The Great Gatsby

General:

1.      The narrator Nick, who moves out to New York and lives next door to Gatsby. Gatsby is rich and has an extravagant life, which throws a lot of huge parties. He was born poor and his real name is James Gatz. When he was young he fall in love with this rich girl name Daisy, but couldn’t marry her because he was poor boy. He goes to see Daisy and Tom, some friends he knows from Midwest. He finds out that Daisy is unhappy and Tom is having an affair. Tom wants Nick to meet his girlfriend Myrtle. Gatsby sends an invitation to Nick to one of his parties. Jordan tells Nick that Gatsby and Daisy were in love and she almost ran away with him. She almost didn’t marry Tom because she still loved Gatsby. Gatsby wants to invite Daisy to his house, so she can see he is rich now making their nothing holding them back from being together. Daisy goes to Gatsby house and discovers that they still love each other. Gatsby became rich after a friend; Dan Cody taught him good manners. Gatsby just wanted to get rich and get Daisy back. Tom tells Gatsby that the only reason he has made so much money was because he sold illegal liquor and daisy loved him for that reason. In an accident Myrtle was killed and daisy killed her because she was the one driving the car. Gatsby is mad because Daisy isn’t going to leave Tom for him.

2.       Learning that people social status has great impact on how you see people. Daisy loved Gatsby, but did marry him only because he was poor. Once he got rich she was married and it was too late. Sometimes you need to let the ones you love leave.

3.      The story is very ironic because Gatsby loves Daisy and the only way that he can be with her is if he is rich like her instead of being a poor man, once he gets rich it’s all too late for their love.

4.      Dramatic irony-Something is known by the reader but not by the characters. For instance, when Gatsby and Daisy have an affair. Tom doesn’t even find out he had not a clue that it was happening.
Situational irony- An event happens that is contrary to the expectations of the reader. At the very end of the story contrary to the expectations or at least the hopes of the readers, we were assuming that Daisy was going to leave Tom instead of staying with him.
Foreshadowing- This was used a lot in the book. For example, the reader could infer that Gatsby was going to take the blame for the murder of Myrtle because it was in his car. He only did it out of love to Daisy.

Setting: This was very important to the story because it was Midwest, which is full of new opportunity, wealth etc. just like Gatsby and Daisy.

CHARACTERIZATION

2.The syntax and diction use by the author were very simple to understand. He was straight forward and to the point. Also used a lot of imagery for instance when he was a poor man and then became rich you can picture that he put in a lot of hard work in to be able to marry his love.
3. I thought that the protagonist was both static and dynamic character. At first he was a certain way because he was poor, but after he fell in love he had to change according to himself to have Daisy. He saw that it was a necessity to have Daisy that she would only love him if he was rich, but even then when he became rich he still didn’t marry her because she was already married to a person worse than him.

4. Yes, I can relate to Gatsby because people let go of their loved ones in order to let them be happy. They know that they need to respect each other’s decision whether or not they approve even though it could bring them great pain.

The Toritilla Curtain

 

 General:

1) The novel starts off with two protagonists Delaney Mossbacher and Candido Rincon, both of them come from very different backgrounds. Delaney runs Candido over near Topanga Canyon and repays him with a 20 dollar bill. Each life is affecting the other. Candido is an illegal immigrant trying to survive with his teenage wife America while Delaney is an American citizen living a life with his wife Kyra and Jordan. Candido and his wife are trying to survive by finding work. Candido is injured, can't stop his wife from seeking work and when she does finds one she is underpaid especially since she is a woman.  Later America is raped. Candido and his wife are forced to move to Canoga Park where they are robbed. On Thanksgiving a fire occurs and some vandalism Delaney is now determined to find the people who did this, he believes that it is Candido because he is an illegal immigrant. The stereotypes force him to believe that he did it. America gave birth to a blind baby named Socorro. A flood occurs and takes Candido, America, Delaney and Socorro away. At the end we see Delaney fighting to survive, but Candido gives him a hand and helps him up and leaves Socorro.

2) The theme of the novel is survival. Candido fights for his family’s life in order to stay alive. He had no shelter, and safety. At the end Delany is fighting for his life because of the flood.

3) The author uses a tone of desperation. Delaney and his family moved to Arrollo Blanco because he wanted to be close to nature, but the building a wall would separate him from nature. He has no voice yet is desperate to continue to want to live his dream.  Candido is in need of money in order to support his wife and give her a better life.

4) The author used a setting with two different perspectives. They both lived in Topanga Canyon but Delaney in an American neighborhood and Candido homeless.  The way they live is because of their social standings in society.

Characterization
1) the author uses indirect characterization with both Delaney and Candido because you don’t know their personality until you see how they react to something or their background. They both are fighters, Candido fights to survive because he came to the United States with nothing. Delaney is very intelligent because he is able to work from home.  .
2) There were diction changes throughout the novel because of both perspectives in the story. Ones a Mexican who is uneducated, which is changing the style of writer because he writes educated when he is speaking because he isn’t an educated man and it would take that away. Delaney being very educated with a lot of knowledge this is the complete opposite of Candido.
3) There are two protagonists. Candido is a static character. He has dreams and will do anything to obtain them; even if he fails he knows that you only fail if you stop trying. Delaney’s life is almost perfect he doesn’t have a care in the world other than his family being ok which they are, but changes once he almost lost his life. Candido ends up being his life saver, who is a very lower class man and is seen as a down grade.
4) This novel seemed very lifer like to me because there are people out in the world that live like this and go through the same thing. They are things that are happening right now to the everyday people like Delaney and Candido. Many immigrants move into the United States to get better lives and just like Candido.

Allegory of the Cave by Plato

 

GENERAL:

 
1. This story is about men who were born and raised in a cave basically chained, unable to see what the world is like outside the cave. The men are facing a wall with a fire behind it and there is a bridge which allows people to cross which shows shadows of whoever crosses it. Leaving them with the only image they have of the outside life. They have no knowledge of outside life. Until one man breaks free to seek the knowledge of how life works outside the cave. Once he experienced the real world he came back to the cave to help the others so they can see the outside world.

2. As Gandhi said “you are the change you wish to see.” It’s saying that the only way that you will become successful or live life is if you do something about it.
 

.

3. The tone is unbelievable. The other prisoners did believe that the freed prisoner was capable to handle the change from the cave and the real world especially since he was the first on from the cave who went out to experience the real world.

4. Imagery- " He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day?"
Simile- "But then, if I am right, certain professors of education must be wrong when they say that they can put a knowledge into the soul which was not there before, like sight into blind eyes." Its saying that him leaving is setting him up to fail because he had never done anything like that there for he is capable of doing so.
Rhetorical Question- Plato used a lot of rhetorical questions, I believe that he did that to emphasis important things.” would he not be ridiculous? "

CHARACTERIZATION:

2.  The way that Plato approaches both types of prisoners, the ones who left and the ones who stayed he starts off by saying that the freed prisoner would do good because he hadn’t been surround by the real world. Since he did fine he says the others as cowards for not taking the opportunity to experience the real world.
- 

3. The freed prisoner expresses round and static characteristics in the story because they evolve throughout the story. He was able to make a big decision that no one has done before that is life changing. Also since the freed prisoner went from a cave prisoner into a human being with great knowledge who wants to bring it back to the cave. Showing that he has grown as a person.

4. After reading this story I felt it was real because it was relatable in today’s society. Such as school because there are many students who are at school and only do the bare minimum and don’t think about going to college to pursue a career that will benefit them in the future because that is the only thing that is expected of the students just like in the cave which was to stay there forever.

Allegory of the cave Sonnet

Experience and opportunity is something that they will never know

Living in the cave has given them nothing

People like you and I

Will be the ones to break the chains for freedom

Being free gives someone a chance of reality

One being able to be free

Seeing the opportunity of the reality

In hope of something better

Seeing the light is a sign for a brighter future

With a lot to gain

Not a lot to lose

But choosing to go back it’s the end of this all

The bravest of them all

Will have the best life

Plato Study questions

Questions :
1. According to Socrates, what does the Allegory of the Cave represent?

2. What are the key elements in the imagery used in the allegory?

3. What are some things the allegory suggests about the process of enlightenment or education?

4. What do the imagery of "shackles" and the "cave" suggest about the perspective of the cave dwellers or prisoners?

5. In society today or in your own life, what sorts of things shackle the mind?

6. Compare the perspective of the freed prisoner with the cave prisoners?

7. According to the allegory, lack of clarity or intellectual confusion can occur in two distinct ways or contexts. What are they?

8. According to the allegory, how do cave prisoners get free? What does this suggest about intellectual freedom?

9. The allegory presupposes that there is a distinction between appearances and reality. Do you agree? Why or why not?

10. If Socrates is incorrect in his assumption that there is a distinction between reality and appearances, what are the two alternative metaphysical assumptions?

Answers:


1. The allegory of the cave represents all that is maintained hidden from people is caused bwcause they are so comfortable there that they are afraid of change.
2. The cave represents the separation from the outside world. The outside world is filled with new discoveries and many opportunities.
3. The prisoners are held from leaving the cave. They only know what they see in the cave and know what they have learned in the cave.
4. The prisoners have limited experience and opportunities because they live in the cave.
5. School is a great. students are use to being to what to know, but don't challenge themselves. They can take AP courses to challenge them that can also take them out of their comfort zone and challenge them with more difficult concepts and leaving the cave.
6. The freed prisoner is exposed to the outside world. The things they are scared to experience. The freed prisoner knows the difference from the world outside of the cave and can now choose.
7. A person can choose to experience different things or they can stay in their comfort.
8. Prisoners are freed if they are shown the way out. People must be taught the different paths there are in life but it is up to us to choose
9. There is a difference between appearances and reality. You can start with appearances but it must not stop because appearances don't always tell the truth but they often give insight into the truth.

Sonnet Analysis Part1

The poem talks about the important things in life slip away very easily. Making him realize that he can't hold on to it. Leaving him wondering if it all was a dream.

Big question

What is the true meaning of life? Is it different for everyone?

Bless Me Ultima

General :

The novel is about a Mexican boy names Antonio Marez who lives with his family in New Mexico. Antonio's mom and dad have two complete ideas for what they want him to be. She was him to become a priest to the community of farmers and his dad wants him to be a cowboy. The reason that Ultima comes to live with the Marez family because she is a good friend to his mother. Ultima knows a lot about good and evil. She knows how to cure people with herbs and grains. Antonio is questions his future life. Ultima tells him stories and legends of his ancestors and so he comes to understand how the history. He learns that theirs more powers from those taught by the catholic church. His dad killed lupito an now he is worried that he is going to hell. He wants to find out a way to help his dad. Antonio learn's so much from Ultima that when her spirit dies he know what that means to his future.

2. The theme in the novel was religion and culture. Antonio was starting his first communion which taught him about god. which lets the reader assume that he was catholic, so his family and him believe a lot in god. Also Ultima also taught him a lot about his real culture. She told him stories and legends about his ancestors to let him know where he came from.

3. The authors used a lot of foreshowing. We get hints, clues, or symbols that represent what will happen in the future. For example when the sheriff got killed and Antonio's dad was there so we knew that he was going to get in trouble because he was there. Also when Narciso killed Ultima's owl, the owl signified Ultima's spirit, so we can assume that she was going to die.

4.Allusion: When Narciso kills the owl we know that Ultima is going to die because the owl is symbolizes her spirit which dies as well as the owl. Aphorism: Someone to bewitched can be an opinion and sometimes it can be true base on someone's beliefs.Irony: It was an irony when Antonio and Cico when to see the golden carp. This is an irony because those fishes dont exist. It's just a believe by people.Diction: The diction the author uses throughout the novel is very simple to understand. Conflict: The conflict of the novel was that Ultima had something to do with the evil. Flashbacks: The author uses a lot of these to make the novel more interesting. For example Antonio have a lot of flashbacks about his family and events about his own life. Point of view: This element was very important to the novel because we saw that plot from the eyes of six year old boy. It would have been different from Ultima's or someone else perspective.
Tragedy: In the novel see saw a few deaths the sheriff's, lupito, and most imprtantly Ultima's dead.

Characterization:

1.Antonio and Ultima are examples of direct characterization because they were the main characters and the authors always talked about them and their qualities. We are able to know the character by what the author has told use by the actions of character. Maria and Grabiel, (Antonio's parents) are example of indirect characterization because they were secondary characters, so not very much was said about them. As a reader you would have to make assumptions of what they were like by what they said or what other characters said about them.

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character
The author's syntax and diction stays te same through out the whole novel. The author uses simple and straight forward.

3. The protagonist was a dynamic and round character because at the beginning of the novel he didn't have a lot of knowledge and by the end he had the knowledge that Ultima taught him. Antonio was a round character. We see his transformation from the beginning to end.


4.Yes the character Antonio made the Novel very realistic because it can be relatable. When I was reading this novel I felt I was reading about a family members life because they were very similar.