The Drunkard- O'Connor- Questions-5

Pertaining to the first question, there are many humorous aspects to this story.  Much of the humor dealth with the way the individuals in the story spoke and the accent we could extrapulate from outside knowledge.  Another humorous aspect arises when there is a cuss word said. "Go away, ye bloody b******"(O'Connor, 350)!  However, there is a deeper meaning to this story than just the humorous aspects.  Near the beginning, the Father shows his reverence for a deceased friend.  Also, the most interesting emotional appeal deals with what the son did.  Yes, he did consume the alcoholic beverage, probably out of curiosity. However, I believe what he did, saved what could have been a very drunk and messed up father.  Though he may not have realized what exactly he was doing, he actually prevented the father from coming home drunk! At the end of the story, we see the mother address her son as the brave boy.  I believe she calls him that due to his risk taking and him helping his father. 

Once Upon A Time-Gordimer-Irony-4

 Honestly, the first word that popped into my mind after reading this was "ironic". Multiple times, the author pointed out that they were living a happy lives with no worries. They had each other, the wife, the husband, the child, and the maids all were relatively happy. However, I realized as the story progressed, what defined their happiness? They were constantly under siege from the external riots. They were also constantly at risk of their house being broken in to. I feel that they initially assumed that they will live happy lives, but as they realize their situation, those feelings may change. On a side note, I was very confused as to why the grandmother was referred to as a witch. There were multiple situations of irony though out this story. The last and most recognizable ironic situation happened with the boy and the barbed wire. The irony comes from the fact that the wire was supposed to keep injury and harm outside, but the wire actually inflicted serious pain onto whom the wire was supposed to be protecting.

The Joy of Cooking-Elaine Magarrell- Questions-3

Reading the passage in the beginning, it seemed very sick and grotesque.  However, as I finished the poem, I realized that the cooking may not actually be cooking at all.  The tone of this poem is undoubtedly bitter and almost sarcastic.  "I could also have it braised and served in sour sauce"(Magarrell).  After reading this part in the poem, I realized what the author is trying to portray.  The heart of a person describes who they are and what they are like.  A good-hearted person is someone known for helping people out and assisting those that need it.  However, a sour hearted person is someone that does ill towards people.  The cooking techniques and methods are used to describe the appropriate classification of what that person's certain body part is like.  Similarly, the author's sister's problem is described as being her tongue and what she says.  The spices, tastes, and sauces of the foods that the author says would be appropriate for each character describe the in depth problem of each character.  

Those Winter Days-Robert Hayden- Question Two

Without diving deep into this poem, I can already tell it has a darker tone to it.  The mood of the poem comes across as quite dull and hostile.  Looking at the imagery, as question two states, we can actually support this initial glance.  Immediately, we see some resounding imagery. "...put his clothes on in the blueblack cold"(Hayden, 781). The combination of those two dark colors and cold but together a rather dark image in an audiences mind.  Following that, the mention of the cracked hands indicates a hard working, serious man.  After that, the most important statement in the poem, "chronic anger" really emphasize what Robert Hayden is doing in Those Winter Days. The way he describes that house actually sums up the entirety of the feeling, tone, setting, and vision we have of the house.  Lastly, the image of the polished shoes and the work that the father obviously does for the children capatilized on the poems mood.  The father goes throughout life, providing to the needs of his children and even polishing their shoes; however, the house remains a dull and hostile place. 

A Worn Path- Eudora Welty- Analogy

Immediately following the beginning of A Worn Path by Eudora Welty, we see the heavy and vital use of analogies. "...meditative like the chirping of a solitary little bird"(Eudora, 223).  The use of this analogy shows the initial theme and setting of where Phoenix Jackson is located.  Similarly, her analogy connecting the resemblance of cabins and woman under a spell invokes an interesting image.  The cabins, empty for some reason, remind Phoenix of women sitting still because of a spell they all may be under. The territory that Phoenix is travelling is hard for us to understand.  Though we know the general layout of the land she travels, we do not actually no exactly what it is like.  The use of analogies assists in accurately describing things that an audience can relate to, to better understand the work.   Finally, near the end, we see a continued use of analogies that helps decifer the condition of her grandson.  She describes her grandson as a little bird that has to hold his mouth to talk.  This statements directs the audience to believe that the grandson is not dead, but he is not doing very well due to him having a difficult time speaking.  Analogies in this novel are not necessarily required; however, they help us dive deeper into figuring out the secrets in the story. 

Symbolism. A Raisin in the Sun. 5

     Without symbolism, this story would lost much of what makes it deep.  It is a vital portion of the play that will be passed up if not read with intent to discover the underlying themes of the play.  Initially, that little plant that Mama kept in the sole window frame of the apartment seems minuscule and insignificant.  However, we we I read the end of the play, I realized the importance of that little plant.  It clearly was a metaphor for the family and how it is doing.  "Lord, if this little old plant dont get more sun that it's been getting it aint never going to see spring again"(Hansberry, 40).  I feel Hansberry in, A Raisin in the Sun, purposefully put that dialogue said my mother directing following a fight between Walter and Bennie.  This comment is meant to imply that if things do not change from the direction that they are heading right now, things will not turn out okay.  Also, later on in the play, Mama states that she will be able to cultivate a garden at the new house.  I believe that Hansberry is trying to convey that the family will flourish in their new environment.  The new tools, as a gift to Mama, represent the cause of what will nourish the new family.  Symbolism was mostly conveyed through plant life and by doing this, Hansberry added a required depth to the work. 

Question Eleven. A Raisin in the Sun. 4

     I believe that there is not a single important character in this play that does not feel a sense of loneliness.  Mamma misses her husband, Ruth wants a husband who cares, Beneatha needs a person to support her, and finally Walter needs the support and understanding of the rest of his family.  Walter continually goes on random tangents as to why he needs the support of his wife and family and how it is affecting him that no one will listen to him: he feels alone.  While reading this, I noticed that Walter is suffering the most from this loneliness.  Walter plays many angles in this play.  We always see him trying to push ahead and make money for a better life, making him a protagonist; however, we also see him fighting his family and slowing progress between their bonding, making him an antagonist. The external conflict that he continually feels is obviously taking its toll. Whenever he proposes another, crazy idea, he is rejected by at least one member of his family.  This constant rejection is making Walter feel isolated from his true family.  However, when the situation and joy of the family is created equal when Mama buys the house alleviates that loneliness that Walter has felt for so long.  

Question Five. A Raisin in the Sun. 3

     Much of the issues that occurred in the play dealt with the disagreements between beliefs and morals.  Mama was the righteous, good heart-ed woman that tried to make all issues between people history.  Walter, the less righteous and more free lanced individual was always looking to make a buck regardless of what Mama thought about it.  Finally, Beneatha is portrayed as the typical teenager that is trying to make herself useful through her profession.  Every single one of these people had a type of generation gap between them.  This generation gap is what caused many of the feuds that occurred. Mamma believed that Walter's plans to open a liquor store were deplorable, but because Walter was in the modern world, he never opened his mind to the thought that in his mother's generation, that profession may not have been honorable.  Mama grew up in a time that promoted honest working and honest money making.  Walter views the world as a "dog-eat-dog" world where to survive, one must do whatever is required. Finally, Beneatha is an educated young girl who tends to go along with societies rejection of faith and the rules.  Consistently throughout Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun, Beneathe rejects her families beliefs and defies rules set down by her mother. "...and God is just one idea I don't accept"(Hansberry, 51).

Question Three. A Raisin in the Sun. 2

It is extremely evident while looking at the novel as a whole, how certain characters contribute to the play regarding action.  Without diving in deep into the reading, we can clearly see what character plays the instigator, observer, and the bewildered. 

     Walter, though often times failing, attempted and occasionally succeeded in being the instigator.  He was the individual that went out every single day to bring the meager amount of money back home. Though it was not much, it allowed them to live.  This fact alone dignified him as an instigator because on many other occasions he dreamed in excess.

     Without even reading the questions prior to reading the play, Travis honestly stood out to me as the observer of the play.  He never truly had a deep impact on the action of the play, but he seemed to be in the picture when something significant was happening. In being the observer, he retained much of what happened in that house.  

     More so in the later portions of the play, Mama played the bewildered and confused individual. "Once upon a time freedom used to be life-now it's money. I guess the world really do change..."(Hansberry, 74).  The generation gap that separated her from the rest of her family prevented her from being aware of society's changes.  This being the case, it caused her to be in perpetual disbelief in Walter's motives, Bennie's beliefs, and society's new found love in money. 

Personification. Raisin in the Sun. 1

Personification does not occur abundantly in the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry; however, when it is brought up, the effect is significant.   The house itself is dreary, dull, and a painful reminder of their failed dreams.  We see this early on when the environment was being described. "...-and they are tired"(Hansberry, 24).  Much of this story is derived from that one quote. As we read, much of what the characters do throughout there daily doings is focused on the escape from they place they all live in. Mama wants the best for her family and we see this when she buys a new house.  Walter is focused on his escape from poverty and filth; relating to the escape from the house.  As Mama describes the original purpose of the apartment as a beginning step to her and her husband's dream.  They did not want to live in that shack for a long period of time.  The life literally left that place, as we see, making it tired.