Dialectical Journals 27-55

Dialectical Journal 28

“After all, everyone belongs to everyone else.” (Page 43)

This pretty much sums up their society. People have no individuality and no sexual boundaries. Their only limitations are those placed on them in their embryo state and during conditions.

Dialectical Journal 29

“Our Ford’s: History is bunk….is bunk.”

This is to remind people that history is worthless and dangerous to study. Knowing history allows one to have knowledge outside their own lifetime and this makes people think, which is what this society doesn’t want to happen.

Dialectical Journal 30

“A New Theory of Biology…if one didn’t have to think about happiness.” (pg 177)

Strangely by not allowing an emotional commitment to another person and not to be allowed to think and wonder, the World State believes they are keeping people in a state of happiness. When, in fact, they are not allowing the people to grow intellectually through these emotional or intellectual experiences.

Dialectical Journal 31

“How much I love you…..holy rit.” (Page 191)

John has committed a sin in Lenina’s world by bringing to her the emotion of love. Even though she has been frustrated with him, she cannot understand the commitment of marriage or being together with only one person. He quotes Shakespeare, which further confuses her. Their two worlds are about to collide.

Dialectical Journal 32

“Whore……clenched his fists.” ( Page

 John’s savage’s world and Lenina’s world of no emotion are no longer compatible. Brought up by the Indian way of life by having to prove himself to become a man, he tries to prove himself to Lenina, but she misinterprets what he wants. He desires marriage, which is something that was taken away from him when Kiakime was married to another man. By Lenina giving herself to him and other men, she is no longer on a pedestal but has become a whore like his mother was in the village.

Dialectical Journal 33

“Pope!.......Every one belongs to every” (Pages 204 – 205)

John is trying to remember the good times with his mother, but she ruins this by focusing on Pope and not her son. This brings back all the bad memories, which foreshadows events to come. Her last words are a reminder that no one belongs to anyone in this society, and this is something that John cannot deal with.

Dialectical Journal 34

“She steps forward….warblings of the Super-Wurlitzer.” (Page 207)

Once Linda dies there is nothing left for him except his belief in God, which comes from the world of the Indians. The children’s and nurse’s reaction to her death make him realize how cruel the people. All of the advantages of living in this world have now become morally wrong to John.

Dialectical Journal 35
“Linda had been a slave…….Poison to soul as well as body.” (Page 210 – 211)
John takes out his frustration of Linda’s early death from too much soma, by trying to release others from its bad effects. The drug removes any human suffering, which John believes is the key to spiritual development. The soul cannot be nurtured if it is numb all the time.
Dialectical Journal 36
“Go away, little girl….suffer little children, said the controller.” (Page 56)
Mustapha is referencing the bible where Jesus says, “Suffer the little children to come unto me,” when his companions are trying to send the children away. This mirrors when D.H.C. tells the children to leave his fordship alone.
Dialectical Journal 37
“Because our world is not the same as Othello’s….can’t help behaving as they ought to behave.” (Page 220)
The Controller is justifying the outcome of making the world stable. Their interpretation of what stable means is unchanging just like the people. The World Controllers have done this through conditioning. If the people don’t know that something exists, then they cannot want it, and therefore will be happy.
Dialectical Journal 38
“Thank Ford! He was not…..still not unoccupied.” (Page 79)
The Solidarity Group was made of 12 people, which is the same number of the Apostles of Jesus. They were chosen to carry the true message of God to all nations. Ford is compared to God, and each person must attend a solidarity group to hear the message, carry it forward, and to be unified in Ford as those Apostles were unified in God.
Dialectical Journal 39
“The President stood up, made the sign of the T.” (Page 80)
Another reference to Christianity as Catholics make the sign of the cross before they begin their prayers. The President makes the sign of the T before the starting the Solidarity Service referencing Ford as God.
Dialectical Journal 40
“The loving cup of strawberry ice-cream soma was passed from hand to hand and, with the formula.” (Page 81)
Instead of the usual bread and wine of the Christian communion ritual, soma and ice cream are used. Ironically, the eating of bread was actually meant to study, internalize, and contemplate the Bible and the word of God, but the World State has banned the Bible and, along with it, spirituality.
Dialectical Journal 41
“Orgy-porgy, Ford and fun,
Kiss the girls and make them One.
Boys at one with girls at peace;
Orgy-porgy gives release. “ (Page 84)
Hymns, chanting and dancing, which are all related to church services, are used to alter the Solidarity ceremony into a sexual orgy instead of a religious experience. Sex is used to unite multiple individuals.
Dialectical Journal 42
“Didn’t you think it was wonderful…..perhaps it was his own fault.” (Page 85-86)
All who attended the Solidarity Group feel fulfilled and invigorated except for Bernard who cannot connect with the group. They lack individuality and a sense of self-awareness that Bernard has. He feels unfulfilled by this sexual orgy experience.
Dialectical Journal 43
“You’re a friend of the prisoner’s….waiting police car.” (Page 216)
Bernard finally has a self-realization that he is an individual like Helmholz and John. This is a foreshadow of what is to come and that he has accepted his fate of being sent to an island, which is something he has fought all along to keep from happening to him.
Dialectical Journal 44
“There was a loud noise, and he woke up…..hated Pope.” (Page 124 – 125)
Linda, Pope, and John are caught in an Oedipus complex triangle. John hates Pope who acts like John’s father and falls in love with his mother, Linda, his opposite parent. John even tries to kill Pope so he can have his mother to himself. It is ironic, because even in Linda’s death, John cannot have her to himself.
Dialectical Journal 45
“The Savage struck at his own rebellious flesh…at his feet.” (Page 258)
After all these years, John finally becomes the sacrifice of the ceremony paralleling the Indian ceremony in which a boy was sacrificed through being wiped to death to satisfy Pookong and Jesus. John’s fantasy was to be that boy to show that he was a man and to belong to a community.



Dialectical Journal 46
“But I don’t want comfort…I claim them all, said the Savage at last.” (Page 240)
John has finally chosen which world he wants to belong in: the Indian world. He is willing to accept all the responsibilities and hardships resulting from having knowledge, spirituality, and emotions. John demands to be allowed to feel unhappiness as well as happiness from this society that won’t allow this independent behavior.
Dialectical Journal 47
“Now I am purified,” said the Savage.” (Page 242)
John is purging himself from society’s wrongful way of life. Their minds are manipulated, there is no freedom of choice, and their emotional and intellectual abilities have been altered. John is choosing to take control of his life, and this is a foreshadow of events to come.
Dialectical Journal 48
“ The Savage had chosen his hermitage the old lighthouse….civilizedly luxurious.” (Page 243 & 244)
The lighthouse has become his sanctuary and heavenly place to heal and worship the God he use to know. He is using all the tradition Indian medicines and rituals to help in this healing process. But just as at the reservation, outside forces can invade the peace at any time and change the outcome of events.
Dialectical Journal 49
“From time to time……fainting from the pain.” (244)
John’s actions mirror the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus sacrificed himself to save mankind from eternal damnation, and John is punishing himself for the actions of the world. Both were outcasts and believed that god was the authority and not the local and World State Government.
Dialectical Journal 50
“He wouldn’t let me. Why not?” (Page 243)
Why doesn’t Mustapha allow John to go off with Helmholtz where he might find true happiness since he hasn’t so far? Maybe because John is the only one who hasn’t had to be banished for knowing too much because he can hide under the façade of being a savage. This also allows a chance for Mustapha to have intelligent conversations with another human being.
Dialectical Journal 51
“He tried to think of poor Linda….you strumpet.” (Page 252)
Even in his cleansing state, John is not able to disengage himself from the two people he loved: his mother and Lenina. He calls them strumpet or prostitute and attacks the imaginary Lenina because she is clouding the memories of his mother. The very word society considers evil and dirty when John himself believes that Lenina is the one who is wicked not his mother. He whips himself trying to feel physical not emotional pain.
Dialectical Journal 52
“Charming, charming giving her two or three……away after the others.” (Page 17)
This is the first glimpse into the society that has no sexual boundaries. It is treated informally and publicly not privately. This leads to no emotional attachments.
Dialectical Journal 53
“Bernard’s physique was hardly…..which they had their being.” (Page 64 – 65)
Even though Bernard was a Alpha and should be at the top of the caste system, he feels incompetent because of the way he looks. He has an inferiority complex due to his shortness, which attributes to his feeling of being separate for society and allows him to have more independent thinking.
Dialectical Journal 54
 “Lenina looked down through…. aphides and ants…departure of helicopters.” (Page 63)
This shows a society that is helped by technology, but it is also imprisoned by it. Technology rules everything including everything from the embryo to death. No one can be truly happy because they cannot explore anything beyond what technology has to offer. The people act like little machines in their actions and life. They have been pre-programmed since birth.
Dialectical Journal 55
“Kill it, kill it……pair of feet.” (Page 258 & 259)
This is the end for John. He finally joins the crowd and loses his individualism. He no longer stands alone, but becomes a member of the society of everything he loathes. He cannot deal with his actions and in the end the only way out of this mess is to kill himself.

Vocabulary List Six

Palliate – to relieve or lessen without curing, alleviate; verb

Confiscate – to seize by or as if by authority; verb

Inundate – to flood or overwhelm; verb

Deprecate – to express earnest disapproval of; verb

Exonerate – to relieve, as from an obligation, duty, or task; verb

Capitulate – to surrender unconditionally; verb

Svelte – slender, adjective

Diurnal – of or pertaining to a day or each day, daily; adjective

Canopy – a covering of some type; noun

Patrimony – an estate inherited from one’s father or ancestors; noun

Dialectical Journals 22-27

Dialectical Journal 22

“The lower the caste….. seventy eyeless monsters.” (Page 14)

The only way to create their perfect caste system is to make everyone less smart than the Alphas. Even with all their highly scientific experiments, they are not able to make people any smarter just diminish everyone else.

Dialectical Journal 23

“Here the Director made a sign on the T on his stomach….followed suit.” (Page 25)

This explains what A.F. refers to: the model T designed by Henry Ford. He was the first to begin mass manufacturing vehicles, and his production increased by approximately 100 percent in each of the first three years. This parallels what World State is doing by mass producing identical people through the splitting of the embryo.

-      

Dialectical Journal 24

“Going to the Feelies…..tactual effects.” (Page 35)

This is another way the World State dehumanize sex and removes any emotional attachment to it. The more common place the act is; the less important it becomes.

Dialectical Journal 25

“Dr. Wells advised me to…….sensible girl.” (Page 38)

In this scientific world, no one can become pregnant because babies aren’t born only decanted from a bottle. Women have either been sterilized in the embryo state or take a mandatory birth control. This ensures that the family and its values will never return.

Dialectical Journal 26

“Do you mean to tell me you’re still going out with Henry Foster?” (Page 40)

This alludes to the fact that Lenina may have feelings for Henry, which is definitely prohibited in this emotionless society. Feelings may lead to love, one partner, marriage, and a family. Everything that this civilization has been taught is wrong.

Dialectical Journal 27

“Our Ford – or Our Freud…..suicide.” (Page 39)

Ford is being compared to Sigmund Freud and his discovery that children want to be involved with the parent of the opposite sex and feel threatened by the same sex parent. Because of this complex, parents, brothers, and sister are at odds with each other and just created misery and unhappiness.

Dialectical Journals 19,20,21

(I don't know how I got this blue line here....)

Dialectical Journal 19

“Consider the horse…. Sighed and shook head.” (Page 14 & 15)

The Director feels that his society has risen above the animals, but his scientists are experimenting with the human race to emulate the growth of animals to make them a perfect Epsilon. The scientists have no trouble testing human embryos and do not care what happens to these people as long as they achieve the results they are looking for. This could be compared to the horrific experiments the Nazi doctors performed on innocent children and women in order to create a perfect race.

 

Dialectical Journal 20

“See out the books…..their  howling suddenly increased.” (Page. 20 & 21)

The nurses use Pavlov conditioning, which was founded by using dogs to learn an action through a punishment and reward system, in order for the Deltas to learn to avoid roses and books. Psychologically, this drops the class to the position of animals.

Dialectical Journal 21 

“They’ll have it repeated…. advanced lessons.” (Page 28)

Propaganda begins at birth and can be done when the children are asleep in an unconscientiously state. This process is started with at birth so no one can have a chance to form any opinions. The children are still young and innocent enough to believe everything they are told by authority figures. 

Dialectical Journals 17 and 18

“The Savage, wrote Bernard, refuses……. From an unpleasant object.” (Pg 160 & 161)

Ironically, it is Bernard who has been conditioned from birth, and John has not.  Bernard’s behavior has changed from sympathizing with John in the Indian village, being an individual, and questioning society. Now that he has John to use as a pawn, his world is accepting him, and he is famous. He is accepting society’s norms and is finding fault with John instead of being accepting of him and his behaviors.

 

“Oh brave new world…..though the solid earth had been a helicopter in an air pocket.” (Pg. 160)

This repeated line shows the development of John’s view toward the World State. At first, he was filled with wonder and amazement with the anticipation of coming to a “new world.” After being shown around the factory, he realizes that all the workers having the same jobs look identical, which goes across his beliefs of individuality and spirituality. He is being made sick by the reality of this “new world.”

Dialectical Journals 15 and 16

Buzz, buzz! The hive was humming…..above the empty bottles!” (Pg. 147)

This is another reference to the theme and role that animals play in this book. Bloomsbury Centre is compared to a beehive. They work together in a structured setting. Each individual has a role to play and a job to perform with the Queen Bee being the Director. Like the Queen Bee, the Director has control over each egg and person’s destiny.

 

“The return to civilization was for her the return to soma……But we can’t.” (Pg 154)

Linda is still caught between two worlds: the civilized world and uncivilized Indian world. Both won’t accept her so she does what she has been taught to do since birth; turn to drugs. She uses alcohol to drown out her sorrows and help her cope in the Indian world and now has returned to soma. Both will eventually kill her, but soma will faster, and no one cares as long as they don’t have to deal with her. Even her own son realizes that it is easier to have her drugged out.

8-10 Study Questions

1)What is strange about "Bye Baby Bunting Soon You'll Need Decanting"?  What is the allusion?  (124)

It is an allusion to a popular English language nursery rhyme. Originally it was not about test-tube babies, instead it was about a father going out hunting to gather rabbit skins to wrap the baby in.

2) Why does Linda hit John?  What does she blame him for?  Is this right?  Is it understandable why she resents him?

Linda hits John because he is the reason she is stuck living with the savages. It’s not right to hit your child and hate them for being alive. I understand why she would resent them, though. Because she had a child, she would never fit in back at the city.

3) What is your opinion of Pope?  Why?  Anything ironic about his name?

I don’t like him very much. He seems very sleazy and untrustworthy because his objective in life is to get Linda drunk. It was nice of him to bring the William Shakespeare book to John, though. The Pope is considered a holy man which is very unlike this Pope.

4) How did Linda teach John to read?  What becomes John's bible?  Is there anything ironic about this?

She would write phrases on the wall using a piece of charcoal. His bible became The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Just like Shakespeare, there are many different ways to interpret the bible, and I don’t think everyone understands either work completely.

5) "Nay, but to live/ in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed,/ stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love/ over the nasty sty".  What is significant about this quote?  (131)

It was a Hamlet allusion. It talked to him about Linda. It gave him a reason to hate Pope more.

6) Why does John try to kill Pope?  What is Pope's reaction?  How does Shakespeare influence these thought?

John tries to kill Pope because he sees him getting down with his mom, but Pope just laugh at him. Shakespeare influences his thoughts by making what Pope and Linda were doing gross.

7)  "He had discovered Time and Death and God" (136).  What is significant about this quote?

In this place, people will not realize that time is passing and the world will be the same, but the people will be different.

In this book, there is a long amount of adolescence and then a sudden death.

There is no god because god is a tie and there is a philosophical connection with life.

8)  How are John and Bernard alike?

They’re both loners.

9)  "I did something that none of the others did.  I stood against a rock in the middle of the day, in summer, with my arms out, like Jesus on the Cross."  "What on earth for?"  "I wanted to know what it was like being crucified."  (137).  What is significant about this quote?

John went off his rocker. He wanted to experience what it was like being god.

10) At the end of chapter 8 the title of the book appears in a quote from the Tempest.  This quote will be used throughout the book, but its meaning will change with each use.  What is the meaning of the quote here?  (137)

The meaning of the title of the story Brave New World is revealed through Bernard’s invitation for John to join him in his civilized world. John quotes Shakespeare’s The Tempest comparing Bernard’s world to a “brave new world.” John thinks this is his chance to fit into a society and belong since the Indian world will not accept him for who he is. 

11) List the allusions to Romeo and Juliet in chapter 9.  What ideas do they reinforce?

“Her eyes, her hair………..The cygnet’s down is harsh…” (Page 144)

“On the white………..Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin.” (Page 144)

“Dare to profane with his unworthiest hand…” (Page 144)

12)  Why is the Social Predestination Room compared with a Hive in chapter 10?

It is very loud and crowded and it is a reoccurring comparison between the city and nature. It shows that everybody relies on each other.

13)  How does Bernard turn the "Public example" on Tomakin?

He turns on the public example by showing that Tomakin is a father.

14)  Is there meaning (perhaps irony and an allusion) in John falling on his knees and saying (loudly) "My Father"?  (151)

It is a biblical allusion. It’s ironic that Tomakin is a father because he is the person who may be the very most against relationships.

Dialectical Journal #14

14

"Her eyes, he murmured.....Pure and vestal modesty." (Pg 144 & 145)

John relates his love of Lenina to his knowledge of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. John and Lenina are similar to Romeo and Juliet because they both come from two different worlds. Lenina lives in a civilized world where they think they are better than the Indians who are just savages. John was raised between a dysfunctional mother and with the Indians who cannot understand these scientific people that no longer have emotions or religion. Romeo and Juliet come from two feuding families. This is a foreshadow of events to come. John's love for Lenina will be the downfall of him.

Dialectical Journals 9-13

9

“But it’s  terrible,” Lenina whispered……imagine yourself sitting there with a little baby of your own.” Pg 111 & 112

Lenina is unable to face reality without here soma. Seeing the aging process first hand horrified her, while Bernard started questioning his government issued beliefs about relationships wondering about the physical bond between a mother and child.

 

10

 

“ The young man sighed and shook his head…..he was ashamed and turned away.”  (Pg. 116 & 117)

This is Benard’s and Lenian’s first meeting with John. John references Shakespeare’s Macbeth. He compares the blood of the sacrificed Indian to the blood on Lady Macbeth’s hand. John is filled with guilt for not being able to be the scarified one due to his complexion and Lady Macbeth is guilty for her role in urging Macbeth to kill the king of Scotland.

11

 

“She shuddered. It was worse than……And I was so ashamed.” (Pg. 119 & 120)

Linda is caught between two world: the one she was raised in as a test tube baby and the dirty world that she was thrust into after having the baby. The reference to alcohol and soma shows the differences between these worlds. Soma signifies the elegance and grace of the superior race, while alcohol indicates an inferior class with the bad side effects.

 

12

 

“He opened the book at random…..staring into his own.” (Pg. 131, 132 & 133)

 Pope brings John The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, which was considered a forbidden book because it caused people to think. This is ironic, as the words from this book about Hamlet, give John the courage to attack Pope with a knife.

 

13

 

“O wonder! He was saying…Let’s start at once.” (Pg. 139)

The meaning of the title of the story Brave New World is revealed through Bernard’s invitation for John to join him in his civilized world. John quotes Shakespeare’s  The Tempest comparing Bernard’s world to a “brave new world.” John thinks this is his chance to fit into a society and belong since the Indian world will not accept him for who he is. 

Dialectical Journals 7 and 8

Dialectical Journal #7

At home was as squalid psychically…..you may well shudder. (Pg. 37 & 38)

This illustrates the animal imagery that runs throughout the book. The people have been dehumanized, and no longer have physical contact with their parents. They shutter at the thought of breastfeeding, and think it shows animal-like tendencies, when in actuality, the people have become more primitive than these animals.

Dialectical Journal #8

“Swallowing half an hour…..and inevitable as blinking.” (Pg. 77)

Huxley compares Henry’s and Lenina's actions to a bottle. The bottle is referring to their soma-induced state of being, which comes from the bottle containing soma and referring the effects of drinking alcohol. The drug impairs their thinking and actions except for those things that the government has brainwashed them into remembering. This is so ingrained in their brains it is compared to blinking, which is done automatically by the body.

Dialectical Journal 5 and 6

Dialectical Journal #5
 “That’s why you’re taught no history…. was overwhelmed with confusion.” (Page 35)
All bibles are gone except for a few that are hidden away. Christianity use to comfort the citizens, but now religion is dead to them. They have a new “Heaven” dictated by not a single god, but the Ten World Controllers, whom have unlimited power over the people. With religion, people could choose whether or not to believe, but the citizens have no choice to believe or not believe.
Dialectical Journal #6
“Glum, Marx, glum.”………fend off the proffered tube of tablets. (Pg. 54)
Bernard goes against society by choosing not to take Soma. Another reference to Christianity is made, and the negative effects of it are also noted. Christianity is being compared to how alcohol adversely affects a person. Soma is taken to divert the person’s reality and make them feel good.

Lame Dialectical Journals #1

Brave New World Dialectical Journals

Dialectical Journal #1

He quoted the planetary motto. “Community, Identity, Stability.” Grand words. (Page 7)

The motto is ironic, because during this process, all identity is taken away from people. For each person, there are at least ninety-five identical copies of him or her.

On top of that, the people are more likely to be a happy community because people who are similar are more likely to get along. The world would seem more stable because of the similarities of people.

Dialectical Journal #2

“But in Epsilons,” said Mr. Foster very justly, “we don’t need human intelligence.”

(Page 15)

Throughout the book, they refer to people as Alphas, Betas, Deltas, Epsilons. This is an allusion to the Greek Alphabet. Alphas are the best class, and Epsilons are the lowest form of humans. People are bred to be smart or stupid in this book. Epsilons were created to derive joy from participating in simple activities, such as operating elevators.

Dialectical Journal #3

“That is the secret of happiness and virtue–liking what you’ve got to do. All conditioning aims at is that: making people like their un-escapable social destiny.” (Page 16)

Call me crazy, but I actually like this quote. They honestly believe that being forced into liking something is the best way to live, and I find that fascinating. Most people would not admit something like that, but this director is honest about the brainwashing.

Dialectical Journal #4

“Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre” (Page 1)

A hatchery? For people? This book is crazy! Who even comes up with this stuff?! The process of hatching the people (splitting the egg) is rather fascinating. Its weird how they make people dumber or smarter.

Brave new world chapter 3 questions

Today I want you to look back through chapter 3 and discuss how the structure of the chapter reinforces the main idea.

1. - What is the structure of the chapter?   How is the chapter written?

It is very fragmented. It jumps from different characters’ conversations.

2. - Why do you think the chapter is written like this?

So the reader will concentrate and pay attention to what they are saying.

3. - What does the chapter force you to do as the reader?

Pay attention.

4. - What’s the main point here?

Stability is needed for the world to work

5.  Who is your favorite character so far?  Why?

So far I like both Lenina and Fanny.

Lenina seems to be one of the most relatable people in this story. She also is interested in one person, which seems more normal.

Fanny, on the other hand, is extremely sassy and realistic. She is smart enough to realize that seeing the same person for a long time is a bad idea.

Vocabulary List Five(?)

Rote - routine, a fixed, habitual, or mechanical course of procedure; noun

Manifest - readily perceived by the eye or the understanding; evident; obvious; apparent; adjective

Bequest - a disposition in a will; noun

Moras - the unit of time equivalent to the ordinary or normal short sound or syllable; noun

Brouhaha - excited public interest, discussion, or the like, as the clamor attending some sensational event; hullabaloo; noun

Slake - to allay (thirst, desire, wrath, etc.) by satisfying; verb

Zenith - the point on the celestial sphere vertically above a given position or observer, compare; noun

Pacifist - a person who believes in pacifism or is opposed to war or to violence of any kind; noun

Bedlam - a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion; noun

Prehensile - adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something; adjective

Vocabulary List Four

Supine – lying on the back; face or front upward, adjective

Jetsam – goods cast overboard deliberately as to lighten a vessel, noun

Mottle – to mark or diversify with sports or blotches of a different color or shade, verb

Assail – to attack vigorously or violently; assault, verb

Quaff - to drink a beverage, especially an intoxicating one, copiously and with hearty enjoyment, verb

Estrange - to remove to or keep at a distance, verb

Disconcert - to disturb the self-possession of; perturb, unsettle, verb

Espouse – to make one's own; adopt or embrace, verb

Reproach – to find a fault with a person group, etc.; blame, verb

Lambaste – to beat or whip severely, verb

Parallelism

Parallelism – when the sentences show a similar format in their writing

Two Sentences:

-       The cat is stretching, the dog is barking, and the chameleon is sleeping.

-       My love for cats is as strong as my love for dogs.

Speech #1 And #2

Contestant Two

Thesis – “my central concern for today centers around the world “old.””

Example of Expert Testimony – “New York Times columnist Bruce Handy explains…” “Professor of sociology, Gert Hough said….”

Example of Personal Correction – he was often tempted to get rid of his religion’s traditions because they were old

Example of Pathos (What’s in it for the audience) “if we aren’t willing to invest in long-term relationships, how can we expect them to grow?”

Facts, Data (Example) “According to a 2010 pure research study, 79% of people nowadays believe that there is a huge disconnect between the old, and the young.

Quick summary of hook – he told the story of he and his father wanting to get rid a suit because it was old, but the tailor told them that it was still beautiful.

Contestant Three

Thesis – trophies and equality

Example of Expert Testimony – Herbert Spencer, Sociology Hillary Levee (?)

Example of Personal Correction – talks about how trophies reflect personal gain or accomplishment

Example of Pathos – positive reinforcement is vital

Facts, Data (Example) – Account Temps poll

Quick Summary of Hook – talking about his accomplishments

Grandparents

Grandparents

Grandparents teaches moral. The grandchildren can see how the grandparents survived many hardships and can take inspiration from that. The grandparents will be able to see that their values had been passed down correctly and that the kids would have good morals. In “A Celebration of Grandfathers,” Anaya’s grandfather teaches him how to be patient. Grandparents are a source of trust. Grandparents love their grandchildren unconditionally, so the children see them as people who they can actually talk to. I always tell my grandmother what is going on in my life. Having a grandparent actively in a child’s life will improve things for the parents, too. You can get a great sense of heritage by just being with both your grandparents and parents. My grandmother and mother love telling me stories from when my mother was my age. It’s interesting to hear how much the world has changed since then. They teach people about the past. Grandparents have been alive for decades, so they could really teach the children about the world and the experiences they had. The also set a great example for their grandchildren. They show that people can survive through many hardships and end up being successful later on in life.

Family Traditions

My family goes on two trips each year. Typically My mother, father, brother, and I go to Disneyland or Walt Disney World in the springtime. In the summer, my mother, grandmother, brother, and I go on another trip. It varies each year and we talk about where we want to go. This summer we went to London, Paris, and Amsterdam, and we all loved it. I'd like to continue this tradition because I think it is a great way to see the world. My mom always brings us to the historical spots, so it's a great way to actually see what I've read in the history books.

Vocabulary (SAT-Like Words)

Atone: to make amends or reparation (Verb)

Pinguid: Fat (Adjective)

Agog: highly excited by eagerness, curiosity, anticipation, etc. (adjective)

Panache: a grand or flamboyant manner; verve; style; flair (Noun)

Iconoclast: a person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc., as being based on error or superstition (noun)

Escapade: a reckless adventure or wild prank (noun)

Offal: the parts of a butchered animal that are considered inedible by human beings (noun)

Paragon: a model or pattern of excellence or of a particular excellence (noun)

Palisade: a fence of pales or stake set firmly in the ground, as for enclosure or defense (noun)

Diminution: lessening, decreasing, or reducing (noun)

A Celebration of Grandfathers End Questions

1. His grandfather was a farmer

2. So he could learn how to be a farmer

3. Greeting elders with “Buenos dias le de Dios” because is respectful

4. To be respectful, how to farm, to help ant bites, to pray for the rain, to have patience

5. As a kid, Anaya thought his grandfather was a giant but he was actually five feet tall

6. His grandpa didn’t talk much, so when he spoke, Anaya listened. He remembered everything he said, and learned valuable life lessons. Example: When Anaya was bitten badly by ants, he put mud on it and stated “Know where you stand.”

7. Although people said how great it was for the grandfather to live to 94, they don’t realize that the last few years were full of suffering. He knows to realize the difficulty of becoming so old and respect that.

Le evidence:

            “He was ninety-four when he died. Family, neighbors, and friends gathered; they all agreed he had led a rich life. I remembered the last years, the years he spent in bed. And as I remember now, I am reminded that it is too easy to romanticize old age. Sometimes we forget the pain of the transformation into old age, we forget the natural breaking down of the body…. Mt grandfather pointed to the leaves falling from the tree. So time brings with its transformation the often-painful wearing-down process.

8. Writing anything takes time, as does growing crops. They both have patience to bring them from the ground up.

9. Option One: Admiration. Anaya looks back on his grandfather as a great man, and shows that through his writing. He really respects him and looks up to him.

OR OR OR

It could be persuasive. At the beginning and end, he really highlights the need to respect your elders. Perhaps the innards of the story are just one big example.

Option One Example:

I am glad I knew my grandfather. I am glad there are still times when I can see him in my dreams, hear him in my reverie

Option Two Example:

So as I would greet my abuelo long ago, it would help us all to greet the old ones we know with this kind and respectful greeting.

10. Anaya doesn’t seem to agree with that. He believes that the older ways are better and elders need to be honoured by continuing them.

Evil thingamajig

            I believe that evil people do exist. There are a lot of people who think that gay marriage is a sin. Those people always say that gays are going to hell, and gay marriage will ruin the sanctity of traditional marriage. Some people even get physical with them, leaving that person wounded not only physically, but also emotionally. I think that people deserve the same rights, even if they are have a different race, religion, or sexuality. I think that people who are willing to bring misery to others because that person is different is evil. On top of that, I think that evil people would purposely make people feel like they are less human than the accuser.

People all have different opinions and beliefs. I have a friend who comes from an über-religious family. She got in a debate with someone over gay marriage. She said that she had nothing wrong with gay people, but she didn’t support non-traditional marriage. Usually, the best excuse that type of people can come up with is “the bible said so.” She was raised on the bible, and thinks every part of it is complete fact. Everyone is raised differently with different morals. Miss Strangeworth thought that it was her duty to keep evil out of town, even though she was part of it. Sometimes morals are lost in translation, and that person will think that something evil is actually correct. I was raised to treat everyone equally, and that I shall do. There is nothing wrong with being raised differently, but people need to know when what they are doing is bad. The line needs to be drawn when people are being hurt by the actions. At some point, people realize that what they are doing is wrong. You know when you are being mean.

There is no actual definition of evil, but it is out there. Everywhere you go there will be someone who fits your mold of evil.

A Possibility Of Evil Questions (Yay. -_-)

1. Miss Strangeworth is known as the sweet old woman whose family has lived in town for ages. She is known for her repetition: buying tea on the same day each week, sleeping at the same time, walking to the same places at the same time every day. Miss Strangeworth is also very proud and protective of her roses.

2. She sends people letters about the wrongdoings of others.

3. When she goes to put a letter in the mailbox, it falls out. A teenager sees the letter drop and delivers the letter to the person it was addressed to. The teenager told the person who it was from, and they figured out that Miss Strangeworth was the hater.

4. She believed that there was a large amount of evil in the world. To fix that, she started sending her letters.

5. Several times throughout the book, she noticed how miserable people in the community looked. Because her mind was wrapped around the thought of her letters helping the community, she couldn’t tell that it was her letters causing the pain.

6. Miss Strangeworth is insistent on living graciously, so it is ironic that she would stoop so low as to send hate mail to people.

7.

Text: Shirley Jackson wrote "...wickedness was never easily banished, and a clean heart was a scoured heart.” It shows that Miss Strangeworth thought that honesty was important. She felt it was necessary to tell people the wrongdoings/secrets of other in order to keep the heart light.

Knowledge: I am a firm believer in the saying “honesty is the best policy,” but I think some things are best left unsaid. I think it’s up to the secret-keepers to tell the truth, not their friends.

The winter rumor storm!!!

Conclusion: Miss Strangeworth thought that it was her duty to banish all evil in the world.

8. I think that it was perfect punishment. Throughout the story, it is told that her roses are her pride and joy. Hacking them down would hurt her more than anything else, so it was the perfect revenge.

9. I think that she will be shunned. Everyone will know that she was the letter sender, and most people have been blackmailed by then.

10. I don’t think that Miss Strangeworth is evil, but I know she’s not a saint either. She thought that she was helping the community, but in fact she was ruining it. I think that evil people purposely hurt people, and she was just trying to help.

11. People set themselves up as morally higher than others and they tell people what they are doing is wrong. Mrs. Strangeworth thinks she’s a moral guardian, but she’s actually sinning just as much as the other people are.

A Possibility Of Evil Response

 Overall, I really enjoyed reading “A Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson and I would definitely read another one of Jackson’s stories.

I thought the writing of the story was very interesting. Jackson described the town, as a perfect, tight-knit little community, with the story centered around one sweet old lady. At first I liked Miss Strangeworth, but then I learned more about her. She was very possessive of the town and definitely status-obsessed. She loved to point out how long her family had been in town and was very proud of her roses. I believe that she had OCD tendencies. She very much liked order and did the same thing constantly – even bought her tea every week on the same day! Even though she seemed extremely weird from the get-go, I actually thought that she would end up being the victim in this story. I figured that “A Possibility of Evil” would be some sort of sick and twisted old woman massacre.

            In a community so perfect, it seems as though nothing could go wrong. That is why I extremely surprised when granny ended up being the person behind the hate mail. I found it extremely ironic that she thought her hate mail would help protect the community from evil, when in fact she was the evil.

            I thought that the ending was a bit predictable. Throughout the entire story, Miss Strangeworth’s roses were a big part of her life, and everyone knew it. Once people found out that she was sending the hate mail, of course they went after her roses. They were her pride and joy, and cutting them would hurt her more than any other form of revenge. When she started crying, I actually felt rather bad for her. Did she deserve it? Yes, but she was only trying to help. If only she had thought for a moment about her actions and realized that she was hurting more people than she was helping.

            Moral of the story: old people are weird.

           

Vocabulary Two

Doctrine: (Noun) a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group:

Heritage: (Noun) property that is or may be inherited

Commiserate: (Verb) express or feel sympathy or pity; sympathize:

Indomitable: (Adjective) impossible to subdue or defeat:

Rudimentary: (Adjective) involving or limited to basic principles:

Savoring: (Verb) taste (good food or drink) and enjoy it completely

Voluble: (Adjective) speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently

Wizened: (Adjective) shriveled or wrinkled with age:

Fusillade: (Noun) a series of shots fired or missiles thrown all at the same time or in quick succession

Maladroit: (Adjective) ineffective or bungling; clumsy.

Letter from Wangero

Dear Mama,

            I am very disappointed in you. I thought my visit with you would be great, but your negativity made the whole thing completely dreadful. You do not understand the significance of that quilt. It needs to be preserved, and what better way to do so than hanging it in my house? You are not in touch with our heritage. Our life has been forgotten when we came to America. Our names don’t represent our family, which is why I changed mine to a more accurate one. After I met Hakim-A-Barber, he introduced me to the Nation of Islam. They are all for getting in touch with your roots and empowering our race. I had hoped that Maggie would be smart enough to realize the importance of remembering the great days of the past, but unfortunately she takes more after you.

Don’t expect any further contact with me.

Sincerely,

Wangero

Everyday Use Questions

1) Dee had changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo because she wants to connect with her African roots. She wears colorful clothing and has found a new boyfriend, whose name also resembles that of a keyboard slam.

2) Dee wants the quilt to hang in her new home.

3) Maggie and Mama

4) Dee thinks Mama and Maggie don’t understand their heritage because they actually use the quilts instead of hanging them off. Dee believes that the quilt is an artifact while Mama and Maggie think that it should still be used.

5)

Dee

            Positive:

                        -She’s smart

                        -She’s creative (with the name change and all that)

                        -She seems semi-successful (she’s rich… or she’s a gold-digger)

            Negative:

                        -She’s bossy

                        -She claims things

                        -She doesn’t understand family

                        -She isn’t used to being told “No”

Mama

            Positive:

                        -She sticks up for Maggie and herself

                        -She understands the importance of heritage

                        -She realizes that not all old things are artifacts and they can be used

Negative:

                        -She let Dee walk all over her when Dee was growing up

Maggie

            Positive:

                        -She doesn’t talk too much

            Negative:

-She let Dee walk all over her

-She was going to let Dee take the quilt

-She was afraid of Dee

Asalamalakim

Positive:

            -*Crickets*

Negative:

            -He has a stupid name

6) Dee thinks that the quilts are artifacts. Maggie thinks that they are quilts and should still be used.

7) Mama has always let Dee do whatever she wants. She finally sticks up for herself and Maggie.

8)Heritage – Dee thinks that her family should be more towards their heritage

When Dee was little she wanted to look really good, which was hard because the family is poor.

9) Heritage is something that is used daily. Dee views heritage as something to preserve, whereas Mama and Maggie think that it is part of you.

10) In Everyday Use, the quilts have clothing sewn into the pattern. Alice Walker did the same thing with her quilts. Both quilts have stories behind them, but the points of them are to be used as quilts.

11) In the current time period, everything old is preserved. The conflicts between family members still exist, but most people would agree to preserve it. We no longer use old things, even if they would be useful.