Hi, Pumpkins. Yes, I did miss you over the break. Seriously.
Was reading your classmates' strategies for tackling tough spots in their reading lives helpful?
The "when all else fails, ask someone," "re-read the passage," and "look for context clues"
were wildly popular, as they should be since they work. Moreover, I was intrigued by
novel approaches. Alec, your idea to think of all the events that led up to the challenging part
was a new student's response for me. Thank you. And Kyle, your walking away, taking a break
is a good idea; time gives perspective and clarity.
Jimmy, doll, let's see how you deal with difficult parts so that we can wrap-up this thread
(please answer on that post, not on this...thanks) Thank you, too, for your enthusiasm in
making The Crucible come to life. We'll work on getting you that Tony.
O.k., to the point.
Please find a gripping, awe-inspiring, artfully crafted passage. Yes, I've changed what I mentioned today in class. I explain why later.
Next, start your post with the text. Then explain why you LOVE the writing.
For example, I just finished reading Chris Cleave's Little Bee. The blurb on the back of the book reads, "This is a story of two women. Their lives collide one fateful day, and one of them has to make a terrible choice, the kind of choice we hope you never have to face. Two years later, they meet again - the story starts there...." As I said today in class, the book is set in Nigeria, London, and Kingston-upon-Thames (a suburb of London). There's war, love, infidelity, friendship, hope, and betrayal woven throughout the plot. At 266 pages, it's a relatively quick read, as the suspense created by the characters' plights push the reader to the book's end.
Ok, I know, I'm going off on a tangent. Anyway, my example. Use it as a model:
At the beginning of the book, Little Bee, a fourteen-year-old Nigerian illegal alien locked-up in a London immigration detention center, speaks about the moment she was set free:
"I will tell you what happened when they let me out of the immigration detention center. The detention officer put a voucher in my hand, a transport voucher, and he said I could telephone for a cab. I said, Thank you sir, may God move with grace in your life and bring joy into your heart and prosperity upon our loved ones. The officer pointed his eyes at the ceiling, like there was something very interesting up there, and he said, Jesus. Then he pointed his finger down the corridor and he said, There is the telephone.
So I stood in the queue for the telephone. I was thinking, I went over the top with thanking that detention officer. The Queen would merely have said, Thank you, and left it at that. Actually, the Queen would have told the detention officer to call for the damn taxi himself, or she would have him shot and his head separated from his body and displayed on the railings in front of the Tower of London. I was realizing, right there, that it was one thing to learn the Queen's English from books and newspapers in my detention cell, and quite another thing to actually speak the language with the English. I was angry with myself. I was thinking, You cannot afford to go around making mistakes like that girl. If you talk like a savage who learned her English on a boat, the men are going to find you out and send you straight back home. That's what I was thinking" (Cleave 3-4).
Ok, so here's what impressed me about the passage. The writer uses humor via hyperbole (extreme exaggeration) to discuss a serious-as-a-terminal-illness issue, i.e. an outsider blending into a foreign society by mastering that country's native tongue. This reminded me of living in Spain as an undergraduate and asking for "ear" cheese instead of "goat" cheese. I know, not as interesting as Little Bee's story, but I was mortified. Also impressive, is Little Bee's characterization: she is reflective and wise for a fourteen-year-old. This sketch makes me curious to find out what happened to her prior to this moment so that I can learn what events in her life made her this way. Lastly, I liked that Little Bee's inner dialogue was written in italics and was embedded in the text. This formatting decision made it easier for me to read and move along quickly through the story.
So, to sum up:
1) I transcribed a passage...you'll find that a passage will give your blog readers more of a sense of the author's writing style and what you appreciate about it.
2) I used a parenthetical citation.
3) I wrote, in paragraph form (as you should), three reasons, each explaining why I found the passage memorable.
Now, pumpkins, you do the same. Get this done by Friday, January 7th, please, or I'll tell Abigail that you're witches.
Thank you.
The Queen of 235 (xo)
Hey Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteSo I'm reading the book Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman. Here's a passage I found in the book that I felt really portrayed the emotions of all of the characters:
"As we stood there shivering, clinging to each other, one of the SS men stepped back, drew his pistol, and aimed it right at me. Whether it was because my mother was with me, or because I was numb from a week of suffering, or simply because I had no chance to run away from this death, I was not afraid at all. I knew that I was going to die. What happened next only added to my nightmare. I heard the gun go off, and suddenly my mother lay dead at my feet. She had thrown herself between me and my murderer and had been hit by the bullet meant for me" (Appleman-Jurman 220).
What impressed me about this passage and made it memorable was the straight-forwardness of it. Instead of adding in extra details to prolong the situation, the author simply said it, which added to the surprise the reader gets after reading it. Also, I liked how in this passage the author, who was only 14 at the time, did not give up and give in to the SS soldiers who would have liked to see her run away in fear. Instead, she boldly faced them, which took courage. Lastly, I found this passage memorable because of the event that it is describing. The death of the author's mother was a major point in her life because her mother was the last person she had alive in her immediate family. It signified the end of her past family and her need to start a new life.
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. Here is my favorite passage from the book :
"His garbled speech is barely comprehensible. 'Give me on reason I shouldn't shoot you.' The rest of the world recedes. There's only me looking in the wretched eyes of the man from the Nut who asks for one reason. Surely I should be able to come up with thousands. But the words that make it to my lips are 'I can't.' Logically, the next thing that should happen is the man pulling the trigger. But he's perplexed, trying to make sense of my words. I experience my own confusion as I realize what I've said is entirely true, and the noble impulse that carried me across the square is replaced by despair. 'I can't. That's the problem, isn't it?' "(Collins 215).
This passage stuck out at me because it shows how Katniss, the main character, truly views herself. She can't even manage to give a man a reason not to kill her. She believes she has no reason to stay alive. However, she is the leader of a revolution. She is the cause of many people finally fighting against the harsh conditions they are put in, such as sacrificing two children from their district each year. Also, this passage shows how much of an impact her few words have on the people. She was able to stall a man who had a gun aimed at her head with few words. She was just telling the truth, not in anyway trying to confuse him, which saved her from getting shot by this man. Lastly, I liked the description in the passage. It is simple but you are able to imagine being Katniss standing face to face with death and not being able to think of anything else, like the world is receding.
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI am reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. This is one of my favorite passages from the book:
“In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave. The dog's master whispers into the dog's ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in his next life. Then his tail is cut off and put beneath his head, and a piece of meat or fat is placed in his mouth to sustain his soul on its journey; before he is reincarnated, the dog's soul is freed to travel the land, to run across the high desert plains for as long as it would like. I learned that from a program on the National Geographic channel, so I believe it is true. Not all dogs return as men, they say; only those who are ready. I am ready.” (Garth 98)
This passage stood out to me while I was reading. It shows how Enzo views himself more as a human than a dog. Enzo believes that his life as a dog is just a part of his entire journey. For example, when Eve thinks she is sick she talks to Enzo about it, and it relieves the stress Eve has. According to Enzo, his purpose in this life is to listen and be there for his family. Secondly, when Enzo is talking about the reincarnated dogs running free, he is relating that to himself. Enzo's desire to be free and become human is a constant theme throughout the book. The reader feels Enzo's pain when he is not able to warn Denny about Eve's disease before it was too late. Lastly, the ending of this passage definitely stuck out in my mind most. Enzo's sureness that he is ready to move on to his next life is very powerful. He proposes the idea that not every dog is ready for this and it is a hard thing to achieve, but he is very sure that he is.
Hi Mrs. Drance, I'm reading Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. This is one of my favorite passages from the book:
ReplyDelete"So it come to this: I would have lost her either way. If Cole hadn't reinfected her, I would have lost her in the hospital bed. And now Cole's wolf toxin pumps through her veins, and I lose her to the woods, like I lose everything I love. So here is me, and I am a boy watched- by her parents' suspicious eyes, since they cannot prove that I kidnapped Grace but believe it nonetheless- and I am a boy watchful- because Tom Culpeper's bitterness is growing palpable in this tiny town and I will not bury Grace's body- and I am a boy waiting- for the heat and fruitfulness of summer, waiting to see who will walk out of those woods for me. Waiting for my lovely summer girl," (Stiefvater 359.)
This is one of my favorite passages from the book because it's ironic that now Sam has to watch Grace like she had watched him when their situations were switched. I enjoyed the author's use of language in this passage, and how she relates back to a song that Sam wrote for Grace when she writes,"Waiting for my lovely summer girl." It also shows Sam's complete loyalty to Grace, and his determination to get Grace back.
Mrs. D,
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the book, The Godfather, an Italian immigrant describes his feelings to his wife after the trial for his daughters rape.
“All his years in America, Amerigo Bonasera had trusted in law and order. And he had proposed thereby. Now, though his brain smoked with hatred, though wild visions of buying a gun and killing the two young men jangled the very bones of his skull, Bonasera turned to his still uncomprehending wife and explained to her, “They have made fools of us.” He paused and then made his decision, no longer fearing the cost. “For justice we must go on our knees to Don Corleone,”” (Puzo 8).
Puzo begins by unraveling the setting for The Godfather. He begins by describing the Italian immigrants feelings. It can be inferred that since he is an Italian immigrant, the book takes place somewhere in the early 1900’s to the mid 1900’s. The book also takes place in the Metropolitan area, “Amerigo Bonasera sat in a New York Criminal Court …” (Puzo 7). The author uses characterization too. Amerigo explains how he must go to Don Corleone for justice, however on his knees. This characterizes Don as a powerful and strong man. The opening scene conveys conflict. Albergo is having conflict between the men who raped his daughter and believes that they are not receiving a fair punishment. This would be man vs. man conflict.
From,
Mark
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Below is my favorite passage from the novel.
"Curiously enough, the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of petunias as it fell was Oh no, not again. Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the Universe then we do now"(Adams 134).
One reason this paragraph stuck out in my mind was because it was extremely funny. I found myself literally laughing out loud as I read it. Furthermore, I felt as if this passage perfectly summed what the book is like. It's random, doesn't really make much sense, and only exists to make the reader laugh. It was this carefree feel that made me enjoy the book as much as I did. Finally, I liked the simple way the passage was written. It wasn't overly descriptive, but it still managed to get its point across perfectly. To me, this paragraph is the epitome of what a comedy novel should be.
Hi Mrs. Drance, I am reading The Lord of The Rings The Two Towers and this was the first passage that really impressed me.
ReplyDelete“Aragorn sped up the hill. Every now and again he bent to the ground. Hobbits go light, and their footprints are not easy even for a Ranger to read, but not far from the top a spring crossed the path, and in the wet earth he saw what he was seeking.
'I read the signs alright,' he said to himself. 'Frodo ran to the hill-top. I wonder what he saw there? But he returned by the same way, and went down the hill again.’ ”(Tolkien, 415)
This passage was in fact the first in this novel. It stands out to me because of the way the author transitioned from one novel to the next. He didn’t miss a beat, he picked up exactly where he left off, and I found that to be very interesting.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Mrs. Drance. I read The Glass Castle, by Jeannette walls. This descriptive quote really grabbed my attention.
ReplyDelete"It was dusk when I got my first glimpse of it off in the distance, beyond a ridge. All I could see were the spires and blocky tops of buildings. And then we reached the crest of the ridge, and there, across a wide river, was a huge island jammed tip to tip with skyscrapers, their glass glowing like fire in the setting sun" (Walls 245).
Jeannette Walls used imagery and detail to express her first view of New York. She even used a simile, "their glass glowing like fire in the setting sun..."(245), to express how beautiful the city was. While reading this quote, I felt as if i was in the book. The way the author expressed the city was very descriptive. I felt that I was her, seeing the great, developed city as she described it.
Hi Mrs. Drance. I am reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. Here is one of my favorite passages so far:
ReplyDelete"Aibileen takes a breath, a swallow of Coke, and reads on.
She backtracks to her first job at thirteen, cleaning the Francis the Fist silver service at the governor's mansion. She reads how on her first morning she made a mistake on the chart where you filled in the number of pieces so they'd know you hadn't stolen anything.
'I come home that morning, after I been fired, and stood outside my house with my new work shoes on. The shoes my mama paid a month's worth a light bill for. I guess that's when I understood what shame was and the color of it too. Shame ain't black, like dirt, like I always thought it was. Shame be the color of a new white uniform your mother ironed all night to pay for, white without a smudge or a speck a work-dirt on it'" (Stockett 151).
I appreciated this passage for many reasons. Firstly, because it shows how Aibileen's character thinks. She likes to please people, and doesn't want to make them unhappy. She shows that in this passage, by saying that shame was being fired after your mother worked so hard for you to get the job in the first place. I also liked how it was written, really honest and clear. The last thing I liked about this passage was what I thought the underlying meaning was. Aibileen wasn't ashamed for being African American, when she says "Shame ain't black". The thing she was ashamed about was not doing her job correctly, and letting her mother down.
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI am currently reading Heat Wave by Richard Castle. The following is a passage that I enjoyed from this book.
“It was always the same for her when she arrived to meet the body. After she unlocked her seatbelt, after she pulled a stick pen from the rubber band on the sun visor, after her long fingers brushed her hip to feel the comfort of her service piece, what she always did was pause. Not long. Just the length of a slow deep breath. That’s all it took for her to remember the one thing she will never forget. Another body waited. She drew that breath. And when she could feel the raw edges of the hole that had been blown in her life, Detective Nikki Heat was ready. She opened the car door and went to work.
The wallop of one hundred degrees almost shoved her back in the car. New York was a furnace, and the soft pavement on West 77th gave under her feet like she was walking on sand” (Castle 1).
I liked this passage because it was so descriptive. I liked how clearly I could picture exactly what was going on because it takes you through what Nikki Heat does as soon as she arrives at the crime scene. It is the opening of the book and I felt it was a strong opening because of its descriptions. Already in only the first paragraph you begin to get an insight into the ways of Detective Nikki Heat. Also, I really liked how the author described the setting in detail. It wasn’t just New York City, it was “West 77th””. Also, instead of just saying that it was hot out, the author compares New York City to a furnace. I thought this was a good metaphor.
Hey Mrs. Drance, I just finished the book Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. The following quote demonstrates Seabiscuits impact in American history.
ReplyDelete"By 1935, when Seabiscuit began racing, two thirds of the nation's homes had radio. At the pinnacle of his career, that figure had jumped to 90 percent, plus eight million sets in cars. Enabling virtually all citizens to experience noteworthy events simultaneously and in entertaining form, radio created a vast common culture in America, arguably the first true mass culture the world had ever seen. Racing, a sport whose sustained dramatic action was ideally suited to narration, became a staple of the airwave. The Santa Anita Handicap, with its giant purse and world-class athletes, competing in what was rapidly becoming the nation's most heavily attended sport, became one of the premier radio events of the year."(Hillenbrand, 128).
I chose this quote because it shows how important Seabiscuit was to the nation. He served as a symbol to the nation throughout the Great Depression, he helped revive the lives of his owners, trainer and jockey. I think the author did a good job of describing how important Seabiscuit was and she used a good example by connecting it to radios brought at that time.
Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI just started reading The BFG by Roald Dahl. I found this following paragraph very interesting.
"Sophie couldn't sleep. A brilliant moonbeam was slanting through a gap in the curtains. It was shining right on to her pillow. The other children in the dormitory had been asleep for hours. Sophie closed her eyes and lay quite still. She tried very hard to doze off. It was no good. The moonbeam was like a silver blade slicing through the room on to her face." (Dahl, 9).
This quote stuck out to me because I found it very descriptive. I liked the way he described the moonbeam. I also found this paragraph, as well as the rest of the page, very useful in creating the setting. Overall, the descriptive language used in that paragraph was very helpful.
Good evening. :)
ReplyDeleteAll of you who posted at this point will receive between 1-2 points - depending upon the thoroughness of your answer - on the quiz whose grade needs a little boosting. Thank you for being punctual and sharing these passages; some of the writing makes me what to read the book immediately!
Delaney, loved your description AND the prose...the author's words were gripping. Carolanne, that dog has soul, thank you for sharing, and yes, the book's tone appears sad.... Alec, I'm proud of you for posting on time, and your passage demystified Tolkien's writing for me. Although I am a huge fan of the movies and think Tolkien brilliant, I've been scared - can you believe it! - to read him. Now, I think I'm up for the challenge. Megan, very thorough response and good observations of the craft. :) Lizze, good job picking out the symbolism in the passage...see if you can make one more observation about the author's writing that you haven't already mentioned (BTW, did you know that Hillebrand has chronic fatigue syndrome). Matt, NOT Mark, thanks for your effort and thorough observations of the text. How did the passage make you feel? You know...was it suspenseful? What else did you, Matt, NOT MARK, appreciate about it? :) Put more of what you think as opposed to what you think I want to read so your response doesn't seem as if you're preparing a checklist, ok? I'm looking forward to reading what else you have to say as you are a smart cookie. :) Matt Finelli, good observation. Still, you need to explain more about how the description helped create setting. And, you need another example. Mary, I, too, feel as if I'm in the city when reading your passage. Good job. You need at least another example explaining why you liked the passage. Jessica, good observation about Aibleen and well explained post; THE HELP has amazing characters. I loved that book! Kerry, cool connection between the concrete of the city streets and the sand. Also, thorough explanation. Thank you. Chris, I'm happy to read that you find Doug Adams amusing. To me, he is the Dali of contemporary literature. Bizarre. Brittany, good text-to-text observations, weaving in the bit about the song he had previously written. Overall, folks, I enjoyed reading your responses very much. Those of you who need to stretch out your writing, meaning add to your responses, please do so by Tuesday night. Thanks for the samples; I have added some of these titles to my list....
Ok, so the rest of you, please get this homework done by 8:00 tomorrow night or suffer the consequences of delaying....
Oh, and a couple of suggestions:
1. Please use italics, preferably, for titles of books.
2. There is NO comma, EVER, between the author's last name and the page number.
3. There is NO period BEFORE the parentheses, only AFTER THE SECOND PARENTHESES.
4. If you have a lengthy passage that you'd like to quote, use a colon to introduce the quote. See my example.
Any questions about the above, please ask.
Thank you.
Mrs. Drance
Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteThe author was trying to describe a time period called the witching hour, when everyone was asleep and all was silent. The way in which he did this was very effective, using literary elements comparing the moonbeam to a silver blade.
Hi Mrs. Drance!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I have been having some trouble with my internet lately, and was having a hard time getting online to post, but it's finally up and running. Anyway, I'm reading Dear John by Nicholas Sparks, and here's my passage:
"I stare at the ranch as evening settles in. It's the first night of the full moon, and for me, the memories will come. They always do. I hold my breath as the moon begins its slow rise over the mountain, its milky glow edging just over the horizon. The trees turn liquid silver, and though I want to return to those bitter sweet memories, I turn away and look at the ranch again" (Sparks 275).
This quote really spoke to me because it shows John's true character. John is very courageous, and truly brave. He loves Savannah so much, that he is able to leave her be to find happiness in a different life. It also shows how truly in love he is with her because he is able to step aside as she lives out her life with her husband. As well, he anonymously gives all his father ever had, his entire coin collection, save for one coin, to pay for Tim's cancer treatment. I also loved the description of the moon rising over the mountaintops. Its "milky glow" and "liquid silver" light, made it really easy for me to imagine just what he was saying.
Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteSorry, I have been having some trouble with my wifi lately, so I'm at the library now and there is an extremely bad smelling homeless person next to me which is kind of gross but anyway, I am reading Bleachers by John Grishman. The story opens with the passage:
"Driving slowly along the road to Rake Field was Neely Crenshaw, slowly because he had not been back in many years, slowly because when he saw the lights of the field the memories came roaring back, as he knew they would" (Grishman 2).
This quote definitely ropes you in to the rest of the story. Immediately when I read this section I wanted to find out why it brings back so many memories to see the field and why they were so strong. Also, this passage gives you a clear and crisp picture of what Neely is feeling as he sees the field again. Lastly, the passage was extremely gripping because the reader knows that this is a critical and personal moment for Neely and most people would want to know why.
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify, there is no homeless man next to me right now. I am reading Different Seasons by Stephen King. One of my favorite passages is:
"'Fair enough. I'll tell you what it is and why I want it. A rock-hammer looks like a miniature pickaxe - about so long.' He held his hands about a foot apart, and that was when i noticed how neatly kept his nails were. 'It's got a small sharp pick on one end and a flat, blunt hammerhead on the other. I want it because I like rocks"(King 17).
This is the first instance in the story where you really see how different and simple a person Andy is. This quote really caught my attention because Andy was an intelligent man and seemed complex but simply liked rocks. I love that the fact that something so small can keep his attention. King really captures the difference between the inmates and Andy with this quote even the subtle differences, like the fact that his finger nails were well kept compared to others.
Hello, there. Jimmy, I am proud of you. This is some of your best writing yet. Clear, descpriptive, to the point. Well done.
ReplyDeleteKen, I'm glad you persevered. Think about the man's journey; there's a story there. Anyway, great response - I can hear your voice! Good details.
Kayla, wow, what a romantic character! And, I loved the imagery, too. Well described. Thank you for being thorough and putting yourself into your writing.
Matt, thanks for coming back to post. I completely understood what you meant the first time :). Perhaps this is all that there is to say about that passage and that's fine. Thank you. Next time, select a longer passage so that there's more to write about.
Ok, where are the rest of ya?
See you soon.
Ms. D
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI was using the wrong password so I got a new one. Anyway,I am reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One passage that I really enjoyed was "It was on the two little seats facing each other that are always the last ones left on the train. I was going up to New York to see my sister and spend the night. He had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes, and I couldn't keep my eyes off him, but every time he looked at me I had to pretend to be looking at the advertisement over his head. When we came into the station he was next to me, and his white shirt-front pressed against my arm, and so I told him I'd have to call a policeman, but he knew I lied. I was so excited that when I got into a taxi with him I didn't hardly know I wasn't getting into a subway train. All I kept thinking about, overe and over, was 'You can't live forever; you can't live forever."(Fitzgerald 36).
I really liked this quote because this simple thought of her shows how down to earth her personality is. Also, it allows a connection to be made by thinking of times you have been in a similar situation or having the same funny thoughts. As little of a passage as it is, it illustrates the characters humor, and the fact that maybe she's a little obssessive but that's beside the point.
-Emily
Emily, you have made great observations about this character, and one of the points IS that she's a little obsessive, or at least taken for the moment with him.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being persistent.
See you tomorrow.
Lisa
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI was reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. One passage from this book was that I enjoyed was "When I was in grade school, a lot of kids wanted to become astronauts. I was aware, from an early age, that NASA wouldn't want me. I had heard that astronauts couldn't have glasses. I was OK with that. I didn't really want the whole astronaut gig. I just wanted the floating. Turns out NASA has a plane [...] NASA refers to it as 'The Weightless Wonder' a public-relations gesture aimed at distracting attention from the obvious. Whatever the plane is called, it's a sensational piece of machinery. It does parabolic arcs, and at the top of each arc, you get about twenty-five seconds when you experience the rough equivalent of weightlessness. As the plane dives, you feel like you're on a runaway roller coaster, but you're suspended, flying around" (Pausch 31). I really enjoy this passage mainly because it's always been one of my dreams. I'd really like to imagine myself in weightlessness just because it's so amazing. It also allows me to connect more with Pausch becuse i share the same dream and I enjoy that while reading this book i felt like I could be having a conversation with Randy about this.
- Patrick
Hi, Everyone. Kyle was having trouble posting, so he emailed me. Here is his post:
ReplyDeleteI am currently reading THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown. This is a gripping novel as it has so many great descriptive passages as well as great comparisons in the text. The author does an excellent job with the use of specific literary elements in the appropriate times. Some passages really leave you saying "WOW! This is great." For example this one quote really stood out to me. “The Bible represents a fundamental guidepost for millions of people on the planet, in much the same way the Koran, Torah, and Pali Canon offer guidance to people of other religions. If you and I could dig up documentation that contradicted the holy stories of Islamic belief, Judaic belief, Buddhist belief, pagan belief, should we do that? Should we wave a flag and tell the Buddhists that the Buddha did not come from a lotus blossom? Or that Jesus was not born of a literal virgin birth? Those who truly understand their faiths understand the stories are metaphorical.” This quote is spoken by one of the characters, Langdon and is really intriguing to me. When I read it I thought "Wow, this is so true. What's stopping anyone from telling you that what you have believed for X many years is false and that theory is correct. After all it is just someones belief/opinion. It's not written law, it's what the people of that specific religion believe in or want to believe in." It really shows what is right and what is wrong to do/say about others' religions. To me it says you should respect people no matter what and respect their beliefs. Before I go on a rant about ethics and rights of humans, I'm going to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll bring in a picture of the problem I was having as well.
------Kyle Kelly
Here's my comment to Kyle:
Kyle, what a thoughtful response! That passage struck me, too, when I read the book. You so very well articulated your interpretation and feelings about it that I was very much interested in what YOU had to say because it was written with passion! If you are interested in writing more about it, be my guest. I think your classmates would enjoy reading this. And, Kyle, you wrote very CLEARLY. Good for you. Well done.
Patrick, don't you just LOVE when you feel so very connected to an author? So, are you saying that you'd like to be an astronaut? Or fly? I think you could do both! Let me know if you reach your dream...those parabolic arcs are sticking out in my head - actually his description of the arc reminds me of what a parabola is...good, clear writing.
ReplyDeleteSee you in class.
Ms. D
Hey Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI reset my password and asked my computer guy to help me so the problem is fixed.
I just began reading ORIGIN IN DEATH by J.D. Robb. because I "hit the wall" with RED TENT. Once I finish this novel, I am going to return to the prior literature.
ORIGIN IN DEATH authored by J.D. Robb or better known as Nora Roberts begins with the death of a famous plastic surgeon. Eve Dallas, a detective, investigates the murder and unravels many secrets of the surgeon's life and his "hobby".
J.D. Robb writes:
"They looked like a couple of sleepy cats, Eve thought. All limber and loose, like they were ready to curl up together for a little morning nap in a block of sunlight.
Louise wore some sort of long white tunic that struck Eve as a bit goddessy- but suited her. Her feet were bare, the toes painted a shimmery pink. Charles didn't bother with shoes either, but at least he didn't go for pink toes. He'd chosen white as well, in roomy white pants and a generously sized shirt" (Robb 78).
This passage struck me with fascination for many reasons. I enjoyed how Robb revealed the description of characters through the protagonist's thoughts instead of directly describing each character. I thought it was clever how she even added humor when she wrote: " [...] but atleast he didn't go for pink toes [...]" (Robb 78).
I also appreciated how the author compared the couple as "two sleepy cats". This made it easier for me as the reader to imagine the characters. Lastly, this passage struck me because it gives a quick glimpse of the craft of the author. For example, there is even alliteration in this passage which I thought was interesting.
Grace, thanks for sharing your thoughts. That the "sleepy cats" both wore loose, white clothes created a billowy picture in my mind. Your retelling was very clearly stated. Keep up the good work, the improved writing, the insights, the everything. :)
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ReplyDeleteKelly, we would love to hear from you, as you are an avid reader! Please post. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMrs. D
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI'm just finishing up The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. Since I'm almost done, it was hard to pick my favorite passage, but I picked one of the top 5:
"Still, it was what followed that was most amazing: first a little movement, then some movement, and then so much movement that it was impossible for the eye to capture it all as five and then ten and then twenty and then too many turtles to count joined in a massive frenzy of activity.
Like a crazy beehive on steroids...
And then there was the sight of the tiny, prehistoric-looking turtles trying to escape the hole; clawing their way up and slipping back down, crawling over the tops of one another... until one finally got out, followed by a second, and then a third, all moving along the sandy trench toward the light Todd was holding as he stood in the surf." (Sparks 301-302)
I liked this passage for a few reasons. First, I admire the way Sparks wrote it. It surely can't be easy to describe such a beautiful, naturally occurring event such as baby sea turtles hatching, but he did an amazing job and paints such a great picture in your mind. Second, I love how he adds in "like a crazy beehive on steroids," because the passage is from Ronnie's point of view and the addition of her thoughts makes it more interesting. Lastly, I liked this passage because of the way he wrote it; he wrote with run-ons and ...'s [are those called ellipses?] and that makes it fun to read, I think, because it's a different style.
Sorry it took me so long to post, it's kind of hectic around here... but I'll be seeing you soon!
-Olivia
Hi Mrs. Drance,
ReplyDeleteI just finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code. It follows the story of the previous protagonist, Robert Langdon, and a new one, the scientist Katherine Solomon.One of my favorite passages was a conversation between her and her brother Peter Solomon.
"Her brother ran a finger down a long shelf of cracked leather bindings and dusty old tomes. 'The scientific wisdom of the ancients was staggering . . . modern physics is only now beginning to comprehend it all.'
'Peter,' she said, 'you already told me that the Eygptians understood levers and pulleys long before Newton, and that the early alchemists did work on a par with modern chemistry, but so what? Today's physics deals with concepts that would have been unimaginable to the ancients.'
'Like what?'
'Well . . . like entanglement theory, for one!' Subatomic research had now proven categorically that has all matter was interconnected . . . entangled in a single unified mesh . . . a kind of universal oneness. 'You're telling me the ancients sat around discussing entanglement theory?
'Absolutely!' Peter said, pushing his long, dark bangs out of his eyes. 'Entanglement was at the core of primeval beliefs. Its names are as old as history itself . . . Dharmakaya, Tao, Brahman. In fact, man's oldest spiritual quest was to perceive his own entanglement, to sense his own interconnection with all things. he has always wanted to become 'one' with the universe . . . to achieve the state of 'at-one-ment'.' Her brother raised his eyebrows. 'To this day, Jews and Christians still strive for 'atonement' . . . although most of us have forgotten it is actually 'at-one-ment' we're seeking.' " (71-72 Brown)
I chose this passage because I love how clear the picture in my mind was as I read it. Brown makes the conversations sound so realistic and normal, despite the complex topic. This makes the characters seem more round and dynamic, that they are intelligent, but speak like a regular person, not like the stereotypical "smart person" character you would get in most books. I also like how he uses pauses and emphasizes words with italics, which also helps for a clear image of the conversations, expressions, and mannerisms he describes the characters using. However, my favorite thing about of this book, and this author, is how he marries his plot with real places and amazing science in an understandable manner. By the end of the book I not only read an enjoyable book, but also understood the basics of Noetic Science, the Entanglement Theory, and the Superstring Theory. Did you know that there are actually 10 dimensions, which all interact like vibrating strings; 6 are entangled and act as one; and this was all in "The Complete Zohar", a fundamental text of early Jewish mysticism! I can't wait for his next book!
Kelly! Thank you so much for sharing this passage and your very observant, insightful comments about the craft of writing. Your attention to detail shows how you not only understand the text, but how an author creates dialogue through the use of punctuation and formatting.
ReplyDeleteThis is the caliber of work I knew you were capable of doing. Please share more in class...your thoughts could only enrich our conversations. Next time, post earlier so that you will have a bigger audience.
Also, if you want to introduce a chunk of text, use a colon after the last word in the previous sentence. It would go after the word "Solomon" in the first paragraph.
Lastly, upload a picture that represents yourself.
See you soon!
Mrs. Drance
Olivia! How could I not have responded to your noticing about the turtle-hatching! O, the horror!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Liv, great job analyzing how Sparks used certain diction to capture character, run-ons to create movement and details to paint the image in our minds.
All of these "tricks" are in your bag; continue to use them. :)
Thanks so much for your awesome work ethic, Olivia, too.
Great to have you back.