The novel A Tale of Two Cities starts in the year 1775, during the French Revolution. Charles Dickens chose to name the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" because it was the closest contact of European life at the time. Dickens' other novels were based in one city and this novel takes place in two of the great cities. Therefore, I think that the novel’s title fits it very well.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Literature Analysis #4 The Sun Also Rises
"The Sun Also Rises"
4. Literary elements that portrayed the tone and theme were not very hard to spot through out the novel. The symbols were the first thing that i recognized with in the novel, one being the bull fighting. The fighting of the bulls symbolized that some kind of drama was going to show up with Jake and his friends, whether it be a casual argument or a controversy about Brett. Another two literary techniques I saw in the novel that led me into what the authors tone was through diction and syntax. Hemingway would right with very sophisticated language with a lot of detail and he would make very wise, but somewhat whimsical statements. For example, "Caffeine puts a man on his horse and a woman in his grave." The structure of the sentences were kind of condensed which also led to the depressing or conservative tone. Another literary technique that I could identify was that the author used a lot of comparison within his writing, especially those that portray women as almost scandalous. "And with them was Brett. I was very angry. Somehow they always made me angry. I know they are supposed to be amusing, and you should be tolerant, but I wanted to swing on one, any one, anything to shatter that superior, simpering composure." The last literary technique I saw with the novel is the allusions that are seen such as the references to greek mythology.
1. Jake Barnes and his friends live in the contreversial, self-indulgent world of post-World War I Paris. There, they occasionally work, but spend most of their time partying, drinking, and arguing. From Jake’s perspective, we meet the cast of characters that populates his story: the most important among them are Robert Cohn who is down-on-his-luck, a Princeton grad and unsuccessful writer. We are also introduced to Lady Brett Ashley, an exciting, beautiful, and unpredictable British divorcee. Although Jake and Brett are actually in love, they aren’t together, presumably because a mysterious war wound has rendered Jake impotent. Cohn falls in love with Brett as well and, despite the fact that she’s not terribly impressed with him, she secretly goes on a trip with him to San Sebastian. Cohn is smitten, truly, madly, deeply in love. Unfortunately for Cohn (and for everyone, for that matter), Brett is engaged to a wealthy, charming, and drunkard man named Mike. Jake’s other friend Bill returns to Paris from a trip and a plan is derived, everyone agrees to go to Spain for some fishing and the running of the bulls in Pamplona. On their fishing trip, Bill and Jake have a splendid time with each other, but the relaxation quickly comes to an end. They return to civilization and meet up with Brett, Mike, and Cohn in Pamplona for a weeklong activities of bullfights, alcohol, and high drama. Jake has a true passion for bullfighting, but everyone else is simply there to have a good time. Brett begins a rather scandalous affair with a young bull-fighter, Pedro Romero. Jake feels terrible for many reasons one being the fear that he has corrupted Romero in some way by introducing him to Brett. Cohn’s infatuation with Brett leads to arguments with everyone and, finally, he beats the unfortunate Romero to a bloody pulp. As the fiesta winds down, everyone leaves Pamplona in various states of anxiety, depression and frustration. Jake heads to San Sebastian, where he intends to be alone for a while. Unfortunately, desperate telegrams from Brett arrive immediately. He goes to her in Madrid, where she is alone, having sent Romero away. For the first time, we see Brett truly vulnerable, afraid, and guilty. The future looks just as bad, Jake and Brett agree again that, even though they love each other, they can’t be together.
2. The main theme I recognized in the novel was that of love. This is the best theme that i could find because of Brett. Everyone is so infatuated with her and multiple people "fall in love" with her. Yes, love is corrupted in the novel and usually triggered with the idea of sex behind it, but although this is so I still feel as if the whole them revolves around love because even the environment is romanticized; it's in Paris.
3. The tone of the novel is sort of somber, and detached from reality.
3. The tone of the novel is sort of somber, and detached from reality.
Examples of this are through these three quotes:
•"I mistrust all frank and simple people, especially when their stories hold together"
•"I was a little drunk. Not drunk in any positive sense but just enough to be careless."
•"'Listen, Jake,' he leaned forward on the bar. "Don’t you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you’re not taking advantage of it? Do you realize you’ve lived nearly half the time you have to live already?"
All of these examples show how the author has an odd kind of negative outlook on life, which makes him tone almost depressing.
4. Literary elements that portrayed the tone and theme were not very hard to spot through out the novel. The symbols were the first thing that i recognized with in the novel, one being the bull fighting. The fighting of the bulls symbolized that some kind of drama was going to show up with Jake and his friends, whether it be a casual argument or a controversy about Brett. Another two literary techniques I saw in the novel that led me into what the authors tone was through diction and syntax. Hemingway would right with very sophisticated language with a lot of detail and he would make very wise, but somewhat whimsical statements. For example, "Caffeine puts a man on his horse and a woman in his grave." The structure of the sentences were kind of condensed which also led to the depressing or conservative tone. Another literary technique that I could identify was that the author used a lot of comparison within his writing, especially those that portray women as almost scandalous. "And with them was Brett. I was very angry. Somehow they always made me angry. I know they are supposed to be amusing, and you should be tolerant, but I wanted to swing on one, any one, anything to shatter that superior, simpering composure." The last literary technique I saw with the novel is the allusions that are seen such as the references to greek mythology.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Your Whispered Secret
Your Whispered Secret
You Told it to your friend,
his oath was deep.
Now here's a question
for your wisdom shelf.
Why did you hope
some other one would keep
The secret that you
could not keep yourself.
-Beverly Marble-Farley
I chose this poem because my Nana, Beverly, wrote it. It hangs in my living room for everyone who enters my home to see. It reminds me how wise she is, and how much she inspires me day by day.
You Told it to your friend,
his oath was deep.
Now here's a question
for your wisdom shelf.
Why did you hope
some other one would keep
The secret that you
could not keep yourself.
-Beverly Marble-Farley
I chose this poem because my Nana, Beverly, wrote it. It hangs in my living room for everyone who enters my home to see. It reminds me how wise she is, and how much she inspires me day by day.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
In Time for the Season of Giving...
Hello Everyone! If you don’t already know me, my name is Tori and I am currently a high school senior at Righetti High school. I am selling tickets to raise money in order to pay for a trip to Africa and Hong Kong with the 1 Dream Foundation, Athletes to Africa, April 4- April 15, 2012. This will be my first year attending, and I am really excited to have the chance to take part in this amazing opportunity. I will be able to travel and help people across the globe that are in need. I have heard so many great things about this foundation, and I am glad to be a part of it. I am selling tickets that are $40.00 each, which gives you the chance to be a part of this amazing opportunity as well, for free! I have until December 31, 2011 to sell my tickets, and then there will be a drawing for the winning ticket of a free trip! Your generosity would help me tremendously in being able to take part in this incredible opportunity, and would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to pass this on to ANYONE you feel would be interested in winning a free trip with us, and helping me raise money for my own trip. Thank you so much for your help!To get your ticket, please call Tori @ 805.268.5270 or Tami @ 805.310.2286
Checks may be made out to 1DreamFoundation.
And for more information, please check out the link below.
Sincerely, Tori Thompson 
http://www.1dreamfoundation.com/1dreamafrica.html
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Literary Term: Purpose
Purpose: the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used; an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
There are many things we connect with purpose, such as our purpose in a project, in a dream, in every step we take, or our purpose in life...
There are many things we connect with purpose, such as our purpose in a project, in a dream, in every step we take, or our purpose in life...
Thinking Outside the Box
I found "Allegory of the Cave" and " No Exit" to be very similar. Both talked about how humans think in terms of life and what is to be real and expected.
Plato described humans as ignorant human beings, saying that whatever we saw must be real, even though they are merely shadows. Yet, Satre described humans as ignorant in the sense that they think they need physical objects to "torture" them. When in reality, people just torture themselves with their thoughts and other people around them. Both of their extended metaphors give enlightenment on hard complex ideas and make them easier to follow and understand.
Plato described humans as ignorant human beings, saying that whatever we saw must be real, even though they are merely shadows. Yet, Satre described humans as ignorant in the sense that they think they need physical objects to "torture" them. When in reality, people just torture themselves with their thoughts and other people around them. Both of their extended metaphors give enlightenment on hard complex ideas and make them easier to follow and understand.
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