“I want that one,” I said.
Dad grinned. “That’s Venus,” he said. Venus was only a planet, he went on, and pretty dinky compared to real stars. She looked bigger and brighter because she was much closer than the stars. Poor old Venus didn’t even make her own light, Dad said. She shone only from reflected light. He explained to me that planets glowed because reflected light was constant, and stars twinkled because their light pulsed.
“I like it anyway,” I said. I had admired Venus even before that Christmas. You could see it in the early evening, glowing on the western horizon, and if you got up early, you could still see it in the morning, after all the stars had disappeared.
”What the hell,” Dad said. “It’s Christmas. You can have a planet if you want.”
Then he gave me Venus.’ (40)
Despite the many poor qualities Jeannette’s parents display, it is clear that they truly love their children. Despite their lives being harsh and variable, her parents do their best to make their kids feel special and to look out for them. Whether it’s making them conquer their fears or giving them planets and stars on Christmas because they can’t afford real presents, her parents are always finding creative ways to display their love for their children and care for them to the best of their ability. I think it’s really neat how creative and insightful Jeannette’s parents are. Though the actions they sometimes display aren’t necessarily what one might consider appropriate for a parent trying to be a good role model, they never allow their children to feel unequal to others. That’s really good of them and I admire them for it.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Post #5 Form A
Vocab
Gila Monster (35): A venomous lizard (Heloderma suspectum) of arid regions of the southwest United States and western Mexico, having black and orange or yellow scales.
Creosote (35): an oily liquid having a burning taste and a penetrating odor, obtained by the distillation of coal and wood tar, used mainly as a preservative for wood and as an antiseptic.
Figurative Language
"I wondered if the fire had been out to get me" (34)
This is personification because the author is giving the fire the human trait of being 'out to get
her'.
"He tossed the half-eaten head at me like a grenade." (46)
This is a simile because it is comparing the half-eaten head of lettuce to a grenade using the work like.
"The wind shrieked through the compartment." (49)
This is personification because the author is the wind shrieked which it can't really because shrieking is a human trait.
Quote
"She told us that both our grandmothers were angry because neither Lori nor I had been named after them, so she decided to call the baby Lilly Ruth Maureen. [...] That, Dad told us, would make everyone happy except his mom, who hated the name Ruth and wanted the baby called Erma, and Mom's mom, who would hate sharing her namesake with Dad's mom." (47)
This is is a great example of the humor which rears its head constantly throughout the book. It's a nice touch considering how serious the author's situations are.
Theme
When life throws you a curve ball make the most of it.
Gila Monster (35): A venomous lizard (Heloderma suspectum) of arid regions of the southwest United States and western Mexico, having black and orange or yellow scales.
Creosote (35): an oily liquid having a burning taste and a penetrating odor, obtained by the distillation of coal and wood tar, used mainly as a preservative for wood and as an antiseptic.
Figurative Language
"I wondered if the fire had been out to get me" (34)
This is personification because the author is giving the fire the human trait of being 'out to get
her'.
"He tossed the half-eaten head at me like a grenade." (46)
This is a simile because it is comparing the half-eaten head of lettuce to a grenade using the work like.
"The wind shrieked through the compartment." (49)
This is personification because the author is the wind shrieked which it can't really because shrieking is a human trait.
Quote
"She told us that both our grandmothers were angry because neither Lori nor I had been named after them, so she decided to call the baby Lilly Ruth Maureen. [...] That, Dad told us, would make everyone happy except his mom, who hated the name Ruth and wanted the baby called Erma, and Mom's mom, who would hate sharing her namesake with Dad's mom." (47)
This is is a great example of the humor which rears its head constantly throughout the book. It's a nice touch considering how serious the author's situations are.
Theme
When life throws you a curve ball make the most of it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Post #4 Form B
“But when Dad pulled out a bottle of what Mom called “the hard stuff,” she got kind of frantic, because after working on the bottle for a while, Dad turned into an angry-eyed stranger who threw around furniture and threatened to beat up Mom or anyone else who got in his way. When he’d had his fill of cussing and hollering and smashing things up, he’d collapse. But Dad drank hard liquor only when we had money, which wasn’t often, so life was mostly good in those days.” (23)
It’s so astonishing to me that Jeannette’s ‘good days’ were the ones when her family didn’t have money and therefore her father couldn’t buy booze. It’s terrible to think that Jeannette and her siblings grew up in that kind of environment yet saw their father as a wonderful man and believed that time in their life to be good. I suppose this is also some foreshadowing to future days which aren’t nearly as good. It makes me wonder what could possibly be in store for Jeannette and her family. I suppose this quote also just goes to show that, if you grow up in it, anything can seem normal to someone. It’s amazing what people can get used to if they have no other options.
It’s so astonishing to me that Jeannette’s ‘good days’ were the ones when her family didn’t have money and therefore her father couldn’t buy booze. It’s terrible to think that Jeannette and her siblings grew up in that kind of environment yet saw their father as a wonderful man and believed that time in their life to be good. I suppose this is also some foreshadowing to future days which aren’t nearly as good. It makes me wonder what could possibly be in store for Jeannette and her family. I suppose this quote also just goes to show that, if you grow up in it, anything can seem normal to someone. It’s amazing what people can get used to if they have no other options.
Post #3 Form A
Vocab
shiftless (20): lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy.
sluice (24): an artificial channel for conducting water, often fitted with a gate.
Figurative Language
'thowck' (21) is onomatopoeia because it is a word which sounds like the sound it represents.
"the way the sky at sunset looked like a sheet of fire" (21) is a simile because it is comparing the sky at sunset to a sheet of fire using the word 'like'.
"Sometimes they hit without warning, and other times you knew one was coming when you saw batches of dust devils swirling and dancing their way across the desert." (21) When this sentence says the dust devils were dancing their way across the desert it is personification because dust devils can't really dance. The author is instead applying a human quality to an inanimate thing.
Quote
“Dad always fought harder, flew faster, and gambled smarter than everyone else in his stories. Along the way, he rescued women and children and even men who weren’t as strong and clever.” (24)
This quote shows how, as a child, Jeannette was easily convinced of her dad’s heroics. However, now that she is an adult and is looking back on her father’s stories she sees the clear embellishment on her father’s part.
Theme
You can get used to anything if you have to.
shiftless (20): lacking in resourcefulness; inefficient; lazy.
sluice (24): an artificial channel for conducting water, often fitted with a gate.
Figurative Language
'thowck' (21) is onomatopoeia because it is a word which sounds like the sound it represents.
"the way the sky at sunset looked like a sheet of fire" (21) is a simile because it is comparing the sky at sunset to a sheet of fire using the word 'like'.
"Sometimes they hit without warning, and other times you knew one was coming when you saw batches of dust devils swirling and dancing their way across the desert." (21) When this sentence says the dust devils were dancing their way across the desert it is personification because dust devils can't really dance. The author is instead applying a human quality to an inanimate thing.
Quote
“Dad always fought harder, flew faster, and gambled smarter than everyone else in his stories. Along the way, he rescued women and children and even men who weren’t as strong and clever.” (24)
This quote shows how, as a child, Jeannette was easily convinced of her dad’s heroics. However, now that she is an adult and is looking back on her father’s stories she sees the clear embellishment on her father’s part.
Theme
You can get used to anything if you have to.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Post #2 Form B
Dear Jeannette Walls,
With a life as busy, spontaneous, and adventurous as yours, did you ever grow tired of it? One moment you were in a trailer park lit aflame while making hot dogs. The next your father is taking you out of the hospital ‘Rex Walls Style’. The next you are in the Blue Goose traveling to yet another unknown destination sleeping under the desert stars along the way. Pain, joy, fear, friendship, love, and loss. All of these things moved by so quickly for you in your childhood. Did you ever just want to stop for a while? Keep to one place and not move around quite as much? Or were you content with your constant change in scenery. Happy with the never-ending excitement, the frequent moves, and spontaneous movements of your family. I’m sure it was all very thrilling. But there must have been times when you felt hurt by your family’s behavior. I know I would have been hurt if “Mom told me she had entered my name in a raffle at a fair, and I’d won a helicopter ride.” and I had asked “When do I get to go on the ride?” with the reply of “Oh, we already did that. It was fun” (13) How did you bear through your oddball family. Or was it just the only thing you knew, or was it your age, or were/are you just a stronger person than I?
A new fan and admirer,
Virginia
With a life as busy, spontaneous, and adventurous as yours, did you ever grow tired of it? One moment you were in a trailer park lit aflame while making hot dogs. The next your father is taking you out of the hospital ‘Rex Walls Style’. The next you are in the Blue Goose traveling to yet another unknown destination sleeping under the desert stars along the way. Pain, joy, fear, friendship, love, and loss. All of these things moved by so quickly for you in your childhood. Did you ever just want to stop for a while? Keep to one place and not move around quite as much? Or were you content with your constant change in scenery. Happy with the never-ending excitement, the frequent moves, and spontaneous movements of your family. I’m sure it was all very thrilling. But there must have been times when you felt hurt by your family’s behavior. I know I would have been hurt if “Mom told me she had entered my name in a raffle at a fair, and I’d won a helicopter ride.” and I had asked “When do I get to go on the ride?” with the reply of “Oh, we already did that. It was fun” (13) How did you bear through your oddball family. Or was it just the only thing you knew, or was it your age, or were/are you just a stronger person than I?
A new fan and admirer,
Virginia
Post #1 Form A
Vocab
Gestapo (19): the German state secret police during the Nazi regime, organized in 1933 and notorious for its brutal methods and operations.
Posse (19): a body or force armed with legal authority.
Figurative Language
"Ten the flames leaped up, reaching my face." (p. 9)
This is an example of personification. The author is personifying the flames by saying they leaped, which is not something flames can actually do.
"Burns need to breathe" (p. 13)
This is an example of personification. The author is personifying the burns by saying they need to breathe, which is not something burns can actually do.
I found the quote "You don't hae to worry anymore, baby," dad said. "You're safe now." (p 14) to be ironic because he says this just after taking her out of the hospital which she was in because of her parent's neglect.
Quote
One of them squeezed my hand and told me I was going to be okay.
"I know," I said, "but if I'm not, that's okay, too." (p. 10)
This is significant to the story because it shows just how mature Jeannette was even at the age of three. Despite being in a very scary situation she was calm and logical.
Theme
Don't let your fears get the best of you, rather, let you get the best of your fears.
(Jeannette starts playing with fire despite having just returned from the hospital after being severely burned.)
Gestapo (19): the German state secret police during the Nazi regime, organized in 1933 and notorious for its brutal methods and operations.
Posse (19): a body or force armed with legal authority.
Figurative Language
"Ten the flames leaped up, reaching my face." (p. 9)
This is an example of personification. The author is personifying the flames by saying they leaped, which is not something flames can actually do.
"Burns need to breathe" (p. 13)
This is an example of personification. The author is personifying the burns by saying they need to breathe, which is not something burns can actually do.
I found the quote "You don't hae to worry anymore, baby," dad said. "You're safe now." (p 14) to be ironic because he says this just after taking her out of the hospital which she was in because of her parent's neglect.
Quote
One of them squeezed my hand and told me I was going to be okay.
"I know," I said, "but if I'm not, that's okay, too." (p. 10)
This is significant to the story because it shows just how mature Jeannette was even at the age of three. Despite being in a very scary situation she was calm and logical.
Theme
Don't let your fears get the best of you, rather, let you get the best of your fears.
(Jeannette starts playing with fire despite having just returned from the hospital after being severely burned.)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Athena, "The Tarot Cards (塔羅牌)" by F.I.R. 飛兒樂團
For my Soundtrack to the Days of Their Lives assignment I chose to pair the song The Tarot by F.I.R. with the Goddess Athena. This Goddess was interesting to me because she has a very powerful and important female role in the Odyssey. Athena is constantly offering her wisdom to Telemachus and goes out of her way to help both him and Odysseus.
I found that the Chinese song, The Tarot, mirrors Athena’s personality and position in life quite well. The lyrics, “Tarot Cards point out one’s way/ Uncertainties of the believers are resolved/ It reveals the future/ But can not change the designated grief” (translation courtesy of Gloria F.) could represent Athena’s ability to change the fate of mortals but also her recognition that they will still have to overcome hardships in order to be worthy in the eyes of their peers. The Goddess is always altering the fates of Telemachus and Odysseus but does not necessarily make their journeys easy.
Another set of lines which fit in nicely with Athena’s character is in the description of the Tarot Cards. Each card represents something such as strength and sacrifice just as the Greek Gods and Goddesses each represent something different. One card, the High Priestess, represents Wisdom and coincidentally Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom.
Tarot Cards (translation courtesy of Gloria F.)
Guess you never really know him in these days.
The spell of distance between your hearts, it never goes away.
Time to give up. Time to fall deeper.
Let me choose one, right now.
Consists of twenty two cards
It describes all situations in life
Flourished for hundreds of centuries
Spread from Egypt and India
Until now
The Hanged-Man represents sacrifice
The High Priestess is full of wisdom
The Moon is a subconscious dream
Tarot Cards point out one’s way
Uncertainties of the believers are resolved
It reveals the future
But can not change the designated grief
How powerless
Tarot Cards
Shall I
Choose the next card?
Would you like to master your life?
Or let the destiny arrange your fate?
Consists of twenty two cards
It describes all situations in life
Flourished for hundreds of centuries
Spread from Egypt and India
Until now
The Magician creates a new beginning
The Sun represents strength
And The Wheel of Fortune never stops turning
Tarot Cards point out destinies
Uncertainties of the faithful were resolved
It reveals the future
But cannot change the designated grief
How powerless
Tarot Cards
Shall I
Choose the next card?
Would you like to master your life?
Or let the destiny arrange your fate?
Consists of twenty two cards
It describes all situations in life
Flourished for hundreds of centuries
Spread from Egypt and India
Until now
I found that the Chinese song, The Tarot, mirrors Athena’s personality and position in life quite well. The lyrics, “Tarot Cards point out one’s way/ Uncertainties of the believers are resolved/ It reveals the future/ But can not change the designated grief” (translation courtesy of Gloria F.) could represent Athena’s ability to change the fate of mortals but also her recognition that they will still have to overcome hardships in order to be worthy in the eyes of their peers. The Goddess is always altering the fates of Telemachus and Odysseus but does not necessarily make their journeys easy.
Another set of lines which fit in nicely with Athena’s character is in the description of the Tarot Cards. Each card represents something such as strength and sacrifice just as the Greek Gods and Goddesses each represent something different. One card, the High Priestess, represents Wisdom and coincidentally Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom.
Tarot Cards (translation courtesy of Gloria F.)
Guess you never really know him in these days.
The spell of distance between your hearts, it never goes away.
Time to give up. Time to fall deeper.
Let me choose one, right now.
Consists of twenty two cards
It describes all situations in life
Flourished for hundreds of centuries
Spread from Egypt and India
Until now
The Hanged-Man represents sacrifice
The High Priestess is full of wisdom
The Moon is a subconscious dream
Tarot Cards point out one’s way
Uncertainties of the believers are resolved
It reveals the future
But can not change the designated grief
How powerless
Tarot Cards
Shall I
Choose the next card?
Would you like to master your life?
Or let the destiny arrange your fate?
Consists of twenty two cards
It describes all situations in life
Flourished for hundreds of centuries
Spread from Egypt and India
Until now
The Magician creates a new beginning
The Sun represents strength
And The Wheel of Fortune never stops turning
Tarot Cards point out destinies
Uncertainties of the faithful were resolved
It reveals the future
But cannot change the designated grief
How powerless
Tarot Cards
Shall I
Choose the next card?
Would you like to master your life?
Or let the destiny arrange your fate?
Consists of twenty two cards
It describes all situations in life
Flourished for hundreds of centuries
Spread from Egypt and India
Until now
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