“Bethod’s second son turned his contempt on the First of the Magi. ‘My father will be displeased, Bayaz! That my men must wait outside the gate shows little respect!’
‘But I have so little, Prince Calder,’ said the wizard calmly. ‘Please don’t be downhearted, though. Your last messenger wasn’t allowed over the bridge, so you see we’re making progress.”’ (101)
This quotes shows that there is an order to this society. There is a hierarchy and assumed respect. This quote gives some insight to that order and the rest of the page continues to develop the order of things. It is clear that a lot of thought was put into how this society should be implemented. The chapter continues on to have Bayaz talk about how he would follow no one’s orders but on man whom is dead. He also says that he would much rather have the father come to talk to him in person rather than the son or messenger. He also refers to following the older traditions which shows a change over time in this society as it becomes more and more advanced. The ways of old are dwindling just as in our society today. All in all this portion of the book show a clear development of the world in which the charters live in and makes apparent the similarities and differences between this fictional world and the world in which you and I live.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Post #11 Form A
Vocab (all definitions are from dictionary.com)
Lichen (94): any complex organism of the group Lichenes, composed of a fungus in symbiotic union with an alga and having a greenish, gray, yellow, brown, or blackish thallus that grows in leaflike, crustlike, or branching forms on rocks, trees, etc.
Rheumy (96): pertaining to, causing, full of, or affected with rheum (A watery or thin mucous discharge from the eyes or nose.)
Figurative Language
Page 91 ‘calm waters’ waters can not actually be calm. Personification.
Page 91 ‘patter’ onomatopoeia.
Page 93 “The apprentice didn’t even move, just hung there like a sack of wet rags” Is a Simile because it is comparing the apprentice to a sack of wet rags using the word like.
Quote
Page 93 “First they fell to the back, then they fell behind, then they fell over.” Significant because it shows how tough the lives of the people were and how people did die and there wasn’t a whole lot someone could do about it.
Theme
A theme I found in this portion of the book is "courtesy should be answered with courtesy" (99)
Lichen (94): any complex organism of the group Lichenes, composed of a fungus in symbiotic union with an alga and having a greenish, gray, yellow, brown, or blackish thallus that grows in leaflike, crustlike, or branching forms on rocks, trees, etc.
Rheumy (96): pertaining to, causing, full of, or affected with rheum (A watery or thin mucous discharge from the eyes or nose.)
Figurative Language
Page 91 ‘calm waters’ waters can not actually be calm. Personification.
Page 91 ‘patter’ onomatopoeia.
Page 93 “The apprentice didn’t even move, just hung there like a sack of wet rags” Is a Simile because it is comparing the apprentice to a sack of wet rags using the word like.
Quote
Page 93 “First they fell to the back, then they fell behind, then they fell over.” Significant because it shows how tough the lives of the people were and how people did die and there wasn’t a whole lot someone could do about it.
Theme
A theme I found in this portion of the book is "courtesy should be answered with courtesy" (99)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Post #10 Form B
‘“Porridge and honey, better than money, everything’s funny, with porridge and honey!’
‘It’s a rhym for children. My mother used to sing it to me. Never actually got me to eat this slop though. But now,’ and he dug the spoon in, ‘I can’t get enough of it.’
‘Healthy,’ said Glokta, forcing down a mouthful of sweet mush and spooning up another, ‘delicious,’ choking down some more, ‘and here’s the real clincher.’ He gagged slightly on the next swallow, ‘no chewing required.’” (81)
This quote is interesting because it gives some sarcastic insight as to what Glokta’s life is like. The difficulty he has with just the things the average person takes for granted, to the things some have difficulty with which he takes for granted. The author uses a unique way of displaying a character with a way of life most would never wish to have and making the character someone whom you, as a reader, can relate to. I have found that I have warmed up the Glokta and even find his sarcasm amusing, at times. Every chapter gives the reader more and more insight as to what Glokta’s life was like before he was captured and crippled. One might even go so far as to say he might have been pleasant to be around when he was younger. Crazy thought for someone who is now a torturer. Yet, somehow it works out that way.
‘It’s a rhym for children. My mother used to sing it to me. Never actually got me to eat this slop though. But now,’ and he dug the spoon in, ‘I can’t get enough of it.’
‘Healthy,’ said Glokta, forcing down a mouthful of sweet mush and spooning up another, ‘delicious,’ choking down some more, ‘and here’s the real clincher.’ He gagged slightly on the next swallow, ‘no chewing required.’” (81)
This quote is interesting because it gives some sarcastic insight as to what Glokta’s life is like. The difficulty he has with just the things the average person takes for granted, to the things some have difficulty with which he takes for granted. The author uses a unique way of displaying a character with a way of life most would never wish to have and making the character someone whom you, as a reader, can relate to. I have found that I have warmed up the Glokta and even find his sarcasm amusing, at times. Every chapter gives the reader more and more insight as to what Glokta’s life was like before he was captured and crippled. One might even go so far as to say he might have been pleasant to be around when he was younger. Crazy thought for someone who is now a torturer. Yet, somehow it works out that way.
Post #9 Form A
Vocab (all definitions from dictionary.com)
Gormless (74): Lacking intelligence and vitality; dull.
Fronds (74): The leaf of a fern or a large compound leaf of a palm.
Figurative Language
On page 82 the author compares people in a hallway to ants on a dunghill. This is a simile because he uses the word like to compare the two objects.
On page 85 the author compares the country to a leaking vessel. This is a metaphor because he compares the two things without using like or as.
On page 86 it says that "noblemen can line their pockets with bribes," which is figurative language because pockets can't really be lined with bribes.
Quote
'"Some may be loyal, some are definitely not, each intent on pulling the King his own way." How frustrating, when I suppose they should all be pulling him in yours?' (85). This quote is significant because it well represents the point in this book that everyone has a facade of some sort and just want what's best for themselves.
Theme
I'll differ from my norm and say that another theme I've found in this book is that no one is truly all 'good', we all have some bad within us. (some more than others)
Gormless (74): Lacking intelligence and vitality; dull.
Fronds (74): The leaf of a fern or a large compound leaf of a palm.
Figurative Language
On page 82 the author compares people in a hallway to ants on a dunghill. This is a simile because he uses the word like to compare the two objects.
On page 85 the author compares the country to a leaking vessel. This is a metaphor because he compares the two things without using like or as.
On page 86 it says that "noblemen can line their pockets with bribes," which is figurative language because pockets can't really be lined with bribes.
Quote
'"Some may be loyal, some are definitely not, each intent on pulling the King his own way." How frustrating, when I suppose they should all be pulling him in yours?' (85). This quote is significant because it well represents the point in this book that everyone has a facade of some sort and just want what's best for themselves.
Theme
I'll differ from my norm and say that another theme I've found in this book is that no one is truly all 'good', we all have some bad within us. (some more than others)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Post #8 Form B
Dear Joe Abercrombie author of the book The Blade Itself,
Having started reading your book it occurred to me that you use a lot of description for certain aspects of the story such as the fencing matches. Do you fence? If not, did you do a lot of research in order to learn enough about the topic to write about it in such detail? In fact, all of you fighting scenes are quite thoroughly written. Did you just kind of make it up as to how you envisioned it or did you do research? I ask this because I really like the practicality of your fight scenes. They aren’t embellished or made too simple. They are how one would think a fight would be in the real world. If we still fought with swords that is…
Also, much of this story seems to be modeled off of medieval times. (as many fantasy stories are) Was this something you studied as well? Or was it based off of prior knowledge? I don’t really know why but it seems to me, from reading the book, that you must have researched these topics. They seem too precise to just be made up or based off of prior knowledge. Anyway, I hope the book continues to impress me with it’s quality.
A content reader,
Virginia
Having started reading your book it occurred to me that you use a lot of description for certain aspects of the story such as the fencing matches. Do you fence? If not, did you do a lot of research in order to learn enough about the topic to write about it in such detail? In fact, all of you fighting scenes are quite thoroughly written. Did you just kind of make it up as to how you envisioned it or did you do research? I ask this because I really like the practicality of your fight scenes. They aren’t embellished or made too simple. They are how one would think a fight would be in the real world. If we still fought with swords that is…
Also, much of this story seems to be modeled off of medieval times. (as many fantasy stories are) Was this something you studied as well? Or was it based off of prior knowledge? I don’t really know why but it seems to me, from reading the book, that you must have researched these topics. They seem too precise to just be made up or based off of prior knowledge. Anyway, I hope the book continues to impress me with it’s quality.
A content reader,
Virginia
Post #7 Form A
Vocab (all definitions are from dictionary.com)
Gorse (59): any spiny shrub of the genus Ulex, of the legume family, native to the Old World, esp. U. europaeus, having rudimentary leaves and yellow flowers and growing in waste places and sandy soil.
Bout (65): a contest or trial of strength; period; session; spell; a going and returning across a field, as in mowing or reaping.
Figurative Language
"ooof" (64) is onomatopoeia because it represents the sound it stands for.
"They say Bremer dan Gorst has a back leg like a pillar of steel." (65) is a simile when they compare the leg to a pillar of steel using the world like.
'squeak' on page 73 is onomatopoeia because it represents the sound it stands for.
Quote
"Mildly offensive to my brother, which is good. Somewhat amusing, which is also good. Honest, which is refreshing, and wildly complimentary to me, which, of course, is excellent. A little late, but on the whole worth waiting for." (71)
This is kind of random for the book to put in but I thought it was significant because it adds a little humor which breaks up the bloody gory parts of the book well. It makes The Blade Itself at least bearable to read if you aren't used to this type of story.
Theme
I'm sorry if I seem unimaginative however, I still prefer my original theme-Life is hard; deal with it.
Gorse (59): any spiny shrub of the genus Ulex, of the legume family, native to the Old World, esp. U. europaeus, having rudimentary leaves and yellow flowers and growing in waste places and sandy soil.
Bout (65): a contest or trial of strength; period; session; spell; a going and returning across a field, as in mowing or reaping.
Figurative Language
"ooof" (64) is onomatopoeia because it represents the sound it stands for.
"They say Bremer dan Gorst has a back leg like a pillar of steel." (65) is a simile when they compare the leg to a pillar of steel using the world like.
'squeak' on page 73 is onomatopoeia because it represents the sound it stands for.
Quote
"Mildly offensive to my brother, which is good. Somewhat amusing, which is also good. Honest, which is refreshing, and wildly complimentary to me, which, of course, is excellent. A little late, but on the whole worth waiting for." (71)
This is kind of random for the book to put in but I thought it was significant because it adds a little humor which breaks up the bloody gory parts of the book well. It makes The Blade Itself at least bearable to read if you aren't used to this type of story.
Theme
I'm sorry if I seem unimaginative however, I still prefer my original theme-Life is hard; deal with it.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
On the Waterfront Review
Overall I found the film, On the Waterfront by Elia Kazan, to be decent. It wasn’t a movie I would watch again however, I don’t think of the time I spent watching it to be a waste either. I did think that the film was effective in providing a strong statement. At the end of the movie you had the feeling of ‘wow, Terry really did something powerful’. Despite having some overly dramatic scenes, mostly centering on the relationship between Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) and Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint), and annoying characters (Edie), the film really left an impressive sentiment. Again, On the Waterfront wasn’t stellar, but if you are looking for a way to kill a couple hours of boredom it might be a good way to do so.
If you do choose to watch the film you might realize some very intriguing literary aspects. The setting of the movie is a large city in a cold climate. This setting highlights the callousness of the people’s surroundings. In addition to the setting there is a lot of symbolism. In the movie there is a recurring emphasis on birds; pigeons, hawks, and canaries. The pigeons represent the common person. They are average creatures. Some are better than others, but none are truly outstanding and they are always fearful of the hawk. The hawks represent the fierce, unbeatable mob. The third bird is the canary. The canary is the light in darkness, the leader of good, the thing that takes down evil. Terry is comparable to the canary. He himself says to the cops who are supposed to protect him, “Trailing me like that, you make me feel like a canary.” Terry is the one who turns the tide against the mob and leads to the mob’s downfall. Despite Terry’s reluctance to help in the end he does. Which leads me to my next literary aspect, theme. The theme of this film is that you should follow your morals and stand up for what you know is right even if the world around you isn’t following suit.
The world around Terry consists of many other characters including Father Berry (Karl Malden), Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint), and Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). I found Malden’s portrayal of Father Berry to be very well done. Throughout the entire film I never once felt as though Father Berry didn’t seem like Father Berry. Malden’s interpretation made you believe he was a good man with strong opinions and a strong heart to match. In contrast, I found Eva Marie Saint to be very annoying. I was never really certain what role Edie was supposed to be in the film. Was she a strength? A weakness? Was she helping Terry? Hindering him? I never could figure her out. On the other hand, someone who was very easy to figure out was Lee Cobb, as Johnny Friendly. The moment you saw Cobb you knew he was the bad guy. His actions, his speech, and even his clothing made him the dire enemy of the union. Speaking of clothing, the costume choices for the movie made it really easy to tell who was well off and who wasn’t. The mobsters had nice coats which weren’t damaged at all while the union workers had bedraggled clothing. Also, the clothing was made for cold weather and left a definite impression of the harshness of the environment the people faced.
This harsh environment was in stark contrast to the music playing. Every song had a big band feel and left you wondering if the actors were going to break out into dance. The music was interesting but I’m not sure how well it fit to the story of the film. Also, the majority of the shots were long. These shots made the story seem to drag out. I really felt that constantly long shots really took away from the film as a whole. However, when there was editing the film was very engaging. The editing helped to build up drama and emphasize certain scenes.
I found that On the Waterfront and All My Sons were quite similar. In both works there is the dilemma of choosing between looking out for yourself and looking out for others. In All My Sons, Joe has to decide whether to sell the faulty parts and risk the pilots’ well being or not sell them and risk his family’s well being. In On the Waterfront, Terry has to decide whether to be a whistleblower on the mob and risk his family’s (himself and his brother) lives or to not tell the truth and continue to allow the mob to cause the union workers to suffer. The major difference is that Joe decides to put his family first while Terry decides to put the union workers first. This of course, as stories tend to go, leads to Joe’s demise and Terry being a hero. How classic.
As I said in the beginning of this review I, personally, wouldn’t watch On the Waterfront more than once. However, it is a decent film and could be a good way to entertain yourself for a couple of hours. The actors, for the most part, are impressive at portraying their characters and the movie has a lot of very interesting symbolism which makes you think more than the movie itself does. Therefore, on the whole, I would give this movie 7 out of ten and say it wouldn’t be a bad way to spend a Friday night.
Works Cited
On the Waterfront. Dir. Elia Kazan. Perf. Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Eve Marie Saint, John Hamilton, Leif Erikson, and Pat Henning.
If you do choose to watch the film you might realize some very intriguing literary aspects. The setting of the movie is a large city in a cold climate. This setting highlights the callousness of the people’s surroundings. In addition to the setting there is a lot of symbolism. In the movie there is a recurring emphasis on birds; pigeons, hawks, and canaries. The pigeons represent the common person. They are average creatures. Some are better than others, but none are truly outstanding and they are always fearful of the hawk. The hawks represent the fierce, unbeatable mob. The third bird is the canary. The canary is the light in darkness, the leader of good, the thing that takes down evil. Terry is comparable to the canary. He himself says to the cops who are supposed to protect him, “Trailing me like that, you make me feel like a canary.” Terry is the one who turns the tide against the mob and leads to the mob’s downfall. Despite Terry’s reluctance to help in the end he does. Which leads me to my next literary aspect, theme. The theme of this film is that you should follow your morals and stand up for what you know is right even if the world around you isn’t following suit.
The world around Terry consists of many other characters including Father Berry (Karl Malden), Edie Doyle (Eva Marie Saint), and Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb). I found Malden’s portrayal of Father Berry to be very well done. Throughout the entire film I never once felt as though Father Berry didn’t seem like Father Berry. Malden’s interpretation made you believe he was a good man with strong opinions and a strong heart to match. In contrast, I found Eva Marie Saint to be very annoying. I was never really certain what role Edie was supposed to be in the film. Was she a strength? A weakness? Was she helping Terry? Hindering him? I never could figure her out. On the other hand, someone who was very easy to figure out was Lee Cobb, as Johnny Friendly. The moment you saw Cobb you knew he was the bad guy. His actions, his speech, and even his clothing made him the dire enemy of the union. Speaking of clothing, the costume choices for the movie made it really easy to tell who was well off and who wasn’t. The mobsters had nice coats which weren’t damaged at all while the union workers had bedraggled clothing. Also, the clothing was made for cold weather and left a definite impression of the harshness of the environment the people faced.
This harsh environment was in stark contrast to the music playing. Every song had a big band feel and left you wondering if the actors were going to break out into dance. The music was interesting but I’m not sure how well it fit to the story of the film. Also, the majority of the shots were long. These shots made the story seem to drag out. I really felt that constantly long shots really took away from the film as a whole. However, when there was editing the film was very engaging. The editing helped to build up drama and emphasize certain scenes.
I found that On the Waterfront and All My Sons were quite similar. In both works there is the dilemma of choosing between looking out for yourself and looking out for others. In All My Sons, Joe has to decide whether to sell the faulty parts and risk the pilots’ well being or not sell them and risk his family’s well being. In On the Waterfront, Terry has to decide whether to be a whistleblower on the mob and risk his family’s (himself and his brother) lives or to not tell the truth and continue to allow the mob to cause the union workers to suffer. The major difference is that Joe decides to put his family first while Terry decides to put the union workers first. This of course, as stories tend to go, leads to Joe’s demise and Terry being a hero. How classic.
As I said in the beginning of this review I, personally, wouldn’t watch On the Waterfront more than once. However, it is a decent film and could be a good way to entertain yourself for a couple of hours. The actors, for the most part, are impressive at portraying their characters and the movie has a lot of very interesting symbolism which makes you think more than the movie itself does. Therefore, on the whole, I would give this movie 7 out of ten and say it wouldn’t be a bad way to spend a Friday night.
Works Cited
On the Waterfront. Dir. Elia Kazan. Perf. Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Eve Marie Saint, John Hamilton, Leif Erikson, and Pat Henning.
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