Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Chapter 9

Gatsby dies and Nick decides to take control of setting up the funeral. Nick called everyone he knew that would possibly want to come but nobody wanted to come. Not even his "love" Daisy. The only people who show up are Jordan, Gatby's father, and a few of Gatsby's servents and Nick himself. Mr. Wilson says that Tom told him where Gatsby was and that he would have shot Tom as well if he hadn't told him where Gatsby was. Nick ends up not being with Jordan after she eventually tells him she is engaged to another man. Are Tom and Daisy still together? Did Daisy really love Gatsby? Why didn't Jordan want to be with Nick?

Chapter 8

Mr. Wilson is sitting in his office when some men stick around to confront him about his wife getting killed. He is sitting there not talking and stunned. He then finally starts talking about revenge and finding out who did it. When the men left and he was alone, he left to go to West Egg. Wilson knows that it was Gatsby. Gatsby decides to go swimming in his pool that he doesn't use very often and tells the butler if he needs something to come and get him. When Nick goes to check on Gatsby after a couple of hours, he finds him dead laying face down in the pool. Wilson had shot him.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Chapter 7

This chapter begins with Gatsby calling off all of his parties in order to better please Daisy. He even fires his servents so that gossip doesn't continue to spread. Nick drives over to the Bucannans for lunch and Gatsby and Jordan are there as well along with Daisy and Tom. Tom now knows that Daisy and Gatsby are in love. They then all go to New York together and go to a hotel to freshen up since it is so hot. Tom and Gatsby then argue about who is in love and who is not in love and keep arguing for a good while. They then drive back and on the way back they discover a dead body laying on the road. It turns out that it is Myrtle, Tom's girlfriend. She has been killed in a hit and run accident. When they go back to the Buccanans Nick finds Gatsby spying outside the house and Gatsby tells Nick that it was Daisy who accidentially hit Myrlte.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Chapter 6

At the beginning of the chapter I am kinda confused about what happens. But a reporter comes to Gatsby's house asking about rumors and if they are ture. He says that his real name is James Gatz and he got his name from a man who he met when he worked at lake supperior. He warned Dan Cody, a rich old man, that a big storm was coming so his boat wouldn't get recked. Cody hires Gatsby as his supervisor since he was a heavy alcholic and he is supposed to watch him while he is drunk. Dan Cody then dies and he gives Gatsby 25,000 dollars. Nick doesn't see Gatsby for weeks. Then one day he comes to visit and Tom and Daisy and Mr. and Mrs. Sloane come over to Nicks as well. The next party Gatsby has Dasiy and Tom come and Tom just comes because he wants to see and keep a watch out for Gatsby and Daisy. The chapter ends with Gatsby wishing he could change the past and wanting Daisy to get a divorce and wishing things were the same like they were back when he loved her. Will Tom become more suspicious and eventually hurt Gatsby in some way? Will Daisy get a divorce with Tom to be with Gatsby?

Chapter 5

At the beginning of the chapter, Nick comes home but then realizes the the Gatsby's house is really lit up. He is at first afraid that it is on fire. Gatsby scares him as he walks onto Nicks lawn as he is walking to his door. This is when Gatsby asks Nick if he wants to go to Coney Island and Nick says that it is too late. He then asks Nick if he wants to go swimming, Nick says no. I think Gatsby is just trying to get himself and Nick alone doing something for a while so that he can convince Nick to go through with his plan to get Daisy to meet up with him at the party. He goes through with the plan but during the get together it starts to rain and then Gatsby becomes very nervous. Nick invites Daisy over and it seems to be awkward but when Nick comes back after leaving them alone they are laughing and having fun. Will Daisy and Gatsby get back together? Will Daisy cheat on Tom?

Chapter 4

Nick and Gatsby then go to lunch the next afternoon where Gatsby tells him stories about the great things that he has done. The stories, Nick finds out from Tom, are all a lie. After lunch in the city, Jordan explains what her meeting with Gatsby was about. Gatsby wants Jordan to convince Nick to get Daisy to have a reunion with Gatsby. Daisy and Gatsby were in love during the war and Gatsby wants to see her again to see if there feelings are still the same. Since Daisy has been married to Tom she has not cheated on him but he has cheated on her. Therefore Gatsby wants Jordan to get Nick to have a get together so that Gatsby can see if they still have feelings for each other. If Daisy knows she is being cheated on, why doesn't she do something about it?

Chapter 3

In chapter 3 Nick was at the house and a man from Gatby's house came over with an invitation to a party at his house that night. He decides to accept the invitation. He goes to the party and meets up with his friend Jordan since she is the only one there that he knows. He and Jordan observe all the people that are at the party and then decide to go outside to where all of the entertainment is taking place. Nick is sitting there when a man tells him that he looks familiar and that man happened to be Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby invites Nick to breakfast the next morning. There talk was enentually interrupted by a phone call for Mr. Gatsby. At the end of this chapter Nick talks about how honest he is and how dishonest Jordan is. And even though they have those differences, he still has a great attraction for her. Will Nick and Jordan eventually be together?

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 begins with Tom wanting Nick to meet his girlfriend in New York so they take the train that goes from West Egg to New York City. They get off the train in Ashland where they come upon Myrtl. Myrtl is Tom's girlfriend. When they meet Mrytl they get back on the train but stop by a store owned by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson is Tom's "Girlfriends" husband. Then Myrtl makes up a lie about why she need's to go into town. When they arrive in New York Tom buys Myrtl a puppy from a man on the street. They get to Myrtl's apartment where she invites many couples over for a party. They start drinking and Myrtl started to say Daisy's name over and over again which really agitated. Tom eventually punched Myrtl in the nose and broke it. Why would this anger Tom so much to eventully make him punch her?

Chapter 1

Nich Carraway is the main character of the story and he is the one who is telling the story. The story takes place in the 20's and he lives in West Egg, New York. Nick went over to East Egg to visit Tom and Daisy. Daisy is Nick's cousin and Tom is Nick's good friend from college. Then Nick meets Jordan Bakker and he and Jordan are talking when the phone rings. This phone call was from Tom's girlfriend in New York Jordan said. What is the comparision to Gatsby in this chapter?

Monday, December 15, 2008

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Research F. Scott Fitzgerald. What key biographical information can you find that will help you better understand his work? Hint: you will see overlaps between his life and what happens to his characters. - A key note from his biographical background is that he was born in the 20's. This could possibly mean that his writing could be about music and the Jazz Age. He was a very heavy drinker and growing up he and his family went through many hard times, so his stories may be about hard times.

Fitzgerald proclaimed: "An author ought to write for the youth of his generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmasters of ever afterward." Discuss what you think this quote means and how it might be important to understanding this book.
He wanted to educate the younger generation because they would eventually be the next critics and school teachers.

Research the 192os in America. What were some of the important historical events during that time? The 1920's was the Jazz Age and is also often called the roaring 20's. It was called the roaring 20's because industry began to boom. This included the invention of the model A automobile and it was avalible on the market. - The 19th amendment was passed for woman's suffrage. - Prohibition went into effect in the United States. - and Herbert Hoover was elected as president in 1928.

Translate the following phrase: "Exegit monumentum aere perennius."
I have erected a monument less lasting than bronze

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Thesis

Throughout The Red Badge of Courage, Henry gains enough respect from his fellow soldiers and commanders to someday become a commander himself.

He called out to the youth: "By heavens, if I had ten thousand wild cats like you I could tear th' stomach outa this war in less'n a week!" (Crane 3.20). This quote comes after the regiment had been fighting and Henry had gone crazy. Henry was shooting and yelling like crazy and his commander says he wishes he had more men like him. This shows that the commander, the man in charge, has respect for Henry. If you have respect you’re your commander or lieutenant, you are in pretty good position to become a lieutenant or general yourself. This is one of the first places in the story where Henry actually just goes wild and starts fighting and killing for the good of the regiment.

The youth and his friend had a small scuffle over the flag. "Give it t' me!" "No, let me keep it!" Each felt satisfied with the other's possession of it, but each felt bound to declare, by an offer to carry the emblem, his willingness to further risk himself. The youth roughly pushed his friend away. (Crane 20.3) This happens in chapter 20 when Henry is fighting in battle and he sees the flag bearer has been shot in front of him. He quickly and courageously runs over to the flag, along with his friend Wilson, to pick it up. Henry and Wilson have a scuffle over who is going to carry the flag and Henry pushes his friend away and takes the position of flag bearer. This shows a great amount of courage to overtake a position that he had never done and to go to the front of the regiment. Henry’s actions show that he is ready to become something more, something better than just another average soldier, a commander in the U.S army.

An' th' colonel, he ses: 'Were they, indeed? Ahem! ahem! My sakes!' he ses. 'At th' head 'a th' reg'ment?' he ses. 'They were,' ses th' lieutenant. 'My sakes!' ses th' colonel. He ses: 'Well, well, well,' he ses. 'They deserve t' be major-generals.” (Crane 21. 39). This quote comes from two young men from the regiment who have overheard their commander talking to a lieutenant of the army. They come to say how the lieutenant praised how they went to the front of the regiment to fight and overtake the position of flag bearer. This is the best example in the book of why Henry will someday become a general. The lieutenant, the man in one of the positions of highest authority, said that Henry deserves to be a major general some day. This quote alone shows me and should show everyone who reads this why Henry has gained enough respect from his commanders to become a commander or general himself.

virginia.edu/~HYPER/CRANE/badge.html

Friday, December 5, 2008

Saving Private Ryan

Courage- The men at the beginning of the movie who were running up to the beach showed a good example of courage. They were running into intense machine gun warfare.

Manhood- When private Ryan could not leave his company.

Self-preservation- Soldiers hiding behind stuff and not fighting because they didn't want to die.

Disregard for Human Life- When the German soldier stabbed the American soldier in the heart when he was defenseless.

Noise and Silence- When it was noisy, there was always fighting going on. When it was quiet the soldiers were usually resting or planning there next attack. Right before Tom Hanks dies, it is silent.

Light and Dark- They usually rest during the night or travel and fight during the day when it is light out.

Clean and Dirty- When they first start the war on the beach, the soldiers are clean and when they are done at the beach they are bloody and dirty.

Youth and Maturity- Upham was a coward all movie and was a youth. At the end he finally shoots someone and is mature about it and has no regard for human life.

The Dead Soldier- When Tom Hanks dies at the end, it shows courage by him to die in the battle and it also shows how much the soldiers in the regiment that were still alive cared for him. They
all stood around him and cried and were very upset. They all respected him.

The Flag- The flag signifies what all the soldiers that died gave there lives for. They gave their lives so men and women of the USA could have freedom.




Monday, December 1, 2008

THEMES * MOTIFS

Courage- Henry didn't have any courage at the beginning of the story and was a coward. Then at the end he had more courage than anyone in the regiment.
Manhood- this is depicted in the story because you must be a man to fight in the war and Henry and Wilson develop into men during the story.
Self-preservation- Henry didn't fight in the battles in the beginning because he was scared of dying.
Disregard for Human Life- You must have no regard for human life when you are fighting your enemy.
Noise and Silence- Noise sort of represents war in the story and silence represents peace.
Light and Dark- sort of the same as noise and silence. Light represents peace and quiet and dark represents violence and war. At the end when the war is over the light shines through the clouds, this is a great example of this cause it represents peace.
Clean and Dirty- At the beginning he wants to keep his gun clean and is scared to fight.
Youth and Maturity- They call him a youth at the beginning because he hasn't gained any respect. He matures a lot during the story and becomes a sort of hero to the men in the regiment.
The Dead Soldier- represents death and how fragile your life is when you are fighting your enemy in a battle.
The Flag- represents pride and victory. Their flag represents pride because it dipicts their country and is their countries flag. The enemy flag, when they capture it, represented victory because they said they had won after Henry captured the flag.


Characters

Henry Fleming- Was the youth soldier in the story. At the beginning of the story Henry is a coward and runs from every battle that his regiment gets in to. Later in the story and towards the end he becomes a very respected soldier along with his friend Wilson. The most courageous thing I think he does is capture the enemies flag.
Jim Conklin- Jim is known as the tall soldier and dies in front of Henry.
Wilson- Wilson is Henry's best friend. In the beginning of the story Wilson is known as the loud soldier and thinks he can defeat the whole army by himself. In the end he has changed and and becomes a leader and a great soldier.
tattered soldier- He is the soldier that is injured in battle and makes Henry feel guilty because he keeps asking Henry if and where he was wounded even though he did not fight.
Lieutenant- He is the leader of the regiment and Henry and Wilson gain a lot of respect from him during the end of the story.
Henry's Mother- She doesn't want Henry to go to war. She wants him to stay home and help her on the farm.