation of the following statement: “A theme is often devised around the protagonist and their personal struggle” is quite contradictive to the basis of literature. Minor characters receive a focal point throughout various stories such is the case of the story by Tobias Wolff “Hunters in the Snow”. The protagonist is the main person to follow however they remaining cast of characters fulfill certain encrypted sideline themes that the author sends subtly or clearly. This story develops multiple if not a combination of themes because of the different complex characters Wolf envisions to the audience.
Throughout “Hunter in the Snow” the audience is enlighten with details of why the one of the three characters is the person within the story. A clear example is depicted when Tub, one of the several characters of the story, confesses to his colleague Frank of why he is so big of size and weight. Tub the overweight without help character destroys his cover up story of his glands that caused him to be heavy and obese tells Frank, “When I said that about my glands, that wasn’t true. The truth is I just shovel it in.” (Wolff 216). This revelation of why Tub is tubby gives the reason to erase previous harassment of Frank and Kenny against Tub’s weight. The audience is now giving a pivotal point to consider when encountering an overweight person that sometimes is lost with the temptation of food everywhere making themselves their ultimate enemy with a weak mind and stronger stomach. This was one of the several themes that surrounded Kenny, Frank, Tub, and the old farmer that allowed the trio to hunt for the deer.
Kenny was the leader of the pack. He would be the start of most arguments with his talkative character and short temper; however he still had his motive for his actions and a message for the audience. Kenny was raging and firing at everything he said he hated or was frustrated with because of the lack of deer during this hunting season. In a given instance Kenny went berserk pointing the gun towards Tub spitefully saying “I hate you.” (Wolff 79). Tub instinctively draws his firearm shooting Kenny in the left abdomen a critical and deadly wound. Partly in fault Tub was in this scenario, but Kenny was shooting without sense and Tub could not take this chance of seeing what Kenny would have done other than shoot him to death. Kenny has the very important theme of how ones actions bring to us our own demise. Kenny later on says he would not have shot Tub, but based on his previous actions one cannot defend this statement.
Frank the calm, collective, and corrective character of “Hunter in the Snow” depicts a constructive theme of a different meaning when compared with Tub or Kenny. Frank is married to his wife, but he loves another person, the babysitter, who is not even a woman of age which he informs Tub about his true lover to which Tub cannot make sense of when Frank states, “You can’t just put people into categories like that, Tub. That’s why the whole system is wrong. And that’s why this country is going to hell in a rowboat.” (Wolff 184). Frank heart is with a not even woman female that he will fight for even if society disagrees with him being happy. The previous statement is the minor message a broader theme is devised in how the world is self-critical of what is right and wrong which people create their problems by worrying about the public opinion and the naysayers. The old farmer had his own meaning that is completely a separate theme that a reader might consider when understanding “Hunters in the Snow”. The farmer who let the hunters kill the deer within his farm limits had a long old friend in his faithful dog he owned. The ending is where the reader learns that Kenny executed the dog for the farmer when Tub says, “you know that farmer? He told the Kenny to kill the dog.” (Wolff 238). Kenny was shot unfairly without Tub or Frank knowing what he compromised with the farmer to be allowed to hunt in his parameters. The old farmer could not part from the old dog and his lack of courage lead the dog to a miserable life with no purpose other than aging day by day. The defining message is however that the love one has for someone else can be of damage the person one endears.
Tobias Wolff story titled “Hunters in the Snow” depicts multiple messages or themes through the complex characters. Each with their own separate theme can be interpreted or understood because of the depth the author envisioned for the minor characters and protagonist which in this case is hard to single one main character. The story revolves around a trio of hunters Tub, Kenny, and Frank with a not so much mentioned character of a farmer with his old dog. The understanding of this story is a living statement that the theme can be found with minor characters and not solely in the protagonist and their personal struggles.
AP English Lit.
Mrs. Butterfield
July 05, 2012
Review Chapter Four
1. Review the definition of “theme” in fiction.
Theme is a perceptive statement on life based upon the literature piece encompassing of significant details without specifying, overgeneralizing, or restating a familiar cliché.
2. Describe the best way(s) in which the theme of a story may be stated.
Theme of a story may be stated very briefly or at greater length (Arp and Johnson 189). If the story is encompassed to multiple lines expect a shortened theme, on the other hand if one has a complex story expect an insightful theme.
3. Distinguish between the theme of a story and the central purpose of a story.
Central purpose of a story would be what …show more content…
the author wants to accomplish whether that be to entertain or inform the given audience. The theme of a story is what the author wants the audience to form based of the story usually a more in-depth meaning behind the purpose of the story. The theme states a perception of life and central purpose defines the reason why an author has written a literature piece.
4. Differentiate between the typical themes of commercial vs. literary stories.
Commercial stories affirm a common knowledge that supports the reader’s views. Literary stories construct a contradictory view or reveal a completely new observation that can support or deny common knowledge.
5. Review the six principles relating to theme as described in this chapter.
a) Theme should be a complete statement.
b) Theme should be a generalize statement.
c) Don’t overgeneralize a theme with unsupported clauses within a story.
d) Theme encompasses all major events of story, details are not “forced” or overlooked in order to fit our theme, and there is no hypothetical conclusions within the theme.
e) No one theme is the right answer. Multiple correct themes are acceptable that include the previous elements within their separate theme.
f) Avoid clichés in your theme. Clichés lessen the degree of perspective in a theme downgrading the comprehension form of author to audience.
Salvador Avina
AP English Lit.
Mrs. Butterfield
July 05, 2012
The Lesson Question
1. Define the nature of the conflict between the narrator Sylvia and Miss Moore. What are the differences between that conflict and how the other children respond to Miss Moore? What conflicts exist among the children themselves?
Sylvia does not agree with the lifestyle of Miss Moore which in her view is one of showing off with her fancy clothes and outsmarting the residents with her college education. Sylvia is a poor girl that is stubborn to compromise with Miss Moore in the beginning. The others don’t hate Miss Moore but are not hostile to her are more interactive and participative of what Miss Moore is lecturing about. Rosie Giraffe doesn’t like Mercedes. Junebug is punching Q.T. for more potato chips.
2. What strengths and weaknesses in Sylvia’s character are illuminated in being the narrator? How is her language evidence of both strengths and weaknesses? Is she a developing character?
Sylvia has the weakness of wanting to have fun instead of learning something new with Miss Moore. Sylvia will be brutally honest which can be both a strength and a weakness sometimes her opinion is more damaging than understanding. Sylvia can analyze what happens throughout the day in her own self-reflective lapse but at the same time she likes to challenge other people have adventures and live for the fun of the city. Sylvia is a developing character as the story unravels Sylvia is more open minded and speaks about the wasteful actions of the rich but falls short in responding to Miss Moore’s question when directed upon to add on to what Sugar said.
3. What is the relationship between Sylvia and Sugar? How are they contrasted?
Sylvia and Sugar do things together and always are looking out for one another. Sylvia is the more stubborn and Sugar is more opened minded. Sylvia is a little more conservative hateful towards Miss Moore and Sugar is friendlier and converses more with the Ms. Moore.
4. How does the sorrowful look that Miss Moore gives Sylvia in that paragraph suggest there is more to the lesson? What more? Explain the effect of Sugar’s definition of happiness as “an equal crack at the dough” on Miss Moore and on Sylvia.
Sylvia was holding back Sugar from expressing her view in other words the lowest class makes self-depreciative actions that limit the success and happiness of the less unfortunate. Miss Moore will be more open to discussion involving Sylvia in multiple occasion maybe even have something a day that the kids create the lesson or have a say at what they want to learn about. Sylvia will give Miss Moore a less disruptive student and start interacting more with Miss Moore.
5. State the theme of the story.
The world is for those that look for opportunities to be successful in the pursuit of happiness to which in many instances the lack of accomplishments is brought by upon our own community, family, and friends.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
July 15, 2012
Gooseberries Questions
1. What are the major events and actions in each? What are the personality traits of the characters in each? What are the plot conflicts in each? What theme does each story have?
The frame story introduces the reader to Ivan, conservative thoughtful man, and Burkin, dynamic intelligent man, who got caught in a rain storm with no shelter or above them when Ivan was going to tell Burkin about his brother. Alehin allows the journeyers to relocate in his two story house with Pelagea a quite servant with stunning physical attributes gently receiving the men. The three men take the time to shower in a magnificent bathhouse that Ivan embrace fully claiming joyfully the wonders bathing brought to him. The theme in the frame story is nature has infinite objects to offer with careful exploration can be a drag or an exclusive beauty. Nikolay a governmental official, who is not satisfied with his lifestyle, Nikolay’s wife, Ivan who would see his brothers’ ambitions with worried relevance, were the characters of the other story. Nikolay had dreams of living in the natures beautiful horizons after his wife died. His ambitions were secluding him from society placing him as an outcast. Ivan would always see that his brother, Nikolay, always wanted gooseberries which brought him happiness. Ultimately Nikolay was content with his life away in an estate with gooseberries. The theme for this story would be that one’s personal interests are important but one must take into account what our actions result within the people that surround us.
2. What correspondences exist between the frame story and Ivan’s narration? What parallels are there between Nikolay’s estate and Alehin’s?
Similar correspondences between the frame story and Ivan’s narration are the nature of beauty, how Ivan was euphoric with the bath and his brother’s content emotion when eating the gooseberries. Both estates have a water source, account for servants, and give shelter to various types of people.
3. Account for these seemingly contradictory descriptions, and find other passages in the story that seem equally self-contradictory. Are such contradictions characteristics of both the frame story and the narrative?
The contradictions are bringing a redundancy to the stories but are far more compelling to the reader with in depth analysis of what Ivan is narrating or the reader is reading. “I am oppressed by its peace and quiet.” (Chekov 44). Paragraph 44 is one of multiple instances where Chekov contradicts descriptive words in Ivan’s narrative. Both are contradictory throughout the passage one cannot misinterpret the reading for the reading is in itself a great misunderstanding of what is common knowledge.
4. What does Ivan see as the lesson to be learned from his brother’s history? Why does he urge that lesson on Alehin? What does Alehin think of Ivan’s story and its lesson? Is either Ivan or Alehin entirely right or wrong? Ivan sees the lesson to be mindful of what your goals bring to others surrounding you.
Alehin is in the same situation Nikolay was back when Nikolay believed only in finding peace in his estate. Alehin disregards the story to him the story does not relate to him. Alehin is entirely wrong in the end all the residents stayed in silence maybe finding the correlations between their lives in Alehin’s estate and Nikolay’s tragedy of happiness.
5. Explore the symbolism of (a) Ivan’s swim, (b) Ivan’s pipe, and (c) the gooseberries.
Ivan’s swim symbolizes a burden he carries in not being able to reach the bottom of the pool. One would think his previous experience with his brother of realizing how his sorrows where brought by Nikolay’s happiness. At the same time the swim is a joyous experience that could represent the good times when his brother and him where young. Ivan’s pipe is the tarred relation he had with his brother and the relive of letting the sorrows go from his bad experience with his brother. The gooseberries represent the ambitions of a man with no consideration of what his goals are causing to other people.
6. Coherent Theme
Beauty is found in nature to a point that this unique attributes only found in the world’s characteristics can blind the effects of our ambitions of being close the essence of
nature.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
July 17, 2012
A Worn Path Questions
1. Theme of the story.
One can accomplish goals that require major efforts from oneself with the remembrance of who the deed is for and who it is affecting.
2. Minor Themes.
The number of the seasons one has lived is ultimately insignificant.
Being in the quest for opportunities is of great importance not speculating what might be with the various factors that can deny such predictions if one entrusts our ambitions solely on the randomness of life.
3. Discuss the way the characterization of Phoenix contributes to the theme.
Phoenix is an old female, African American, clever, poor, and delusional. Her character is the epitome of a person not able of reaching success stereotypically and she defines the greater truth that a human of disadvantaged traits within society can obtain no matter how difficult a goal what they propose to reach.
4. Analyze the minor characters. What do they reveal about Phoenix and about the world in which she lives?
Phoenix is a person that is ready for the opportunities presented toward her. She takes full advantage of her supporting characters such as the hunter and the nurse who she with one stole a nickel and the other character accepted the offering of five cents to buy Phoenix’s grandson a little windmill. The doctor has given health provisions to Phoenix as long as she comes for the medicine. Phoenix is a disadvantage person within this world that is receiving health for free that she would otherwise not be able to afford. Her grandson brings to Phoenix the determination and dedication to go to the city and obtain his medicine for him to be healthier.
5. Discuss the elements of plot and structure that dramatize Phoenix’s journey. What are the obstacles to her quest, and how does she overcome them?
The fence, the maze field, the scarecrow scare, and the black dog, the swamp, and thorns were obstacles Phoenix faced throughout her quest to the medicine for her grandson. The fence she steps on a log for support to pass under the fence. The maze field was all instinct I guess there was no trail. The scarecrow was just a scare which she just had to confront open handedly with nothing. The black dog the hunter saves her and kills the dog. The thorns walk through them with no ease. She was trembling at the end of the thorns.
6. What might have led the student to ask that question? How can the author’s remark be seen as an answer?
Phoenix’s stone-cold lifeless, expression reaching the medical facility may have led the student to ask this question. His complete disregard to paragraph 92 where Phoenix states that he is not dead referring to her grandson may have led him to this question. Phoenix is alive is an answer because of the youth and determination her grandson brings to the actually aged, fragile Phoenix in her travels to get his medicines.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
August 1, 2012
Once Upon a Time Questions
1. What two causes for the sound does she consider? Which one is the more significant cause for her fear? How do these together create an emotional background for the “children’s story”?
A voice in the echo-chamber of the subconscious and a burglar invading her house are what she considers to be the rise of this sound. The burglar is the more significant for her fear she has known of certain situations where thieves overcame all types of security measures within her neighborhood. The reader is from the start engaged with her fear of this thieve theory and the torture she would have faced.
2. What stylistic devices create the atmosphere of the children’s stories? How is this atmosphere related to the story’s theme?
The stylistic devices in children’s stories a plot dedicated to the struggle around the main the character that gives of a meaningful message of life. The characters have a fast action start and prompt finish that brings every discussed value or topic to an encompassed enlighten message for the audience. Children stories have simple language and a fight of the good versus the evil. The overall message is similar to children stories because it has a simple intake of the overthinking of a deficient social problem when dealing with security measure.
3. To what extent does the story explore the motives for the behavior of the wife and husband, the husband’s mother, the servants, and the people who surround the suburb and the house? What motives can you infer for these people? What ironies do they display in their actions?
The actions and behaviors of the characters are simple and dull. The characters are with no depth to their thinking process throughout the story. Social pressures of the rumors and things the people would see completely overcame them and inside of them grew a panic and fear to protect disregarding the actual internal repercussions the over exaggerated actions they took. The housemaid is trusted when in today’s society housemaids are labeled as untrustworthy and thieves. The husband and wife always showing love to each other which is odd in society where more divorces are occurring then marriages.
4. Can you fix the blame for the calamity that befalls the child? What are the possible meanings of the repeated phrase “YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED”?
No, the family brought it upon themselves. The worst enemy/thieve was always them with no regard of what the drastic security methods were to bring against them. The simplicity of which the parents handled the situation with no thorough assessment of the situation in hand brought to them the calamity of the child getting injured. The repeated phrase is a message that the family disregarded and therefore endeared the unfortunate fate of a distraughtly scene seeing their child stuck on the barbed wire.
5. What details of in the introductory section and in the children’s story imply the nature of the social order in which both occur?
The details of the burglars successfully robbing neighbors give of a social order of an existing thieve problem that has caused panic throughout society. The story has people begging in the streets mainly degrading the society due to the lack of jobs and a worst case scenario builds a profound anarchy of repeated stories of burglary and the useless security that the citizens have in their homes.
6. How does it help to elucidate the theme?
The wife and husband in trying to protect the child and themselves ultimately caused a greater damage when the child got stuck climbing through the razor sharp fence.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
August 1, 2012
Suggestion for Writing Questions
1. Three alternative themes for: Hunters in the Snow.
Condemning a person on their flaws is ultimately the most damage one can do to another human being.
The habit of assuming another person’s defect(s) is both judgmental and sinister character.
In life having the camaraderie is a definite good to surpass the bad times one faces.
Salvador Avina
Mrs. Butterfield
AP English Lit.
August 1, 2012
Six Paragraph Answer
The validation of the following statement: “A theme is often devised around the protagonist and their personal struggle” is quite contradictive to the basis of literature. Minor characters receive a focal point throughout various stories such is the case of the story by Tobias Wolff “Hunters in the Snow”. The protagonist is the main person to follow however they remaining cast of characters fulfill certain encrypted sideline themes that the author sends subtly or clearly. This story develops multiple if not a combination of themes because of the different complex characters Wolf envisions to the audience.
Throughout “Hunter in the Snow” the audience is enlighten with details of why the one of the three characters is the person within the story. A clear example is depicted when Tub, one of the several characters of the story, confesses to his colleague Frank of why he is so big of size and weight. Tub the overweight without help character destroys his cover up story of his glands that caused him to be heavy and obese tells Frank, “When I said that about my glands, that wasn’t true. The truth is I just shovel it in.” (Wolff 216). This revelation of why Tub is tubby gives the reason to erase previous harassment of Frank and Kenny against Tub’s weight. The audience is now giving a pivotal point to consider when encountering an overweight person that sometimes is lost with the temptation of food everywhere making themselves their ultimate enemy with a weak mind and stronger stomach. This was one of the several themes that surrounded Kenny, Frank, Tub, and the old farmer that allowed the trio to hunt for the deer.
Kenny was the leader of the pack. He would be the start of most arguments with his talkative character and short temper; however he still had his motive for his actions and a message for the audience. Kenny was raging and firing at everything he said he hated or was frustrated with because of the lack of deer during this hunting season. In a given instance Kenny went berserk pointing the gun towards Tub spitefully saying “I hate you.” (Wolff 79). Tub instinctively draws his firearm shooting Kenny in the left abdomen a critical and deadly wound. Partly in fault Tub was in this scenario, but Kenny was shooting without sense and Tub could not take this chance of seeing what Kenny would have done other than shoot him to death. Kenny has the very important theme of how ones actions bring to us our own demise. Kenny later on says he would not have shot Tub, but based on his previous actions one cannot defend this statement.
Frank the calm, collective, and corrective character of “Hunter in the Snow” depicts a constructive theme of a different meaning when compared with Tub or Kenny. Frank is married to his wife, but he loves another person, the babysitter, who is not even a woman of age which he informs Tub about his true lover to which Tub cannot make sense of when Frank states, “You can’t just put people into categories like that, Tub. That’s why the whole system is wrong. And that’s why this country is going to hell in a rowboat.” (Wolff 184). Frank heart is with a not even woman female that he will fight for even if society disagrees with him being happy. The previous statement is the minor message a broader theme is devised in how the world is self-critical of what is right and wrong which people create their problems by worrying about the public opinion and the naysayers. The old farmer had his own meaning that is completely a separate theme that a reader might consider when understanding “Hunters in the Snow”. The farmer who let the hunters kill the deer within his farm limits had a long old friend in his faithful dog he owned. The ending is where the reader learns that Kenny executed the dog for the farmer when Tub says, “you know that farmer? He told the Kenny to kill the dog.” (Wolff 238). Kenny was shot unfairly without Tub or Frank knowing what he compromised with the farmer to be allowed to hunt in his parameters. The old farmer could not part from the old dog and his lack of courage lead the dog to a miserable life with no purpose other than aging day by day. The defining message is however that the love one has for someone else can be of damage the person one endears.
Tobias Wolff story titled “Hunters in the Snow” depicts multiple messages or themes through the complex characters. Each with their own separate theme can be interpreted or understood because of the depth the author envisioned for the minor characters and protagonist which in this case is hard to single one main character. The story revolves around a trio of hunters Tub, Kenny, and Frank with a not so much mentioned character of a farmer with his old dog. The understanding of this story is a living statement that the theme can be found with minor characters and not solely in the protagonist and their personal struggles.