Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book is divided into 3 sections, one for each country Liz lives in over the course of a year. First she spends 4 months in Italy eating, then she spends 4 months in India praying, then she spends 4 months in Indonesia loving. Over the past week I finished reading the Italy section of the memoir, and started the India section. The Italy section was fantastic, absolutely amazing. Liz talked about her experiences, and her travels, and all of the great food she ate! If any other person went on this journey and had the same experiences and wrote a memoir on it, it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable or inspiring as the way Liz tells it. She uses such great adjectives and emotions and figurative language when she writes, which makes it so much fun to read. I feel like I'm listening to her just sitting at the table, telling of her Italian friends that she has made and how every week she goes to another place in Italy, and asks the locals, where is the best place to eat? And once she gets there she asks the waitress for the best thing on the menu. It all sounds delightful, the way that Liz portrays it, and it is all in Italian, Liz's newly learned language. My mom was recently in Venice, so I heard about the nature of the Italians and their food and customs, and the beauty of their cities. Reading about it in this book made it all the more wonderful, and now I have been inspired to go to Italy and see all of the sites and experience what a beautiful and yummy country it is, all down to simply the Italian language.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 6, Post A
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
VOCAB
-coagulation(101)- the process of forming semisolid lumps in a liquid
-staid(102)- of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...] to Messina (a scary and suspicious Sicilian port town that seems to howl from behind barricaded doors, 'It's not my fault I'm ugly! I've been earthquaked and carpet-bombed and raped by the Mafia, too!')" (112). This is personification. The city does not yell itself but a traveler would get the feeling that the city is actually begging for mercy.
2. "Like we have roped it with our music, and now we are hauling it across the night sky like it's a massive fishing net, brimming with all our unknown destinies" (130). This is an example of a simile comparing the Indian New Years' celebration with music and dancing to pulling the New Year as if it were attached to a rope and they were lassoing it.
3. "The seconds drop down to midnight and we sing with our biggest effort yet and in this last brave exertion we finally pull the net of the New Year over us, covering both the sky and ourselves with it" (130). This is an example of a metaphor. The year was not actually tied to a rope that the Indians pulled into the next year, but that is how it felt, it was being pulled pulled pulled then it was covering them.
QUOTE
"'You have got control issues, Groceries. Come on. Nobody ever told you this before?'" (151). This is a major turning point for Liz because she finally realizes and admits to herself her issues and is ready to move on now with a clean slate and no extra baggage from past relationships and bad things that didn't go her way. She admits that she can't always be in control, but the worst is over with and it is time to let it go, stop wondering what could have been, and move on.
THEME
You have to struggle through the bad times to get to the good.
VOCAB
-coagulation(101)- the process of forming semisolid lumps in a liquid
-staid(102)- of settled or sedate character; not flighty or capricious
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...] to Messina (a scary and suspicious Sicilian port town that seems to howl from behind barricaded doors, 'It's not my fault I'm ugly! I've been earthquaked and carpet-bombed and raped by the Mafia, too!')" (112). This is personification. The city does not yell itself but a traveler would get the feeling that the city is actually begging for mercy.
2. "Like we have roped it with our music, and now we are hauling it across the night sky like it's a massive fishing net, brimming with all our unknown destinies" (130). This is an example of a simile comparing the Indian New Years' celebration with music and dancing to pulling the New Year as if it were attached to a rope and they were lassoing it.
3. "The seconds drop down to midnight and we sing with our biggest effort yet and in this last brave exertion we finally pull the net of the New Year over us, covering both the sky and ourselves with it" (130). This is an example of a metaphor. The year was not actually tied to a rope that the Indians pulled into the next year, but that is how it felt, it was being pulled pulled pulled then it was covering them.
QUOTE
"'You have got control issues, Groceries. Come on. Nobody ever told you this before?'" (151). This is a major turning point for Liz because she finally realizes and admits to herself her issues and is ready to move on now with a clean slate and no extra baggage from past relationships and bad things that didn't go her way. She admits that she can't always be in control, but the worst is over with and it is time to let it go, stop wondering what could have been, and move on.
THEME
You have to struggle through the bad times to get to the good.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 5, Post B
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I really enjoy reading this book. Most school books feel like a chore to read, but I find myself wanting to pick up this one and wondering about what will happen next. I think that it is so intriguing because of the writing style of the author, Elizabeth Gilbert. It truly is written like a memoir, as if Liz is sitting right next to you with a cup of coffee recounting the story of her life. I am amazed at how open she is about her problems and thoughts, but she doesn't make it seem like one of those novels where the conflict is so drastic it is unrealistic to the average housewife that would buy and read a novel of this sort. Anna commented on my blog, this book makes me want to do yoga! and I feel the same way. It is so inspiring to hear her talk about and describe how she feels, I really have started about how I can better my mental health and physical and spiritual health as well. It is funny how inspired I am because just the other day I turned on Oprah and none other than Elizabeth Gilbert was on. She was a guest on the show a week or two ago and everybody loved hearing form her so much that she was invited back to do another show, with even more viewer input. There were ladies interviewed on the show that talked about how this book had changed their lives, some women went to Paris, some started taking one weekend off a month for themselves, and some realized that hey, if she can do it, I can do it and got their acts together. It was also great to put a face to the name of the woman who I know more about her struggles, hardships, and thoughts than my own mother. The general consensus from everyone that has read this book is that it is AMAZING and that is proven by being on the new york times' bestseller list and countless other recognitions.
I really enjoy reading this book. Most school books feel like a chore to read, but I find myself wanting to pick up this one and wondering about what will happen next. I think that it is so intriguing because of the writing style of the author, Elizabeth Gilbert. It truly is written like a memoir, as if Liz is sitting right next to you with a cup of coffee recounting the story of her life. I am amazed at how open she is about her problems and thoughts, but she doesn't make it seem like one of those novels where the conflict is so drastic it is unrealistic to the average housewife that would buy and read a novel of this sort. Anna commented on my blog, this book makes me want to do yoga! and I feel the same way. It is so inspiring to hear her talk about and describe how she feels, I really have started about how I can better my mental health and physical and spiritual health as well. It is funny how inspired I am because just the other day I turned on Oprah and none other than Elizabeth Gilbert was on. She was a guest on the show a week or two ago and everybody loved hearing form her so much that she was invited back to do another show, with even more viewer input. There were ladies interviewed on the show that talked about how this book had changed their lives, some women went to Paris, some started taking one weekend off a month for themselves, and some realized that hey, if she can do it, I can do it and got their acts together. It was also great to put a face to the name of the woman who I know more about her struggles, hardships, and thoughts than my own mother. The general consensus from everyone that has read this book is that it is AMAZING and that is proven by being on the new york times' bestseller list and countless other recognitions.
Outside Reading - Week 5, Post A
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
VOCAB
-grievous(94)- causing grief or great sorrow
-decanted(99)- To pour (a liquid) from one container into another
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...]'Tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth'"(94). This is repetition, used to force the virtue of honesty into the reader's head.
2. "It's the emotional recoil that kills you, the shock of stepping off the track of a conventional lifestyle and losing all the embracing comforts that keep so many people on that track forever" (94). This is a metaphor for divorce and the emotional recovery after a divorce, being compared to a roller coaster track.
3. "But what if [...]? What if [...]? Where [....]? How [...]? But what if [...]? What [...]?" (95). This is a series of questions about Liz's life that could be asked of any one's life that is reading the memoir. It is a style technique used so that the reader can easily relate to the author's situation in life.
QUOTE
"Ah, she left her marriage in order to preserve her art"(95). Liz is using this as a justification of why she got a divorce. She was insecure about what others thought of her for leaving her husband, and it bothered her, so she is making things up in her head to justify her paranoia.
THEME
I am seeing the theme of independence continue to strengthen.
VOCAB
-grievous(94)- causing grief or great sorrow
-decanted(99)- To pour (a liquid) from one container into another
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...]'Tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth'"(94). This is repetition, used to force the virtue of honesty into the reader's head.
2. "It's the emotional recoil that kills you, the shock of stepping off the track of a conventional lifestyle and losing all the embracing comforts that keep so many people on that track forever" (94). This is a metaphor for divorce and the emotional recovery after a divorce, being compared to a roller coaster track.
3. "But what if [...]? What if [...]? Where [....]? How [...]? But what if [...]? What [...]?" (95). This is a series of questions about Liz's life that could be asked of any one's life that is reading the memoir. It is a style technique used so that the reader can easily relate to the author's situation in life.
QUOTE
"Ah, she left her marriage in order to preserve her art"(95). Liz is using this as a justification of why she got a divorce. She was insecure about what others thought of her for leaving her husband, and it bothered her, so she is making things up in her head to justify her paranoia.
THEME
I am seeing the theme of independence continue to strengthen.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 4, Post B
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
A theme that I am seeing emerge from the pages of this touching memoir is independence and strength of character. Elizabeth's year long journey to Italy, India, and Indonesia was taken because she wanted to do something for herself, to rediscover herself and reinvent her habits and unhealthy thinking patterns. Prior to her travels, Liz needed affection and recognition from others that she was involved with. She dovoted herself to a relationship, whether it was a friendship or romantic relationship. Elizabeth gave all that she had, and needed the same undemandable things back which the other person could not give her. By traveling, she is asserting her independence, and her lack of a need for a man or devoted friend. Liz comes to realize this and have healthier thoughts here.
A theme that I am seeing emerge from the pages of this touching memoir is independence and strength of character. Elizabeth's year long journey to Italy, India, and Indonesia was taken because she wanted to do something for herself, to rediscover herself and reinvent her habits and unhealthy thinking patterns. Prior to her travels, Liz needed affection and recognition from others that she was involved with. She dovoted herself to a relationship, whether it was a friendship or romantic relationship. Elizabeth gave all that she had, and needed the same undemandable things back which the other person could not give her. By traveling, she is asserting her independence, and her lack of a need for a man or devoted friend. Liz comes to realize this and have healthier thoughts here.
Outside Reading - Week 4, Post A
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
VOCAB
-amenities(91)- any feature that provides comfort, convenience, or pleasure
-hair shirt(87)- an object that can be worn to induce some degree of discomfort or pain
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...] a mushroom pate that tastes like a forest [...](90)." This is a simile because Gilbert is comparing the taste of her pate to the taste of a forest, which is a very descriptive yet vague comparison because no-one goes around tasting forests, but one can imagine what it would taste like.
2. "[...] two of those big softball-sized rolls of bread, spicy sausage, pickled sardines wrapped around meaty green olives, a mushroom pate that tastes like a forest, balls of smoked mozzarella, peppered and grilled arugula, cherry tomatoes, pecorino cheese, mineral water and a split of cold white wine[...](90)." This is imagery because of all the descriptive adjectives that create such a vivid image in your mind.
3. "Before either one of us gets on an airplane now, the one always calls the other and says, 'I know this is morbid, but I just wanted to tell you that I love you. You know...just in case...' And the other one always says, 'I know...just in case'(89)." This is a loaded "phrase," the terrorist attacks touched many people and many of those people fear flying and want to be safe "just in case." Also, the emotion the sisters felt can be shared and brought to life by the mention of this scenario.
QUOTE
"That maybe it's time for us to end our story forever(81)." Liz is referring to the story of her and her lover David. They have had a continuous relationship with offs and ons for a long period of time, starting right after her divorce and not ending ever (it seems like). Every time they get back together it screws Liz up because they become happy then something goes wrong and it tears the two of them apart continuously. This realization of hers is how Liz is deciding to take matters into her own hands and choose her life.
THEME
An emerging theme I see is independence and strength of character.
VOCAB
-amenities(91)- any feature that provides comfort, convenience, or pleasure
-hair shirt(87)- an object that can be worn to induce some degree of discomfort or pain
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...] a mushroom pate that tastes like a forest [...](90)." This is a simile because Gilbert is comparing the taste of her pate to the taste of a forest, which is a very descriptive yet vague comparison because no-one goes around tasting forests, but one can imagine what it would taste like.
2. "[...] two of those big softball-sized rolls of bread, spicy sausage, pickled sardines wrapped around meaty green olives, a mushroom pate that tastes like a forest, balls of smoked mozzarella, peppered and grilled arugula, cherry tomatoes, pecorino cheese, mineral water and a split of cold white wine[...](90)." This is imagery because of all the descriptive adjectives that create such a vivid image in your mind.
3. "Before either one of us gets on an airplane now, the one always calls the other and says, 'I know this is morbid, but I just wanted to tell you that I love you. You know...just in case...' And the other one always says, 'I know...just in case'(89)." This is a loaded "phrase," the terrorist attacks touched many people and many of those people fear flying and want to be safe "just in case." Also, the emotion the sisters felt can be shared and brought to life by the mention of this scenario.
QUOTE
"That maybe it's time for us to end our story forever(81)." Liz is referring to the story of her and her lover David. They have had a continuous relationship with offs and ons for a long period of time, starting right after her divorce and not ending ever (it seems like). Every time they get back together it screws Liz up because they become happy then something goes wrong and it tears the two of them apart continuously. This realization of hers is how Liz is deciding to take matters into her own hands and choose her life.
THEME
An emerging theme I see is independence and strength of character.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
On the Waterfront Film as Literature Review
“I could’ve been a contender.” Those famous words are spoken by Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront. Terry could have become a boxing champion. Instead, his family and friends in the mob influence him to lose a critical fight in order to benefit the mob; a mob that all of Terry’s family and friends are closely tied to. A similar decision is made in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, where Joe Keller makes a decision that will benefit his family and put others in danger, all for the prosperity of the family business. The purpose of our watching this film in class was to have a basis for comparison between All My Sons and another literary work, and being that there are multiple similarities, I feel that this film was effective. In addition, On the Waterfront has a good moral message about standing up for your rights, which we discussed in class, making the film even more effective.
Literature shares certain aspects with film, including setting, point-of-view, and theme. In On the Waterfront, the setting is on the docks of the waterfront in a time and place where workers had very few rights to getting a job. This sets the scene for the main conflict, the little guys standing up to the big men for their rights to work. The heavy machinery and crashing waves on the docks add to the feeling that employment is hard to get and unsafe when it is available. A man who does not have to fight for a steady pay is Terry Malloy, who has friends fighting on both sides of the struggle. By seeing the story from Terry’s relationships with the mob and with Edie Doyle, the plot unfolds from Terry’s broad point-of-view and the conflict is set. As in all novels, films have themes. In On the Waterfront, the theme of standing up for what you believe in is portrayed through the various characters of Dugan, Father Barry, and Edie.
The dramatic aspects of film are what make a film a film; including the actors and the way that they act, and the set’s design and lighting. The casting of Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy, Eva Marie Saint as Edie Doyle, and Rod Steiger as Charley Malloy are all smart casting decisions because each actor has a quality about him or her that contributes to the personality of their character in the movie. Marlon Brando plays the role of a dim-witted boxer perfectly, with his slurred speech and indecisive tone of voice that he uses. When Edie asks him why he continues to hang around with Johnny, all that Brando does is shrug his shoulders, mutter “I dunno,” and play dumb. Despite his lack of brains he is loveable, and that is what makes the movie work. The audience will always be on the side of Terry because of Brando’s cute, “I don’t know any better” demeanor. Another actor that makes this film’s message so powerful is Eva Marie Saint’s innocent portrayal of Edie Doyle. It is important for Edie to act tough and stubborn to convey the message that all people can stand up for what they believe in, and Saint shows this by jumping into the scuffle for a work ticket. Her body language is true to character when Eva pounces for a ticket and wrestles it out of the other men’s fingers. However, at the same time Edie needs to be sensitive and naïve to the dangers around her. Saint shows Edie’s adolescence through her quiet and upset tone of voice when Terry gets mad at her for questioning his involvement with the mob. The final smart casting decision by Elia Kazan is casting Rod Steiger as Charley Malloy. Rod portrays Charley as a big shot who was cool around his buddies, good with numbers, and a man who everybody liked. But what made the character work was the fact that he was helpless when it came to the mob’s affairs, and like Terry, his hands are tied behind his back. Steiger shows this in the back of the cab when he gives Terry the ultimatum. Steiger, who had been acting very cool, is now at the mercy of Johnny Friendly; the look on his face and solemn tone of voice convey the fact that he, Charley, is a pigeon as well, being told when to fly and when to stay.
The other dramatic aspect that really shows the different moods of this film are the various lighting effects. Edie Doyle has bright blonde hair that seems to catch the light in each scene. Her hair is light while the rest of the characters’ is dark, making her stand out in every shot. It is perfect for her character that she stand out, because it shows the audience even more how out of place she is at the docks, making her struggle to validate Joey’s death seem greater and more of a challenge. Another way that Edie’s light hair is significant to her character is that it makes her seem more innocent like an angel, and not a woman who should spend her time with dock workers and mobsters. The second lighting effect is the lightness and darkness of each shot. In the beginning, it is night-time when Terry yells to Joey on the roof, and the set’s lighting is dark. It creates a mystery so that it is hard to see what is going on. Again at night-time, towards the end of the film, Terry and Edie find Charlie dead in the alleyway. The set is much more lit up because the criminals are about to be exposed, and the energy level is higher.
The third aspect of films has to do with cinematics, namely photography and duration of shots. There is a variety of shot photography throughout On the Waterfront, notably with the camera angles. An example of a high angle shot is when Edie is on the roof with Terry, looking down at him with all of his pigeons. This type of shot is foreshadowing for the future. It portrays Edie as being bigger and greater than Terry, with more sense of self. It also shows that she has power over Terry, which she later uses on him to get him to testify against Johnny Friendly. An example of the opposite shot, a low angle, is the shot from in the hatch, when Father Barry is with Dugan’s dead body, and preaching that he will testify along with Dugan against all the unfairness happening to all of the dock workers. Something is seen flying in the foreground and the camera looks up to find that many men are throwing beer bottles and food into the hatch at Father. From the perspective of being in the hatch, the audience feels helpless, and as if the battle they are about to fight will be difficult and endless, with nobody to turn to for help. These feelings of despair and helplessness are drowned by the next shot, one of Father Barry being raised up. Suddenly, the camera is looking up at him in a high angled shot, and he looks in control and standing strong; ready for the combat ahead. The duration of shots also adds to the feelings being shown in each scene. When Terry and Edie are fighting in the bar, the camera moves quickly, it has already cut to the next person, filming their response before the first person is finished with their sentence, building up feelings of fury. The camera cuts much slower and hardly at all when Terry is in the bar after finding Charley dead, and Father Barry is trying to gently ease him into not shooting Johnny and his mob. Any sudden movements would make the mood suspenseful, where Elia Kazan wants the audience beginning to calm down after the climax of the film.
Both in On the Waterfront and All My Sons, the protagonist is faced with a choice that will potentially benefit or jeopardize their family. The choice that Terry Malloy, of On the Waterfront, faces is whether or not to testify against Johnny Friendly and his mob monopolizing the work pool; a mob that Charley Malloy, Terry’s brother, is a member of. If Terry withholds testimony, everyone will be happy and his brother will live, but the workers will continue to be treated unfairly. If Terry does testify, he will be helping the rightless dock men, but Friendly and his men will kill Charley. Joe Keller faces a similar dilemma when it comes to the decision of issuing faulty cylinder heads to the army, cylinder heads that will likely fail and cause problems for the planes they are to be installed in. If Joe acts as if he does not notice the problem and issues the parts with the hope that the will be fixed, his business will not lose money or halt production. If Joe does speak up, his business and reputation will be shattered to pieces. It is important to Joe that the business succeeds so that he can pass it along to his sons, providing them with a steady source of income in their adult lives. Joe puts his family first and issues the pieces, while Terry does not and testifies against Johnny Friendly, which is what makes these two men different. Although the decision of community versus family presents itself in both situations, family is not always chosen and neither is community.
On the Waterfront is a film that I recommend watching for the message it conveys and the way the actors contribute to the message. The message is seen through the theme of standing up for your rights, as many of the characters did. The characters were able to strongly portray this theme because of the thoughtful and meaningful performances the actors gave, all down to the smallest body movements. The look in the eyes of these actors were so passionate, making the audience feel passionate for the worthy cause of standing up for what is rightfully yours.
Literature shares certain aspects with film, including setting, point-of-view, and theme. In On the Waterfront, the setting is on the docks of the waterfront in a time and place where workers had very few rights to getting a job. This sets the scene for the main conflict, the little guys standing up to the big men for their rights to work. The heavy machinery and crashing waves on the docks add to the feeling that employment is hard to get and unsafe when it is available. A man who does not have to fight for a steady pay is Terry Malloy, who has friends fighting on both sides of the struggle. By seeing the story from Terry’s relationships with the mob and with Edie Doyle, the plot unfolds from Terry’s broad point-of-view and the conflict is set. As in all novels, films have themes. In On the Waterfront, the theme of standing up for what you believe in is portrayed through the various characters of Dugan, Father Barry, and Edie.
The dramatic aspects of film are what make a film a film; including the actors and the way that they act, and the set’s design and lighting. The casting of Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy, Eva Marie Saint as Edie Doyle, and Rod Steiger as Charley Malloy are all smart casting decisions because each actor has a quality about him or her that contributes to the personality of their character in the movie. Marlon Brando plays the role of a dim-witted boxer perfectly, with his slurred speech and indecisive tone of voice that he uses. When Edie asks him why he continues to hang around with Johnny, all that Brando does is shrug his shoulders, mutter “I dunno,” and play dumb. Despite his lack of brains he is loveable, and that is what makes the movie work. The audience will always be on the side of Terry because of Brando’s cute, “I don’t know any better” demeanor. Another actor that makes this film’s message so powerful is Eva Marie Saint’s innocent portrayal of Edie Doyle. It is important for Edie to act tough and stubborn to convey the message that all people can stand up for what they believe in, and Saint shows this by jumping into the scuffle for a work ticket. Her body language is true to character when Eva pounces for a ticket and wrestles it out of the other men’s fingers. However, at the same time Edie needs to be sensitive and naïve to the dangers around her. Saint shows Edie’s adolescence through her quiet and upset tone of voice when Terry gets mad at her for questioning his involvement with the mob. The final smart casting decision by Elia Kazan is casting Rod Steiger as Charley Malloy. Rod portrays Charley as a big shot who was cool around his buddies, good with numbers, and a man who everybody liked. But what made the character work was the fact that he was helpless when it came to the mob’s affairs, and like Terry, his hands are tied behind his back. Steiger shows this in the back of the cab when he gives Terry the ultimatum. Steiger, who had been acting very cool, is now at the mercy of Johnny Friendly; the look on his face and solemn tone of voice convey the fact that he, Charley, is a pigeon as well, being told when to fly and when to stay.
The other dramatic aspect that really shows the different moods of this film are the various lighting effects. Edie Doyle has bright blonde hair that seems to catch the light in each scene. Her hair is light while the rest of the characters’ is dark, making her stand out in every shot. It is perfect for her character that she stand out, because it shows the audience even more how out of place she is at the docks, making her struggle to validate Joey’s death seem greater and more of a challenge. Another way that Edie’s light hair is significant to her character is that it makes her seem more innocent like an angel, and not a woman who should spend her time with dock workers and mobsters. The second lighting effect is the lightness and darkness of each shot. In the beginning, it is night-time when Terry yells to Joey on the roof, and the set’s lighting is dark. It creates a mystery so that it is hard to see what is going on. Again at night-time, towards the end of the film, Terry and Edie find Charlie dead in the alleyway. The set is much more lit up because the criminals are about to be exposed, and the energy level is higher.
The third aspect of films has to do with cinematics, namely photography and duration of shots. There is a variety of shot photography throughout On the Waterfront, notably with the camera angles. An example of a high angle shot is when Edie is on the roof with Terry, looking down at him with all of his pigeons. This type of shot is foreshadowing for the future. It portrays Edie as being bigger and greater than Terry, with more sense of self. It also shows that she has power over Terry, which she later uses on him to get him to testify against Johnny Friendly. An example of the opposite shot, a low angle, is the shot from in the hatch, when Father Barry is with Dugan’s dead body, and preaching that he will testify along with Dugan against all the unfairness happening to all of the dock workers. Something is seen flying in the foreground and the camera looks up to find that many men are throwing beer bottles and food into the hatch at Father. From the perspective of being in the hatch, the audience feels helpless, and as if the battle they are about to fight will be difficult and endless, with nobody to turn to for help. These feelings of despair and helplessness are drowned by the next shot, one of Father Barry being raised up. Suddenly, the camera is looking up at him in a high angled shot, and he looks in control and standing strong; ready for the combat ahead. The duration of shots also adds to the feelings being shown in each scene. When Terry and Edie are fighting in the bar, the camera moves quickly, it has already cut to the next person, filming their response before the first person is finished with their sentence, building up feelings of fury. The camera cuts much slower and hardly at all when Terry is in the bar after finding Charley dead, and Father Barry is trying to gently ease him into not shooting Johnny and his mob. Any sudden movements would make the mood suspenseful, where Elia Kazan wants the audience beginning to calm down after the climax of the film.
Both in On the Waterfront and All My Sons, the protagonist is faced with a choice that will potentially benefit or jeopardize their family. The choice that Terry Malloy, of On the Waterfront, faces is whether or not to testify against Johnny Friendly and his mob monopolizing the work pool; a mob that Charley Malloy, Terry’s brother, is a member of. If Terry withholds testimony, everyone will be happy and his brother will live, but the workers will continue to be treated unfairly. If Terry does testify, he will be helping the rightless dock men, but Friendly and his men will kill Charley. Joe Keller faces a similar dilemma when it comes to the decision of issuing faulty cylinder heads to the army, cylinder heads that will likely fail and cause problems for the planes they are to be installed in. If Joe acts as if he does not notice the problem and issues the parts with the hope that the will be fixed, his business will not lose money or halt production. If Joe does speak up, his business and reputation will be shattered to pieces. It is important to Joe that the business succeeds so that he can pass it along to his sons, providing them with a steady source of income in their adult lives. Joe puts his family first and issues the pieces, while Terry does not and testifies against Johnny Friendly, which is what makes these two men different. Although the decision of community versus family presents itself in both situations, family is not always chosen and neither is community.
On the Waterfront is a film that I recommend watching for the message it conveys and the way the actors contribute to the message. The message is seen through the theme of standing up for your rights, as many of the characters did. The characters were able to strongly portray this theme because of the thoughtful and meaningful performances the actors gave, all down to the smallest body movements. The look in the eyes of these actors were so passionate, making the audience feel passionate for the worthy cause of standing up for what is rightfully yours.
Outside Reading - Week 3, Post B
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
"I peeled the eggs and arranged them on a plate beside the seven stalks of the asparagus (which were so slim and snappy they didn't need to be cooked at all). I put some olives on the plate, too, and the four knobs of goat cheese I'd picked up yesterday from the formaggeria down the street, and two slices of pink, oily salmon. For dessert-a lovely peach, which the woman at the market had given me for free and which was still warm from the Roman sunlight. For the longest time I couldn't even touch this food because it was such a masterpiece of lunch, a true expression of the art of making something out of nothing. Finally, when I had absorbed the prettiness of my meal, I went and sat in a patch of sunbeam on my clean wooden floor and ate every bite of it[...] (64)." This quote from the book has been my favorite so far. As I reflect on what I have read so far, there are parts that I can vividly recall because they have stuck in my memory, but none like this one. When I read it, I immediately re-read it once, then one more time because of how beautiful it sounded. The way she describes her fresh food from the Italian market, and then how she takes the time to just sit in the sun and enjoy it. Those sorts of things make me happy-good food and sunbeams- so I felt a personal connection to her as she was doing this. It also sticks out to me because it fulfills her reasons to go to Italy, to treat herself to something that she deserves for the heck of it.
"I peeled the eggs and arranged them on a plate beside the seven stalks of the asparagus (which were so slim and snappy they didn't need to be cooked at all). I put some olives on the plate, too, and the four knobs of goat cheese I'd picked up yesterday from the formaggeria down the street, and two slices of pink, oily salmon. For dessert-a lovely peach, which the woman at the market had given me for free and which was still warm from the Roman sunlight. For the longest time I couldn't even touch this food because it was such a masterpiece of lunch, a true expression of the art of making something out of nothing. Finally, when I had absorbed the prettiness of my meal, I went and sat in a patch of sunbeam on my clean wooden floor and ate every bite of it[...] (64)." This quote from the book has been my favorite so far. As I reflect on what I have read so far, there are parts that I can vividly recall because they have stuck in my memory, but none like this one. When I read it, I immediately re-read it once, then one more time because of how beautiful it sounded. The way she describes her fresh food from the Italian market, and then how she takes the time to just sit in the sun and enjoy it. Those sorts of things make me happy-good food and sunbeams- so I felt a personal connection to her as she was doing this. It also sticks out to me because it fulfills her reasons to go to Italy, to treat herself to something that she deserves for the heck of it.
Outside Reading - Week 3, Post A
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
VOCAB
-paradigm(60)- a standard or typical example
-dilettante(73)- a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler; a lover of an art or science, esp. of a fine art
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...]Eccola, eccola, eccola, mio bravo ragazzo, caro mio, eccola, eccola, ecco-AAAHHHHHHHHH!!! VAFFANCULO!!! [...] Which I can attempt to translate as: [...] There it is, there it is, there it is, my brilliant boy, my dear, there it is, there it is, there-AHHH! GO FUCK YOURSELF!(69)[...]." This is figurative language as imagery. The capitalized words show the emotion and the Italian to English translation is a way of showing how intense the words are. This was spoken by an Italian man at a soccer game who treated the players as if he was their coach, father, and best friend.
2. "Depression and Lonliness track me down after about ten days in Italy (46)." Gilbert is personifying depression and lonliness as men that have a mission to follow her wherever she goes. She later describes Depression as sitting on the couch and lighting a smoky cigar whil Lonliness climbs into her bed without even taking his shoes off.
3. "I peeled the eggs and arranged them on a plate beside the seven stalks of the asparagus (which were so slim and snappy they didn't need to be cooked at all). I put some olives on the plate, too, and the four knobs of goat cheese I'd picked up yesterday from the formaggeria down the street, and two slices of pink, oily salmon. For dessert-a lovely peach, which the woman at the market had given me for free and which was still warm from the Roman sunlight(64)." This figurative language is imagery. The reader can envision what all of the food looked like and how it must have tasted.
QUOTE
"I think maybe you always look like your men (65)." This was said to Elizabeth by one of her gut friends at a party. He was saying that dog owners look like their dogs and Elizabeth looks like her men. This makes her realize that when she is in a realtionship she gives everything to the man she is with. By traveling abroad for a year, Elizabeth is trying to get away from all that has been depressing her, including her troubles with men. She is exhausted from sacfrificing everything she has to her lovers, so Italy is a way for her to relieve stress, and abandon bad habits.
THEME
The theme that I see emerging is to enjoy yourself, and it is okay to relax, have fun, and do something without a purpose.
VOCAB
-paradigm(60)- a standard or typical example
-dilettante(73)- a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler; a lover of an art or science, esp. of a fine art
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...]Eccola, eccola, eccola, mio bravo ragazzo, caro mio, eccola, eccola, ecco-AAAHHHHHHHHH!!! VAFFANCULO!!! [...] Which I can attempt to translate as: [...] There it is, there it is, there it is, my brilliant boy, my dear, there it is, there it is, there-AHHH! GO FUCK YOURSELF!(69)[...]." This is figurative language as imagery. The capitalized words show the emotion and the Italian to English translation is a way of showing how intense the words are. This was spoken by an Italian man at a soccer game who treated the players as if he was their coach, father, and best friend.
2. "Depression and Lonliness track me down after about ten days in Italy (46)." Gilbert is personifying depression and lonliness as men that have a mission to follow her wherever she goes. She later describes Depression as sitting on the couch and lighting a smoky cigar whil Lonliness climbs into her bed without even taking his shoes off.
3. "I peeled the eggs and arranged them on a plate beside the seven stalks of the asparagus (which were so slim and snappy they didn't need to be cooked at all). I put some olives on the plate, too, and the four knobs of goat cheese I'd picked up yesterday from the formaggeria down the street, and two slices of pink, oily salmon. For dessert-a lovely peach, which the woman at the market had given me for free and which was still warm from the Roman sunlight(64)." This figurative language is imagery. The reader can envision what all of the food looked like and how it must have tasted.
QUOTE
"I think maybe you always look like your men (65)." This was said to Elizabeth by one of her gut friends at a party. He was saying that dog owners look like their dogs and Elizabeth looks like her men. This makes her realize that when she is in a realtionship she gives everything to the man she is with. By traveling abroad for a year, Elizabeth is trying to get away from all that has been depressing her, including her troubles with men. She is exhausted from sacfrificing everything she has to her lovers, so Italy is a way for her to relieve stress, and abandon bad habits.
THEME
The theme that I see emerging is to enjoy yourself, and it is okay to relax, have fun, and do something without a purpose.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 2, Post B
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
THE FIRST IMPRESSION
I chose this book because it was the first available book that fit the criteria for second quarter outside reading. I then figured out that my mom had started to read and really liked what she had read thus far. I later found out that it was a memoir on the list of suggested memoirs for quarter one’s outside reading. Some friends of mine had read it and from their blogs and my conversations with them it was a fantastic book. Finally, the first day that I brought it to school, Mrs. Burgess said that it was one of her favorite books. After all these great things I was hearing, I felt that this could be a great read, and I was excited to begin reading it. I don’t like books that get off to a bad, boring, or confusing start. This novel fit none of the above appalling standards. Within the first few pages, the otherwise confusing format was explained. The book is structured like a japa mala, or prayer beads, into three sections of 36 chapters each. Already I was interested and ready to get on with the book, to finalize my first impression. What I found was a good plot line that got right into the story, and I was immediately enthralled with the memoir. Some stories just inspire you, and this one did before I was fished reading the first ten pages. I practice my religion regularly, and I was inspired to increase my praying and devotion to God twice as much as usual, simply by hearing the story that Elizabeth was telling of her experiences with God. In conclusion, this memoir has given me a wonderful first impression and has lived up to all of the expectations placed upon it by others.
Outside Reading - Week 2, Post A
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
VOCAB
-Balinese(26)- Of or pertaining to Bali, its people, or their language
-divinity(26)- The quality of being divine; divine nature
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "Just when I was feeling particularly sorry for myself for being broke and lonely and caged up in Divorce Internment Camp, [...]"(26). The figurative language in this quote is the capitalization of Divorce Internment Camp, a symbolism. This is not just a casual term that the author made up, it is serious and truly feels like an internment camp to her, and the capitals emphasize that.
2. "Because God never slams the door in your face without opening up a box Girl Scout cookies [...]"(22). This is a metaphor. In reality God does not open a box of cookies and set them on the table in front of you, rather he allows something special or pleasing to happen to you. In this case, Elizabeth Gilbert is comparing a kind act of God to Girl Scout cookies.
3. "It all begins when the object of your adoration bestows upon you a heady, hallucinogenic dose of something you never even dared to admit that you wanted-an emotional speedball, perhaps, of thunderous love and roiling excitement"(20). This is another metaphor. Gilbert is comparing the happiness you feel when you are in a relationship to the high you experience from drugs. She never did drugs, but she feels high and hallucinogenical as if she had.
QUOTE
"So that's it. You have now reached infatuation's final destination-the complete and merciless devaluation of self"(21). This quote is significant because it has a deeper meaning than it appears. The term "reached the final destination" implies that you were on a transportation device of some sort, in this case, a roller coaster. The relationship that she was in was comparable to a roller coaster, with ups and downs, exciting and scary, and the feeling of never knowing what will come next. Because infatuation doesn't have destinations, the phrase "final destination" jumps out and triggers her comparing her relationship to a roller coaster, which she did do in the memoir.
THEME
The theme that I am seeing to emerge is, You never know what will come next, life is the definition of unpredictable.
VOCAB
-Balinese(26)- Of or pertaining to Bali, its people, or their language
-divinity(26)- The quality of being divine; divine nature
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "Just when I was feeling particularly sorry for myself for being broke and lonely and caged up in Divorce Internment Camp, [...]"(26). The figurative language in this quote is the capitalization of Divorce Internment Camp, a symbolism. This is not just a casual term that the author made up, it is serious and truly feels like an internment camp to her, and the capitals emphasize that.
2. "Because God never slams the door in your face without opening up a box Girl Scout cookies [...]"(22). This is a metaphor. In reality God does not open a box of cookies and set them on the table in front of you, rather he allows something special or pleasing to happen to you. In this case, Elizabeth Gilbert is comparing a kind act of God to Girl Scout cookies.
3. "It all begins when the object of your adoration bestows upon you a heady, hallucinogenic dose of something you never even dared to admit that you wanted-an emotional speedball, perhaps, of thunderous love and roiling excitement"(20). This is another metaphor. Gilbert is comparing the happiness you feel when you are in a relationship to the high you experience from drugs. She never did drugs, but she feels high and hallucinogenical as if she had.
QUOTE
"So that's it. You have now reached infatuation's final destination-the complete and merciless devaluation of self"(21). This quote is significant because it has a deeper meaning than it appears. The term "reached the final destination" implies that you were on a transportation device of some sort, in this case, a roller coaster. The relationship that she was in was comparable to a roller coaster, with ups and downs, exciting and scary, and the feeling of never knowing what will come next. Because infatuation doesn't have destinations, the phrase "final destination" jumps out and triggers her comparing her relationship to a roller coaster, which she did do in the memoir.
THEME
The theme that I am seeing to emerge is, You never know what will come next, life is the definition of unpredictable.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 1, Post B
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I identified the emerging theme as “You can never make a decision until you are forced to do so.” The protagonist, Elizabeth Gilbert, describes the difficult decisions that she had to make in this particular part of her life. The first one that she is faced with is whether or not to have a baby. Her husband and she agreed on having a baby, but Elizabeth does not want to start a family yet. She tells herself that all mothers feel that way and it is natural to be glad that she is not pregnant month after month. When she has the opportunity to do a report in New Zealand, Elizabeth is ecstatic. It was then that she was able to admit to herself not wanting to have a baby. Also, she had feelings of uncertainty about her marriage, and convinced her that they too were only temporary. It was not until her and her husband had a fight that she knew “I don’t want to be married anymore” (9). The final decision in this time of her despair was believing in God, and believing in the practice of a religion. Elizabeth had never actually prayed to God before throughout her life, and it was when she needed someone the most that she finally turned to God and recognized that He was there to help her. Nothing in her life had persuaded her to need religion, and now she is a committed advocate of God.
Outside Reading - Week 1, Post A
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
VOCAB
-Jehovah(13)- God, especially in Christian translations of the Hebrew Scriptures
-oblong(12)- (of a leaf shape) having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides deviating from a square or circle or sphere by being elongated in one direction
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...] through the back streets of Rome, which meander organically around the ancient buildings like bayou streams snaking around shadowy clumps of cypress groves" (9). This is a simile because she is comparing the streets of Rome to bayou streams.
2. "Giovanni is my Tandem Exchange Partner. That sounds like an innuendo, but unfortunately it's not" (7). This is what appears to be Elizabeth's metaphor for her hook-up, but she goes on to explain that unfortunately she is not doing that with him and he simply teaches her Italian.
3. "('Ambivalent' was the word I used, avoiding the much more accurate description: 'utterly consumed with dread')" (8). This is an example of the imagery behind the word ambivalent, and her description of how she uses it.
QUOTE
"What happened was that I started to pray" (12). This was the time in Elizabeth's life when she was at her lowest, she didn't know what she wanted and if she was doing the right thing. She felt like she had nobody to turn to, especially because she had never had a connection with God before. When she was at her breaking point she turned to God, and prayed, for the first time. It was the instance that triggered her relationship with God.
THEME
You can never make a decision until you are forced to do so.
VOCAB
-Jehovah(13)- God, especially in Christian translations of the Hebrew Scriptures
-oblong(12)- (of a leaf shape) having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides deviating from a square or circle or sphere by being elongated in one direction
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
1. "[...] through the back streets of Rome, which meander organically around the ancient buildings like bayou streams snaking around shadowy clumps of cypress groves" (9). This is a simile because she is comparing the streets of Rome to bayou streams.
2. "Giovanni is my Tandem Exchange Partner. That sounds like an innuendo, but unfortunately it's not" (7). This is what appears to be Elizabeth's metaphor for her hook-up, but she goes on to explain that unfortunately she is not doing that with him and he simply teaches her Italian.
3. "('Ambivalent' was the word I used, avoiding the much more accurate description: 'utterly consumed with dread')" (8). This is an example of the imagery behind the word ambivalent, and her description of how she uses it.
QUOTE
"What happened was that I started to pray" (12). This was the time in Elizabeth's life when she was at her lowest, she didn't know what she wanted and if she was doing the right thing. She felt like she had nobody to turn to, especially because she had never had a connection with God before. When she was at her breaking point she turned to God, and prayed, for the first time. It was the instance that triggered her relationship with God.
THEME
You can never make a decision until you are forced to do so.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 5, Post B
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
Dear Mr. Palmer,
Reading the memoir of your life was inspiring to me. I am a golfer also and everything that you talked about i could relate to. The struggles of your game and the successes you have enjoyed, I felt a connection to all of them, granted my experiences were on a much smaller scale. I loved learning about what was going through your head as you were waling down the fairways, listening to you explain your tendencies and habits on the course, and seeing your life up close as you have laid it out in this novel. I twas interesting to see how you related golf to life, it got me thinking about the game on a deeper level, and the lessons you learned I learned with you. Now I can relate them personally to my life and think about and realize more lessons as I encounter them. When I bought this book, I did not know what to expect, if it would be about your golf game, or your life, or tips on golf, or your knowledge, and it was none of that. It was just your life with all of your golfing experience tied in. You did not blatantly write out morals and lessons, but they worked in as common themes. I also looked for stylistic elements as in other memoirs that I have read, and I saw none but a true openness and a wanting to share what you have learned with others that look up to you. I have heard that you are a very serious golfer when out playing, not a social golfer who wants to chat it up with your partner. Now I know that you are not trying to be intimidating or rude, you are just being focused and unaware of what you are or aren't saying. I have also heard that you really relate to the crowd and I noticed that in your memoir, when you would wave and be friendly to the spectators. I really enjoyed this memoir,
Monika
Dear Mr. Palmer,
Reading the memoir of your life was inspiring to me. I am a golfer also and everything that you talked about i could relate to. The struggles of your game and the successes you have enjoyed, I felt a connection to all of them, granted my experiences were on a much smaller scale. I loved learning about what was going through your head as you were waling down the fairways, listening to you explain your tendencies and habits on the course, and seeing your life up close as you have laid it out in this novel. I twas interesting to see how you related golf to life, it got me thinking about the game on a deeper level, and the lessons you learned I learned with you. Now I can relate them personally to my life and think about and realize more lessons as I encounter them. When I bought this book, I did not know what to expect, if it would be about your golf game, or your life, or tips on golf, or your knowledge, and it was none of that. It was just your life with all of your golfing experience tied in. You did not blatantly write out morals and lessons, but they worked in as common themes. I also looked for stylistic elements as in other memoirs that I have read, and I saw none but a true openness and a wanting to share what you have learned with others that look up to you. I have heard that you are a very serious golfer when out playing, not a social golfer who wants to chat it up with your partner. Now I know that you are not trying to be intimidating or rude, you are just being focused and unaware of what you are or aren't saying. I have also heard that you really relate to the crowd and I noticed that in your memoir, when you would wave and be friendly to the spectators. I really enjoyed this memoir,
Monika
Outside Reading - Week 5, Post A
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
VOCAB
footbridge (274) - a bridge intended for pedestrians only
erred (322) - To make an error or a mistake
APPEALS
1. "Once again, I cried in public." This is an emotional appeal. It puts it into perspective for the reader that Arnold Palmer, a very talented and famous golfer, who appears to be to kept together, cries too. He was not crying out of sadness, but because of the happiness from winning a major tournament, the British Open.
2. "'Let me get this going,' I promised the stone-faced instructor. 'Let me do something and I'll be right back.'" This is a logical appeal. It shows how Arnie will attempt to do anything in order to do it the right way. You want to know if his one last shot at getting the engine of the plane going will be worth it.
3. "It's an engaging memory." This is a logical appeal. You are kept on the edge of your seat wanting to know the memory and how great it will be, him learning how to fly.
QUOTE
"The judge held my future in his hands, and i watched him as he read over the agreement. I knew we were in big trouble when his fave contorted and he looked as if he had personally been insulted" (299). This quote means a lot because Arnold is awaiting to hear whether his new company, the Arnold Palmer Golf Company, would be able to become a company. His business partner Mark was telling his friends that Arnold would be a millionaire whether the judge liked it or not. This was a huge part of his life because it opened the doors for so many opportunities, and now that company is thriving. It manufactures and distributes top quality professional grade golf clubs and accessories, and owns various properties throughout the country. It is the business legacy of Arnold Palmer. It is also significant because when Arnold attended college, he was trying to get a business degree, but his friend and fellow golfer was tragically killed in a car accident. Arnie later went back to play golf and try to earn his degree, but he couldn't and regretted it. This business goes to show that you don't need a degree to have a successful business.
THEME
The overall theme of this memoir is: keep your composure, it helps you mentally stay focused and doesn't show weakness to opponents or admirers.
VOCAB
footbridge (274) - a bridge intended for pedestrians only
erred (322) - To make an error or a mistake
APPEALS
1. "Once again, I cried in public." This is an emotional appeal. It puts it into perspective for the reader that Arnold Palmer, a very talented and famous golfer, who appears to be to kept together, cries too. He was not crying out of sadness, but because of the happiness from winning a major tournament, the British Open.
2. "'Let me get this going,' I promised the stone-faced instructor. 'Let me do something and I'll be right back.'" This is a logical appeal. It shows how Arnie will attempt to do anything in order to do it the right way. You want to know if his one last shot at getting the engine of the plane going will be worth it.
3. "It's an engaging memory." This is a logical appeal. You are kept on the edge of your seat wanting to know the memory and how great it will be, him learning how to fly.
QUOTE
"The judge held my future in his hands, and i watched him as he read over the agreement. I knew we were in big trouble when his fave contorted and he looked as if he had personally been insulted" (299). This quote means a lot because Arnold is awaiting to hear whether his new company, the Arnold Palmer Golf Company, would be able to become a company. His business partner Mark was telling his friends that Arnold would be a millionaire whether the judge liked it or not. This was a huge part of his life because it opened the doors for so many opportunities, and now that company is thriving. It manufactures and distributes top quality professional grade golf clubs and accessories, and owns various properties throughout the country. It is the business legacy of Arnold Palmer. It is also significant because when Arnold attended college, he was trying to get a business degree, but his friend and fellow golfer was tragically killed in a car accident. Arnie later went back to play golf and try to earn his degree, but he couldn't and regretted it. This business goes to show that you don't need a degree to have a successful business.
THEME
The overall theme of this memoir is: keep your composure, it helps you mentally stay focused and doesn't show weakness to opponents or admirers.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 4, Post B
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
I really feel that I have a strong personal conection to this memoir in a few ways. For starters, I play golf, was on the golf team, try to practice 4-5 times a week (summer) and I have an interest in the game. Recently I read a few books on the golf mindset, it is all in your head; so when I saw another golf book on the list of memoirs I immediately knew that this would be a great read (which it is). Arnold talks about how his game is going, what he needs to practice, the strong points of his game, and the struggle to figure out the week points. I think the same things on much more basic levels, which demonstrate how adaptable golf is. It also a good read because Arnold tells you tips that helped him, which I can relate to my game. I have also started playing in tournaments and he tells stories of the tournaments that he won and lost and fought through the difficult times and relished in the glory. I was playing in my first 18 hole varsity high school tournament in the spring at Emerald Greens and it was torrentially downpouring. I was covered in my rain gear down to my rain repellent gloves. On the fourth tee I was taking my practice swing and my club flew out of my hands. The entire rest of the tournament i was afraid to swing full speed because I didn't want to lose my club again. It was hard to overcome something like that because golf is such a mental game. Arnold talks about how his parents rarely saw him play, and when they came to the semifinal match of the U.S. Amateur Cup, it was different for him, but he turned the extra energy into precision and finetuned his stroke. I also can relate to this book because Arnold relates golf to life in his memoir, and not only do I pick up on his life lessons, but I can compare the etiquette and stories i learn on the course to my life. For example, when other players try to get in your head it can screw up your game which translates to if you're mean to others it will come back to you. Lastly, this novel appeals to me because I love to drink Arnie Palmers, they are my favorite, and they are named after Arnold Palmer.
I really feel that I have a strong personal conection to this memoir in a few ways. For starters, I play golf, was on the golf team, try to practice 4-5 times a week (summer) and I have an interest in the game. Recently I read a few books on the golf mindset, it is all in your head; so when I saw another golf book on the list of memoirs I immediately knew that this would be a great read (which it is). Arnold talks about how his game is going, what he needs to practice, the strong points of his game, and the struggle to figure out the week points. I think the same things on much more basic levels, which demonstrate how adaptable golf is. It also a good read because Arnold tells you tips that helped him, which I can relate to my game. I have also started playing in tournaments and he tells stories of the tournaments that he won and lost and fought through the difficult times and relished in the glory. I was playing in my first 18 hole varsity high school tournament in the spring at Emerald Greens and it was torrentially downpouring. I was covered in my rain gear down to my rain repellent gloves. On the fourth tee I was taking my practice swing and my club flew out of my hands. The entire rest of the tournament i was afraid to swing full speed because I didn't want to lose my club again. It was hard to overcome something like that because golf is such a mental game. Arnold talks about how his parents rarely saw him play, and when they came to the semifinal match of the U.S. Amateur Cup, it was different for him, but he turned the extra energy into precision and finetuned his stroke. I also can relate to this book because Arnold relates golf to life in his memoir, and not only do I pick up on his life lessons, but I can compare the etiquette and stories i learn on the course to my life. For example, when other players try to get in your head it can screw up your game which translates to if you're mean to others it will come back to you. Lastly, this novel appeals to me because I love to drink Arnie Palmers, they are my favorite, and they are named after Arnold Palmer.
Outside Reading - Week 4, Post A
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
VOCAB
-Keystone Kops (126)- a team of comic policemen noted for their slapstick routines.
-gratuity (124)- a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip
APPEALS
1. "[...] the last thing I wanted to do was give him a percentage of my winnings as some kind of personal gratutiy." This is a logical appeal. It's appeal is curiosity, as a reader you want to know if Arnold will give Dutch Harrison a significant cut of the money for arranging the pro he was to play with in the pro-am.
2. "After all those weeks beating across America, Sam Snead's invitational tournament at The Greenbrier in West Virginia was just the tonic we needed, in more ways than one." This is a logical appeal. It introduces his day at the tournament, and the stroke of luck that follows it.
3. "Perhaps Lady Luck would be with us at San Francisco's famed Olympic Golf Club too." This is am emotional appeal because you want him to be lucky and continue on his lucky streak.
QUOTE
"Our old Ford needed rest, too-perhaps a permanent rest." I really liked this quote because it puts the genre of the book into perspective. It is a memoir and the hyphened additional thought shows that it is an additional thought in Arnold's head.
THEME
A theme that I am starting to see now is that life (like my golf game) has its ups and downs. In order to go up, you have to be down and in order to come down you have to be up.
VOCAB
-Keystone Kops (126)- a team of comic policemen noted for their slapstick routines.
-gratuity (124)- a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip
APPEALS
1. "[...] the last thing I wanted to do was give him a percentage of my winnings as some kind of personal gratutiy." This is a logical appeal. It's appeal is curiosity, as a reader you want to know if Arnold will give Dutch Harrison a significant cut of the money for arranging the pro he was to play with in the pro-am.
2. "After all those weeks beating across America, Sam Snead's invitational tournament at The Greenbrier in West Virginia was just the tonic we needed, in more ways than one." This is a logical appeal. It introduces his day at the tournament, and the stroke of luck that follows it.
3. "Perhaps Lady Luck would be with us at San Francisco's famed Olympic Golf Club too." This is am emotional appeal because you want him to be lucky and continue on his lucky streak.
QUOTE
"Our old Ford needed rest, too-perhaps a permanent rest." I really liked this quote because it puts the genre of the book into perspective. It is a memoir and the hyphened additional thought shows that it is an additional thought in Arnold's head.
THEME
A theme that I am starting to see now is that life (like my golf game) has its ups and downs. In order to go up, you have to be down and in order to come down you have to be up.
The 400 Blows film as literature review
The 400 Blows Film as Literature Review
The film was extremely effective. The purpose of watching it in class was not to watch a movie for entertainment, it was to further our understanding of memoirs and film as literature. I learned that memories can be retold in the form of text, film, or recorded dialogue. I also learned that memories can be told from the point of view of the memoirist, another friend, or a hired editor. By watching The 400 Blows as an example, I am now able to look for and pick out certain aspects of a film that help add to the emotions the director is trying to convey. I also enjoyed this activity because I learned to appreciate films and movies for the deeper meaning like literature. It was easy for me to be attentive because I was interested and engaged by it.
The plot revolves around Antoine, the vision of director Francois Truffaut as a youth, and his relationships between his mother, schoolmates, teachers, and the law. Antoine resists and rebels against authority, so his relationships with any authority figure in the storyline are full of tension. He runs away from home, lies to the teacher, and steals to create an image for himself that he can do whatever he wants regardless of the consequences. Antoine has a friend Renee who has his own tension filled relationships with authority, and together they romp around Paris skipping school and disobeying the nation’s, the teacher’s, and their parents laws. There is a reoccurring theme of freedom in this film. The freedom is shown by the same song with same instruments being replayed whenever Antoine is free from people telling him what to do, or whenever he is doing what those people tell him what not to do. Another theme is loneliness. Antoine is lonely and remedies it by rebelling to get attention. Antione’s Mom is lonely and remedies it by finding another man to give attention to. Renee is lonely because his parents are never home and remedies it by doing rebellious things with rebellious friends. The film is scripted from Truffaut’s point of view through the character of Antoine.
The casting director of The 400 Blows was right on key with the decisions he or she made. The actor portraying Antoine had an innocent but guilty nature to him, a cute face then the camera cuts to the cute face smoking a cigar. The actress portraying Antoine’s mother had a glamorous feel about her, but the character was not glamorous at all. The actor portraying Antoine’s teacher acted seriously, but he was so serious that you wanted to laugh at him and make him the butt of a bad joke for being so unreasonable and obnoxious. A huge topic of debate for me was the lighting, was it intentional or coincidental? A key example of lighting contrast was when Antoine was locked up in the holding cell in the same room as police officers and fellow convicts the lights were bright. When he was moved in an armored car to the solitary cell the lights were much darker. Also when he and Renee were in Renee’s room the lighting was dim and when Antoine and his parents were driving to go see the movie the lights were bright.
The cinematic aspects of photography and sound were so crucial to this film that anyone not looking for them would have spotted them. All of the camera shots where Antoine was running were long to show that he had a long way to run to be rid of all that he was trying to escape, and they were close up so that the watcher could not see where Antoine was headed until he got there. Another shot commonly used was the birds eye view shot, used to show the gym class running around Paris and Antoine and Renee misbehaving in Renee’s room. The significance of the shot was to give you the watcher a third person omniscient point of view; to impersonalize the neglect the gym teacher was feeling and the guilt that the watcher would be feeling for Antoine and Renee. Another cinematic aspect was sound. In the scenes where Antoine is speaking to his mother, her voice is quiet, creating a passive feeling. On the other hand, when Antoine is speaking to is teacher, the words are loud, creating a feeling of fear.
Both Antoine and Richard Wright are opposed to authority. In The 400 Blows, Antoine has trouble in school and has steals. In Black Boy, Richard has trouble in school and steals. This, however, does not make them the same. Antoine shows his opposition to authority by going against the rules sneakily, secretly smoking, and under the radar. Richard shows his opposition by fighting back and being defensive, quitting the kitchen maid job.
This film was wonderful to watch. It was engaging, had a good storyline, and the English subtitles made it intriguing. I recommend that when you watch this film, you look for the song that is played throughout the film, the long wide camera shots, the light contrast, and the volume levels. When you are done watching the film and reflect upon those four specific elements, they will be quite prominent to the emotional significance that Francois Truffaut, the director, is trying to convey with this work of art.
The film was extremely effective. The purpose of watching it in class was not to watch a movie for entertainment, it was to further our understanding of memoirs and film as literature. I learned that memories can be retold in the form of text, film, or recorded dialogue. I also learned that memories can be told from the point of view of the memoirist, another friend, or a hired editor. By watching The 400 Blows as an example, I am now able to look for and pick out certain aspects of a film that help add to the emotions the director is trying to convey. I also enjoyed this activity because I learned to appreciate films and movies for the deeper meaning like literature. It was easy for me to be attentive because I was interested and engaged by it.
The plot revolves around Antoine, the vision of director Francois Truffaut as a youth, and his relationships between his mother, schoolmates, teachers, and the law. Antoine resists and rebels against authority, so his relationships with any authority figure in the storyline are full of tension. He runs away from home, lies to the teacher, and steals to create an image for himself that he can do whatever he wants regardless of the consequences. Antoine has a friend Renee who has his own tension filled relationships with authority, and together they romp around Paris skipping school and disobeying the nation’s, the teacher’s, and their parents laws. There is a reoccurring theme of freedom in this film. The freedom is shown by the same song with same instruments being replayed whenever Antoine is free from people telling him what to do, or whenever he is doing what those people tell him what not to do. Another theme is loneliness. Antoine is lonely and remedies it by rebelling to get attention. Antione’s Mom is lonely and remedies it by finding another man to give attention to. Renee is lonely because his parents are never home and remedies it by doing rebellious things with rebellious friends. The film is scripted from Truffaut’s point of view through the character of Antoine.
The casting director of The 400 Blows was right on key with the decisions he or she made. The actor portraying Antoine had an innocent but guilty nature to him, a cute face then the camera cuts to the cute face smoking a cigar. The actress portraying Antoine’s mother had a glamorous feel about her, but the character was not glamorous at all. The actor portraying Antoine’s teacher acted seriously, but he was so serious that you wanted to laugh at him and make him the butt of a bad joke for being so unreasonable and obnoxious. A huge topic of debate for me was the lighting, was it intentional or coincidental? A key example of lighting contrast was when Antoine was locked up in the holding cell in the same room as police officers and fellow convicts the lights were bright. When he was moved in an armored car to the solitary cell the lights were much darker. Also when he and Renee were in Renee’s room the lighting was dim and when Antoine and his parents were driving to go see the movie the lights were bright.
The cinematic aspects of photography and sound were so crucial to this film that anyone not looking for them would have spotted them. All of the camera shots where Antoine was running were long to show that he had a long way to run to be rid of all that he was trying to escape, and they were close up so that the watcher could not see where Antoine was headed until he got there. Another shot commonly used was the birds eye view shot, used to show the gym class running around Paris and Antoine and Renee misbehaving in Renee’s room. The significance of the shot was to give you the watcher a third person omniscient point of view; to impersonalize the neglect the gym teacher was feeling and the guilt that the watcher would be feeling for Antoine and Renee. Another cinematic aspect was sound. In the scenes where Antoine is speaking to his mother, her voice is quiet, creating a passive feeling. On the other hand, when Antoine is speaking to is teacher, the words are loud, creating a feeling of fear.
Both Antoine and Richard Wright are opposed to authority. In The 400 Blows, Antoine has trouble in school and has steals. In Black Boy, Richard has trouble in school and steals. This, however, does not make them the same. Antoine shows his opposition to authority by going against the rules sneakily, secretly smoking, and under the radar. Richard shows his opposition by fighting back and being defensive, quitting the kitchen maid job.
This film was wonderful to watch. It was engaging, had a good storyline, and the English subtitles made it intriguing. I recommend that when you watch this film, you look for the song that is played throughout the film, the long wide camera shots, the light contrast, and the volume levels. When you are done watching the film and reflect upon those four specific elements, they will be quite prominent to the emotional significance that Francois Truffaut, the director, is trying to convey with this work of art.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 3, Post B
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
I have noticed that througout his life, Arnie has dealt with so many struggles and issues that you could look at all of the bad in his life and wonder, how did anything good ever come of that? But in a sense that is what makes his story so interesting, the fact that he was never simply handed to him what he wanted- he had to work for it. People say that when you work for something you realize its true value which is most definetetly the case in his situation. He is satisfied with what he has done now knowing that it was rightfully his- a product of his hardworking efforts. One way that he was disadvantaged was that his father was a an alcoholic, but Arnold learned from that and knew what it could do to you- convincing him not to do the same. Another was that he was disadvantaged was that he had no way of going to college, until his friend pulled some strings and got him a scholarship. That same friend that he golfed with then died in a car crash, leaving Arnold depressed directionless. There were also countless times when he was in the lead in a tournament and either lost the lead or had to work that much harder to come out on top. The thing that maked Arnie different is that he looked at his disadvantages as learning opportunies and took away from them not feelings of loathing but lesssons to help him throughout his life.
I have noticed that througout his life, Arnie has dealt with so many struggles and issues that you could look at all of the bad in his life and wonder, how did anything good ever come of that? But in a sense that is what makes his story so interesting, the fact that he was never simply handed to him what he wanted- he had to work for it. People say that when you work for something you realize its true value which is most definetetly the case in his situation. He is satisfied with what he has done now knowing that it was rightfully his- a product of his hardworking efforts. One way that he was disadvantaged was that his father was a an alcoholic, but Arnold learned from that and knew what it could do to you- convincing him not to do the same. Another was that he was disadvantaged was that he had no way of going to college, until his friend pulled some strings and got him a scholarship. That same friend that he golfed with then died in a car crash, leaving Arnold depressed directionless. There were also countless times when he was in the lead in a tournament and either lost the lead or had to work that much harder to come out on top. The thing that maked Arnie different is that he looked at his disadvantages as learning opportunies and took away from them not feelings of loathing but lesssons to help him throughout his life.
Outside Reading - Week 3, Post A
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
VOCAB
whiff (109)- a slight gust of wind, air, vapor, or smoke.
woolies (79)- a garment made of wool, especially an undergarment made of wool
APPEALS
1. " 'Congratulations, Arnie. You win' " (89). This is an emotional appeal inviting the reader to celebrate in Arnold's joy of winning the54th US Amateur Championship. It was the championship round, 36 holes, on the 36th hole, neck and neck, and his competitor lost his ball thus conceding, making Arnie the champion
2. "Winnie" (91). This is a logical appeal. It is the title of a chapter and prior to the chapter Arnold writes about the vital role his wife plays in supporting his career, the reader wants to know how important she, unrelated to golf and all, could have an entire 30 pages devoted to her.
3. "If this was a glimpse of the rollicking Tour life to come, [...]" (107). This is a logical appeal because the glimpse included pop up trailers and not making any money- two very unfortunate things. The reader is itching to find out how bad the actual Tour will be if the glimpse is that bad.
QUOTE
"I do remember that after beating Cherry, I went straight into the clubhouse and called my parents in Latrobe. They hopped in the car and drove eight hours to Detroit so they could be on hand the next morning. That meant more to me than anyone could ever have known (86)". This quote shows three things about the characters in the novel. One, it shows that Arnie wants so badly for his parents to witness his golf success that he immediately calls them first from 10 states away to come and watch. Secondly, it shows his parents' devotion to his golf career by them getting in the car with the same sense of immediacy. Thirdly it shows how grateful Arnie is that his parents care enough to come right away to watch and support and congratulate him on his success as a golfer.
THEME
The emerging theme is surprise, and finding the perfect opportunity when you're not looking for it.
VOCAB
whiff (109)- a slight gust of wind, air, vapor, or smoke.
woolies (79)- a garment made of wool, especially an undergarment made of wool
APPEALS
1. " 'Congratulations, Arnie. You win' " (89). This is an emotional appeal inviting the reader to celebrate in Arnold's joy of winning the54th US Amateur Championship. It was the championship round, 36 holes, on the 36th hole, neck and neck, and his competitor lost his ball thus conceding, making Arnie the champion
2. "Winnie" (91). This is a logical appeal. It is the title of a chapter and prior to the chapter Arnold writes about the vital role his wife plays in supporting his career, the reader wants to know how important she, unrelated to golf and all, could have an entire 30 pages devoted to her.
3. "If this was a glimpse of the rollicking Tour life to come, [...]" (107). This is a logical appeal because the glimpse included pop up trailers and not making any money- two very unfortunate things. The reader is itching to find out how bad the actual Tour will be if the glimpse is that bad.
QUOTE
"I do remember that after beating Cherry, I went straight into the clubhouse and called my parents in Latrobe. They hopped in the car and drove eight hours to Detroit so they could be on hand the next morning. That meant more to me than anyone could ever have known (86)". This quote shows three things about the characters in the novel. One, it shows that Arnie wants so badly for his parents to witness his golf success that he immediately calls them first from 10 states away to come and watch. Secondly, it shows his parents' devotion to his golf career by them getting in the car with the same sense of immediacy. Thirdly it shows how grateful Arnie is that his parents care enough to come right away to watch and support and congratulate him on his success as a golfer.
THEME
The emerging theme is surprise, and finding the perfect opportunity when you're not looking for it.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 2, Post B
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
Dear Arnold,
What an accomplishment for you to have won the Southern Conference Championship. It is good to know that all of the junior tournaments that you played in prior to that meant something in the long run. They gave you tournament experience and taught you how to win graciously and lose in the same manner. Harvie Ward was definitely a difficult opponent to play. There were some tournaments that you played in that did not have a good outcome for you, but that didn't stop you from trying, and they gave you valuable experiences to have under your belt. In my eyes another thing that helped you to do well in the Southern Championship was the game that you created for yourself to play on the fairways of Latrobe. Playing the greats like Ben Hogan in your head and Babe Didrikson on the course are no match for another golfer from the Southern Conference. It is in playing those games and tournaments that you learned to deal with the pressure of a tight match; for example the entire outcome of a match coming down to one birdie putt on the eighteenth green. It is also in those tournaments that you make mistakes and learn from them, like trying to carry your ball over some water that you know you can't, thinking to yourself "maybe this one time I will hit it far enough." Other mistakes like throwing your club out of anger take only once for a lesson to be learned from them. Now that you have been through all of that, you can look back and see the good in all of those bad situations.
From an aspiring golfer,
Monika Buska
Dear Arnold,
What an accomplishment for you to have won the Southern Conference Championship. It is good to know that all of the junior tournaments that you played in prior to that meant something in the long run. They gave you tournament experience and taught you how to win graciously and lose in the same manner. Harvie Ward was definitely a difficult opponent to play. There were some tournaments that you played in that did not have a good outcome for you, but that didn't stop you from trying, and they gave you valuable experiences to have under your belt. In my eyes another thing that helped you to do well in the Southern Championship was the game that you created for yourself to play on the fairways of Latrobe. Playing the greats like Ben Hogan in your head and Babe Didrikson on the course are no match for another golfer from the Southern Conference. It is in playing those games and tournaments that you learned to deal with the pressure of a tight match; for example the entire outcome of a match coming down to one birdie putt on the eighteenth green. It is also in those tournaments that you make mistakes and learn from them, like trying to carry your ball over some water that you know you can't, thinking to yourself "maybe this one time I will hit it far enough." Other mistakes like throwing your club out of anger take only once for a lesson to be learned from them. Now that you have been through all of that, you can look back and see the good in all of those bad situations.
From an aspiring golfer,
Monika Buska
Outside Reading - Week 2, Post A
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
VOCAB
Derriere (53) - the buttocks, rump.
VOCAB
Derriere (53) - the buttocks, rump.
Hailed (48) - to pour down or forth.
APPEALS
1. "Something important happened in the final match at Penn State that, in retrospect, would become another so-called signature of my game[...]" (45). This is an emotional appealing appealing to the reader's curiosity. We all want to know - What happened?
2. "I learned alot from watching Steve play golf. But I also learned a lot from watching what happened to Steve Kovach as the result of his success" (43). This is a logical appeal to the reader. It introduces lessons that Arnold will learn and take with him throughout his golfing career.
3. "I'd never been south of the Pennsylvania state line, but there was no question which direction I was headed" (49). This is an emotional appeal to the reader, you are excited for him that he is finally going places, and a logical appeal because you want to know which places he is going.
QUOTE
"The highlight of my freshman year, just about the time Johnny Johnston returned from the U.S. Air Force, was beating Harvie Ward and Art Wall at Pinehurst Number 2 to win the Southern Conference championship" (54). Arnold goes on to explain that this was a huge upset becuase Harvie Ward was the favorite to win, and all of a sudden Arnold comes out of nowhere to win the title. It was the event that got him noticed as a big time golfer.
THEME
Perseverance will get you to where ever it is that you want to go, so try, try, and try again.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Outside Reading - Week 1, Post B
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
In analyzing the protagonist of A Golfer's Life, I have come to realize that Arnold values strong character. This theory is demonstrated throughout the memoir in the following ways.
"Pap didn't believe in borrowing money you couldn't pay back[...]" (22). Pap is referring to his father, Deke Palmer, whose opinion Arnold holds in high regard. The qualities of honesty and integrity are the heart of this philosphy.
"Wrapped in the spell of the game, they probably didn't have a clue or a care in the world who was watching them, and that's exactly as it should be, a tribute to this marvelous game we play" (2). He knows that people shouldn't perform for whoever is watching them, they should do it for themselves.
"A woman I hadn't seen since the tenth grade remembered how I was so unspeakably shy in Miss Jones's public speaking class that she forced me to stand before the calss and asked me to explain the importance of making solid eye contact with the people I was addressing-something, come to think of it, I always try to do to this day" (9). He knows in order to give the person you are talking to a sense of respect and engagement, you must (sometimes uncomfortably) look them in the eyes. It is the polite thing to do.
In analyzing the protagonist of A Golfer's Life, I have come to realize that Arnold values strong character. This theory is demonstrated throughout the memoir in the following ways.
"Pap didn't believe in borrowing money you couldn't pay back[...]" (22). Pap is referring to his father, Deke Palmer, whose opinion Arnold holds in high regard. The qualities of honesty and integrity are the heart of this philosphy.
"Wrapped in the spell of the game, they probably didn't have a clue or a care in the world who was watching them, and that's exactly as it should be, a tribute to this marvelous game we play" (2). He knows that people shouldn't perform for whoever is watching them, they should do it for themselves.
"A woman I hadn't seen since the tenth grade remembered how I was so unspeakably shy in Miss Jones's public speaking class that she forced me to stand before the calss and asked me to explain the importance of making solid eye contact with the people I was addressing-something, come to think of it, I always try to do to this day" (9). He knows in order to give the person you are talking to a sense of respect and engagement, you must (sometimes uncomfortably) look them in the eyes. It is the polite thing to do.
Outside Reading - Week 1, Post A
A Golfer's Life by Arnold Palmer
VOCAB
Galvanized (26) [galvanize] - To coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.
Derision (14) - Contemptuous or jeering laughter; ridicule.
APPEALS
1. "The very word cancer can dend a cold blade of terror cutting through the strongest man or woman" (4). This is an emotional appeal inviting the reader to truly feel the emotions involved in finding out that he or she has cancer.
2. "For the first time in my adult memory, I didn't play much golf that spring" (5). This is a logical appeal stating a fact that has much more meaning than not playing golf; his life is based on playing golf and to not play is like having his life taken away.
3. "Two days later, Ken was dead. He was sixty-eight years old" (8). This is a logical appeal because frankly, Ken died. Arnold goes on to mention that he himslef is 68 and he shows the reader that this could have been anyone including himself, dying at any moment.
QUOTE
"In life as in golf, we all encounter turning points, moments of trial when everything accomplished up till then falls away and everything we stand for and believe is summoned forth for thorough examination" (3). I feel a connection to this quote because lessons learned in golf can be directly applied to life. In golf, everything is in your head and you need to be mentally strong to overcome, the same as in life. It doesn't matter what you have done, it is what you will do right now in the present, hitting this very shot.
THEME
Morals such as honesty, integrity, and perseverance are the only way to succeed.
VOCAB
Galvanized (26) [galvanize] - To coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.
Derision (14) - Contemptuous or jeering laughter; ridicule.
APPEALS
1. "The very word cancer can dend a cold blade of terror cutting through the strongest man or woman" (4). This is an emotional appeal inviting the reader to truly feel the emotions involved in finding out that he or she has cancer.
2. "For the first time in my adult memory, I didn't play much golf that spring" (5). This is a logical appeal stating a fact that has much more meaning than not playing golf; his life is based on playing golf and to not play is like having his life taken away.
3. "Two days later, Ken was dead. He was sixty-eight years old" (8). This is a logical appeal because frankly, Ken died. Arnold goes on to mention that he himslef is 68 and he shows the reader that this could have been anyone including himself, dying at any moment.
QUOTE
"In life as in golf, we all encounter turning points, moments of trial when everything accomplished up till then falls away and everything we stand for and believe is summoned forth for thorough examination" (3). I feel a connection to this quote because lessons learned in golf can be directly applied to life. In golf, everything is in your head and you need to be mentally strong to overcome, the same as in life. It doesn't matter what you have done, it is what you will do right now in the present, hitting this very shot.
THEME
Morals such as honesty, integrity, and perseverance are the only way to succeed.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
my first post
courtesy of bbc.co.uk
This is a picture of Morgan Pressel, my golf idol;
now that i have an academic blog...! i don't even know what to write
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