Wednesday 22 June 2011

Character Profile - Atticus

Atticus Finch from 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee is a kind-hearted man. A lawyer who cares for his two children, Jem and Scout. Atticus has lived in Maycomb County for a very long time, and those who live near and far from him in Maycomb respect and care for him. Atticus is a major character in the story since he defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell a younger white woman by her and her father Bob Ewell, an alcoholic, abusive farmer. Atticus knows that defending Tom will either make him or brake him into Maycomb, since Maycomb being in Alabama, A state in the South of America thus segregation between Black and Whites being very common.

Throughout the whole of the story Atticus tries to balance his work-personal life balanced. He works hard however he also tries to spend as much time he can with his two children, his eldest, his son Jem, aged 10 and Jem's younger sister Scout, aged six. Atticus consecutively tells Jem and Scout the importance of life and always tells them to treat others how they would like to be treated. There is a quote in the story which I think points out what Atticus is trying to say to Jem and Scout. One day after School Scout returns home angry and frustrated because of the actions of a classmate of hers, Atticus tells her to take a look through someone else's eyes by telling her "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." The purpose of Atticus telling Scout that was because he was trying to tell her that if she took it from her classmates point of view she would see the situation differently than from what she saw.

Atticus is not your everyday Southern American, he is an Idealist someone who thinks about change and how things could change for the better. Atticus is not a racist, very few in Maycomb County are not-racist however the remainder of those in Maycomb County treat the Black Population as second-classed citizens not given them a chance to speak. In the book, Tom Robinson, a poor Black man has been accused of raping Mayella Ewell a younger white woman by her father, Robert Ewell. As the story progresses it is obvious that Tom is innocent of his crimes, and during the trial Atticus tells the jury that they should see past Tom's skin and look at the point of justice in this case. There is one point of the Court scene where Atticus expresses his views of racism and his want of change in Maycomb, Atticus tells the jury "On the assumption... the evil assumption... that all Negroes lie, all Negroes are basically immoralbeings, all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women. An assumption that one associates with minds of their caliber, and which is, in itself, gentlemen, a lie, which I do not need to point out to you. And so, a quiet, humble, respectable Negro, who has had the unmitigated temerity... to feel sorry for a white woman, has had to put his word against two white people's. The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is."This shows what Atticus thinks of the struggle that the Black people have to live and how the white population automatically judge the blacks by the colour of their skin. 

Thursday 19 May 2011

Eight Ways to Reveal a Character - Miss Aitcheson (You are now entering the Human Heart)

Actions 


Miss Aitcheson decides to take her class to the Museum to explore what is within. While inside she takes her class to the snake exhibit in the museum, the tour guide decides to take a snake out of its cage and give it to Miss Aitcheson, trying to keep her cool Miss Aitcheson just sucks it in and deals with the snake being around her neck. The snake continues to slide around her neck, but then Miss Aitcheson sees the snake approach her face, she throws the snake to the ground and runs off, she runs to the closest chair and collapses in it.

Dialogue

Miss Aitcheson's only dialogue is "No I'm not afraid. Of course not." however she said this sentence in a somewhat anxious tone, proving that while the snake was on her neck she was nervous.

Physical Description 

Eight Ways to Reveal a Character - Miss Aitcheson (You are now entering the Human Heart)

Actions 


Miss Aitcheson decides to take her class to the Museum to explore what is within. While inside she takes her class to the snake exhibit in the museum, the tour guide decides to take a snake out of its cage and give it to Miss Aitcheson, trying to keep her cool Miss Aitcheson just sucks it in and deals with the snake being around her neck. The snake continues to slide around her neck, but then Miss Aitcheson sees the snake approach her face, she throws the snake to the ground and runs off, she runs to the closest chair and collapses in it.

Dialogue

Miss Aitcheson's only dialogue is "No I'm not afraid. Of course not." however she said this sentence in a somewhat anxious tone, proving that while the snake was on her neck she was nervous.

Physical Description 

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Independent Reading Guide - You Are Now Entering the Human Heart

Story Title - You Are Now Entering the Human Heart

Author - Janet Frame

Elements of the Short Story 


1. Who is the Protagonist - the main character - in the story? 

 The Narrator, the person who we follow through the story.

2. What Challenge or conflict does the Protagonist encounter?


The Challenge that the Protagonist faces is that when the Narrator arrives at the train station she realises she has a hour to waste till her train arrives.

3. How is the Conflict Resolved?

The Narrator decides to waste her time by going to the local Museum and she takes particular interest in the Human Heart Exhibit. 

4. What other Important Characters are involved in the conflict?


The other characters in the conflict is a teacher who is taking her class around the Museum, Miss Aitcheson. The other character is the tour guide who takes the class around the Museum.

5. What kind of of person is the Protagonist?


The Narrator is quite a quiet person, she doesn't like to make loud noises or create a problem for others.

6. What Evidence in the story leads me to this opinion of the protagonist?


When the Snake is placed around the Narrator she doesn't scream immediately and run off, she takes it and just waits for it to be removed, however when the snake tries to attack her she does run off and tries to defend herself from the snake.

7. Where does the story take place? 

The city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania in USA.

8. How would I describe the mood? How does the author establish this mood?


The mood is quite gloomy, there is really no resolution to the whole story, no resolution no major conflict, the story is just a bit dull.

9. Summarize the theme or central idea of this short story?

The theme of the story is that do not always believe things that people tell you, even professional's.

10. Is there a sentence or short passage that states or strongly implies the idea of this theme?

"This is a Common Grass snake. No harm, no harm at all." This comment is said by Miss Aitcheson, the tour guide. She said to our Narrator that everything will be okay.

11. The Characters and dialogue are believable and the plot engages my interest?


Fair


12. This story is written in a style that is clear and interesting?


Fair.


13. This story helps me understand people and events


Weak


14. The details in this story could be easily visualized as I read?


Fair


15. Overall I rate this story as 


Fair          

Friday 29 April 2011

To Kill A Mockingbird - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 :

As the summer comes to an end, Dill leaves to go back to his home in Meridian. It is now time for both Jem and Scout to go to school, however this is Scout's first time and she is quite excited to see what school life is like.

When Scout starts her new school she is given Ms Fisher as her new teacher, but thinks don't go off well for Scout quickly. Even before the morning was over, Scout was told to come up to the front of the classroom to be smacked over the hand with a ruler, then was made to stand in the corner until noon. Scout's idea of school was fading very fast.

As the day goes on, Ms Fisher is surprised that Scout is able to read, but tells Scout that Atticus should stop teaching her since it would interfere with her learning. Annoyed by this she rushes to tell Jem later in the day, he said that Ms Fisher is teaching a new way of learning called The Dewey Decimal System and Atticus' old way of reading would mess learning up for Scout. Frustrated Scout begins to write a letter in class to Dill whom she has been missing a lot, Ms Fisher notices and takes the letter away from her saying that writing is for years to come.

Scout is then released for lunch, she realizes one of her classmates Walter Cunningham has not brought money or lunch for today, Ms Fisher notices and offers him a quarter to buy his lunch, however he refuses the donation. Scout then decides to tell Ms Fisher that Walter lives in a poor household with many family members living with him and that the family has to pay off things with goods. This angers Ms Fisher and once more Scout is smacked with a ruler and sent to the back off the class.

To Kill A Mockingbird - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 :

Scout Finch grew up in a small, tired town of Maycomb found in the state of Alabama. Now an adult she begins reminiscing about a very interesting part of her childhood which involved her, her brother Jem and father Atticus. Atticus is a successful lawyer and a well-known and respected person around the town.

Scout introduces the story by recalling the time that Jem broke his arm, he was nearly thirteen at the time. When enough years after the incident had past, she and her brother could look back to the events that lead to Jem braking his arm. She starts telling the events that lead to Jem's arm being broken, and she decides to start right at the beginning of the tale.

As the story begins, summer has just started. At this time, Scout was six and Jem was ten. While looking into the neighbor's garden patch they notice a small boy laying amongst the vegetables, he introduces himself as Dill. The three children become best friends, after they discover that Dill had seen the horror film 'Dracula'.

As the summer progresses, Scout, Jem and Dill become urged to get their Neighbour, Boo Radley to come out of his home, since legend has said that Boo never leaves his house. Most of the town's crimes have been blamed on Boo because when Boo was younger he was charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, assault and using profanity in the company of a female. After Boo was arrested, neighbours on the street began calling Boo insane and requested that he was taken to a mental asylum, however Boo's father refused that they send his son to an asylum and instead locked him away in his home. When Boo's father died, his brother looked after him, till then Boo has never left his home.    

Sunday 3 April 2011

Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit - Independent Reading Guide

Story Title - Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit.

Author - Sylvia Plath

This Story was - Assigned

This Story was found in the - Textbook

Elements of the Short Story 


1) Who is the Protagonist? - The Narrator (Whose Actual Name is not mentioned)

2) What challenge or conflict does the Protagonist encounter? - The Narrator picks up a little argument with Paula Brown after Paula claimed that the Narrator ruined her new snowsuit by slipping on a slick of oil.

3) How is the conflict resolved? -  The conflict is not resolved, however it is ended by the Narrator running away from Paula and her friends.

4) What other important characters are involved in the conflict? - Paula Brown. Paula is a popular girl who lives down the Narrator's street. The Narrator was invited to Paula's Birthday.

5) What kind of person is the Protagonist? - The Narrator is a little girl whose stuck in a big world. She seems like a nice, likable person who is friendly to all.

6) What Evidence in the story leads me to this opinion of the Protagonist? - 

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit - The Narrator

The Actions of the Main Character (The Narrator) are quite specific to the character that we are following in the story. Since the views and feelings of the character are quite optimistic, the actions of the character are usually done for someone else's need, not for the Narrator. The Narrator always put someone else's problems before her own, and finding a way to answer their problem instead of hers. She would have a smile of her face, and always go places with a purpose. With these actions this shows that the character is quite friendly and also that she is quite selfless, these actions were a way of showing that the character is diligent to her friends and family.

The Dialogue that the Narrator gives in the short story, is also quite similar to the actions of the Narrator, quite positive and happy. However as the story progresses the dialogue of the Narrator becomes darker and the Narrator is introduce to everyday realism than instead of her fairytale world. At the beginning of the story she introduces herself and her family (Her Mother and the Uncle that lives with them), that she lives in the bay side of Boston, on Johnson Avenue, etc. Her comments seem quite happy and friendly, but as the story continues we see that reality is a lot harsher than what she thinks it is. When the Narrator sees the American POWs in Japanese Camps, her descriptive words become darker and she see the torment that some people are going through in the dark war times.

The Physical Descriptions of the Narrator is very limited, however there are some clues in the story which suggests the physicality of the Narrator. We can tell that the Narrator is a young girl around the age of eight or nine who must be quite little due to other hints that we are told in the story. There could also be the fact that the Narrator could be quite thin, since her family is not the wealthiest and that reason that in the story that she could not eat at one point could show that she has difficulties eating.

The Idiosyncrasies of the Narrator are quite similar that to those that are found in all young girls round that age, quite sweet and happy since they have not met the sadness of the real world. The Narrator also has possible movements that show her Idiosyncrasies. When blamed for ruining Paula Brown's new snowsuit and leaving her embarrassed in front of all her peers, she first denied the accusation but then she ran of home trying to get away from her problems. The fact trying to stand up for herself in front of everyone shows that she has a least some confidence to stand up against them but then when she ran off it also shows that she is also a bit conscious of what people think about her in these sorts of situations.

The Objects or possessions of the Narrator that are included in the story are limited to what information comes with it. The Narrator had a costume of the Hero that she looked up to in time of need, Superman. This costume gave the Narrator some sense of hope and used it when she would play with her friends at school to re-anact old Superman stories or make new ones up. Also since the Television was not invented yet the family relied on the use of radio to keep in contact with things. The Radio is where the Narrator and her family first heard of the news that the USA would be joining the Second World War, and that they should be careful of possible German bomb raids in America.

The Reactions of the Narrator are quite interesting since they reflected upon the sort of person the Narrator is. The main reaction that shows the Narrator is the reaction to the accusation of the Narrator tripping Paula Brown in her new snowsuit onto an oil slick, thus ruining her new suit. The reaction that was of the Narrators was quite effective to see who the narrator is, you see because of her quick denial of the blame by Paula shows that she can stick up for herself and that she is confident, however when more of her friends begin to blame the Narrator for ruining the suit she runs of home to be comforted by the safe environment, this shows that the Narrator knows when to surrender.

The Thoughts of the Narrator show the real insight of the Narrator's feelings and emotions of each situation within the story. When the War picture is shown at the movie theater before the showing of Snow White, the Narrators thoughts are quite positive that being invited to Paula Brown's party and then going to the movies afterwards was a great treat and what an opportunity she was being given. When the Narrator arrives at the theater and then watches the war film she describes the horrible images she sees of POW at Japanese Concentration camps, she sees the desperation of American prisoners who try to escape by attempting a breakout, however are quickly defeated by Japanese guards who shoot the Americans and kick their dead bodies remaining on the ground, the disgusting images makes the Narrator vomit with filth and disgust of these images. The thoughts of the Narrator on the war picture is when the Narrator's dialogue and thoughts begin to darken.

The Background Information that we are provided with in the lead up to the story is little but is enough to keep you in connection with the lead up to the events. Before the story starts we learn that the year the story was set on was the year that America joined the Second World War, the year the Narrator won the prize for drawing the best Civil defence signs and also the year the Narrator's uncle moved in with her and her mother. The information (excluding the Civil Defence signs) comes into the story later and gives a more understanding into the lead up of the events that actually happen in the story itself. The author may have done this because it provides a lead-up to the story.

The Decisions of the Narrator are quite quick thinking ones, there is nowhere (apart from the incident with Paula Brown's snowsuit) where the Narrator has a chance to think about the decisions that she has made. Several decisions of the Narrators such as the decision to run after the snowsuit incident show that the Narrator although caring to other's problems does not want to enter problems of her own, she wants to help other not herself. Many of her decisions like I said are quick ones, that she does not have a long amount to thing about.