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Monday, November 10, 2008

Chapters From Catch 22

1.) Chapter NineTheme: Appearance vs. RealityQuotation: "With a little ingenuity and vision, he had made it all but impossible for anyone in the squadron to talk to him, which was just fine with everyone, he noticed, since no one wanted to talk to him anyway." The guy tried to convince himself that the people weren't talking to him because of his high standards and that they felt inferior around him in ways to explain why the people weren't talking to him or communicating with him for the actual reason.


2.) Chapter TenTheme: Isanity as the Sane Choice of ActionQuotation: "There is no light. I don't feel like starting my generator. I used to get a kick out of saving people's lives. Now I wonder what the hell's the point, since they all have to die anyway."He feels that all this time he's had this light shining to help out people but now he has realized that he's been doing it for a lost cause, he sees that he's only giving them more time to die older. so his inspiration to save lives have diminished


3.) Chapter ElevenTheme: Hyperbolic PatriotismQuotation: "The important thing is to keep them pledging," he explained to his cohorts. "It doesn't matter whether they mean it or not."No matter how bad it gets just make sure the men keep pledging because if they dont were out of some help and if they dont mean it they are just here to stay and thats all that matters to him.

HT✿

Monday, October 13, 2008

Q&A

  • 1. Some critics have said that Yossarian is one of the first characters in modern American literature to fight against a powerful system. Imagine yourself in his position. Would you make the same choices he did? Why or why not? No, because it would take a lot to not care about something so important with drastic consequences to face later if your caught.

  • Does it make sense to fight powerful systems like the military? No because either way it goes your going to get caught by them and punished because they have eyes and ears everywhere and doing the wrong thing doesn't always last long.

  • Can you think of any causes that might be worth fighting for? Only cause that is really negotiable is if your family is in danger at home and you don't want to sit back and not be able to do anything about it but go there yourself and say you tried.
  • 2. According to Joseph Heller, “The only freedom we really have is the freedom to say no.” Explain what you think he means by this statement; What i think hew means is everything we can answer to and not be punished over is no because the person who asked you a question you answered it and there's nothing they can do about your choice you made because they got and answer and an answer is what they received but not exactly what they wanted to hear sometimes. Meaning we do have a choice.

    Debate its philosophical merits. Do you agree or disagree with him? I am neutral about this situation because i understand what he means but all at the same time have to agree because sometimes saying no is what were looking for and sometimes we say yes because we really want to be involved.

    Support your opinion with examples from historical and personal experience. For example, how does the above statement compare with the “just say no” catchphrase from the war against drugs? Because all i my life I have been told not to do drugs was good and saying no to it you would succeed in life instead of suffering and becoming a prisoner to drugs. I never tried drugs and never will because of the influence of the catchphrase and the influence that doing drugs could have on me so i was influenced by both drug use and the message they were sending. So saying no as our only freedom is the same way because its the only thing we actual have a choice to get into.

    3. Analyze the impact of Heller’s choice of a satiric writing style on his novel. Would the book have been as effective if it had been written in a more serious manner? It would have been effective but many people wouldn't have enjoyed it as much therefore not really finishing the book because it would be boring, not to the entire audience, of course, but to the majority because the majority likes to laugh. So no i do not think it would have been as effective.

    How might readers’ responses to the novel have been different? They would probably have been " wow this book is so boring i don't want to read it anymore." but the other half ,might say " hmm this is clever and deep i like it."

    Would the book have the same meaning if the style were different? No because is this book sarcasm is everything and being straight forward you wouldn't have to guess, more like a dumb it down version.

    HT✿

    Sunday, September 28, 2008

    Catch 22

    a. Compare Orr and Yossarian's conversation on pp. 23-24 to the dialogue exchanged between Clevinger and Yossarian on pp. 16-17 and 19-20. What is the difference between the two conversations? The difference between these two conversations is that Yossarians was more sarcastic and none caring about his situation only the fact that he didnt want to go back to the war. on the other hand clevinger seemed more simpathetic about his past .



    In either case, is anything resolved?Why or why not? No because they are to worried about there own problems.


    How does Yossarian's role change depending on who he is talking to? He switches roles with the narrator sort of and begins to ask a lot of questions.


    Finally, from what you've read so far, what do most of the other characters think about Yossarian and conversely what does he think about most of them? Do these two conversations perhaps hint at why these feelings have been formulated? he thinks that they are crazy insane and they think he is jehovas witness or something like it.



    c.On p. 14 Yossarian tells the Chaplain, "Insanity is contagious. This is the only sane ward in the whole hospital. Everybody is crazy but us." What does he mean by this? He means they are completely and utterly the most sae people because they are faking it and actually trying to avoid being killed in war while they are just safe and relaxed.

    Similarly, who is the only person in the ward that nobody likes and why don't they like him. Explain what the demeanor of that person's eventual effect was upon the ward. Yossarian is the less liked in the ward and he then laters become very curious in most situations and he is very contagious the way he is.

    This issue of insanity has already been repeated multiple times; who, in your opinion, exhibits the most insane tendencies thus far. the captain, he sits there and grumbles looking at everyone and the guy from texas also is a bit crazy too.




    d. On p. 20, Clevinger tells Yossarian that he has a "Jehovah complex". Do you agree with Clevinger? Why or why not? There are several excellent examples of why someone may think this about Yossaian; what in the text supports this? I am neutral about this question because he does but then he doesnt, the way he downs God makes him seem like he isnt and the monologue he says makes you think he is.

    HT✿

    Sunday, September 21, 2008

    Blog 2

    Paradox- Saying one thing and doing another,contradicting yourself or others.
    Catch 22- Catching 22 of something or taking it to the best of your ability.


    HT✿

    Friday, September 19, 2008

    Discussion 3

    In the first essay G. K. Chesterton believes that "without a gentle contempt for education, no gentleman's education is complete." which mean without a drive to strive to be infinite in education your education never be complete, so why would you need it if you are great on your own. He believes that man can only achieve success is with education and without it. To be successful with it is only because it is required in our society. the paradox in this essay is "No man who worships education has got the best out of education."

    In the second essay by John Steinbeck, he says we contradict ourselves about how horrible our government is but yet were trying to spread it to other countries as if it were the best in the world. He talks about how we talk as if our way of life is heavenly and Great while some people suffer from unemployment and the homeless we have. The paradox is that we Americans complain about everything but yet we recommend our same tactics convinced they are good.

    HT✿

    Friday, September 12, 2008

    Music


    Thursday, September 4, 2008

    Introduction (memoir)

    My name is Moe, one of the million nicknames that I have obtained from friends and loved ones over the years, but that's another story. Walking into my house is Rome reincarnated, With pillars that seem to hold up the ceilings, mustard walls that feels like tiny, rough massagers caressing your hand, detailed crown molding that trims the ceiling perfectly. Ceramic tiles greet our feet through out the house, dark wooden floors in the bedrooms, pendant lights hang over the bar in the kitchen with accent lights to help bring that special ambiance for dinner. In the living room, a romantic fire place mantel grasps your eye with leather seats surrounding it with welcoming comfort. The warmth of my home is enough to make you feel like an infant in a mothers womb. It smells like blueberries, taste of sweet raspberries freshly picked from the Garden of Eden. My home to me is an escape from reality and into dream land.
    On Sunday, I was born at 5:34 pm, a minute after my twin sister. That day my mother knew she would close up shop and stop having kids, so my sister and I made our family of six into a family of eight. Four years later, it was time for my sister and I to start school at CAC Academy. I don’t remember much about my first few days of school, but I know ,for a fact, that I was the one who stayed in trouble. Most of the times it was because I would throw up an offensive finger at one of my class mates, but how does a four year-old supposed to know what it meant or for that matter even offensive? Other times it was because I would forget to say ”excuse me” after natural occurrences. What got me in trouble the most was when I didn’t want to sit by my teachers daughter, that move I didn’t make got me spankings. Me, knowing no better, thought I deserved it. After a one or two years with my short teacher, Sister Mitchell, my mom enrolled my two sister’s and I into EP Elementary School down the street from our house.
    First day of school at EP was like entering a new world made just for kids. It was everything I didn’t expect. The first thing I noticed when I got there was that they had no lockers like I had heard. In my mind “ ALL” public schools had lockers. When the bells rang to go to class I was all eyes, taking in every corner, crack ,tile and student as I walked to Mrs. Haynes class. After I successfully made it to her class I took my seat near the front of the class. I noticed everyone starring at me as if they could smell the “new kid” on me. After that exciting day I couldn’t wait to go back the next day. Weeks of fun and learning I was disappointed to hear that it would all have to be put on halt for Hurricane George. After weeks of recovery it was time to go back to school to finish the rest of a wonderful year out in second grade.
    Year 1999 and on to fourth grade with Ms. Locke. That year I dreaded going to her class because of all the bad rumors I had heard previously from every kid in the school including my oldest sister. That year at EP, in my book, history was made, it was the worst year that I had ever had at school. For some odd reason I was her main target to pick on about every little thing. If I didn’t divide the way she wanted, I met “buddy” her ducted taped ruler that made quite a connection with my butt, and here I thought they took spankings out of school years ago. She didn’t spank me much but made up with fussing at me. One day we had sack lunches, in my bag I had a ham sandwich , an apple and other condominiums . I began fixing my sandwich and turned to see where my top bun disappeared to, Ms. Locke helped me find it by saying “Oh Lord, girl its on the floor! Pick it up and get another one from the cafeteria, just so clumsy!” she barked at me. And then she said to Mrs. Mystical, the assistant teacher, “Dumb little girl.” I did as she said thinking to myself “ I’m so clumsy.”. After that we never saw Mrs. Mystical again and no one ever knew why. One day I made a “D” on my test and Mrs. Locke called me up to show me what I had made, as if the bad grade wasn’t enough she hit me as hard as she could on my bottom and then wrote on my test that she had did so. I went home to show my parents my test as Ms. Locke had instructed. I showed the paper to my mom because I knew how my father was, he would take things out of proportion and set Ms. Locke straight and my mom was just the opposite…..so I thought. I never read the letter my mother wrote her but Ms. Locke never laid a finger on me again. Finally that year was over, once again, so I thought. I had to come back for tutoring all I could say was “ crap”. Of course, I had to go and it turned out to be way better than what I had expected. I had made peace with Ms. Locke and proceeded to the fifth grade.
    Fifth grade was grand with Ms. Bosarge, especially her class parties. We would learn and have so much fun while doing so. After we sat in class with her we would change classes to go to our designated areas while Mr. Alderman, the principal, played “Good Morning” on the intercom. Reading was also the best with Ms. Lowell, until one day one of my classmates, Joseph , began hassling me with his little mind games he would play. He would always greet me with such joy and emotion until during reading I was teamed up with him and Dennis in a group. He asked me if I liked him, so I lied and said yes then he asked if we wanted to go together and so I said “no…wait yes” I lied again. Then he whispered to me “ girl I’ll kill you. Cut you up and put you in a bag.” he began to laugh and I began to cry, so I asked if I could call home for my mom to pick me up but she wasn’t home. I went back to my seat and Joseph began to ask me “what’s wrong?” And “why are you crying?” he started giggling after that and never talked to me again.
    Time finally came for me to leave EP and on to the big kid school. That day I almost shed a tear but fought them back when I knew I would be going on to new and higher ground. Mr. Alderman was not so lucky, I saw the tears falling down his cheeks because he would miss his favorite class of students. We would miss him too, the best principal ever.
    First day at EM was nerve wrecking and exciting all at the same time. I absolutely had absolutely every idea of what to expect when I got there. One reason being, being told by my older brothers and sisters and other students, and another reason, having a great imagination. I was once again disappointed to find that there were no lockers like I had hoped. I later found out they were taken out due to too much drug activity. EM also turned out to be the best school ever, even if it had zero lockers. That year I experienced my very first pep rally and first foe-bomb threat which was also the hottest day ever in 2002. But all in all that year was full of surprises and fun. By the summer came , we found out that the city had decided to shut down EM and combine schools with M Jr. High our main rivalry. Everyone just knew that year was going to be crazy, with M and EM combined all in one. Turned out to be a pretty pleasant year there, we didn’t have as many fights as we predicted but newly gained friendships. That year during summer at a church event I met Mrs. Mystical all over again, my mother recognized her but I had no Idea who she was. I figured it out after she said her name. after she made sure I remembered her she asked how I had been and she finally told me why she had left EP. She said she had quit her job because she couldn’t bare to see me treated so badly, especially because she thought I was such a sweet and bright student.
    Finally in the bigger kid school where I knew I was bound to grow and mature beyond belief, Talk about excited. It was a good first day of school but we kids always have to complain about the crappy teachers we got and how lame they were, but I knew we were all talk and deep down inside they actually half way liked them, at least I did. Once again a good year had been interrupted in 2005, by a Hurricane named Katrina. We were gone for almost two months and plus some. After we slowly recovered school was back in no time. That year was finally what I had expected and so much more, but still no locker! I guess I can get one when I go to the gym when I’m older. HT✿