Blog #5: Personal Review
Regardless of the reoccurring hardships in their lives, the Walls kids always found ways to escape them. Even if it was only for a couple of hours, those hours would be what the kids looked forward to and what they remembered until their next break from their reality. The fact that all of the children stuck together when they had no one else to lean on but each other was quite refreshing because of the rarity of those sibling relationships. I realize as a memoir of a life, the author should not lie, but I loved the uncontested honesty of her story. Jeannette Walls did not hold anything back. She had something to say and did not hold back.
I also enjoyed her delivery; the way the book was separated into sections of her life, almost as though to separate the different levels of difficulty of their lives. For instance, the climax, or the middle of the book, would have been the most challenging to get through because all the children were of somewhat adolescent age and needed specific things to survive. And the excerpt at the beginning of the book, in a way foreshadowed an outcome for her mother gave the reader a hint as to what life would turn out to be.
However, I disliked that Maureen was often left out of many of the plans or conversations that the three older siblings had. I suppose that because of the significant age difference between Brian and Maureen, her input would not benefit the conversation, as well as, she might not have been able to understand many conversations.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Glass Castle: Symbolism
Blog #4: Symbolism
The repetition of Rex’s nickname for Jeannette, “mountain goat,” symbolizes his endless love for Jeannette. This symbol functions as verbal clarification of the close relationship that is shared between them as he constantly states that she is his “favorite.” The constant repetition of this nickname creates a sympathetic response to Rex’s condition, because obviously it is evident that he loves his daughter very much but he unconsciously disappoints her numerous times. But perhaps he constantly repeats this to make him feel better about himself and his life . Through his battle with his addiction to alcohol, he could always count on Jeannette to believe in his rehabilitation.
However, as Jeannette matured, she began to see through his false promises to cease drinking. And, more often than not, Rex would appear, as if out of nowhere, to ask for money to buy more alcohol. But when Jeannette refused, Rex called her “mountain goat” as if to spark a memory of the memorable times and love they shared while she was young and too naïve to see through his trickery. He said “mountain goat” also to perhaps make him remember to the days when he wasn’t a failure as a father and a drunk.
However, regardless of the amount of times Rex repeats this nickname, it still does not change the fact that he let Jeannette down and he broke his promises. The nickname for Jeannette does represent the love Rex has for Jeannette but the bond that comes from their deep love is constantly broken.
The repetition of Rex’s nickname for Jeannette, “mountain goat,” symbolizes his endless love for Jeannette. This symbol functions as verbal clarification of the close relationship that is shared between them as he constantly states that she is his “favorite.” The constant repetition of this nickname creates a sympathetic response to Rex’s condition, because obviously it is evident that he loves his daughter very much but he unconsciously disappoints her numerous times. But perhaps he constantly repeats this to make him feel better about himself and his life . Through his battle with his addiction to alcohol, he could always count on Jeannette to believe in his rehabilitation.
However, as Jeannette matured, she began to see through his false promises to cease drinking. And, more often than not, Rex would appear, as if out of nowhere, to ask for money to buy more alcohol. But when Jeannette refused, Rex called her “mountain goat” as if to spark a memory of the memorable times and love they shared while she was young and too naïve to see through his trickery. He said “mountain goat” also to perhaps make him remember to the days when he wasn’t a failure as a father and a drunk.
However, regardless of the amount of times Rex repeats this nickname, it still does not change the fact that he let Jeannette down and he broke his promises. The nickname for Jeannette does represent the love Rex has for Jeannette but the bond that comes from their deep love is constantly broken.
The Glass Castle: Motifs
Blog #3: Motifs
The Walls family was constantly “doing the skedaddle.” The reoccurring idea of running away from the problems in their life spurs from the fact that the parents, Rex and Rose Mary Walls, cannot keep a steady life in one place. This contributes to the author’s purpose of writing her memoir because it reiterates the constant struggle of her childhood: always having to start a new life, try to be accepted in a new school in, more often than not, a new state.
The nickname that Rex gives to Jeannette, “mountain goat,” seems to only be said when Jeanette and Rex are having a special moment or when he is asking her to do something t for him. For example, when he gives all the kids stars for Christmas, Jeannette comes out for “her turn,” Rex addresses her as “mountain goat.” And during Jeannette’s younger years, Jeannette becomes frightened when she imagines an intruder in the house, to calm her down Rex suggests they go and search for the “monster (36-37).” Throughout their search he repeats “mountain goat” to establish a close relationship between them. However as the novel progresses, Rex repeats the nickname mostly when he is asking for something. And as Jeannette gets older, Rex finds it harder and harder to persuade her to do favors for him, such as asking for money to buy more alcohol. So in these instances, he repeats “mountain goat” as a strategy to make Jeannette remember the times when she believed in him, which, in turn, convinces her to listen to him.
Throughout the novel, Rex and Rose Mary Walls are constantly fighting about how the other spends their time. Rose Mary had her painting and Rex had her drinking. However, both would yell at the other for wasting their time when they are doing the exact same thing: wasting time doing something that will not benefit their living conditions in any way. These activities simply took money away from things that could be doing to receive or save money.
The Walls family was constantly “doing the skedaddle.” The reoccurring idea of running away from the problems in their life spurs from the fact that the parents, Rex and Rose Mary Walls, cannot keep a steady life in one place. This contributes to the author’s purpose of writing her memoir because it reiterates the constant struggle of her childhood: always having to start a new life, try to be accepted in a new school in, more often than not, a new state.
The nickname that Rex gives to Jeannette, “mountain goat,” seems to only be said when Jeanette and Rex are having a special moment or when he is asking her to do something t for him. For example, when he gives all the kids stars for Christmas, Jeannette comes out for “her turn,” Rex addresses her as “mountain goat.” And during Jeannette’s younger years, Jeannette becomes frightened when she imagines an intruder in the house, to calm her down Rex suggests they go and search for the “monster (36-37).” Throughout their search he repeats “mountain goat” to establish a close relationship between them. However as the novel progresses, Rex repeats the nickname mostly when he is asking for something. And as Jeannette gets older, Rex finds it harder and harder to persuade her to do favors for him, such as asking for money to buy more alcohol. So in these instances, he repeats “mountain goat” as a strategy to make Jeannette remember the times when she believed in him, which, in turn, convinces her to listen to him.
Throughout the novel, Rex and Rose Mary Walls are constantly fighting about how the other spends their time. Rose Mary had her painting and Rex had her drinking. However, both would yell at the other for wasting their time when they are doing the exact same thing: wasting time doing something that will not benefit their living conditions in any way. These activities simply took money away from things that could be doing to receive or save money.
The Glass Castle: Character
Blog #2: Character
Throughout the novel, Jeannette’s younger brother, Brian, did not pay an active role in the lives of their parents as Jeannette had. However, the few times when he did speak his comments gave off an angry and resentful tone. His tone produced a hostile attitude toward his parents, but his father, Rex Walls, in particular. This tone was most evident when he was responding to one of Rex’s signature questions, “Have I ever let you down?” After Rex was far enough away, so he would not here Brian’s comment, Brian would answer that question, truthfully, contrary to what both, Brian and Jeannette would normally say to Rex in response.
The narrator’s point of view of Brian is since their father does not feel compelled to be the “man” in the family, this causes Brian to feel he now has to take over because he is the only other man in the family. But he can never find the correct “groove” or opportunity or confidence to step up and be the “man” of the family.
Brian’s character develops throughout the novel through his short and terse responses to any and all of Rex’s questions addressed to him. And his murmured sarcastic comments that are said after his father had walked away. And the reluctance to believe that anything his father does or says he will do will last. For example, while living in Arizona, Rex brought home brand new bicycles for all of the children, and Brian was reluctant to even go near them because of his fear that they would either be stolen or sold for money to buy more alcohol for Rex’s drinking problem. Once again, after Rex’s signature question: “Have I ever let you down?” and Brian would mutter “Yes,” but only when his father would not hear him.
`Brian’s comment concerning his mistaken taste of his father’s bottle of alcohol, he commented “It’s the worst thing I’ve ever tasted in my life (113).” This shows that he not only thinks his dad is being ridiculous by drinking something so vile, but also hints that Brian will never let himself end up like his father because of the shame and disappointment that accompanies being the drunken father.
Throughout the novel, Jeannette’s younger brother, Brian, did not pay an active role in the lives of their parents as Jeannette had. However, the few times when he did speak his comments gave off an angry and resentful tone. His tone produced a hostile attitude toward his parents, but his father, Rex Walls, in particular. This tone was most evident when he was responding to one of Rex’s signature questions, “Have I ever let you down?” After Rex was far enough away, so he would not here Brian’s comment, Brian would answer that question, truthfully, contrary to what both, Brian and Jeannette would normally say to Rex in response.
The narrator’s point of view of Brian is since their father does not feel compelled to be the “man” in the family, this causes Brian to feel he now has to take over because he is the only other man in the family. But he can never find the correct “groove” or opportunity or confidence to step up and be the “man” of the family.
Brian’s character develops throughout the novel through his short and terse responses to any and all of Rex’s questions addressed to him. And his murmured sarcastic comments that are said after his father had walked away. And the reluctance to believe that anything his father does or says he will do will last. For example, while living in Arizona, Rex brought home brand new bicycles for all of the children, and Brian was reluctant to even go near them because of his fear that they would either be stolen or sold for money to buy more alcohol for Rex’s drinking problem. Once again, after Rex’s signature question: “Have I ever let you down?” and Brian would mutter “Yes,” but only when his father would not hear him.
`Brian’s comment concerning his mistaken taste of his father’s bottle of alcohol, he commented “It’s the worst thing I’ve ever tasted in my life (113).” This shows that he not only thinks his dad is being ridiculous by drinking something so vile, but also hints that Brian will never let himself end up like his father because of the shame and disappointment that accompanies being the drunken father.
The Glass Castle: Rhetorical Strategies
Blog #1: Rhetorical Strategies
• Volta (5-9)
• Terse Statement (9)
• Simile: (19) “We moved around like nomads.”
• Metaphor: (38) “’It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty.’”
• Repetition: “Mountain Goat”
The Glass Castle is not filled with rhetorical strategies as many other books are, mostly because similes, metaphors and repetition are rhetorical devices used to emphasize a certain hardship or intensity of an action or occurrence. The Glass Castle does not need any extra details to emphasize the hardship and intensity of the story. In order to create life in a story, the author must connect an event with something the readers can relate to; Jeannette Walls, however, uses simple language to describe the events in her life that have been unknown to exist in some of the lives of the readers. Walls does not need to add rhetorical devices to her piece because, more often than not, in order to describe pain and disgust in another piece a connection is drawn to something that has occurred in her life. Therefore even without the attempt to make a connection to pain and suffering, it is done within the true story itself.
However, there are a few subtle, rhetorical devices that contribute to her memoir. The simile made relating the Walls family to nomads describes the uncertainty of when or where to their next move would be. The repetition of the nickname “mountain goat” reiterates the love and respect that Jeannette’s father, Rex, has for his daughter. And Jeannette’s mother, Rose Mary, makes a comment about the beauty of the struggle of a certain Joshua tree; this is a metaphor to their family’s view on life: it is the successful completion of a struggle that defines you.
• Volta (5-9)
• Terse Statement (9)
• Simile: (19) “We moved around like nomads.”
• Metaphor: (38) “’It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty.’”
• Repetition: “Mountain Goat”
The Glass Castle is not filled with rhetorical strategies as many other books are, mostly because similes, metaphors and repetition are rhetorical devices used to emphasize a certain hardship or intensity of an action or occurrence. The Glass Castle does not need any extra details to emphasize the hardship and intensity of the story. In order to create life in a story, the author must connect an event with something the readers can relate to; Jeannette Walls, however, uses simple language to describe the events in her life that have been unknown to exist in some of the lives of the readers. Walls does not need to add rhetorical devices to her piece because, more often than not, in order to describe pain and disgust in another piece a connection is drawn to something that has occurred in her life. Therefore even without the attempt to make a connection to pain and suffering, it is done within the true story itself.
However, there are a few subtle, rhetorical devices that contribute to her memoir. The simile made relating the Walls family to nomads describes the uncertainty of when or where to their next move would be. The repetition of the nickname “mountain goat” reiterates the love and respect that Jeannette’s father, Rex, has for his daughter. And Jeannette’s mother, Rose Mary, makes a comment about the beauty of the struggle of a certain Joshua tree; this is a metaphor to their family’s view on life: it is the successful completion of a struggle that defines you.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Rhetorical Strategies
Blog Topic #1: Rhetorical Strategies
• Personification: “The last rains lifted the corn quickly and scattered weed colonies (1)”
• Alliteration: “hooves of the horses,” “high heavy clouds,” “sluggish smoke” (2)
• Anaphora: “where the teams moved, where the wheels milled (2)”
• Personification & Simile: “white road that waved gently like a ground swell. (10)”
• Simile: “like little armadillos,” like elephant legs,” “like a tiddly-wink” (10-11)
• Simile: “like a pork pie lay on the ground beside him (18) “like a stud horse in a bow stall,” “howlin’ like a dog-wolf in moon time,” “like a sow litterin’ broken bottles” (28)
• Oxymoron: “cleansing dust (33)”
• Rhetorical Question: “Don’t they make explosives out of cotton? And uniforms? (32)”
• Epistrophe: “being born on it, working on it, dying on it (33)”
• Symbolism: “dust-blanketed land (4)”
John Steinbeck’s use of similes often relates humans to animals, which reflects his simplistic and informal style. The comparison to animals gives off a sense of uncivilized actions especially during the time of great economic hardship. The lives of people that have been affected by the Great Depression have been deluged with stress and hardship; however their hardship and stress seem more magnified when it is related to the simpler lives of animals. The Grapes of Wrath takes place in Oklahoma, where dust was a common item to encounter. The reoccurring presence of dust symbolizes the pain and suffering that will always cover the land. The dust reflects Steinbeck’s simplistic style because dust is a very small and very common item and yet he uses its presence as a huge burden in the lives of the Oklahoma residents.
• Personification: “The last rains lifted the corn quickly and scattered weed colonies (1)”
• Alliteration: “hooves of the horses,” “high heavy clouds,” “sluggish smoke” (2)
• Anaphora: “where the teams moved, where the wheels milled (2)”
• Personification & Simile: “white road that waved gently like a ground swell. (10)”
• Simile: “like little armadillos,” like elephant legs,” “like a tiddly-wink” (10-11)
• Simile: “like a pork pie lay on the ground beside him (18) “like a stud horse in a bow stall,” “howlin’ like a dog-wolf in moon time,” “like a sow litterin’ broken bottles” (28)
• Oxymoron: “cleansing dust (33)”
• Rhetorical Question: “Don’t they make explosives out of cotton? And uniforms? (32)”
• Epistrophe: “being born on it, working on it, dying on it (33)”
• Symbolism: “dust-blanketed land (4)”
John Steinbeck’s use of similes often relates humans to animals, which reflects his simplistic and informal style. The comparison to animals gives off a sense of uncivilized actions especially during the time of great economic hardship. The lives of people that have been affected by the Great Depression have been deluged with stress and hardship; however their hardship and stress seem more magnified when it is related to the simpler lives of animals. The Grapes of Wrath takes place in Oklahoma, where dust was a common item to encounter. The reoccurring presence of dust symbolizes the pain and suffering that will always cover the land. The dust reflects Steinbeck’s simplistic style because dust is a very small and very common item and yet he uses its presence as a huge burden in the lives of the Oklahoma residents.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Personal Response
Blog Topic #5: Personal Review
John Steinbeck’s use of colors intrigued me, it was so simple yet the colors symbolized the overall tone of the book. He constantly explained how the “gray dust” was covering all of the other more vibrant colors. However, I disliked reading about the hardship of the families and of the farmers. Prior to reading The Grapes of Wrath, I had learned about the Great Depression in my AP United Stated History class. As I read about the Great Depression from my history text book it was simply just another event that I would soon be quizzed on. But when I read The Grapes of Wrath, the Great Depression went from an event in history to a life or death situation. My understanding of the hardship that these people felt increased significantly. Although I did learn a great deal from this book, I personally did not enjoy it. The description of the stress and despair in the lives the “Dust Bowl” residents was heart wrenching. This book honestly made sad, no matter how informative it was, as I read I could not help but think “Why would anyone want to read this?” I could not think of a better reason to read this other than for information on the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. However, I would prefer to learn about those events from my history book. I simply could not handle the emotion that was put into the pages.
John Steinbeck’s use of colors intrigued me, it was so simple yet the colors symbolized the overall tone of the book. He constantly explained how the “gray dust” was covering all of the other more vibrant colors. However, I disliked reading about the hardship of the families and of the farmers. Prior to reading The Grapes of Wrath, I had learned about the Great Depression in my AP United Stated History class. As I read about the Great Depression from my history text book it was simply just another event that I would soon be quizzed on. But when I read The Grapes of Wrath, the Great Depression went from an event in history to a life or death situation. My understanding of the hardship that these people felt increased significantly. Although I did learn a great deal from this book, I personally did not enjoy it. The description of the stress and despair in the lives the “Dust Bowl” residents was heart wrenching. This book honestly made sad, no matter how informative it was, as I read I could not help but think “Why would anyone want to read this?” I could not think of a better reason to read this other than for information on the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. However, I would prefer to learn about those events from my history book. I simply could not handle the emotion that was put into the pages.
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