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?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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.
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