Literature Analysis #3

The Road By Cormac McCarthy

1) The book opens with a father and a son walking down roads, constantly looking their shoulders for someone or something. They deal with the constant ever changing weather, short supplies and little to no food, pushing their shopping cart of supplies in front of them. In one encounter, the father and son come into contact without another person who threatens the son's life. The father is able to save his son by shooting the man in the head. However their encounter with danger is not over. The father unfortunately is injured and struggles to keep going. Heartache is soon to come for the son when his father dies in the winter. However luck comes his way and he meets up with another family, who takes him in.

2) In my opinion the theme is dedication and motivation is the key to hope in desperate situations. No matter how grim the situation appears to be the father uses his son as his motivation to keep going. He's dedication to keeping his son alive is what ultimately saves his sons life. The dedication and motivation they shared helped them survive sickness, hunger and weather.

3)Throughout the novel the tone changes from informative and descriptive to loving and caring to panic and frightened. Depending on the situation being described in the book shows the tone of the author. When the father and son are talking there is a protective, loving and caring aspect but when the duo faces a dangerous situation there is panic, fear and excitement portrayed. However the novel appears to have a mournful or melancholy tone.

4) The author uses many different types of literature techniques such as symbolism and foreshadowing. He uses symbols such as the bullets in the revolver which symbolize life and death that the father and son were facing. The technique of foreshadowing is used when a description of the son being between the father and death alludes to the later event where the father dies.

CHARACTERIZATION

1) The author uses indirect characterization to portray his characters. Although most authors use direct characterization to portray their characters, McCarthy alludes to their traits. He doesn't specifically say the dad was strong, he shows it through the way he is able to continue his journey despite the many obstacles he faces.

2) The syntax and diction doesn't change throughout the novel. However in the dialogue between the boy and his father, the boys words are more adolescent.

3) The protagonist is a static flat character. His views never change and his goal throughout the novel stays the same, to keep his son alive and to reach a better place. Unfortunately he died before they could reach their goal but his mental composure and characteristics stay the same.

4) I don't feel like I met someone new. With all the description of the surrounding area that the characters face, I feel like I've encountered a new area and a new world rather than new characters.

Hamlet Recap

When Dr. Preston said we were going to read Hamlet I admit I was skeptical. I mentally began preparing myself for the confusing road with Iambic Pentameter, language I wasn't going to understand and the typical heartache of Shakespeare. I was like any other student. However I was pleasantly surprised in the way Hamlet was taught to us and the way we worked our way through that tough hurdle of understanding the diction and syntax throughout the play. I have immensely enjoyed the opportunity to read Hamlet and it has quickly raced to the top of my favorite play/story lists. 

KUDOS

Kudos blog is up and running if anyone wants in!! We will be doing authorship over the next few days. Put in anything you want, new job, new friend, college acceptance, scholarship award, anything you want the blog is open to anything!! This is the time to brag about your accomplishments,  so start bragging!!

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot

If I believed that my reply was A person who never returned to the world , This flame staria no longer shock . But because of this never end I do not return alive any , s'i'odo true , Without fear of infamy I answer .

•  Etherized-anesthetize (a person or animal) with ether
• Insidious-proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects
• Lets run away go through half-deserted alley ways past one night hotels and restaurants with oyster shells
• Question "What is it?"
• Women come and go talking of Michelangelo
• Yellow fog, yellow smoke? What is that?
•  October night
• There will be time for for death and birth, time for work, indecisiveness of visions and revisions before toast of tea
• Do I dare, Do I dare
• Bald spot, morning coat and necktie
• Disturb the universe
• In a minute there is time For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.  
• Measuring life with coffee spoons
• So how should I presume?
• Formulated-create or devise methodically (a strategy or a proposal): express (an idea) in a concise or systematic way.
• Then how should I begin To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?  
• Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? 
• I am no prophet — and here’s no great matter; 
• And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,  Death?
• Lazarus?
• I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;  
• Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool, 
• Politic, cautious, and meticulous;  
• At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—
• Almost, at times, the Fool.  
• I grow old ... I grow old ... 
• I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.  
• I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. 
• I do not think that they will sing to me.  
• Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

 

Everything's Going to be Alright by Derek Mahon

• Throughout the poem the author talks about bad things like death and the sun being covered with clouds, however he talks about good things that will come, that "everything will be alright."
• Our poem has a hopeful tone, even though the author is talking of bad things that are around him, he has this optimistic idea that it will all work out and be alright
• My mood went from pessimistic because it brought memories of hard times yet it changed to buoyant as I to believed that it will be adequate later
• The shift is where Mahon states "the sun rises in spite of everything and the far cities are beautiful and bright" It goes from this idea that there are bad moments holding the "sun" or "happiness" back yet dedication is pushing it "through the clouds" and making the surrounding areas, the cities, "beautiful and bright"
• The theme of the poem is that motivation and dedication will win any battle and bring about the happiness that are being impeded by the unsatisfactory variables.

Poem Remix

Here is our Poem remix. We had the poem "Everything is Going to be Alright" by Derek Mahon. Our group was Antonia, Naiomi, and Susel. We hope you enjoy!!