Lit Analysis #3 : The Joy Luck Club

“I closed my eyes and pondered my next move.” (Tan 101) Life is a game that gets more and more complicated as the years go by. We learn the rules and how to play from our parents from an early age.  For many, their mothers teach them many life lessons, many that at first they don’t listen to. In The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, we can see the relationship between mother and daughter, in which both learn from each other. In each story, four mothers instruct their daughters, learn from them, and realize many things about themselves.

            “You must watch what everybody else throws away and keep that in your head as well.” (Tan 33) Throughout the novel, we learn of the different hardships that each of the Chinese-American families has experienced. From Lindo Jong’s arranged marriage, to Rose Hsu Jordan’s loss of her brother, there’s one recurring thing in each chapter. The Chinese mothers attempt to advise and provide support for their white-washed American-Chinese children. In many cases, the daughters seem to realize that their mothers were indeed right. The mothers draw from their own experiences with their mothers, in attempts to save their daughters from suffering. Many of the mothers have a fear that their daughters will not be “proper chinese women” and proceed to try and chance their offspring.  An example of this is Jing-mei’s mother, Suyuan Woo. Out of jealousy of her friend Lindo Jong, she attempts to “bring out Jing-mei’s inner genius.” She wasn’t doing it so that her daughter could become a better human being, but rather so she could boast to her friend. Regardless to their beliefs, each of the mothers learn new things from their daughters that ultimately influence them and their decisions later on.

            “A mother is best. A mother knows what is inside you.” All four mothers of The Joy Luck club, believe they know what is best for their daughter. They never consider however, that maybe they could learn a thing or two from them. Lindo recognizes through her daughter Waverly that she has been changed by American culture. Ying-ying realizes that Lena has unknowingly followed her passive nature in her marriage to Harold. An-mei realizes that Rose has not understood the lessons she taught her about faith and hope, which she herself has lost belief in.    

Leopard Man First Reading Questions

9. Tom Leppard is known as Leopard man, as he is completely covered in leopard spots, Tom has also altered his teeth to resemble those of a leopard.

10. The author considers people with tattoos and piercings as antisocial freaks. He has these opinions based on his experience/knowledge with other people with these

11. The Leopard Man is different from other tattooed and pierced individuals because he doesn't do it for attention but just because he chooses to live this lifestyle.

12. The Leopard Man lives in a small cabin in the Scottish wilderness

13. According to Feys, society tends to fear people that are different because they're not like everyone else so people react in fear towards them

14. The world's most common but dangerous psychological order is conformity. Feys argues this by stating that the consequences of it are destroying one's individuality and just becoming like the majority of people which is horrible because you're doing this with your own consent

15. Leopard Man is happy because he has seceded from society, which has allowed him to break free of social pressures. He has created his own personal paradise by living the way he does.

Lit Analysis #2

The Giver

Part 1) The story beings with Jonas recounting a time he felt afraid. His recounting provides the reader with a small description of the dystopian setting in which the story takes places. The ceremony of 12 is approaching in which all the members of the communist like community will attend. All children age 11, will become 12’s and will receive the job they will continue doing until old age. Jonas is selected to be the new Receiver, or more specifically the successor of the only current receiver. He receives the memories of color, emotions, pain, etc. from the Receiver, as they are the only members who hold those memories. Jonas and the Receiver make a plan, so that all members of the community shall have to share the burden. The night of the escape, Jonas is forced to leave earlier due to the risk of death for a baby his family is taking care of. If the baby, Gabe, were to remain he would be killed. Jonas escapes the community, and goes out into the area known as Elsewhere, where he and Gabe, eventually starving and freezing to death, slide down a snowy hill towards what Jonas believes is a village or a mirage.

Part 2) I believe that the main theme was/is the importance of memory. Without memory, we wouldn’t learn from our mistakes, know true pain or true love, and we wouldn’t be able to become individuals. Our pasts shape us and prevent us from making the same mistakes over and over. 

Part 3) The protagonist, Jonas is a dynamic character, as he changes drastically from the beginning of the book. He changes from being a controlled communist-like drone thanks to experiencing true emotions and actually becomes an individual by being able to make choices. However, he is a flat character, as we do not really get to know him or his background in depth. Another important character is the current receiver of Memory, The Giver. The Giver transfers the memories into Jonas, helping him through the process of dealing with his newfound memories.

Part 4) The color red is a motif that appears four major times in the book. The first is the apple Jonas plays catch with. It is the first time he experiences “seeing beyond”. The next is the faces of people in a crowd, followed by Fiona’s hair, followed by the sled. This color represents Jonas venturing into a new world in which he feels emotions, sees color, and for once is an individual.

Part 5) I have read the book before, in 8^th grade and I loved it. I wanted to see if I understood the book from a different perspective now 2 years later. I really enjoy dystopian future books, as they make you think and like I stated, see things in a new light.

Part 6) Some connections I can make might sound negative, but one is the need to be the same. Many people, especially teenagers, strive to fit in and find their place in society. Likewise, the community in The Giver encourages sameness, and discourages individuality. That fear of being judged is prominent in both our and their culture/community. 

Part 7) An idea I will remember is that of the balance of pain and pleasure. Without hardships, we would not appreciate pleasure. And without pleasure, everything in life would be misery. Both balance each other, and are necessary to not feel superior or down in the dumps.” It was much the same, this memory, though the hill seemed to be a different one, steeper, and the snow was falling much more thickly than before.”(Lowry 108). On his first ride he experienced the emotion, but the second time it was the sensation of overwhelming pain. This shows how the same thing can give completely different experience under different circumstances.

Latin Roots #6

Roots and Derivatives 

1. corp(or) (body): corpse, corporation, corps, corpuscle, corporeal, corpus, corset

2. cred (to believe, to trust): credo, credit, discredit, credence, credentials, accreditation

3. cur(r), curs, course (to run, to flow): current, excursion, discourse, concur, recourse, curriculum, recurrent

4. dic(t) (to speak, to say): diction, indication, edict, jurisdiction, dictionary, addict, interdiction

Word List

1. benediction: the invocation of a divine blessing, as at the close of a religious service; a blessing or a state of blessedness
Example: He dismissed the congregation with a benediction.

2. concourse: a running or flowing together; a broad public walkway or hallway; a crowd or throng
Example: The woman was lost among the concourse at the concert.

3. concurrent: occurring at the same time; meeting or acting together
Example: Earthquakes and tsunamis are usually concurrent, causing massive damage.

4. corporal: related to the physical body
Example: Although corporal punishment is illegal in schools, some students see p.e as the same thing.

5. corpulent: very stout; fleshy and obese; fat
Example: More and more americans have steadily become corpulent due to fast food.

6. credibility: the quality of being believable or trustworthy
Example: The singer lost all credibility after being caught lip syncing the national anthem.

7. credulity: the (naïve)willingness to believe too easily without proof
Example: The internet has caused human credulity to become much more common.

8. cursory: done in a superficial or hasty manner
Example: The knot was cursory, ended up coming loose dropping the bag.

9. dictum: an authoritative saying or maxim
Example: His favorite dictum was, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

10. incorporate: to form into one body or functioning unit; to combine several different things into a whole
Example: The author liked to incorporate parts of her past into her writing.

11. incredulous: not believing, skeptical, or doubting
Example: The girl had an incredulous look on her face after watching the magician's act.

12. indicative: characteristic of or very much like; suggestive
Example: The results of the CAT scan were indicative of some type of tumor growth.

Greek Drama Questions

1. What kind of prize is given for dancing choruses of worshippers?

Answer: The dancing choruses of worshippers were awarded a bull or a goat.

2. How many spectators would gather in the open-air theatre of Dionysos?

Answer: As many as fourteen thousand spectators gathered in the open-air theatre.

3. How does the mask affect the voices of the actors?

Answer: These masks had mouthpieces that amplified the actors’ voices.

4. Why was Antigone suspenseful to viewing audiences?

Answer: Suspense came from their knowledge of things the characters on stage did not know.

5. How is the shepherd to leave the infant on the mountainside?

Answer: The shepherd is to leave the baby with his ankles pinned together.

6. What is the riddle the Sphinx gave to Oedipus?

Answer: “What creature goes on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?”

7. Who are Oedipus' kids?

Answer: Oedipus’ kids were two sons, Polyneices and Etocles; and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene.

8. After Oedipus is exiled, who takes over Thebes?

Answer: Jocasta’s brother and Oedipus’ uncle Creon took over Thebes.

9. What did the family do to the dead body?

Answer: Creon decreed that Polyneices; body be left unburied, to rot in the sun outside the city gates. 

Antigone Quickwrite

Everyone deserves a proper burial. However, I do not believe it is anyone’s right if you should be buried or not. I would of course mourn both of my brothers, as they are after all family. However, I would be outraged to know that my favorite brother cannot be buried, and even more furious knowing it’s a “crime” to do so. My sister, although family, would bring more dishonor than my “traitor” brother, at least in my opinion. I would do my best to convince my sister to help me bury our brother, but I wouldn’t beg. It does not require one to beg for something both of you know is morally correct. However, my sister will most likely neglect following the just and honorable path of burying our brother as she fears our uncle, which leaves the task to me alone. I would plan an explosive, dramatic event that would act as a distraction, such as a festival, banquet, dramatic production, etc. I would then proceed to making sure that the king, my uncle would be in attendance. While everyone is at attending the event, I would act fast laying small distractions that would slow down any wandering guards or civilians, yet alert me of their presence. Although I would gladly die attempting to bury my beloved brother, I would prefer not having to do so. I would steal the body from the dump and transport it to some hidden location. By doing this, I can prevent my uncle from ordering the body to be dug up again as he will not be aware of the location of the burial. I would then proceed to transporting the body the farthest distance from the city. After giving my brother a proper funeral, I would proceed to cover my tracks. I would have an alibi ready as to where I was at the time of the decoy event, as well as who I was with. To ensure this, I would bribe someone to testify they had seen me at said fake location. Even if I were caught, I would regret nothing. I could feel at peace knowing I did the right thing, and hoping someone would do the same for me. Although my sister refused to help, I would not hold a grudge as everyone has different views and fears. But if she did not at the very least try to defend me, she would no longer be seen as my blood. My only consolation would be knowing that I accomplished what I believed to be right, and gave my brother a proper burial. Everyone deserves to be laid down to rest, and no mortal man has the power to decide against it. 

Dog Pound=Possible Buffet?

     "Even the most enthusiastic carnivores won't eat dogs." In his 2009 novel, Eating Animals, Jonathan Safran Foer argues that, “Dogs are plentiful, good for you, easy to cook, and tasty.” Although growing up in America has made me see eating dogs as a taboo, Safran Foer makes some pretty convincing points in favor of the consumption of dog meat.       Although I cannot say I will immediately accept an offer of dog meat, eating dogs makes sense. I say this keeping in mind the great struggle of feeding billions of omnivores worldwide. “Three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized annually.” These millions of pounds of meat are converted into food for other animals we are already consuming. Safran suggests skipping the middle step (feeding it to other livestock), and directly consuming it. Safran states three main reasons for keeping dogs off the standard American meat-lover’s plate; “Don’t eat companion animal, don’t eat animals with significant mental capacities, and those things are bad for us.” There are various counterarguments to all three of these. First, to us Americans, consumption of dog meat may seem strange and bizarre, but so does eating cows to Indians, who consider cows a sacred animal. Secondly, we slaughter millions of pigs, cows, chickens, etc. every year. All of these animals show intelligence that at least matches that of a dog. Finally, “properly cooked dog meat poses no greater health risk than other meats…”                                 

      I do not expect eating dogs to become normal in America anytime soon. I do not plan on consuming any dog-meat product anytime soon either. However, if it were necessary, dog meat would serve as a perfect substitution for beef and chicken. Dogs are eaten in numerous places around the globe still today, and there is none of the shock and disgust that would be expressed here in America. Safran Foer goes as far as giving a recipe in his book for wedding style dog to show the hypocrisy in our culture. We refuse to eat dog, but gladly accept pigs, chicken, etc., simply because we are used to them. Meat is meat, and if necessary we might be eating dog meat in our Big Macs in a possibly near future.