"Monkeys!" Ronny shrieked. "Wow!" -PAGE 150
The monkeys are a motif throughout the work. The monkeys enter at the beginning and are lurking throughout the story. They are also present in the end where they play a major role in reuniting the family. The monkeys play a key role in the story as they are present at the major points. The most significant of the monkey's actions are their attack on Bobby. This attack by the monkeys was essentially brought on by Mr. and Mrs. Das, but they did not recognize their own fault. Mrs. Das' puffed rice and Mr. Das snapping camera enticed the monkeys and worsened their attack. While this attack seemed terrible, it actually helped the family. Mr. and Mrs. Das had not been good parents up until this point and the monkey attack made them realize the love for their family and children that they had lacked up to this point. The monkeys are present throughout the story as a parallel to the uncaring nature of the parents. Where they are not paying attention, eating puffed rice, and snapping photos, the monkeys are their to signal to the reader the attitude of the parents and reiterate their lack of care.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Interpreter of Maladies- Jhumpa Lahiri (irony)
"Mr. Kapasi, don't you have anything to say? I thought that was your job." -PAGE 163
This quote contains an example of irony. The irony is in the interpretation of the word interpreter. I find it ironic that his role as an interpreter is misunderstood to mean something else. Mr. Kapasi is an interpreter of languages. Mrs. Das assumes him to be an interpreter of feelings and emotions. She jumps to the conclusion that he should be able to help her with her family problems when he has family problems of his own. He usually interprets people's physical pains for doctors by translating the languages. Mrs. Das expects him to translate her emotional pains. The irony is that she is telling a secret to someone she does not even know. She has no idea that he also struggles in his marriage.
This quote contains an example of irony. The irony is in the interpretation of the word interpreter. I find it ironic that his role as an interpreter is misunderstood to mean something else. Mr. Kapasi is an interpreter of languages. Mrs. Das assumes him to be an interpreter of feelings and emotions. She jumps to the conclusion that he should be able to help her with her family problems when he has family problems of his own. He usually interprets people's physical pains for doctors by translating the languages. Mrs. Das expects him to translate her emotional pains. The irony is that she is telling a secret to someone she does not even know. She has no idea that he also struggles in his marriage.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Elegy for My Father, Who Is Not Dead- Andrew Hudgins
"...I think he wants to go,/ a little bit- a new desire/ to travel."
This poem had an interesting take on death. The speaker and her father had two different views on the issue. She did not want her father to die. He was ready. He had a totally different idea about death. He was an optimist in his view of death. He saw the positives of death and the goodness that can come out of it. He even thought of death as a trip. The comparison to a trip further reveals his carefree attitude about death because going on a trip is a regular occurance. No matter how the father feels and explains the idea of death, the daughter does not want her father to die. I do not view the speaker as a pessimist though. She never really speaks negatively about death and the terrible things associated with it. She merely just does not want her father to die. She cannot be convinced that it will be a good thing for her father to die.
This poem had an interesting take on death. The speaker and her father had two different views on the issue. She did not want her father to die. He was ready. He had a totally different idea about death. He was an optimist in his view of death. He saw the positives of death and the goodness that can come out of it. He even thought of death as a trip. The comparison to a trip further reveals his carefree attitude about death because going on a trip is a regular occurance. No matter how the father feels and explains the idea of death, the daughter does not want her father to die. I do not view the speaker as a pessimist though. She never really speaks negatively about death and the terrible things associated with it. She merely just does not want her father to die. She cannot be convinced that it will be a good thing for her father to die.
Edward- Anonymous
"Why does your sword so drip with blood,/ Edward, Edward.../ O I have killed by hawk so good,/ Mother, Mother." PAGE 977-978
I found this poem to be rather interesting. In some ways, it reminded me of the poem about APO 96225 and the boy's description of war. In "Edward," the mother keeps asking the son, Edward, what he has done. Like the boy in APO 96225, Edward responds but not fully. He begins with things that are less grave. He starts with the killing of his hawk and steed, but his mother is persistent in asking what he did. When he says that he killed his mother, I noticed a shift in the pattern. Rather than asking about past events, Mother asks about future events. I was rather disturbed when Edward said that he killed his father like it was not big deal. He knew he would have to do penance, but he did not seem concerned. He also did not show very much love for his wife, children, and mother because he said that they would figure out what to do without him when he left. I think he killed his father on purpose so that he could get away from the responsibilities of his family. He knew that he would have a good excuse to leave if he killed his father. His act was definitely a little sketchy.
I found this poem to be rather interesting. In some ways, it reminded me of the poem about APO 96225 and the boy's description of war. In "Edward," the mother keeps asking the son, Edward, what he has done. Like the boy in APO 96225, Edward responds but not fully. He begins with things that are less grave. He starts with the killing of his hawk and steed, but his mother is persistent in asking what he did. When he says that he killed his mother, I noticed a shift in the pattern. Rather than asking about past events, Mother asks about future events. I was rather disturbed when Edward said that he killed his father like it was not big deal. He knew he would have to do penance, but he did not seem concerned. He also did not show very much love for his wife, children, and mother because he said that they would figure out what to do without him when he left. I think he killed his father on purpose so that he could get away from the responsibilities of his family. He knew that he would have a good excuse to leave if he killed his father. His act was definitely a little sketchy.
Death, be not proud- John Donne (personification)
"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee/ Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so." PAGE 971
This poem personifies death. The speaker is speaking to death. He is trying to degrade death and its power to convince himself that death should not be feared. His argument would not be as strong without the personification because the personification makes it like he is actually talking to someone. The argument would lose strength if he was just giving himself reasons why death is not so bad. He is able to support his point stronger with personification. The speaker tells death that it should not be so proud and sure of itself because it is not all that. He points out that death is a slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men and that people sleep just as well with charms or poppy. He also refers to life after death and how that is better than life on earth so death is not that intimidating because people are going to be happier. The personification of death helps the speaker convince himself that death is not so bad even though the reader can tell in his argument that he is unsure.
This poem personifies death. The speaker is speaking to death. He is trying to degrade death and its power to convince himself that death should not be feared. His argument would not be as strong without the personification because the personification makes it like he is actually talking to someone. The argument would lose strength if he was just giving himself reasons why death is not so bad. He is able to support his point stronger with personification. The speaker tells death that it should not be so proud and sure of itself because it is not all that. He points out that death is a slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men and that people sleep just as well with charms or poppy. He also refers to life after death and how that is better than life on earth so death is not that intimidating because people are going to be happier. The personification of death helps the speaker convince himself that death is not so bad even though the reader can tell in his argument that he is unsure.
Delight in Disorder- Robert Herrick (oxymoron)
"A careless shoestring, in whose tie/ I see a wild civility."
This poem contains an oxymoron. The oxymoron is the phrase "wild civility." Wild and civil seem to contradict themselves, but in this case they display the theme of the poem. The whole poem is about the parts of the woman's garb that are not exactly perfect. The speaker describes each piece of clothing or accessory that is out of place. The second to last line makes me think that the speaker might actually be talking about abstract art, not actually an outfit. I think he prefers abstract art over precise lines and shapes in other art forms. The oxymoron appears near the end where it emphasizes that clean and tidy is not always the best. The speaker reveals that he prefers things that are not visually perfect. He likes things that are more realistic. The oxymoron is reflective of the whole poem as the different things out of place are described in a pleasant way.
This poem contains an oxymoron. The oxymoron is the phrase "wild civility." Wild and civil seem to contradict themselves, but in this case they display the theme of the poem. The whole poem is about the parts of the woman's garb that are not exactly perfect. The speaker describes each piece of clothing or accessory that is out of place. The second to last line makes me think that the speaker might actually be talking about abstract art, not actually an outfit. I think he prefers abstract art over precise lines and shapes in other art forms. The oxymoron appears near the end where it emphasizes that clean and tidy is not always the best. The speaker reveals that he prefers things that are not visually perfect. He likes things that are more realistic. The oxymoron is reflective of the whole poem as the different things out of place are described in a pleasant way.
Lonely Hearts- Wendy Cope (rhetorical question)
"Do you live in North London? Is it you?" PAGE 973-972
This poem uses rhetorical questions to conclude each stanza. The rhetorical questions are part of the adds placed in a newspaper. People are looking for other people. The questions are used to effectively show that the people are looking for a certain someone. They are asking the reader of the adds if he or she could be the one. This poem portrays the different kinds of relationships people are looking for. It shows that not everyone wants to be involved in the same kind of relationship. The different people are looking for a specific kind of person they think will complete their life. The types of people requested vary just as the people who wrote them. The different people range from a biker woman, a gay, a bisexual woman who is arty and young, a successful and straight Jewish man, and a slim non-smoker under 21.
This poem uses rhetorical questions to conclude each stanza. The rhetorical questions are part of the adds placed in a newspaper. People are looking for other people. The questions are used to effectively show that the people are looking for a certain someone. They are asking the reader of the adds if he or she could be the one. This poem portrays the different kinds of relationships people are looking for. It shows that not everyone wants to be involved in the same kind of relationship. The different people are looking for a specific kind of person they think will complete their life. The types of people requested vary just as the people who wrote them. The different people range from a biker woman, a gay, a bisexual woman who is arty and young, a successful and straight Jewish man, and a slim non-smoker under 21.
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