How things turn out aren't always the expected or respected way. In the end, Juliana falls in love with a pirate, Diego defeats Moncada in the former's home, and Isabel rescues Diego by becoming Zorro along with Bernardo. So... nothing turns out, and yet, all is well for the protaganists in Zorro. The thing that most surprised me is how fiercely love took hold of Juliana just when I thought she would be sure to surrender to a life alone, with Diego or with Moncada. I enjoyed seeing her change from a young girl obsessed with finding an ideal that didn't exist in her society to a young woman with an adopted child who fought for what she believed in. Therefore, I forgive Juliana for being less than I might have suspected. On the subject of Isabel, I've always known that there was something different about her, something more modern that the author conveys with little hesitance. Part of the reason I enjoy her character in Zorro is because she is a free spirit ( and a libertine of sorts...) who goes with whatever Diego says, but interjects her own opinion as well. I've come to respect Isabel, who is in love with our hero, but doesn't let that get ahold of her common sense. Love is sometimes more wonderful when it can't be conveyed, which is why Isabel keeps it under wraps. Zorro is a wonderful read, and I would most definitely reccomend it to anyone interested in an adventurous story.
Cultural Differences:
Part of the end of the story is worth mentioning. Isabel has followed Zorro faithfully throughout the story, and thus, when she reveals herself as having saved his life in the end of the story, he asks her where she got her mask, and not why a girl would save him as all the other characters would have done. I think it's an atrocity to stop someone from being part of a cause just because they are female. If any male can fight, any female can fight just as well, they have no business being kept out of things just because of prejudice. I appreciate Isabel's bending of the boundaries and breaking of the rules, otherwise, Diego might not have survived.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Post 6
Cultural Difference:
The characters do things so simply different that they're hard to spot. For example, my characters ate rice and beans and thick broth for dinner one night. This is considered a delicacy with salt. Here, we neglect to realize how precious something like salt is. We eat rice and beans on a whim too, and it's available at every takeout place I've ever known. They also all eat together at dinner, get dressed up for it, wash their hands, and never watch T.V. (which didn't exist anyway, but you get my gist). I guess we've forgotten our manners, at the very least, among many other things that seem to have slipped our mind as Americans.
Random Post:
The book has begun to get really intense as it draws to a close. Juliana was assaulted by her suitor, Moncada, who tried to use force to get her to marry him. There was a period of flight by the characters, and then they get abducted by pirates, of all things. I think that this was all played out rather well by Allende, who did a marvelous job portraying emotions without going inside the character's heads. I thought it was a bit ironic that Juliana falls in love with the captain of the pirates, not Diego, not Moncada, not any of her other suitors. She is an odd one for sure. So, she stays on the ship that took her hostage, and also gets married and takes on the little boy that the pirate captain had with his previous wife. Allende does an amazing job of moving plot along, I wish my writing could be more like hers. She constantly amazes me with the things that she cooks up for her characters. I like Nuria, the so called grandmother/surrogate mother for Isabel and Juliana. She is the old lady that is constantly fussing, but is the sweetest creature on the face of the planet. There is a balance of power between her soothing ways, Isabel's adventurousness, and Juliana's beauty. They make a team. Which is why I was so surprised when they left Juliana on a pirate ship!
The characters do things so simply different that they're hard to spot. For example, my characters ate rice and beans and thick broth for dinner one night. This is considered a delicacy with salt. Here, we neglect to realize how precious something like salt is. We eat rice and beans on a whim too, and it's available at every takeout place I've ever known. They also all eat together at dinner, get dressed up for it, wash their hands, and never watch T.V. (which didn't exist anyway, but you get my gist). I guess we've forgotten our manners, at the very least, among many other things that seem to have slipped our mind as Americans.
Random Post:
The book has begun to get really intense as it draws to a close. Juliana was assaulted by her suitor, Moncada, who tried to use force to get her to marry him. There was a period of flight by the characters, and then they get abducted by pirates, of all things. I think that this was all played out rather well by Allende, who did a marvelous job portraying emotions without going inside the character's heads. I thought it was a bit ironic that Juliana falls in love with the captain of the pirates, not Diego, not Moncada, not any of her other suitors. She is an odd one for sure. So, she stays on the ship that took her hostage, and also gets married and takes on the little boy that the pirate captain had with his previous wife. Allende does an amazing job of moving plot along, I wish my writing could be more like hers. She constantly amazes me with the things that she cooks up for her characters. I like Nuria, the so called grandmother/surrogate mother for Isabel and Juliana. She is the old lady that is constantly fussing, but is the sweetest creature on the face of the planet. There is a balance of power between her soothing ways, Isabel's adventurousness, and Juliana's beauty. They make a team. Which is why I was so surprised when they left Juliana on a pirate ship!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Blog 7
Cultural Post-
There is a definite pronunciation on honor in Diego's society that doesn't exist in America. The Spanish would rather die for their honor than live in shame. Juliana's father actually does die for his honor. In not leaving his home in a timely manner, the authorities find traces of his departure and track him to his summer home, then they arrest him and have him executed for fleeing from the law. So, in essence, by not taking enough into consideration about what could happen to his life, or the lives of his two daughters, Juliana and Isabel, he got himself killed. Another thing that I saw was the prison differences. In their culture, they wouldn't allow bail or visitation rights (except in the face of a sobbing, beautiful daughter in Juliana's case), which I believe is inhumane for a person who is about to die to not be able to set their affairs in order. In our culture, we at least allow a goodbye before sentencing one's family member to a death sentence. I found myself unable to understand the way that people think in their culture, which, I suppose, is why we're doing this assignment.
Rant
I think Juliana is weaker in spirit than her sister Isabel. However, I want to debate this. Juliana did sacrifice her married life if her to be fiance could save her father. However, she did crumble like a little girl when A group of bandits were attacking she and her family. Though it wasn't proper for a lady of that age to do a spinning kick flip, she could have at least done a little more than scream and cry. Isabel actually got some action, getting in a punch. Good for her. I'm starting to like Isabel more and more throughout the book, just for her character. I appreciate the fact that she's cunning, and intelligent. I think this book proves that beauty isn't everything. Juliana and Isabel become Diego's at the end of the chapter when their father is sentenced to death, and this is advantagous to Diego, in his attempt to woo Juliana. I want to see how this situation turns out, even if I know that Juliana and Diego don't turn out.
There is a definite pronunciation on honor in Diego's society that doesn't exist in America. The Spanish would rather die for their honor than live in shame. Juliana's father actually does die for his honor. In not leaving his home in a timely manner, the authorities find traces of his departure and track him to his summer home, then they arrest him and have him executed for fleeing from the law. So, in essence, by not taking enough into consideration about what could happen to his life, or the lives of his two daughters, Juliana and Isabel, he got himself killed. Another thing that I saw was the prison differences. In their culture, they wouldn't allow bail or visitation rights (except in the face of a sobbing, beautiful daughter in Juliana's case), which I believe is inhumane for a person who is about to die to not be able to set their affairs in order. In our culture, we at least allow a goodbye before sentencing one's family member to a death sentence. I found myself unable to understand the way that people think in their culture, which, I suppose, is why we're doing this assignment.
Rant
I think Juliana is weaker in spirit than her sister Isabel. However, I want to debate this. Juliana did sacrifice her married life if her to be fiance could save her father. However, she did crumble like a little girl when A group of bandits were attacking she and her family. Though it wasn't proper for a lady of that age to do a spinning kick flip, she could have at least done a little more than scream and cry. Isabel actually got some action, getting in a punch. Good for her. I'm starting to like Isabel more and more throughout the book, just for her character. I appreciate the fact that she's cunning, and intelligent. I think this book proves that beauty isn't everything. Juliana and Isabel become Diego's at the end of the chapter when their father is sentenced to death, and this is advantagous to Diego, in his attempt to woo Juliana. I want to see how this situation turns out, even if I know that Juliana and Diego don't turn out.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Cultural Post:
I cannot imagine breaking into someone's house, as Diego does on a regular basis now in the novel. Sure, we have burglary, and kidnapping, but to break in and steal a bottle of wine to sedate a party of 19 or so guardsmen, that seems a little extreme. Also, another difference is the executions. We do have the death penalty, but we don't kill someone for being a traitor to the government, or for being poor. In the novel, Juliana and Isabel (her sister)'s father is about to be killed for being allied with the French. Anyway, the methods of social lack of grace seem so radical in Spain and France rather than here. There is the time difference as well, which I know plays into affect when considering social nicities and the like, but just the abruptness of it all is stunning to me.
Ramble:
If I were somehow yanked back in time, I wonder what my life would be like? I know that I would be part of the bourgoise, and would have to put up with petticoats and miniature umbrellas and the like. However, I would be meek, and always following the rules because no one would have pushed me to be strong and independent. I know that as much as I want to say that I would be the one who let the ribbons out of my hair rebelliously on windy days, I would make sure that I had a bonnet on instead, or something of the like and be the epitomy of.... lady. I shudder to think that my parents would have arranged a marriage for me, and that I would be unhappily smiling and going into it because he was 'noble, and had money and was hansome'. God, what a horrible life. I'm so glad that I was born in this century and am able to say that. I am free and I can do things that other girls could never do, write for example, which I'm off to do after I post this, fall in love, which I will decide about on my own, and basically be seen and heard like any person. I'm so glad that I was born in this time, in this country. I'm so glad I'm free.
I cannot imagine breaking into someone's house, as Diego does on a regular basis now in the novel. Sure, we have burglary, and kidnapping, but to break in and steal a bottle of wine to sedate a party of 19 or so guardsmen, that seems a little extreme. Also, another difference is the executions. We do have the death penalty, but we don't kill someone for being a traitor to the government, or for being poor. In the novel, Juliana and Isabel (her sister)'s father is about to be killed for being allied with the French. Anyway, the methods of social lack of grace seem so radical in Spain and France rather than here. There is the time difference as well, which I know plays into affect when considering social nicities and the like, but just the abruptness of it all is stunning to me.
Ramble:
If I were somehow yanked back in time, I wonder what my life would be like? I know that I would be part of the bourgoise, and would have to put up with petticoats and miniature umbrellas and the like. However, I would be meek, and always following the rules because no one would have pushed me to be strong and independent. I know that as much as I want to say that I would be the one who let the ribbons out of my hair rebelliously on windy days, I would make sure that I had a bonnet on instead, or something of the like and be the epitomy of.... lady. I shudder to think that my parents would have arranged a marriage for me, and that I would be unhappily smiling and going into it because he was 'noble, and had money and was hansome'. God, what a horrible life. I'm so glad that I was born in this century and am able to say that. I am free and I can do things that other girls could never do, write for example, which I'm off to do after I post this, fall in love, which I will decide about on my own, and basically be seen and heard like any person. I'm so glad that I was born in this time, in this country. I'm so glad I'm free.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Blog 3
Free Response-
Diego is trying hard to impress his sweetheart, Juliana, the host's daughter. He isn't getting very far, for her courtier is much better looking and he views her much more highly. Also, Juliana has taken to viewing him as a brother. This change of events for Diego is devastating, but not mission stopping. He is very much ready to accept the challenge to get Juliana's heart. He meets some Gypsies along the way too. One with which he finds a very nice relationship. The gypsy clan allows him to participate in their circus, in which Diego juggles fire, swallows it, make money appear, and loads of other tricks that wow the audience... and Juliana. I think it's exceptionally naive of Juliana not to notice the motives of Diego, and kind of mean of her not to acknowledge them. A reaction I had to this 'chapter of sorts' is how odd it would be to be forced to marry by your father. I can't imagine saying 'Yes, Father.' and being married away to the wealthiest man who only liked me for my looks. Also, I can't imagine marrying someone 40 years older than me. It's just occured to me how amazing it is to be living here at this time, how lucky I am to have such priviledges. It makes me want to get my life moving, you know? To stop worrying about studies and progress, and to just relax and find a little love in the world. That might be a little exaturation on the point you might've thought I was making, but I'm really starting to get this book.
A cultural difference-
One simply does not find gypsies wandering around the streets- gypsies who get chased out of the community and killed just for being what they are. To say that they were disrupting the community life is not the right excuse for beheading them. Gypsies to me, are a people who are completely nomadic, and... yeah, they steal things at times, but how else are you supposed to live without food and money? I think Gypsies are people with beautiful traditions and should be treated with respect for who they are. Personally, I would not want to be a gypsy in the 1400s however...
Diego is trying hard to impress his sweetheart, Juliana, the host's daughter. He isn't getting very far, for her courtier is much better looking and he views her much more highly. Also, Juliana has taken to viewing him as a brother. This change of events for Diego is devastating, but not mission stopping. He is very much ready to accept the challenge to get Juliana's heart. He meets some Gypsies along the way too. One with which he finds a very nice relationship. The gypsy clan allows him to participate in their circus, in which Diego juggles fire, swallows it, make money appear, and loads of other tricks that wow the audience... and Juliana. I think it's exceptionally naive of Juliana not to notice the motives of Diego, and kind of mean of her not to acknowledge them. A reaction I had to this 'chapter of sorts' is how odd it would be to be forced to marry by your father. I can't imagine saying 'Yes, Father.' and being married away to the wealthiest man who only liked me for my looks. Also, I can't imagine marrying someone 40 years older than me. It's just occured to me how amazing it is to be living here at this time, how lucky I am to have such priviledges. It makes me want to get my life moving, you know? To stop worrying about studies and progress, and to just relax and find a little love in the world. That might be a little exaturation on the point you might've thought I was making, but I'm really starting to get this book.
A cultural difference-
One simply does not find gypsies wandering around the streets- gypsies who get chased out of the community and killed just for being what they are. To say that they were disrupting the community life is not the right excuse for beheading them. Gypsies to me, are a people who are completely nomadic, and... yeah, they steal things at times, but how else are you supposed to live without food and money? I think Gypsies are people with beautiful traditions and should be treated with respect for who they are. Personally, I would not want to be a gypsy in the 1400s however...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SMN0307-0-524&artno=0000274756&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=The%20Dalai%20Lama%20As%20Dupe&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=Y
Dalai Lama puppet
http://worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar146900&st=china+tibet+struggle
Dalai Lama to free Tibet
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/dalailama/interview.html
interview
Dalai Lama puppet
http://worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar146900&st=china+tibet+struggle
Dalai Lama to free Tibet
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/dalailama/interview.html
interview
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Post 2.5
Three sources on my chosen topic, China and Tibet's quarreling:
China terrorizes Tibet: New York Times Opinion collumn
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/opinion/18tue3.html
China and Tibet: Tibet is part of China
http://www.index-china.com/index-english/Tibet-s.html
Free Tibet
http://www.freetibet.org/
China terrorizes Tibet: New York Times Opinion collumn
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/opinion/18tue3.html
China and Tibet: Tibet is part of China
http://www.index-china.com/index-english/Tibet-s.html
Free Tibet
http://www.freetibet.org/
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Blog 2
Something intriguing about the cultural differences....
I thought it very peculiar how Don Alejandro de la Vega sent his son, Diego on a boat to Spain without any supervision except those who would rather sweep the poop deck than babysit. It's the strangest thing to me that a parent would care more about having his son be sent away somewhere than for his absolutely certain safety. Then again, on the other side of that concern lies the fact that the parents in our time send children to Japan unsupervised on a plane. So nobody can technically hi-jack the kid on the flight, but you never know what could happen before the kid reaches the house of the person they're getting to. However, I think that it's still safer than putting them on a boat that's creaking it's way across the ocean!
Something else that intrigued me that has to be at least 250 words...
To fill you in on what's happening, Diego and Bernardo have not been eaten by sharks or mutinied by their crew. The worst that happened to them on the voyage was falling in the water and being considered by sharks (hence, not eaten), getting a little drunk and then shipsick, and losing all of the valuable clothes that Diego's father sent along with the boys (which Diego doesn't really care about anyhow). So, it's them, in the strange city so far away from the Californian landscape that they know by heart. What's different from the two settings is the hatred, revenge methods, and the way to court girls. The hatred is shot not at American Indians by the Spanish, but at the French by the Spanish. It's really the same ignorance of the people who won't go out and learn about the different culture, so they hate eachother for being different. Secondly, the revenge methods vary from California to Spain. When one is angry in America, one usually talked it out and tried to get their way thoruhg sneaky methods. In Spain, one just shoots at one's rival in a duel to solve the issue of burnt pride. Once again, pretty similar. Finally, the courting girls methods are different. In America, you waited for the girls to come to you as a male. In Spain, you generally court the girl, and make her feel special enough to give you her riches, and her person. So, tradition technically holds out around the world, and nothing much changes.
I thought it very peculiar how Don Alejandro de la Vega sent his son, Diego on a boat to Spain without any supervision except those who would rather sweep the poop deck than babysit. It's the strangest thing to me that a parent would care more about having his son be sent away somewhere than for his absolutely certain safety. Then again, on the other side of that concern lies the fact that the parents in our time send children to Japan unsupervised on a plane. So nobody can technically hi-jack the kid on the flight, but you never know what could happen before the kid reaches the house of the person they're getting to. However, I think that it's still safer than putting them on a boat that's creaking it's way across the ocean!
Something else that intrigued me that has to be at least 250 words...
To fill you in on what's happening, Diego and Bernardo have not been eaten by sharks or mutinied by their crew. The worst that happened to them on the voyage was falling in the water and being considered by sharks (hence, not eaten), getting a little drunk and then shipsick, and losing all of the valuable clothes that Diego's father sent along with the boys (which Diego doesn't really care about anyhow). So, it's them, in the strange city so far away from the Californian landscape that they know by heart. What's different from the two settings is the hatred, revenge methods, and the way to court girls. The hatred is shot not at American Indians by the Spanish, but at the French by the Spanish. It's really the same ignorance of the people who won't go out and learn about the different culture, so they hate eachother for being different. Secondly, the revenge methods vary from California to Spain. When one is angry in America, one usually talked it out and tried to get their way thoruhg sneaky methods. In Spain, one just shoots at one's rival in a duel to solve the issue of burnt pride. Once again, pretty similar. Finally, the courting girls methods are different. In America, you waited for the girls to come to you as a male. In Spain, you generally court the girl, and make her feel special enough to give you her riches, and her person. So, tradition technically holds out around the world, and nothing much changes.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Cultural Difference that I stumbled upon...
I was astonished by how differenly time and place affect outlook on a single subject. The way that the spaniards in the 18th century treated the native Americans, the enslaved native Americans (who were called neophytes), and mixed blooded Spanish-Native Americas is so vastly different, it's hard for me not to be negatively biased about the conversion of the natives to Christinity, or the enslavement and sometimes downright murder of a people who were so peaceful. The Spaniards, as with most nations who colonized around the 18th century, paid no heed to the grievances of the native people, and thus, the outcry became an ignorable whisper. In modern times, anti racism laws prevent most cases of outright bigotry, and the 18th century Spaniards could learn a thing or two from them too!
In terms of other responses to the story so far...
So it turns out that the life of a half Native American, half Spaniard is anything but boring. The quote that gives the most significance to what I'm feeling here is: "In the meantime, Ana, with her habitual good nature, had taken Regina's child, whimpering with hunger, to her breast; thus Diego and Bernardo, Ana's son, began their lives with the same milk and inthe same arms. This made them milk brothers for as long as they lived." So our main character, Diego, is born to a mother who cannot feed him straightaway. This results in a friendly bit of compassion on her friend, Ana's part, when she takes both her son and Diego to her breast. I don't know what sort of significance this has to any sort of theme, but I thought it was interesting. This 'milk brother' bond holds out too through Bernardo and Diego's youth. While Bernardo, supposedly fully Native American is subject to (and accepts) scorn and resentment, Diego, being the son of a Spaniard, goes to school, learns to fence, and gets respect. Together, Diego and Bernardo learn together what it means to be brothers and also, they learn to face a world full to the brim with hatred for people like Diego's 'brother'.
I was astonished by how differenly time and place affect outlook on a single subject. The way that the spaniards in the 18th century treated the native Americans, the enslaved native Americans (who were called neophytes), and mixed blooded Spanish-Native Americas is so vastly different, it's hard for me not to be negatively biased about the conversion of the natives to Christinity, or the enslavement and sometimes downright murder of a people who were so peaceful. The Spaniards, as with most nations who colonized around the 18th century, paid no heed to the grievances of the native people, and thus, the outcry became an ignorable whisper. In modern times, anti racism laws prevent most cases of outright bigotry, and the 18th century Spaniards could learn a thing or two from them too!
In terms of other responses to the story so far...
So it turns out that the life of a half Native American, half Spaniard is anything but boring. The quote that gives the most significance to what I'm feeling here is: "In the meantime, Ana, with her habitual good nature, had taken Regina's child, whimpering with hunger, to her breast; thus Diego and Bernardo, Ana's son, began their lives with the same milk and inthe same arms. This made them milk brothers for as long as they lived." So our main character, Diego, is born to a mother who cannot feed him straightaway. This results in a friendly bit of compassion on her friend, Ana's part, when she takes both her son and Diego to her breast. I don't know what sort of significance this has to any sort of theme, but I thought it was interesting. This 'milk brother' bond holds out too through Bernardo and Diego's youth. While Bernardo, supposedly fully Native American is subject to (and accepts) scorn and resentment, Diego, being the son of a Spaniard, goes to school, learns to fence, and gets respect. Together, Diego and Bernardo learn together what it means to be brothers and also, they learn to face a world full to the brim with hatred for people like Diego's 'brother'.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Why I chose this book
I chose the novel Zorro by Isable Alende because it looked like a mature version of a story many associate with lassos, masks, and a 'z' slashed into various objects. For this reason it intruigued my on a niggling childish level, but I was also hesitant to pick it up. It was passed onto my by a friend who lives in France, who I admire for her intelligence and worldly view on books. SO I decided that I couldn't hurt myself by trying to rub up on some of that knowledge. The best books are the ones which one is pursuaded hesitnaly into, I've found. It's not as though it's a bad story either. The origins of Zorro, our hereo happen to be Spanish AND Native American, so it''s interesting to seethe 2 sides clash. I'm liking it so far too, gobbling up the words.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
LAST BLOG!
Vocabulary: Thanks Dictionary.com!
efficacy: capacity for producing a desired result or effect; effectiveness (230)
flagrante: very obvious; shameless (216)
customary: according to or depending on custom; usual; habitual (222)
Figurative Language:
Quote: 193- On top of a small hillock, in the shadow of an obelisk hat was once a geodesic marker, Senhor Jose looks around him as far as he can see, and he finds nothing but graves rising and falling with the curves of the land....
Analysis: Irony. Personification. Often Senhor Jose talks about the fact that buildings breathe and they rise and fall with their breath. I think it's ironic personification here, because of the fact that he is indirectly personalifying the graves as breathing beings.
Quote: 191- He would go in there in person to remind the fighters ironically that there was no point tearing their hair out over such minor matters during their lifetime, sinsce, sooner or later, they would all end up together in the cemetary bald as coots.
Analysis: Comic Relief. I think that this represents comic relief because death and fighting are such heavy subjects that the author decided to not depress his readers and throw them a bone.
Quote: "Now what explanation can you find for that, you'd have to ask the burglar, he must know, having said these words, Senhor Jose got up, i won't rob you of any more of your time.
Analysis: Irony. This is Senhor Jose admitting that he is the burglar.
Chapter Quote: The General Cemetery, with its banks of spontaneous vegetation, its flowers, its creepers, its dense bushes, its festoons and garlands, its nettles and its thistles, the powerful trees whose roots often dislodged tombstones and forced up into the sunlight a few startled bones.
Analysis: Metaphor. This reminds me of people who admit that they have skeletons in their closets.
Theme: Life and death. It's really all the same, thinks Senhor Jose, as well as the Registrar. They both believe in the fact that nothing is real, rather everything is imaginary.
Post B
Well, the book ended. Rather than give it away, I'll just tell you what I thought rather than what the words said. Let me first make sure you understand the first sentence of this paragraph- the book ended, but the story sure didn't. I don't know if I've met a more contraversial, undifinitive, totally surprising book than this. It's surprised me in many ways, quite a lot of ways that I ironically didn't expect to be surprised in. The shepherd in the story switched around the graves in the end, so that the ones who had killed themselves could never be found. How kind, and how sobering. I had never thought of it that way. Senhor Jose's thought process is that the dead are the dead and nothing will change that. But then again, mourners annot really tell the difference anyway, right? It's one earth, one cemetery, why not one ideal to weep for? The Registrar really changed too. He was the character who I thought might never become developed, but he did it himself, like characters do behind author's backs. Partially, I'm glad that this book is over, and partially, I wish it would go on. It's scary to find that I'm now alone with these ideas in my head. Who knows what I might do with them?
efficacy: capacity for producing a desired result or effect; effectiveness (230)
flagrante: very obvious; shameless (216)
customary: according to or depending on custom; usual; habitual (222)
Figurative Language:
Quote: 193- On top of a small hillock, in the shadow of an obelisk hat was once a geodesic marker, Senhor Jose looks around him as far as he can see, and he finds nothing but graves rising and falling with the curves of the land....
Analysis: Irony. Personification. Often Senhor Jose talks about the fact that buildings breathe and they rise and fall with their breath. I think it's ironic personification here, because of the fact that he is indirectly personalifying the graves as breathing beings.
Quote: 191- He would go in there in person to remind the fighters ironically that there was no point tearing their hair out over such minor matters during their lifetime, sinsce, sooner or later, they would all end up together in the cemetary bald as coots.
Analysis: Comic Relief. I think that this represents comic relief because death and fighting are such heavy subjects that the author decided to not depress his readers and throw them a bone.
Quote: "Now what explanation can you find for that, you'd have to ask the burglar, he must know, having said these words, Senhor Jose got up, i won't rob you of any more of your time.
Analysis: Irony. This is Senhor Jose admitting that he is the burglar.
Chapter Quote: The General Cemetery, with its banks of spontaneous vegetation, its flowers, its creepers, its dense bushes, its festoons and garlands, its nettles and its thistles, the powerful trees whose roots often dislodged tombstones and forced up into the sunlight a few startled bones.
Analysis: Metaphor. This reminds me of people who admit that they have skeletons in their closets.
Theme: Life and death. It's really all the same, thinks Senhor Jose, as well as the Registrar. They both believe in the fact that nothing is real, rather everything is imaginary.
Post B
Well, the book ended. Rather than give it away, I'll just tell you what I thought rather than what the words said. Let me first make sure you understand the first sentence of this paragraph- the book ended, but the story sure didn't. I don't know if I've met a more contraversial, undifinitive, totally surprising book than this. It's surprised me in many ways, quite a lot of ways that I ironically didn't expect to be surprised in. The shepherd in the story switched around the graves in the end, so that the ones who had killed themselves could never be found. How kind, and how sobering. I had never thought of it that way. Senhor Jose's thought process is that the dead are the dead and nothing will change that. But then again, mourners annot really tell the difference anyway, right? It's one earth, one cemetery, why not one ideal to weep for? The Registrar really changed too. He was the character who I thought might never become developed, but he did it himself, like characters do behind author's backs. Partially, I'm glad that this book is over, and partially, I wish it would go on. It's scary to find that I'm now alone with these ideas in my head. Who knows what I might do with them?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Vocabulary: thanks dictionary.com!
affixed-173 to secure with something
scrupulous-173 principled, precice, exact
premonitory- 175 giving premonition
Figurative Language
Quote: 172- "You couldn't hear a fly, although everyone knew they were there, some perched in safe places, others dying in the filthy spider'webs hanging from the ceiling."
Analysis: Metaphor: The Resistrar is speaking to the lot of them- really digging something in deep. Course, they have no idea what that thing is, but they all gobble it up anyway. Senhor Jose is the only one who really knows what the Registrar is talking about- he is the spider dying in the web.
Quote: 170- "What you could hear more clearly was a muffled sound that rose and fell, like a distant bellows, but Senhor Jose was used to that, it was the Central Registry breathing.
Analysis: Personification: The Central Registry is two things- living and dead. So it's interesting that Senhor Jose can hear it breathing... can any of the other clerks? The Registrar? Maybe he's the only one.
Quote: 168- "We were silent for about two minutes, she was looking at me reproachfully, as if i had made her a solemn promise..."
Analysis: Figurative Language: Here, Senhor Jose makes a switch to first person- and it's rather sudden, and confused me at first. It's him writing in a journal, actually, which leads us to presume that everything that we have read thus far is just notes in a journal.
Chapter Quote: "When I'd finished talking, she asked me, And what do you think you'll do now, Nothing, I said, Are you going to go back to your collections of famous people, I don't know."
Theme: Uncertainty is the theme. I'm sure that it's it. I believe that the writing style and the wordchoice and the action are all indicators of that.
Post B
I liked this chapter, you're expecting to say. But I really thought that it was interesting. It's quite odd to watch this character who's just floating in the beginning evolve into a criminal in his own mind, and one who takes huge chances and makes leaps and bounds of advances about this woman who he doesn't even know. I think Senhor Jose reminds me of myself in some ways. Uncaring about some things a lot of the time, but willing to work through it even if it doen't get him really anything. Everything has meaning- life is meaningful, and I guess in an odd twisted way I understand through this. There's death in a very bookish sense, which I think scares me more than gory death. Because then at least somebody flinches, this kind of death, nobody knows who you are. If life is meaningful, then what's the point if it, I wonder? I've been thinking, like I'm sure I'm not supposed to be thinking about life in general during this book. It's a book that makes you think about things like that, and what the point is if everybody is anybody and nobody is all bodies. It's confusing, but it's sensical. I think it portrays everyone's journey through life, but I don't really know the journey of life, and by the time I do, it'll be too late to live it.... twisted huh?
affixed-173 to secure with something
scrupulous-173 principled, precice, exact
premonitory- 175 giving premonition
Figurative Language
Quote: 172- "You couldn't hear a fly, although everyone knew they were there, some perched in safe places, others dying in the filthy spider'webs hanging from the ceiling."
Analysis: Metaphor: The Resistrar is speaking to the lot of them- really digging something in deep. Course, they have no idea what that thing is, but they all gobble it up anyway. Senhor Jose is the only one who really knows what the Registrar is talking about- he is the spider dying in the web.
Quote: 170- "What you could hear more clearly was a muffled sound that rose and fell, like a distant bellows, but Senhor Jose was used to that, it was the Central Registry breathing.
Analysis: Personification: The Central Registry is two things- living and dead. So it's interesting that Senhor Jose can hear it breathing... can any of the other clerks? The Registrar? Maybe he's the only one.
Quote: 168- "We were silent for about two minutes, she was looking at me reproachfully, as if i had made her a solemn promise..."
Analysis: Figurative Language: Here, Senhor Jose makes a switch to first person- and it's rather sudden, and confused me at first. It's him writing in a journal, actually, which leads us to presume that everything that we have read thus far is just notes in a journal.
Chapter Quote: "When I'd finished talking, she asked me, And what do you think you'll do now, Nothing, I said, Are you going to go back to your collections of famous people, I don't know."
Theme: Uncertainty is the theme. I'm sure that it's it. I believe that the writing style and the wordchoice and the action are all indicators of that.
Post B
I liked this chapter, you're expecting to say. But I really thought that it was interesting. It's quite odd to watch this character who's just floating in the beginning evolve into a criminal in his own mind, and one who takes huge chances and makes leaps and bounds of advances about this woman who he doesn't even know. I think Senhor Jose reminds me of myself in some ways. Uncaring about some things a lot of the time, but willing to work through it even if it doen't get him really anything. Everything has meaning- life is meaningful, and I guess in an odd twisted way I understand through this. There's death in a very bookish sense, which I think scares me more than gory death. Because then at least somebody flinches, this kind of death, nobody knows who you are. If life is meaningful, then what's the point if it, I wonder? I've been thinking, like I'm sure I'm not supposed to be thinking about life in general during this book. It's a book that makes you think about things like that, and what the point is if everybody is anybody and nobody is all bodies. It's confusing, but it's sensical. I think it portrays everyone's journey through life, but I don't really know the journey of life, and by the time I do, it'll be too late to live it.... twisted huh?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Yet Another Post on All the Names
Vocabulary: Thank You Dictionary.com
Putrefying- (149) to cause to rot or decay with an offensive odor.
Macabre (155) -gruesome and horrifying; ghastly; horrible.
Dilapidated- (156) reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect.
Figurative Language
quote: the voice that had adressed that speech to him was now saying things like this, don't be afraid, the darkness you're in is no greater than the darkness inside your body they are two darknesses seperated by skin. (149)
analysis: This is a little bit of personification due to the voice in Senhor Jose's head taking on the quality of a person. Also, it is implying a metaphor when it states in the quote that the darkness inside is no different than the one outside.
quote: He looked out, noticing ho , due to some unusual optical effect, the diffusion of the light in the atmosphere lit the facade of the buildings with a reddish tone, as if the sun were about to rise at that moment for each and every one of them.
analysis: This is an impressive bout of imagery by Saramago, and also a similie because of the as if.
quote: As everyone knows, our thoughts, both anxious and happy thoughts, and others which are neither one or the other, sooner or later grow weary and bored with themselves, it's just a question of letting time do it's work. It's just a matter of leaving them to the lazy day dreaming that comes no to them. (155)
analysis: I saw irony in this quote with the bit: 'lazy day dreaming'. I really liked how he made his anxiety mellow out by talking it through and comparing it to lazy day dreaming.
Chapter Quote
"It's a macabre exaggeration to call this the archive of the dead, if the papers you have in your hand are those of the unknown woman, they are just paper, not bones." (157)
Analysis: Then what is the woman, flesh and not blood? Body and not soul? I think that he has the ability to work himself down until important things are of no matter anymore. I liked this quote because of the implication that there is nothing to the papers except their appearance. He's obviously fooling himself, because when we're scared we don't look deeply, and he is looking deeply for this woman.
Theme: deception is prevelant in this bit of a chapter. The Registrar is decieving Senhor Jose by going back into the Registry when all is dark, and Senhor Jose is fooling the Registrar by also going into the Registry when it's closed. It's like they know they're playing the same game, but neither will call eachother on it.
Rant
I could get really into the theme and start sprouting Theses, but I think I'll stay away from that for all of our sakes, considering I still have to study for tests. I really liked the fact that we are finally seeing a soul in Senhor Jose, not that he's not a sweet guy, but what really drives him? Adventure. And at such an old age, one cannot seem to find adventure as frequently. It's odd though, the woman is dead. The papers were on the floor, and he saw them, held them, read them. So where does that leave our protagonist now? A dead mystery? Sounds like life to me. You can ask it questions, any questions, but it's lips are sealed, much like the lady he's been searching for who's now done with life. I hope Senhor Jose really thinks about this, and decides to do something important with his remaining time. I however, am completely confused as to what the author is getting at. I wish I had a better understanding, but apparently the APLit class is reading this, so I really have no complaints here other than crabbiness that I have so much to do besides kick back and read. But anyway, Senhor Jose is really a timeless, faceless guy who can represent us all- looking for purpose, finding a meaning, searching through a catacomb of the dead... you know, usual stuff. I guess finding ourselves amongst all the names is quite important, but right now, I'd really like to hit the shower. See you next week.
Putrefying- (149) to cause to rot or decay with an offensive odor.
Macabre (155) -gruesome and horrifying; ghastly; horrible.
Dilapidated- (156) reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect.
Figurative Language
quote: the voice that had adressed that speech to him was now saying things like this, don't be afraid, the darkness you're in is no greater than the darkness inside your body they are two darknesses seperated by skin. (149)
analysis: This is a little bit of personification due to the voice in Senhor Jose's head taking on the quality of a person. Also, it is implying a metaphor when it states in the quote that the darkness inside is no different than the one outside.
quote: He looked out, noticing ho , due to some unusual optical effect, the diffusion of the light in the atmosphere lit the facade of the buildings with a reddish tone, as if the sun were about to rise at that moment for each and every one of them.
analysis: This is an impressive bout of imagery by Saramago, and also a similie because of the as if.
quote: As everyone knows, our thoughts, both anxious and happy thoughts, and others which are neither one or the other, sooner or later grow weary and bored with themselves, it's just a question of letting time do it's work. It's just a matter of leaving them to the lazy day dreaming that comes no to them. (155)
analysis: I saw irony in this quote with the bit: 'lazy day dreaming'. I really liked how he made his anxiety mellow out by talking it through and comparing it to lazy day dreaming.
Chapter Quote
"It's a macabre exaggeration to call this the archive of the dead, if the papers you have in your hand are those of the unknown woman, they are just paper, not bones." (157)
Analysis: Then what is the woman, flesh and not blood? Body and not soul? I think that he has the ability to work himself down until important things are of no matter anymore. I liked this quote because of the implication that there is nothing to the papers except their appearance. He's obviously fooling himself, because when we're scared we don't look deeply, and he is looking deeply for this woman.
Theme: deception is prevelant in this bit of a chapter. The Registrar is decieving Senhor Jose by going back into the Registry when all is dark, and Senhor Jose is fooling the Registrar by also going into the Registry when it's closed. It's like they know they're playing the same game, but neither will call eachother on it.
Rant
I could get really into the theme and start sprouting Theses, but I think I'll stay away from that for all of our sakes, considering I still have to study for tests. I really liked the fact that we are finally seeing a soul in Senhor Jose, not that he's not a sweet guy, but what really drives him? Adventure. And at such an old age, one cannot seem to find adventure as frequently. It's odd though, the woman is dead. The papers were on the floor, and he saw them, held them, read them. So where does that leave our protagonist now? A dead mystery? Sounds like life to me. You can ask it questions, any questions, but it's lips are sealed, much like the lady he's been searching for who's now done with life. I hope Senhor Jose really thinks about this, and decides to do something important with his remaining time. I however, am completely confused as to what the author is getting at. I wish I had a better understanding, but apparently the APLit class is reading this, so I really have no complaints here other than crabbiness that I have so much to do besides kick back and read. But anyway, Senhor Jose is really a timeless, faceless guy who can represent us all- looking for purpose, finding a meaning, searching through a catacomb of the dead... you know, usual stuff. I guess finding ourselves amongst all the names is quite important, but right now, I'd really like to hit the shower. See you next week.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Figurative Language
Quote: “To put [the pictures] somewhere else, amid the files he used for his clippings about famous people, for example, would immediately resolve the difficulty, but the sense of defending a secret with his own body was too strong, too thrilling even, for Senhor Jose to give it up.”115
Analysis: Emotion as expression
I believe that this is figurative language. It’s the author using emotion to convey just how important something is to his character and what he’d do for it.
Quote: “He beat two eggs, added a few slices of chorizo sausage, a generous pinch of sea salt, put some oil in a frying pan, and waited until it had heated to just the right point…” 133
Analysis: Imagery
This uses all five senses to show Senhor Jose’s meal. For example- the generous pinch of sea salt is sight, the ‘heated to just the right point’ is a measure of feeling of heat. Clever of him to describe a meal in such color when everything else is bland. He’s slowly opening up to us about Senhor Jose’s character.
Quote: That string will lead back to the world of the living the person who, at this very moment, is preparing to enter the kingdom of the dead.
Analysis: Irony
Not only does this describe live vs. death, but it describes a string vs. a kingdom.
Vocabulary: Thank you Microsoft Dictionary
Commiseration- (116) Sympathy
Convalescence- (119) Gradual return to health
Torpor- (133) Lack of energy/numbness
Chapter Quote: One might ask why Senhor Jose needs a hundred-yard-long piece of string if the length of the Central Registry, despite successive extensions, is no more than eighty. That is the question of a person who imagines that one can do everything in life simply by following a straight line.
Analysis: This really explains what I’ve been trying to say with all my ramblings- nobody can do everything or even anything with too short or too long a rope. I think that Senhor Jose was wise in giving himself some slack, but not too much.
Theme: Time and it’s possibilities. It’s a rather odd sort of theme, but it’s gotten to the point where Senhor Jose really puts his time to use by testing different choices and seeing some fly and some fail.
Post B- It's quite funny...
I find it funny that my dictionary didn’t recognize the name Senhor. It’s pretty ironic considering that this is a book about a man trying to find his identity through someone else. As he said last chapter, the reason he is not the Registrar is because the Registrar knows all the names, whereas he only writes them every day. However, this got me thinking about how much I dislike the fact that in the novels I’ve been reading recently, making a name for yourself is so relevant. It’s not who you are, but what sort of choices you make. As the Goo Goo Dolls would say, ‘Doesn’t it make you sad to know that life is more than who you are?’. So I chucked at that bit. On the other side, it’s quite bittersweet when you realize that this is a man without a name in some sense. He gets himself sick looking for the thing that keeps him alive. So, what kind of existence is that? It’s interesting to think that you can either make a name and be important to the world overall, or you can have a secret name that’s only known to a few around you. I’d much rather have the latter. I know it’s not world fame, but what is a celebrity stance when you have no friends, family, love? So I consider Senhor Jose much more ‘there’ than others who have huge names.
Quote: “To put [the pictures] somewhere else, amid the files he used for his clippings about famous people, for example, would immediately resolve the difficulty, but the sense of defending a secret with his own body was too strong, too thrilling even, for Senhor Jose to give it up.”115
Analysis: Emotion as expression
I believe that this is figurative language. It’s the author using emotion to convey just how important something is to his character and what he’d do for it.
Quote: “He beat two eggs, added a few slices of chorizo sausage, a generous pinch of sea salt, put some oil in a frying pan, and waited until it had heated to just the right point…” 133
Analysis: Imagery
This uses all five senses to show Senhor Jose’s meal. For example- the generous pinch of sea salt is sight, the ‘heated to just the right point’ is a measure of feeling of heat. Clever of him to describe a meal in such color when everything else is bland. He’s slowly opening up to us about Senhor Jose’s character.
Quote: That string will lead back to the world of the living the person who, at this very moment, is preparing to enter the kingdom of the dead.
Analysis: Irony
Not only does this describe live vs. death, but it describes a string vs. a kingdom.
Vocabulary: Thank you Microsoft Dictionary
Commiseration- (116) Sympathy
Convalescence- (119) Gradual return to health
Torpor- (133) Lack of energy/numbness
Chapter Quote: One might ask why Senhor Jose needs a hundred-yard-long piece of string if the length of the Central Registry, despite successive extensions, is no more than eighty. That is the question of a person who imagines that one can do everything in life simply by following a straight line.
Analysis: This really explains what I’ve been trying to say with all my ramblings- nobody can do everything or even anything with too short or too long a rope. I think that Senhor Jose was wise in giving himself some slack, but not too much.
Theme: Time and it’s possibilities. It’s a rather odd sort of theme, but it’s gotten to the point where Senhor Jose really puts his time to use by testing different choices and seeing some fly and some fail.
Post B- It's quite funny...
I find it funny that my dictionary didn’t recognize the name Senhor. It’s pretty ironic considering that this is a book about a man trying to find his identity through someone else. As he said last chapter, the reason he is not the Registrar is because the Registrar knows all the names, whereas he only writes them every day. However, this got me thinking about how much I dislike the fact that in the novels I’ve been reading recently, making a name for yourself is so relevant. It’s not who you are, but what sort of choices you make. As the Goo Goo Dolls would say, ‘Doesn’t it make you sad to know that life is more than who you are?’. So I chucked at that bit. On the other side, it’s quite bittersweet when you realize that this is a man without a name in some sense. He gets himself sick looking for the thing that keeps him alive. So, what kind of existence is that? It’s interesting to think that you can either make a name and be important to the world overall, or you can have a secret name that’s only known to a few around you. I’d much rather have the latter. I know it’s not world fame, but what is a celebrity stance when you have no friends, family, love? So I consider Senhor Jose much more ‘there’ than others who have huge names.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Post B:
If anyone is reading this, sorry that post A and post B aren't connected- I had to publish the first part or risk losing it.... long story. But the book: the book was amazing. I really liked this chapter considering that it began to get to the action (better later than never, right?) And it heightened my sense of anxiety for some sort of solution to manifest itself infront of Senhor Jose's eyes- the central problem being really: where is the girl? And more importantly, who is the girl?? There are times in the story where I think Senhor Jose is being ridiculously over the top, but there are some points where I believe that there is a chance for every dream to show itself. However, it looks like this dream will be found with a flashlight or a library card (which I wouldn't mind). However, I really wish that there was some sort of constant. I like reading books where there is something to count on and in this book, there is nothing to count on- even Senhor Jose seems to be admitting to losing it a little (which is alright too). I suppose that I can answer my own rhetoric here- when there's nothing to hold onto, there is something to grab for. I believe that Senhor Jose is quite posessionless and quite detatched from things a normal 50 year old would have. For example, a wife, a nice home, retirement, are all missing from this story. So... really, what's the harm in looking for the anwer to someone else's life? It's normal to have something to hold onto and this seems like just the thing for him- someone different than himself, someone outside his own head, something tangible. Who knows what will come of it? Maybe she's died a few years ago, or maybe she's as lonely as he is. All that the reader knows for certain right now is that almost anything seems possible at this point for Senhor Jose.
If anyone is reading this, sorry that post A and post B aren't connected- I had to publish the first part or risk losing it.... long story. But the book: the book was amazing. I really liked this chapter considering that it began to get to the action (better later than never, right?) And it heightened my sense of anxiety for some sort of solution to manifest itself infront of Senhor Jose's eyes- the central problem being really: where is the girl? And more importantly, who is the girl?? There are times in the story where I think Senhor Jose is being ridiculously over the top, but there are some points where I believe that there is a chance for every dream to show itself. However, it looks like this dream will be found with a flashlight or a library card (which I wouldn't mind). However, I really wish that there was some sort of constant. I like reading books where there is something to count on and in this book, there is nothing to count on- even Senhor Jose seems to be admitting to losing it a little (which is alright too). I suppose that I can answer my own rhetoric here- when there's nothing to hold onto, there is something to grab for. I believe that Senhor Jose is quite posessionless and quite detatched from things a normal 50 year old would have. For example, a wife, a nice home, retirement, are all missing from this story. So... really, what's the harm in looking for the anwer to someone else's life? It's normal to have something to hold onto and this seems like just the thing for him- someone different than himself, someone outside his own head, something tangible. Who knows what will come of it? Maybe she's died a few years ago, or maybe she's as lonely as he is. All that the reader knows for certain right now is that almost anything seems possible at this point for Senhor Jose.
Vocabulary: Thank you dictionary.com
implements -(74-75) a tool or requirement
flagrante- (76) scandalous
Figurative Language
Quote: the lard having impregnated the fabric (76)
Analysis: Personification. The lard is being spoken of as if it were human. Therefore, as a person would it soaked the fabric so thoroughly that it could be said that the lard impregnated the fabric.
Quote: He looked indide the rooms to which the diffuse light from outside gave a ghostly air, where the student's desks looked like lines of tombs, where the teachers desk looked like a sombre sacrificial alter.... (77)
Analysis: metaphor. This compares desks and classrooms to a graveyard. It's also very mood setting.
Quote: At the moment, he did not yet know how right he was (78)
Analysis: Foreshadowing. This is an excellent example of the foreshadowing that great books have. It's subtle enough so that it's not overbearing to the reader, but quite present.
Significant Quote: each movement he made, opening a box, untying a bundle, raised a cloud of dust so much so that in order not to be asphyxiated, he had to tie his handkerchief over his nose and mouth, a preventive measure that the clerks were advised to follow each time they went into the archive of the dead at the central registry. (90-91)
Analysis: This quote not only shows more than it's fair share of figurative language (foreshadowing, similes, etc) But it provides the reader with vocabulary, imagery, and a mood.
Theme: The theme is undoubtedly surrounding this girl whoever she is. It's all about her now, and we just have to see if Senhor Jose meets her.
implements -(74-75) a tool or requirement
flagrante- (76) scandalous
Figurative Language
Quote: the lard having impregnated the fabric (76)
Analysis: Personification. The lard is being spoken of as if it were human. Therefore, as a person would it soaked the fabric so thoroughly that it could be said that the lard impregnated the fabric.
Quote: He looked indide the rooms to which the diffuse light from outside gave a ghostly air, where the student's desks looked like lines of tombs, where the teachers desk looked like a sombre sacrificial alter.... (77)
Analysis: metaphor. This compares desks and classrooms to a graveyard. It's also very mood setting.
Quote: At the moment, he did not yet know how right he was (78)
Analysis: Foreshadowing. This is an excellent example of the foreshadowing that great books have. It's subtle enough so that it's not overbearing to the reader, but quite present.
Significant Quote: each movement he made, opening a box, untying a bundle, raised a cloud of dust so much so that in order not to be asphyxiated, he had to tie his handkerchief over his nose and mouth, a preventive measure that the clerks were advised to follow each time they went into the archive of the dead at the central registry. (90-91)
Analysis: This quote not only shows more than it's fair share of figurative language (foreshadowing, similes, etc) But it provides the reader with vocabulary, imagery, and a mood.
Theme: The theme is undoubtedly surrounding this girl whoever she is. It's all about her now, and we just have to see if Senhor Jose meets her.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
34-78
I'm very stressed out because of this blog. I have to do other things, and I really don't feel like I have enough time. But anyway, Jose Seramago has really outdone himself. I'm pretty much very into philosophy, so this chapter was nice to read. Also, Senhor Jose meets a few people, a few women and gets very excited about presenting himself to them because he's pretending to be on official business. The reason for his outings is because of a card he found in the registry- it is the name of an ordinary woman who he becomes very interested in (not interested in pursuing her, just very interested in finding out who she is). Senhor Jose collects the cards of very famous people, and decides to put the newfound card in there too. Back to the main plot- he goes to the apartment where she was born and of course finds no one there who knows her. So, thinking he's insane, Senhor Jose goes to the oldest resident in the building and asks her about the woman. Turns out she knows a little, and starts talking. So we see Senhor Jose having a very intellectual conversation with a woman he's barely met.
Vocabulary: (thanks Dictionary.com)
discretionary (37) : For any use or purpose one chooses
Ariadne's Thread (37): The solving of a problem with multiple apparent means of proceeding
Viscosity (41) : Resistance to flow
Figurative Language:
"Noiselessly, on tiptoe, he went rapidly up to the landing above and stayed there pressed aginst the wall, his heart pounding as if he were living through some dangerous adventure, while the your man's firm steps grew louder as they approached." (39)
This is a simile: The part of his heartbeat being compared to a dangerous adventure.
"Everyone knows that while no flies are caught with vinegar, some you can't even catch with honey." (43)
This is an example of a saying. A pretty sarcastic twist on a saying that is to say.
"The coffee was finished, the words were finished." (50)
Illiteration is seen here with 'finished' being the repeated word.
Quote: Nothing is irrelevant in such that one person's life is everyone's life. (47)
I really like this quote, because of the relevance to the story. Senhor Jose is trying to humble himself by saying that he is nothing like the Registrar, who knows all the names of all the people who have ever lived, and therefore, of all the names of the people who will ever be born. The lady he is trying to convince of this tells him that he knows her, not just her name, and that makes him better than the Registrar.
Theme: Life and the cycle of living and death and the relevance of death to life is a major theme in the book thus far.
Vocabulary: (thanks Dictionary.com)
discretionary (37) : For any use or purpose one chooses
Ariadne's Thread (37): The solving of a problem with multiple apparent means of proceeding
Viscosity (41) : Resistance to flow
Figurative Language:
"Noiselessly, on tiptoe, he went rapidly up to the landing above and stayed there pressed aginst the wall, his heart pounding as if he were living through some dangerous adventure, while the your man's firm steps grew louder as they approached." (39)
This is a simile: The part of his heartbeat being compared to a dangerous adventure.
"Everyone knows that while no flies are caught with vinegar, some you can't even catch with honey." (43)
This is an example of a saying. A pretty sarcastic twist on a saying that is to say.
"The coffee was finished, the words were finished." (50)
Illiteration is seen here with 'finished' being the repeated word.
Quote: Nothing is irrelevant in such that one person's life is everyone's life. (47)
I really like this quote, because of the relevance to the story. Senhor Jose is trying to humble himself by saying that he is nothing like the Registrar, who knows all the names of all the people who have ever lived, and therefore, of all the names of the people who will ever be born. The lady he is trying to convince of this tells him that he knows her, not just her name, and that makes him better than the Registrar.
Theme: Life and the cycle of living and death and the relevance of death to life is a major theme in the book thus far.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
All The Names 1-34
I picked this book up not because it was a nobel prize winner, but because it was summer and I was interested in broadening my horizons. Dad said that each of us (meaning my brother and I) could either pick out a book or get a scone or something from the starbucks counter in Barnes and Noble. My brother and I looked at eachother and snorted at the notion of buying some obscure pumpernickle, caffene infested drink over leafing through the piles of books that could be ours potentially (my dad knew this of course, and gave us 20 bucks anyhow. The obsure pumpernickle thing was ok.). So I was looking over the piles and piles of renowned books, and to say the truth, none of them really caught my eye, as per usual with the so called 'riveting, absolutely spectacular' novels. I looked towards the young adult section, and I looked towards the fantasy section, but something prevented me from scaling my usual haunts. I decided to be brave and read a potentially 'adultlike' book. The back of the book 'All The Names' by Jose (add little mark over the e) Saramago looked interesting, and turns out that it had won a nobel prize too. So that's where I am right now. On the spur of a moment choice that still holds my interest from the days where I still had time to be curious. Let's hope it's good.
Some Vocabulary: (thanks dictionary.com)
Central Registry: "Approved Facilities for the Storage of Federal Records" (Saramago 3)
Registrar: General, responsible for the registration of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, etc.
Quote: "Imagine now, if you can, the state of nerves, the excitement with which Senhor Jose opened the forbidden door for the first time, the siver that made him pause before going in, as if he had placed his foot on the threshold of a room in which was buried a god whose power, contrary to tradition, came not from his resurrection, but from his having refused to be resurrected. Only dead gods are gods forever." (Saramago 13)
Analysis: This reminds me of the epic similes that we've all come to know and love from The Odyssey. Firstly, it's long and truthfully, quite epic. Secondly, it's descriptive of the 'state of nerves' that Senhor Jose feels at the moment and it makes the reader want to hold thier breath in order to follow silently behind him and not disturb the moment for him.
Quote: "...prudence is only of any use when it is trying to conserve something in which we are no longer interested." (Saramago 23)
Analysis: This sentence personifies 'prudence'. It's quite clear to the reader that Senhor Jose thinks of prudence as a pesky little bugger that tries to confuse us on a regular basis.
Quote: "The card belongs to a woman of thirty-six, born in that very city, and there are two entries, one for marriage, the other for divorce. There must be hundreds, if not thousands of such cards in the index system, so it's hard to understand why Senhor Jose should be looking at it so strangely, in a way which, at first sight, seems intent, but which is also vague and troubled, perhaps this is the look of someone who, without making any sonscious choice, is gradually losing is grip on something and has yet to find another handhold." (25)
Analysis: This card is a symbol for the rest of the book's journey, and it foreshadows Senhor Jose's travels and his obsession with the mystery that this card provides him.
Book Quote: "Chance doesn't choose, it proposes."
Analysis: This is a quote that caught my eye and made me crack a smile. Because after all, we all are supposedly waiting for chance to throw us a favorable ball. But what we do with that ball is our own choice. We can screw things up, like throwing the ball through the window of our neighbor's condo and getting arrested for it 5 minutes later after a fingerprint analysis by the senile old man who lives there. Or if that's not favorable, we can play catch with the neighbor boy, and eventally be accredited with helping the boy make it to the pro level for baseball.
Theme: The emerging theme looks like a long journey to not only figure out who this woman is, but who Senhor Jose is himself. It is fascinating, and yet it's just life as seen from the outside.
Some Vocabulary: (thanks dictionary.com)
Central Registry: "Approved Facilities for the Storage of Federal Records" (Saramago 3)
Registrar: General, responsible for the registration of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, etc.
Quote: "Imagine now, if you can, the state of nerves, the excitement with which Senhor Jose opened the forbidden door for the first time, the siver that made him pause before going in, as if he had placed his foot on the threshold of a room in which was buried a god whose power, contrary to tradition, came not from his resurrection, but from his having refused to be resurrected. Only dead gods are gods forever." (Saramago 13)
Analysis: This reminds me of the epic similes that we've all come to know and love from The Odyssey. Firstly, it's long and truthfully, quite epic. Secondly, it's descriptive of the 'state of nerves' that Senhor Jose feels at the moment and it makes the reader want to hold thier breath in order to follow silently behind him and not disturb the moment for him.
Quote: "...prudence is only of any use when it is trying to conserve something in which we are no longer interested." (Saramago 23)
Analysis: This sentence personifies 'prudence'. It's quite clear to the reader that Senhor Jose thinks of prudence as a pesky little bugger that tries to confuse us on a regular basis.
Quote: "The card belongs to a woman of thirty-six, born in that very city, and there are two entries, one for marriage, the other for divorce. There must be hundreds, if not thousands of such cards in the index system, so it's hard to understand why Senhor Jose should be looking at it so strangely, in a way which, at first sight, seems intent, but which is also vague and troubled, perhaps this is the look of someone who, without making any sonscious choice, is gradually losing is grip on something and has yet to find another handhold." (25)
Analysis: This card is a symbol for the rest of the book's journey, and it foreshadows Senhor Jose's travels and his obsession with the mystery that this card provides him.
Book Quote: "Chance doesn't choose, it proposes."
Analysis: This is a quote that caught my eye and made me crack a smile. Because after all, we all are supposedly waiting for chance to throw us a favorable ball. But what we do with that ball is our own choice. We can screw things up, like throwing the ball through the window of our neighbor's condo and getting arrested for it 5 minutes later after a fingerprint analysis by the senile old man who lives there. Or if that's not favorable, we can play catch with the neighbor boy, and eventally be accredited with helping the boy make it to the pro level for baseball.
Theme: The emerging theme looks like a long journey to not only figure out who this woman is, but who Senhor Jose is himself. It is fascinating, and yet it's just life as seen from the outside.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
What's A Boy To Do- Mat Kearney (Telemachus)
I chose a theme song for Telemachus, who inspires me to not only search for the impossible, but to stand up for myself and others.
For example, the suitors who have taken over Telemachus' house for the last 20 years have ruined the property, stolen what's not theirs and have had no respect for their hosts. Telemachus calls to the Gods to aid him as he tells the suitors to vacate his home. This tells the reader of Telemachus' bravery and ability to ask for help when he needs it.
I picked this song because Telemachus seems to want more than anything to see his father again after his 20 year absense. Mat Kearney does not only a good job of providing the lyrics that exemplify Telemachus' character, but he also sets a nice, sad tone to go along with them.
'Daddy's been looking down his nose at all of them
And I've been looking round for someone to tell me who I am
He kept saying I was to young to finish a fight
I'd die each time they came I never got to draw my knife'
These lines reminded me of Telemachus' struggles with the suitors and his inability to act when it was necessary in the past because of his father's absense.
Also,
'An angel is crying I'm dying just a little inside as they ran away...
Funny which words stick around 20 years down when you're driving alone'
The angel reference in the song could be thought of as a parallel to Telemachus' 'angel', Athena. Also, the '20 years' note and Kearney's reflection on his memories is just like Telemachus' self proclaimed woes the first time he meets Athena.
For example, the suitors who have taken over Telemachus' house for the last 20 years have ruined the property, stolen what's not theirs and have had no respect for their hosts. Telemachus calls to the Gods to aid him as he tells the suitors to vacate his home. This tells the reader of Telemachus' bravery and ability to ask for help when he needs it.
I picked this song because Telemachus seems to want more than anything to see his father again after his 20 year absense. Mat Kearney does not only a good job of providing the lyrics that exemplify Telemachus' character, but he also sets a nice, sad tone to go along with them.
'Daddy's been looking down his nose at all of them
And I've been looking round for someone to tell me who I am
He kept saying I was to young to finish a fight
I'd die each time they came I never got to draw my knife'
These lines reminded me of Telemachus' struggles with the suitors and his inability to act when it was necessary in the past because of his father's absense.
Also,
'An angel is crying I'm dying just a little inside as they ran away...
Funny which words stick around 20 years down when you're driving alone'
The angel reference in the song could be thought of as a parallel to Telemachus' 'angel', Athena. Also, the '20 years' note and Kearney's reflection on his memories is just like Telemachus' self proclaimed woes the first time he meets Athena.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Final Post
Post A
Vocabulary (definitions from Dictionary.com)
embankment (269)-a bank, mound, dike, or the like, raised to hold back water, carry a roadway
buffer (276)- any flexible, insulated electric cord; an electric cord or extension cord
Figurative Language
Q: She feels Nicola tighten, under her fingers. She sees Nicola staring at her arm-as if they're getting into a fight. She feels her bones relax. She sees her look at Paula now, and smile. They're both trying. They're trying to meet. And they know it. (257)
Symbol: I'm fairly certain that this is a symbol. Firstly, Nicola is the last of Paula's children that she has left to describe a connection like this with. Also, I think that Nicola and Paula meeting in the middle like this, respectively organized and headstrong, is something that the author put in this final chapter not for no reason at all, but to give the reader closure, especially since this was such an open book with a sort of purposefully plotless air.
Q: The smell, the stale drink-the dead air is around her. She'd climb in. She'd lick every broken piece and bleed happily to death. (259)
Metaphor: This is mostly a metaphor. For example, 'the dead air' and 'she'd climb in'. The other parts are fancy language. I think that 'she'd lick every broken piece and bleed happily to death' might be a hyperbole, her state of mind is exadurating what she is capable of doing on her own free will.
Q: Fair enough, she says- My husband was shot. Your wife ran off with another bird. We're f****** fascinating. (265)
Irony: I really like this quote, it represents the notion that no matter how bad you've got it, someone else has is worse. It's ironic to me how plainly this irony is spelled out. And that Paula thinks that misfortune is fascinating. It's ironic that the two met in mid-tradgedy: the man, Joe, while he and his wife aren't legally divorced, and Paula where she is struggling to stay above the surface.
Quote: She wants to get down and look underthe bed. Pull back the duvet, feel the sheet and mattress. But she doesn't. She goes downstairs. She waits for Leanne.
Meaning: Paula has always been suspicious of Leanne, Leanne is addicted to alcohol as well, and so Paula tries to help by raiding her room and throwing anything wrong out. But since she stood by this time, I can see trust emerging between mother and daughter.
Theme: I can finally see rhythm speaking out, steadily taking hold of each character, and placing them in a state of mind to move forward. This is a good note to end the book on, I think. Each of their steps is different, but they're all moving forward.
Post B:
In the end, I find that this book really did meet my expectations in quality, just not my expectations in the storyline. Because of this, my mind wandered onto many different topics while I was turning the pages. For example, It took me a long while to figure out what exactly prodded me to pick this book off the shelf. It wasn't overlarge, didn't have a particularily becoming front or back, it was just there. So who knows why I chose it over the reccomended one. Second, Roddy Doyle... is that a penname or a birthname? I suppose I could look it up on the google Paula so cleverly discovered, but I don't. Which brings me to my next pondering. I've noticed (as has almost the whole of all earth's population) that technology has been growing ever more important. I line them up at night, the brand new phone that I'm completely befuddled with, the camera which I nicked from Dad to fool around with a bit (but only until he notices it's gone of course), the newly charged ipod, nothing special, a 4 year old hand-me-down and a survivee of drowning, dropping and purse inhabiting creatures, the phone that Elsa left here this morning by accident, the house phone, and my laptop. All next to the alarm clock, blinking away. I suppose that appreciation of diversity goes right along with appreciation of technology. Paula, a 49 year old widow with a job, 4 kids and an appartment doesn't even have a car, and I have the whole world at my fingertips. Why is this? I suppose there are a load of different answers, but it all comes down to what's normal. What's normal for me is typing a blog on the internet every Wednesday. In Somalia, the answer is gathering wheat as a child to make into bread. So, what is normal anyway? I believe that this is what Paula was trying to find in herself throughout the novel, and though I cannot relate to her in many ways, that is one battle that we both face daily. Who am I, and why am I here? Maybe not on the scientific plane, but just on the general every day hustle and bustle, the wind blows, the kids cry, we're alive level. I find it interesting that Paula explores both these extremes in different ways through the pages. The 'who am I' for her is a constant struggle with literal aches and pains, and the things she sees out of the corners of her eyes. The 'why am I here' is the question that balloons in her mind whenever she cannot sleep at night. It's a very interesting concept that I think all dreamers, authors, characters, and readers alike share. I believe that if nothing else, that is what made me chose this book off the shelf.
Vocabulary (definitions from Dictionary.com)
embankment (269)-a bank, mound, dike, or the like, raised to hold back water, carry a roadway
buffer (276)- any flexible, insulated electric cord; an electric cord or extension cord
Figurative Language
Q: She feels Nicola tighten, under her fingers. She sees Nicola staring at her arm-as if they're getting into a fight. She feels her bones relax. She sees her look at Paula now, and smile. They're both trying. They're trying to meet. And they know it. (257)
Symbol: I'm fairly certain that this is a symbol. Firstly, Nicola is the last of Paula's children that she has left to describe a connection like this with. Also, I think that Nicola and Paula meeting in the middle like this, respectively organized and headstrong, is something that the author put in this final chapter not for no reason at all, but to give the reader closure, especially since this was such an open book with a sort of purposefully plotless air.
Q: The smell, the stale drink-the dead air is around her. She'd climb in. She'd lick every broken piece and bleed happily to death. (259)
Metaphor: This is mostly a metaphor. For example, 'the dead air' and 'she'd climb in'. The other parts are fancy language. I think that 'she'd lick every broken piece and bleed happily to death' might be a hyperbole, her state of mind is exadurating what she is capable of doing on her own free will.
Q: Fair enough, she says- My husband was shot. Your wife ran off with another bird. We're f****** fascinating. (265)
Irony: I really like this quote, it represents the notion that no matter how bad you've got it, someone else has is worse. It's ironic to me how plainly this irony is spelled out. And that Paula thinks that misfortune is fascinating. It's ironic that the two met in mid-tradgedy: the man, Joe, while he and his wife aren't legally divorced, and Paula where she is struggling to stay above the surface.
Quote: She wants to get down and look underthe bed. Pull back the duvet, feel the sheet and mattress. But she doesn't. She goes downstairs. She waits for Leanne.
Meaning: Paula has always been suspicious of Leanne, Leanne is addicted to alcohol as well, and so Paula tries to help by raiding her room and throwing anything wrong out. But since she stood by this time, I can see trust emerging between mother and daughter.
Theme: I can finally see rhythm speaking out, steadily taking hold of each character, and placing them in a state of mind to move forward. This is a good note to end the book on, I think. Each of their steps is different, but they're all moving forward.
Post B:
In the end, I find that this book really did meet my expectations in quality, just not my expectations in the storyline. Because of this, my mind wandered onto many different topics while I was turning the pages. For example, It took me a long while to figure out what exactly prodded me to pick this book off the shelf. It wasn't overlarge, didn't have a particularily becoming front or back, it was just there. So who knows why I chose it over the reccomended one. Second, Roddy Doyle... is that a penname or a birthname? I suppose I could look it up on the google Paula so cleverly discovered, but I don't. Which brings me to my next pondering. I've noticed (as has almost the whole of all earth's population) that technology has been growing ever more important. I line them up at night, the brand new phone that I'm completely befuddled with, the camera which I nicked from Dad to fool around with a bit (but only until he notices it's gone of course), the newly charged ipod, nothing special, a 4 year old hand-me-down and a survivee of drowning, dropping and purse inhabiting creatures, the phone that Elsa left here this morning by accident, the house phone, and my laptop. All next to the alarm clock, blinking away. I suppose that appreciation of diversity goes right along with appreciation of technology. Paula, a 49 year old widow with a job, 4 kids and an appartment doesn't even have a car, and I have the whole world at my fingertips. Why is this? I suppose there are a load of different answers, but it all comes down to what's normal. What's normal for me is typing a blog on the internet every Wednesday. In Somalia, the answer is gathering wheat as a child to make into bread. So, what is normal anyway? I believe that this is what Paula was trying to find in herself throughout the novel, and though I cannot relate to her in many ways, that is one battle that we both face daily. Who am I, and why am I here? Maybe not on the scientific plane, but just on the general every day hustle and bustle, the wind blows, the kids cry, we're alive level. I find it interesting that Paula explores both these extremes in different ways through the pages. The 'who am I' for her is a constant struggle with literal aches and pains, and the things she sees out of the corners of her eyes. The 'why am I here' is the question that balloons in her mind whenever she cannot sleep at night. It's a very interesting concept that I think all dreamers, authors, characters, and readers alike share. I believe that if nothing else, that is what made me chose this book off the shelf.
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