Mythology and adverbial clauses, wk. 11

 "     A few days after he bought the car,  he brought each of us children up to it, one at a time, raised the hood, and told us to look inside and see if we could find the birdie in the engine. While our backs where turned, he'd tiptoe back to the driver's seat - a jolly Santa Clause in mufti - and press down on the horn.

     'Kadookah, Kadookah.' The horn blaring right in your ear was frightening and you'd jump away in hurt amazement. Dad would laugh until the tears came to his eyes."
                                           ~from, Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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 My brother and I are currently reading this book together, and we laughed so long and hard over this part, I just had to share it! Not only is it absolutely hilarious, but it shows the tough love and humor that a lot of fathers have. Truthfully, this sounds kind of like something my Dad would do! He is full of surprises, especially if we have recently pulled a joke on him. Sure, he's a good sport when a joke gets pulled on him, but watch out! Overall, this passage is a perfect one for describing fathers, and my brother and I still laugh about it! 

Angel Levine w/adjectival clauses, wk. 10

 " But Bella's was bursting with strains of blues. Through the window Manischewitz recognized the dancing crowd and among them sought Levine. "..." Levine had shed his old clothes, wore a shiny new checkered suit, pearl gray derby, cigar, and big two-toned button shoes. To the tailor's dismay, a drunken gaze had settled upon Levine's formerly dignified face.
                                                                ~ from Angel Levine, by Bernard Malamud
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What!? The angel isn't an angel! I believe this piece to be the climax of the story. It is where the main character discovers that this man whom he thought was an angel sent from God isn't in fact and angel, which is absurd to him - how could he not be one? The tailor had prayed for... a deliverer of sorts, and he ended up with Levine, who was just beginning to warm up to the role of being this angel figure, sent to answer all of the tailor's prayers. Then he discovers Levine, possibly drunk, in a bar with a bunch of other men. (with a lady on his lap, and a cigar in his mouth) This just can't be! I like the emotion of this particular part of the story. 

The Introduction to the New Telemachus

  (Pallas Athena)   " 'You must not cling to your boyhood any longer-- it's time you were a man... And you, my friend--how tall and handsome I see you now--be brave, you too, so men to come will sing your praises down the years.' "

 (Telemachus, the man) " ' Oh stranger,' heedful Telemachus replied, ' indeed I will. You've counseled me with so much kindness now, like a father to a son. I won't forget a word...' "

                                                      ~ from The Odyssey, by Homer, pg. 87

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  In this section from The Odyssey, Homer, as the author, is using Athena developing the character of Prince Telemachus - the young son of long-lost Odysseus. In the begging of the book, Telemachus is just a 'little' boy, who is still so because he has lacked a fatherly figure since he was an infant. He has grown up among gentle women and rough, unrespectable men. In consideration of this, the author introduces the goddess Athena as a man, a sort of fatherly one, to encourage Telemachus into becoming a man himself - ready to protect his father's household and wife. 

      At this point in the chapter, on page 87, we see that Athena has succeeded in her mission -  making Telemachus into a man. As we leave this page, the young Prince is strong in the new courage of his manhood. 

Blog entry from week 4

 "The informer, another girl in my class, whispered that it was Svetlana who envied me - not my 'fairy tale' past but, of all things, my braids, my less than shining-clean long braids... I kept the secret but I began my campaign to have my braids cut off. The direct approach didn't work... The next evening Mother told me curtly that she was going to cut my hair, but it was because there was no soap and for no other reason, certainly not because I wanted to look like everyone else... Now I had a best friend."
                                                ~From, "The Endless Steppe", by Esther Hautzig
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  I love in this passage how Esther, who's point of view the story is being told from, is willing to give up her prized possessions, her braids, in order to have a best friend. She was really anxious and desperate! Before this point, Svetlana has totally ignored her, yet she is nice to other children who are poorer than Esther. How she longed for Svetlana's friendship! So when an answer to her predicament arises, she carries out the act without hesitation, even though it means chopping her beautiful braids off from around her head. But in the end, she is finally blessed with a best friend! I'd like to point out, though, that Esther only cut her braids when she realized they were setting her apart from Svetlana and the others. She did it so the other girls wouldn't covet her - her heart was to not make the other girls feel inferior. 

Writing About Literature

 "Literature helps us grow, both personally and intellectually. It opens doors for us. It stretches our minds. It develops our imagination, increases our understanding, and enlarges our power of sympathy. It helps us see beauty in the world around us......It makes us human."
                                                                                  ~Edgar V. Roberts, Writing About Literature, pg.2
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  This partial paragraph, through the words and ideas the author used, points to all people who are old enough and civilized enough to read. It does open doors for us, doors that lead to survival. The kind of doors I'm talking about are literal doors that might open into a library, bookstore, school building, office or other work building, your Grandma's attic, and so much more. These places and others that hold literature make us who we are, an educated, well-informed, well-spoken generation.  And as time moves on and new generations are born,  more opportunities to read and write open. More books are being written, and more stories told.

'How to Read Literature Like a Professor'

" Like Carter, Garcia Marquez plays on our notions of wings and flight to explore the situation's ironic possibilities. In fact, he even goes further in some ways. His winged character is literally caged; moreover, he's dirty and unkempt and bug-ridden, not at all what we expect from potential angels. On one level, the story asks us if we would recognize the Second Coming if it occurred, and perhaps it reminds us that the Messiah was not generally acknowledged when he did come. The angel doesn't look like an angel, just as the King didn't look like a king, certainly not like the sort of military ruler the Hebrews had expected. Does the old man choose not to fly? Has he been reduced in power and appearance purposely? The story never says, and in its silence it poses many questions. "
                                                                                                                                 

  This chapter about the mystic wonders of flight got me to thinking more than any other chapter has so far. My comment for the whole chapter would be, " If humans could fly, whether we had wings or invisible super-powers, I'll bet we'd regret it for one reason or another." Later on in this chapter Foster says that flight is freedom, but for the character in the book, "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings", the author, Garcia Marquez, wrote that flight made his character to be "literally caged" on planet earth. This character, the old man mentioned in the title,  probably was choosing not to fly because of the dangers that being the only human-like thing on the whole planet that could fly would have posed for him. I like how Foster contrasts this character with Christ when he came to Earth as a baby. Not a whole lot of people recognized him as even a remotely possible candidate for King, as perfect as he was, until he was approx. 12 years old. That was when the first teaching of Jesus' ministry was recorded. Over all, I like the possible hidden meaning that Foster reveals in Marquez's book. I think that this paragraph in particular will help me to find hidden meaning in literature, as well. 

'How to Read Literature Like a Professor'

 " What about the dope they smoke afterwards?

    Passing a joint doesn't quite resemble the wafer and the chalice, does it? But thinking symbolically, where's the difference, really? Please note, I am not suggesting that illicit drugs are required to break down social barriers. On the other hand, here is a substance they can take into their bodies in a shared, almost ritualistic experience. Once again, the act says, 'I'm with you, I share this moment with you, I feel a bond of community with you.' It may be a moment of even greater trust. In any case, the alcohol at supper and the marijuana after combine to relax the narrator so he can receive the full force of his insight, so he can share in the drawing of a cathedral (which, incidentally, is a place of communion)."

  ~ Thomas C. Foster, How to Read Literature Like a Professor, page 11 

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My summary of this whole paragraph would be that, so far, it seems to be the most far-fetched paragraph in the book. Although he did make it clear that illicit drugs are NOT required to break down social barriers, he did imply that illicit drugs are a good way to do that. I am against this, for the most part because drugs are hard on your body and illegal drugs are illegal for good reasons, but also because there are MUCH better ways to break the ice with someone you want to know better, or come closer to. Personally, drugs are only good for when you want to ruin your life, spend it in jail, or ruin someone else's life. So how DO you come closely acquainted with fellow man? There are many different ways aimed for different age groups. Young girls have friendship bracelets, or buy the same shoes at the same place,and the same time. Boys ride bikes or four-wheelers together, or wear the same shirts to school. Older women bond through a shared cup of coffee, or a special trip. Men enjoy eating together, or watching live college football (or both at the same time) 

But drinking and smoking illegal drugs, seriously? That's NOT what I would refer to as communion.