WHITE NOISE - 5 QUESTIONS

1) Do you think Jack and his German tutor have the potential to develop a deeper relationship than just the teacher-student one they have now ? 2) What's the deal with Murray ? Does he really try to hit on Babette right in front of Jack ? 3) What does the fact that Jack waited so long to learn to speak German say about his personality or character ? 4) How do you feel about the casualty in which Jack and Babette's family speak of and to the many different fathers and mothers of all the children ? 5) Analyze your favorite character that has been introduced and how they interact with the other characters. Why are they your favorite ?

WHITE NOISE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

EVEN CHAPTERS ! Chapter 2) Evaluate Jack and Babette's relationship. Is thier love genuine and real ? Chapter 4) How would the story be different if Jack Gladney was more willing to be J.A.K. or if he saw himself as J.A.K. like others do ? Chapter 6) Do you agree with the main character's statement: "All plots tend to move deathward. This is the nature of plots. Political plots, terrorist plots, lovers' plots, narrative plots, plots that are part of children's games. We edge nearer death every time we plot. It is like a contract that all must sign, the plotters as well as those who are the targets of the plot?'' Why or why not ? Chapter 8) As Jack describes the man who is going to teach him German, is he being observant and careful or is he being harsh and judgemental ? Chapter 10) Does Heinrich's overanalyzation of every question asked of him by his father intrigue or annoy you ? Why ?

Hamlet, 1.3.

The reaction of Laertes and Polonius after finding out that thier sister/daughter Ophelia had been involved with Hamlet exposes the true love and protection the two men show for her. Disagreeing with everything Ophelia has done, her father, Polonius, shows the rage he has by giving her an extended tyraid and harsh words. Nodding her head in agreement, Ophelia hears but does not listen to what her father is saying. Her brother also does not agree with her decision to be with Hamlet, thus talks down the idea as well. I say she makes her own decisions and go to Hamlet if she wants :)

Hamlet, Scene 1 Act 1.

Ok i'm confused. I don't get medieval talk at all, so i'm going to be lost this entire book probably. So there's two Hamlet's right? One is dead I think. Ugh I don't know. All I know is that the four characters introduced in the first scene: Marcellus, Horatio, Bernardo, and Francisco, are all guards, and their all friends. Three of them get freaked out by the ghost of the dead king Hamlet I think. Well hopefully I catch on soon :)

My favorite question was : How does the fight scene contribute to John Grady Cole’s development into the typical Western hero?

The western cowboy character reveals himself through John Grady after the cafeteria assassin tries to kill him. Although he did not want to kill the assassin, John Grady showed his ability to handle whatever comes at him, just like a western cowboy should be able to. Under discretion, he takes out his opponent with the convenient knife that he previously purchased.

All The Pretty Horses page 180

All I have to say is wow. It makes me mad that the Mexicans wouldnt believe that it was Blevin's horse and that he didn't want to kill anyone, he just wanted his horse and gun back ! And then they kill him ! Ugh so unfair. I bet Grady and Rawlins are going to be really sad, even though they thought he was a burden on them from the first day they met. I hope they both get freed and saved. The author never fails to include tons of details for every scene though ! Good job to him.

All The Pretty Horses up to page 132

This story is much more interesting now ! I love hearing all the stories about breaking the horses because their my favorite animal >:) and it is a lot easier to read now that we've gotten more into the story. I'm excited to see where the girl and J.C.'s relationship goes, but I bet poor Rawlins will get jealous and feel left out ! It'll probably cause problems with the girls family and John Grady and Rawlin's jobs too. Oh yeah, and where the heck did Blevin's go ?!

"A Song In The Front Yard" by Gwendolyn Brooks

 

I’ve stayed in the front yard all my life.

I want a peek at the back

Where it’s rough and untended and hungry weed grows.   

A girl gets sick of a rose.

I want to go in the back yard now   

And maybe down the alley,

To where the charity children play.   

I want a good time today.

They do some wonderful things.

They have some wonderful fun.

My mother sneers, but I say it’s fine

How they don’t have to go in at quarter to nine.   

My mother, she tells me that Johnnie Mae   

Will grow up to be a bad woman.

That George’ll be taken to Jail soon or late

(On account of last winter he sold our back gate).

But I say it’s fine. Honest, I do.

And I’d like to be a bad woman, too,

And wear the brave stockings of night-black lace   

And strut down the streets with paint on my face.

MY RESPONSE
            In Gwendolyn Brook’s poem, “A Song in the Front Yard,” the daring, rebellious diction delineates the yearning desire for the narrator to break out of the repetitive, boring routine of staying in her front yard. After seeing the same scenery day after day, “a girl gets sick of a rose” and wants to get “a peek at the back.” The loaded words and the sarcastic reaction the narrator has about others’ opinions in the third stanza of the poem create the feeling of being left behind in her backyard each day. The narrator wants to break through the binding fence and see the “wonderful things” people do and the “wonderful fun” they have. Finally, wanting to get out of the habitual schedule and walk down the street with “brave stockings of night-black lace” and paint on her face, the storyteller daydreams of the life she could one day have.  

ATPH PART ONE - 20 SCASI QUESTIONS

1) Whaddup with the run on sentences?
2) Why do you think John Grady & Rawlins chose Mexico to go to?
3) How do you think the character Blevins contributes to the story?
4) How would the story be different if Grady & Rawlins never met/stuck with Blevins?
5) Does McCarthy's style of writing help convey the western theme?
6) What could McCarthy add to his writing to enhance the western theme?
7) Does the way McCarthy doesn't use quotation marks confuse you?
8) Who is an obvious foil to John Grady?
9) Hod do you think Rawlins' & Blevins' relationship will develop?
10) Would the story be different if Blevins & Rawlins didn't clash?
11) What makes John Grady a real western cowboy?
12) Do you see any themes or motifs in the story yet?
13) What are some of John Grady's character flaws?
14) Does the title relate to the story yet?
15) Analyze John Grady & Blevins' relationship.
16) How does the description of setting add to the book?
17) What are the characteristics of a good cowboy?
18) Whaddup with Blevin's secracy?
19) Do you think Blevins will learn to think of the consequences of his actions soon?
20) Who is the girl introduced in the second page (she)?

All The Pretty Horses: Pages 30 - 59

Taking another look back at the book, I began to like it more than the first thirty pages. It wasn't as confusing, and I got a better understanding of all the characters. As Grady and Rawlins set out on their journey to Mexico, they come across a young boy named Blevins. Personally, I love this new character. He is a smarty pants :) but he's right whenever he is. Like about his horse, which Rawlins and Grady were both impressed with. Also, his rifle .. which he could shoot any moving target with (even Rawlins billfold). He is a witty, fresh character which I think will bring a lot more to this novel. He's just the adventure that John Grady and Rawlins need on their own adventure they are traveling on.

January 9, 2011 - All The Pretty Horses

Within the first thirty pages, I already got the feel of a western story. The physical setting is a big part in the story because of all the incredible details that the author includes. The run on sentences reveal themselves throughout the beginning of the story as well. The way that the story is written, jumping from scene to scene confused me at first, but it also makes the story more realistic. It shows that his life is just like any other humans, with different things going on in his life at one time. I'm also confused about all the people and who knew who and who is related to who, so hopefully that gets cleared up soon. It's interesting so far !