Author's Note: I am writing a retelling short response about the short story called Dead Man's Path.
In the story Dead Man’s Path by Chinua Achebe’s is taking place at a college where Michael Obi is the head master. Michael was a married man and his wife helped him try to improve the college. But one day Michael noticed a mysterious path that he never noticed before. He wanted it to be closed off because he felt that it would make it better that villagers wouldn’t walk through it. Michael didn’t seem very pleased that it was there and since it was his job to make things better he closed it off. People wanted to recall the closing of the path. Michael Obi learned that it may be better to change his mind about the path.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Monday, December 19, 2011
Similarities and Differencs
Authors Note: I am writing a compare and contrast paper about two different characters from two different books.
Hope is the main character of the story, We are the Patriots, and Anne is the main character of the story, The Diary of Anne Frank. Both of these characters are similar and different in many ways. In both of these books the main characters are the narrators. They explain what happens from their point of view.
When comparing the two novels, Anne and Hope both desired to be free. Where they lived and what time period they lived in took place when major wars in history were going on. Anne lived during the Holocaust and the Nazi’s were the German soldiers that worked for Hitler. Hitler disliked the Jewish citizens that lived in Poland. Hope lived during the Revolutionary War, which was lead by George Washington and they were fighting against the British. During both of these books, the main characters wanted to be free. In these situations, a lot of humans wanted to be free, but were not able to be. Unfortunately, in The Diary of Anne Frank, thousands of people died, including Anne. In the olden days, when women didn’t have rights, many of them had no choice on what they could do. There wasn’t really any way Hope and Anne could be “free”.
Another similarity between Anne and Hope in each novel, is that they both felt that they should not complain about anything in their lives. Both characters were in terrible situations, yet tried to be positive. Anne was in hiding and trying to stay away from the Nazi’s, while Hope was praying that her father would not die fighting in the war. Anne felt like she didn’t have it too terrible since some of her friends and families were being sent away to special camps that would eventually kill them. Hope also felt that she should not complain because there were people that were fighting for the lives of the people in their town. She was lucky that she was a girl and did not have to risk being killed by British soldiers. Their lives were difficult and they felt they shouldn’t complain because things could have been worse and were worse for many others.
An example of a difference between Anne and Hope was that Anne suffered so much more then Hope did. Later in Anne’s life she was taken away to a concentration camp and ended up dying because she suffered from the disease called typhus. There were many sicknesses that were being passed around, from person to person at the camp. Anne and many others were not given medicines and were starving from lack of nourishment. It was a camp that would eventually kill you and there were not many survivors. Hope on the other hand was able to live at home and take care of her family. Her only fears were getting sick and having her father pass away.
Additionally, a difference between Hope and Anne was that Hope could have died from disease like Anne but she did not because of the care she received from family. She did not suffer as Anne did while living in the concentration camp. Typhus was the disease that was going around Hope’s village as well as the concentrations camp but many more died in the camps than the villages because of the poor treatment the people received in the camps.
Lastly, Hope didn’t suffer the hand of human cruelty as did Anne at the concentration camp. People that lived where Anne did had to face the “death chamber”, a room that exposed deadly gases to people within the room.
In conclusion, there are many similarities and differences between these two character and historical books. Even though these characters lived in two different time periods, they shared many similarities and differences.
Hope is the main character of the story, We are the Patriots, and Anne is the main character of the story, The Diary of Anne Frank. Both of these characters are similar and different in many ways. In both of these books the main characters are the narrators. They explain what happens from their point of view.
When comparing the two novels, Anne and Hope both desired to be free. Where they lived and what time period they lived in took place when major wars in history were going on. Anne lived during the Holocaust and the Nazi’s were the German soldiers that worked for Hitler. Hitler disliked the Jewish citizens that lived in Poland. Hope lived during the Revolutionary War, which was lead by George Washington and they were fighting against the British. During both of these books, the main characters wanted to be free. In these situations, a lot of humans wanted to be free, but were not able to be. Unfortunately, in The Diary of Anne Frank, thousands of people died, including Anne. In the olden days, when women didn’t have rights, many of them had no choice on what they could do. There wasn’t really any way Hope and Anne could be “free”.
Another similarity between Anne and Hope in each novel, is that they both felt that they should not complain about anything in their lives. Both characters were in terrible situations, yet tried to be positive. Anne was in hiding and trying to stay away from the Nazi’s, while Hope was praying that her father would not die fighting in the war. Anne felt like she didn’t have it too terrible since some of her friends and families were being sent away to special camps that would eventually kill them. Hope also felt that she should not complain because there were people that were fighting for the lives of the people in their town. She was lucky that she was a girl and did not have to risk being killed by British soldiers. Their lives were difficult and they felt they shouldn’t complain because things could have been worse and were worse for many others.
An example of a difference between Anne and Hope was that Anne suffered so much more then Hope did. Later in Anne’s life she was taken away to a concentration camp and ended up dying because she suffered from the disease called typhus. There were many sicknesses that were being passed around, from person to person at the camp. Anne and many others were not given medicines and were starving from lack of nourishment. It was a camp that would eventually kill you and there were not many survivors. Hope on the other hand was able to live at home and take care of her family. Her only fears were getting sick and having her father pass away.
Additionally, a difference between Hope and Anne was that Hope could have died from disease like Anne but she did not because of the care she received from family. She did not suffer as Anne did while living in the concentration camp. Typhus was the disease that was going around Hope’s village as well as the concentrations camp but many more died in the camps than the villages because of the poor treatment the people received in the camps.
Lastly, Hope didn’t suffer the hand of human cruelty as did Anne at the concentration camp. People that lived where Anne did had to face the “death chamber”, a room that exposed deadly gases to people within the room.
In conclusion, there are many similarities and differences between these two character and historical books. Even though these characters lived in two different time periods, they shared many similarities and differences.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Main Conflicts
Authors Note: I wrote about one of the main conflicts of the book We are the Patriots
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In the story We are the Patriots, is taking place during the Revolutionary War. It is a diary of a little girl named Hope, who writes in her point of view of the war. When she finds out her best friend, Polly, is now loyal to the king, things start to change.
One of the main conflicts in the novel was that Polly, Hope’s friend is now loyal to the king. Even though their family’s disliked each other, they still were close friends. When they wanted to see each other, they would have to sneak it. If their parents would happen to find out, they would be in lots of trouble. Eventually, when they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, they start write each other letters. The letters worked for a while because then they could write down what was happening, but they had to make sure no one found the letters they wrote to each other. There secret was safe for as long as the book lasted.
By the end of the story, they were still friends even though they had to face many obstacles. Some major obstacles were, the war, their parents, and at school they were not allowed to speak to each other. Even though it was tough they still got through it.
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In the story We are the Patriots, is taking place during the Revolutionary War. It is a diary of a little girl named Hope, who writes in her point of view of the war. When she finds out her best friend, Polly, is now loyal to the king, things start to change.
One of the main conflicts in the novel was that Polly, Hope’s friend is now loyal to the king. Even though their family’s disliked each other, they still were close friends. When they wanted to see each other, they would have to sneak it. If their parents would happen to find out, they would be in lots of trouble. Eventually, when they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, they start write each other letters. The letters worked for a while because then they could write down what was happening, but they had to make sure no one found the letters they wrote to each other. There secret was safe for as long as the book lasted.
By the end of the story, they were still friends even though they had to face many obstacles. Some major obstacles were, the war, their parents, and at school they were not allowed to speak to each other. Even though it was tough they still got through it.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Hope’s Point of View of the Revolutionary War
Authors Note: I am writing about the point of view of different characters in the book.
The story, We are the Patriots, is written in the point of view of Hope. Reading in Hope’s perspective creates sadness in the reader when learning the details about the Revolutionary War and Hope’s family. Hope talks a lot about how her dad is in the war and how her brother went missing for many, many months. Just imagine if that happened to you when you were ten years old.
One way that Hope's point of view influences the reader’s interpretation is how this perspective describes her father leaving and coming back and then leaving again. Her name is Hope and it’s symbolic to how she feels throughout the story, and how she feels about her life. She hopes for many things at the beginning of the story, like her father coming home. A quote she said in the book that symbolizes her hope is…”I must be an example and not complain. I pray God will help me be more patient, kind, and faithful.” says Hope. She talks about her hope for being patient and hope for seeing her father and brother come home. Hope wants to be a good role model for people and she wants God to help her with it, so she prays for her hope.
However, the reader would feel a great deal differently if the novel was written in the point of view of Polly, Hope’s best friend. It would be very different because Polly’s family is now loyal to the king. Hope and Polly are forbidden to talk to each other. For instance, the reader wouldn’t think the way Hope did and would want to support the king and what Polly’s family thinks about him. While the readers are reading what Hope had to say about the war, they would want to defeat the king. If Polly wrote in a journal, the reader would be on her side about the Revolutionary War.
As you can see, the point of view of a story forces the reader to see just one side of the topic of the book. In We are the Patriots, the narrator’s perspective makes the reader support Hope and her families view of the Revolutionary War. Her family had to sacrifice a lot to be able to live without her father living in their house for a while, due to fighting in the war.
The story, We are the Patriots, is written in the point of view of Hope. Reading in Hope’s perspective creates sadness in the reader when learning the details about the Revolutionary War and Hope’s family. Hope talks a lot about how her dad is in the war and how her brother went missing for many, many months. Just imagine if that happened to you when you were ten years old.
One way that Hope's point of view influences the reader’s interpretation is how this perspective describes her father leaving and coming back and then leaving again. Her name is Hope and it’s symbolic to how she feels throughout the story, and how she feels about her life. She hopes for many things at the beginning of the story, like her father coming home. A quote she said in the book that symbolizes her hope is…”I must be an example and not complain. I pray God will help me be more patient, kind, and faithful.” says Hope. She talks about her hope for being patient and hope for seeing her father and brother come home. Hope wants to be a good role model for people and she wants God to help her with it, so she prays for her hope.
However, the reader would feel a great deal differently if the novel was written in the point of view of Polly, Hope’s best friend. It would be very different because Polly’s family is now loyal to the king. Hope and Polly are forbidden to talk to each other. For instance, the reader wouldn’t think the way Hope did and would want to support the king and what Polly’s family thinks about him. While the readers are reading what Hope had to say about the war, they would want to defeat the king. If Polly wrote in a journal, the reader would be on her side about the Revolutionary War.
As you can see, the point of view of a story forces the reader to see just one side of the topic of the book. In We are the Patriots, the narrator’s perspective makes the reader support Hope and her families view of the Revolutionary War. Her family had to sacrifice a lot to be able to live without her father living in their house for a while, due to fighting in the war.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Dynamic Character
Authors Note: This writing piece is about how Cherry is a dynamic character, and how she has changed her thoughts and opinion about the Greasers throughout the story.
A dynamic character is a character that changes throughout a book. Cherry is a notable example of a dynamic character, because she starts out intimidated by the Greasers and by the end she has changed her opinion about what she thinks of the Greasers. Cherry changes her thoughts about the gang, the Greasers, making her a dynamic character.
During the movie scene, Cherry and her friend seemed offended by the Greasers, especially Dally. When he left, she turned around and asked Johnny and Ponyboy if they were going to bother her too. All of the Greasers know that Johnny and Ponyboy would never hurt anyone. Cherry obviously thought that since they were Greasers they were going to bother or annoy her too. “You two are too sweet to scare anyone.” Cherry said after the movie was over, to Johnny and Ponyboy. She altered her opinion about them and realized that not all Greasers are bad.
After Johnny killed Bob, Cherry announced that it was probably Bob’s fault because he was drunk. She didn’t stick up for Bob, she stuck up for Johnny. Bob was her boyfriend, she could have been mad at Johnny for killing him, but she wasn’t. Cherry knew that it was probably Bob’s fault, because of how he acted and behaved. Everyone that knows Johnny knows that he wouldn’t hurt anyone or anything. Johnny was only trying to defend himself and save Ponyboy. Self-defense is why Cherry believed it was most likely Bob’s fault.
“I wasn’t trying to give you charity, Ponyboy. I only wanted to help. I liked you from the start…the way you talked. Do you realize how scarce nice kids are now a days? Wouldn’t you try to help me if you could?” At the end of the book, Cherry talks to Ponyboy. What she just said to him is a good example of how she is a dynamic character; because she talks about how she liked him from the start and that he was a nice kid. Ponyboy and Johnny were one of the reasons why Cherry had changed. If they never talked to her at the movies then she could have stuck up for Bob, and never would have gotten to know them.
In conclusion, Cherry is an example of a dynamic character because she changes her opinion about the Greasers. Cherry learns that the Greasers are not all bad and that you shouldn’t judge someone until you have gotten to know them.
A dynamic character is a character that changes throughout a book. Cherry is a notable example of a dynamic character, because she starts out intimidated by the Greasers and by the end she has changed her opinion about what she thinks of the Greasers. Cherry changes her thoughts about the gang, the Greasers, making her a dynamic character.
During the movie scene, Cherry and her friend seemed offended by the Greasers, especially Dally. When he left, she turned around and asked Johnny and Ponyboy if they were going to bother her too. All of the Greasers know that Johnny and Ponyboy would never hurt anyone. Cherry obviously thought that since they were Greasers they were going to bother or annoy her too. “You two are too sweet to scare anyone.” Cherry said after the movie was over, to Johnny and Ponyboy. She altered her opinion about them and realized that not all Greasers are bad.
After Johnny killed Bob, Cherry announced that it was probably Bob’s fault because he was drunk. She didn’t stick up for Bob, she stuck up for Johnny. Bob was her boyfriend, she could have been mad at Johnny for killing him, but she wasn’t. Cherry knew that it was probably Bob’s fault, because of how he acted and behaved. Everyone that knows Johnny knows that he wouldn’t hurt anyone or anything. Johnny was only trying to defend himself and save Ponyboy. Self-defense is why Cherry believed it was most likely Bob’s fault.
“I wasn’t trying to give you charity, Ponyboy. I only wanted to help. I liked you from the start…the way you talked. Do you realize how scarce nice kids are now a days? Wouldn’t you try to help me if you could?” At the end of the book, Cherry talks to Ponyboy. What she just said to him is a good example of how she is a dynamic character; because she talks about how she liked him from the start and that he was a nice kid. Ponyboy and Johnny were one of the reasons why Cherry had changed. If they never talked to her at the movies then she could have stuck up for Bob, and never would have gotten to know them.
In conclusion, Cherry is an example of a dynamic character because she changes her opinion about the Greasers. Cherry learns that the Greasers are not all bad and that you shouldn’t judge someone until you have gotten to know them.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Improtance of Family
Authors Note: I am writing about how family is important and that your “gang”, like the Greasers or your friends, can be a substitute for the lack of a family.
Family is important to all people. Some people are unfortunate because they don’t have a "family". Having a family doesn’t always mean you have to be related through blood, but you can be close to other people that act like they are your family. Best friends that are close to you could be considered family. The Greasers are a gang and they are a family to each other. Some of them don’t have parents or they have parents that abuse them. Family influences your life in positive and negative ways.
Darry turns down an amazing scholarship to help take care and be the guardian of his brothers. If he would have accepted the scholarship, he could have lived the life of a Soc. Instead, he chose to raise his brothers so they could stay together as a family. Ponyboy thinks that Darry doesn’t love him, but Darry loves him so much that he worries about him and is strict. He doesn’t want anything terrible to happen to Ponyboy or Soda. “Are you all right, Ponyboy?”Darry said to Ponyboy when he found Socs trying to jump Ponyboy. He was really scared for him and wanted to protect him. This shows compassion and caring for another person he loved.
Johnny had a mom and a dad, but they abused him. He got whipped by his dad and ignored by his mom. The Greasers were family to Johnny. Sometimes Johnny didn’t go home at night, because his parents fought so much. “We were used to seeing Johnny banged up- his father clobbered him around a lot, and although it made us madder then heck, we couldn’t do anything about it.”(pg30) This quote relates to family because the Greasers tried to help Johnny by caring for him like a brother. They became Johnny’s family because his parents weren’t there for him. “If it hadn’t been for the gang Johnny would have never known what love and affection is” says Ponyboy (pg14). Ponyboy pretty much says it all. If Johnny would have never been a part of the gang no one would have loved him as much as the Greasers did. While Johnny was in the hospital, his mother wanted to see him. He told the nurse that he didn’t want to see her because it was too late for her to care about him. He realized that she only came to yell at him, not because she loved him. The Greasers obviously love him more than his parents ever loved him.
Dallas Winston was tough, mean and someone you didn’t ever want to run into. Deep inside Dally was a good guy, because he loved someone. The person he loved the most was Johnny. Dally never really had a real family. He was in juvenile detention at the age of ten. That is when he lost his innocence. Family meant so much to him, even if it didn’t seem like it. Dally was there when Johnny died in the hospital. He was so heartbroken that he bolted out of the hospital room. “How can I take it? I (Ponyboy) wondered. Dally is tougher than I am. Why can I take it when Dally can’t? And then I knew. Johnny was the only thing Dally loved and now Johnny was gone.”(pg133). This quote explains that Dally really loved Johnny, like a brother or son. Having someone that close to you die, is very heartbreaking and Johnny was all Dally had.
In conclusion, having great friends that you consider family can sometimes be better than having your real relatives love you. The characters in the book, The Outsiders, are all Johnny and Dally could rely on. They were their families because no one else loved them like the Greasers did.
Family is important to all people. Some people are unfortunate because they don’t have a "family". Having a family doesn’t always mean you have to be related through blood, but you can be close to other people that act like they are your family. Best friends that are close to you could be considered family. The Greasers are a gang and they are a family to each other. Some of them don’t have parents or they have parents that abuse them. Family influences your life in positive and negative ways.
Darry turns down an amazing scholarship to help take care and be the guardian of his brothers. If he would have accepted the scholarship, he could have lived the life of a Soc. Instead, he chose to raise his brothers so they could stay together as a family. Ponyboy thinks that Darry doesn’t love him, but Darry loves him so much that he worries about him and is strict. He doesn’t want anything terrible to happen to Ponyboy or Soda. “Are you all right, Ponyboy?”Darry said to Ponyboy when he found Socs trying to jump Ponyboy. He was really scared for him and wanted to protect him. This shows compassion and caring for another person he loved.
Johnny had a mom and a dad, but they abused him. He got whipped by his dad and ignored by his mom. The Greasers were family to Johnny. Sometimes Johnny didn’t go home at night, because his parents fought so much. “We were used to seeing Johnny banged up- his father clobbered him around a lot, and although it made us madder then heck, we couldn’t do anything about it.”(pg30) This quote relates to family because the Greasers tried to help Johnny by caring for him like a brother. They became Johnny’s family because his parents weren’t there for him. “If it hadn’t been for the gang Johnny would have never known what love and affection is” says Ponyboy (pg14). Ponyboy pretty much says it all. If Johnny would have never been a part of the gang no one would have loved him as much as the Greasers did. While Johnny was in the hospital, his mother wanted to see him. He told the nurse that he didn’t want to see her because it was too late for her to care about him. He realized that she only came to yell at him, not because she loved him. The Greasers obviously love him more than his parents ever loved him.
Dallas Winston was tough, mean and someone you didn’t ever want to run into. Deep inside Dally was a good guy, because he loved someone. The person he loved the most was Johnny. Dally never really had a real family. He was in juvenile detention at the age of ten. That is when he lost his innocence. Family meant so much to him, even if it didn’t seem like it. Dally was there when Johnny died in the hospital. He was so heartbroken that he bolted out of the hospital room. “How can I take it? I (Ponyboy) wondered. Dally is tougher than I am. Why can I take it when Dally can’t? And then I knew. Johnny was the only thing Dally loved and now Johnny was gone.”(pg133). This quote explains that Dally really loved Johnny, like a brother or son. Having someone that close to you die, is very heartbreaking and Johnny was all Dally had.
In conclusion, having great friends that you consider family can sometimes be better than having your real relatives love you. The characters in the book, The Outsiders, are all Johnny and Dally could rely on. They were their families because no one else loved them like the Greasers did.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
What Will Happen to the Greasers?
Authors Note: I am writing a predicting writing piece about The Outsiders.
In the book, The Outsiders, Greasers are people that want to be involved in a fight. Greasers are a type of gang who stick together and are loyal to one another. In later chapters, I predict that the Greasers will have many more gang fights with the Socs because they don’t respect each other. Being a Soc means that you are wealthy, you go to school and get good grades. No one can really pick what group they are in, they are born into it. Ponyboy, Darry, Johnny, Dally and Soda are all Greasers and are poor. Some of the Greasers don’t have families,so they consider other Greasers their family.
Knowing that the Greasers are one big family, if someone gets hurt all of the others are there for each other. Fighting is like second nature to them, because it happens all of the time. For example, Johnny always keeps a pocket knife in his pocket wherever he goes as a form of protection. Most Greasers never walk alone, otherwise they might get jumped by a Soc.
Ponyboy told Cherry, a Soc, what happened to Johnny when Socs attacked and severely hurt his friend. He felt that Cherry was a Soc that could maybe help the Greasers. Later in the story, Johnny described the Socs that beat him up describing one as big with rings on his fingers. Johnny also said that there were lots of Socs in a mustang car. I am predicting that one of the Greasers will get badly hurt or die, because of what happened to Johnny.
In conclusion, I predict that someone from the Greasers will get seriously hurt or injured due to flash backs in the book. Being in a gang can be very dangerous and it seems like something really bad has to happen in order for people to change and try to get along better.
In the book, The Outsiders, Greasers are people that want to be involved in a fight. Greasers are a type of gang who stick together and are loyal to one another. In later chapters, I predict that the Greasers will have many more gang fights with the Socs because they don’t respect each other. Being a Soc means that you are wealthy, you go to school and get good grades. No one can really pick what group they are in, they are born into it. Ponyboy, Darry, Johnny, Dally and Soda are all Greasers and are poor. Some of the Greasers don’t have families,so they consider other Greasers their family.
Knowing that the Greasers are one big family, if someone gets hurt all of the others are there for each other. Fighting is like second nature to them, because it happens all of the time. For example, Johnny always keeps a pocket knife in his pocket wherever he goes as a form of protection. Most Greasers never walk alone, otherwise they might get jumped by a Soc.
Ponyboy told Cherry, a Soc, what happened to Johnny when Socs attacked and severely hurt his friend. He felt that Cherry was a Soc that could maybe help the Greasers. Later in the story, Johnny described the Socs that beat him up describing one as big with rings on his fingers. Johnny also said that there were lots of Socs in a mustang car. I am predicting that one of the Greasers will get badly hurt or die, because of what happened to Johnny.
In conclusion, I predict that someone from the Greasers will get seriously hurt or injured due to flash backs in the book. Being in a gang can be very dangerous and it seems like something really bad has to happen in order for people to change and try to get along better.
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