Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Assignment 7 - The Garden Party
After reading Katherine Mansfield's short story, The Garden Party, I set out to answer Foster's test questions. Here is what I came up with after thinking about the questions:
What does the story signify?
The story signifies the struggle between the classes in which both think the other as different and weird. Also expressed is the isolation in which the different classes try to put themselves.
Most of the sample opinions provided by foster picked up on this point as did I.
How does the story signify this?
Geography - The Sheridan's house is separated from the common houses by a giant hill. The upper class sit on top while the lower classes reside below. What better way to symbolize a divide among people than an actual divide in the geography of the setting.
This also was expressed by the opinions provided by Foster
Freedom through Flight - At the beginning of the story Laura "flew away" to meet with the work-men sent to assemble the marque. This moment is the first in which Laura acknowledges her sympathy for the lower class men. As Diane noticed I also picked up on the birds in the nest. Each of the family is at one point referenced in an avian manner and the house on the hill could symbolize a nest. Therefore Laura's actual freedom flight would come at the end as opposed to the beginning when she seems to achieve mental freedom.
Although I noticed several of the same techniques as Diane I did not approach her level of deep thinking.
Foster's paragraphs following the short story create a much greater appreciation for Katherine Mansfield short story. The idea that the author was able to create so much symbolism in a short story is mind-boggling.
What does the story signify?
The story signifies the struggle between the classes in which both think the other as different and weird. Also expressed is the isolation in which the different classes try to put themselves.
Most of the sample opinions provided by foster picked up on this point as did I.
How does the story signify this?
Geography - The Sheridan's house is separated from the common houses by a giant hill. The upper class sit on top while the lower classes reside below. What better way to symbolize a divide among people than an actual divide in the geography of the setting.
This also was expressed by the opinions provided by Foster
Freedom through Flight - At the beginning of the story Laura "flew away" to meet with the work-men sent to assemble the marque. This moment is the first in which Laura acknowledges her sympathy for the lower class men. As Diane noticed I also picked up on the birds in the nest. Each of the family is at one point referenced in an avian manner and the house on the hill could symbolize a nest. Therefore Laura's actual freedom flight would come at the end as opposed to the beginning when she seems to achieve mental freedom.
Although I noticed several of the same techniques as Diane I did not approach her level of deep thinking.
Foster's paragraphs following the short story create a much greater appreciation for Katherine Mansfield short story. The idea that the author was able to create so much symbolism in a short story is mind-boggling.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Top Ten Reads for 2012
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Originally published in 2007, Water for Elephants was recommended to me by numerous people including my mother and Ms. Huff. Both knew my fascination with history and thought I would enjoy the story set in the 1930's. At 350 pages, the book will not be my longest read ever nor will it be difficult as Gruen writes in a modern style.
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Published in 2003, Martel weaves a story in which Pi Patel finds himself aboard a life boat with among other animals an orangutan, and a tiger. This setup creates, according to my mom, a very thought provoking story as the character must survive months in this situation. According to those who have read the book, the style is easy to read and at 326 pages it is not long winded either.
Ordinary People - Judith Guest
One of the bestsellers of the late 20th century, Guest's novel was referenced in Thomas Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor and tweaked my interest. Published in 1976, the book follows the trials of a family after the loss of a son in a boating accident. Ordinary People is 262 pages and should not be a difficult read.
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
I have read this book once before, however I was not ready for the masterpiece as I read it in 2005 (the publication year) and was only 11 years old. At the time I found Zusak's 576 page novel challenging to read. However I do not believe I will have the same troubles reading The Book Thief today as I have developed greatly as a reader.
Going After Cacciato - Tim O'Brien
After reading The Things They Carried, another Tim O'Brien novel about the Vietnam War, I became interested in reading another of O'Brien's works. Going After Cacciato was referenced several times in Foster's analysis of literature and tweaked my interest. Having already read a book by the same author, I know O'Brien's style is fairly easy to read and the 352 pages should keep the novel short-winded.
Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
This winter I watched Into the Wild, a movie chronicling the life of Christopher McCandless. Recently I learned the story of McCandless was popularized by Krakauer's book. I immediately wanted to read the book. I do not believe the style of the 207 page book will require heavy reading as the sentences seem easy to interpret.
The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara
My love of history as well as my aunt led me to this classic novel of the American Civil War. More specifically centered around the Battle of Gettysburg, The Killer Angels brings classic American figures to life. After reading several sentences, Shaara's writing seems to be descriptive and easy to read and with 355 pages, the novel is average sized.
Letters From The Earth - Mark Twain
Wanting to read a novel by Twain, I found the perfect book in this 317 page collection of stories published posthumously. I have never read anything work of Twain's but after reading a few samples, the style seems easy enough to understand fluently.
The Professor and the Madman - Simon Winchester
Telling the tale of the Oxford English Dictionary, Winchester's novel was recommended to me by my mother and seems to be a extremely interesting answer to the classic childhood question: "Who invented the dictionary?" At 230 pages the story of murder, insanity, and the origin of the OED will be an easy read.
Thunderstruck - Erik Larson
Enthralled by The Devil in the White City, Larson's newest work greatly interests me with its similar style and topic. Larson's style is easy to decipher and the 480 pages should not create an extremely long read.
Going After Cacciato - Tim O'Brien
After reading The Things They Carried, another Tim O'Brien novel about the Vietnam War, I became interested in reading another of O'Brien's works. Going After Cacciato was referenced several times in Foster's analysis of literature and tweaked my interest. Having already read a book by the same author, I know O'Brien's style is fairly easy to read and the 352 pages should keep the novel short-winded.
Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
This winter I watched Into the Wild, a movie chronicling the life of Christopher McCandless. Recently I learned the story of McCandless was popularized by Krakauer's book. I immediately wanted to read the book. I do not believe the style of the 207 page book will require heavy reading as the sentences seem easy to interpret.
The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara
My love of history as well as my aunt led me to this classic novel of the American Civil War. More specifically centered around the Battle of Gettysburg, The Killer Angels brings classic American figures to life. After reading several sentences, Shaara's writing seems to be descriptive and easy to read and with 355 pages, the novel is average sized.
Letters From The Earth - Mark Twain
Wanting to read a novel by Twain, I found the perfect book in this 317 page collection of stories published posthumously. I have never read anything work of Twain's but after reading a few samples, the style seems easy enough to understand fluently.
The Professor and the Madman - Simon Winchester
Telling the tale of the Oxford English Dictionary, Winchester's novel was recommended to me by my mother and seems to be a extremely interesting answer to the classic childhood question: "Who invented the dictionary?" At 230 pages the story of murder, insanity, and the origin of the OED will be an easy read.
Thunderstruck - Erik Larson
Enthralled by The Devil in the White City, Larson's newest work greatly interests me with its similar style and topic. Larson's style is easy to decipher and the 480 pages should not create an extremely long read.
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