Theme: It is hard to be yourself when you have others judging you, so you become what they think of you.
I know this theme is vague, like becoming yourself. The last part i will need to clear up as well. I want to improve upon this, but I think my conept is still good.
"But before Ah seen de picture Ah seen de picture Ah thought Ah wuz just like de rest." p.9
"Me, married? Naw, Nanny, no ma'am!.." p.12
"A pretty doll-baby lak you is made to sit on de front porch and rock and fan yo'self and ear p'taters dat other folks plant just special for you." p29
"Thank yuh fuh yo' compliments, but mah wife don't know nothin' 'bout no speech-makin. She's uh woman and her place is in de home. p43
"When you pull down yo' britches, you look lak de change uh life. p79
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Journal #9
Germaine made the hardest decision of his life. Today was the day he was going back to his home state, Iowa. Although he was only 12, Germaine had experienced a lot of things. He spent most of his life living in San Jose. He lived in small apartments. He went to school and was a social outcast. He tried to hangout with certain groups and fit in with everybody, but always looked the fool.
It all began when Germain was seven years old during spring time. San Jose was witnessing a beautiful day. The sky was as blue and patchy as Germain's torn jeans during a joyful day at the park. Around seven o' clock, most of the young kids started to return back to their homes for dinner. The rest of the kids, including Germaine, still wanted to play. The day was growing older and the skies started to dim. There wasn't much light out and the kids felt like it was the perfect setting to play a game of cops and robbers.
\ "Germaine is the cop and the rest of us is the robber!" a couple kids shouted because they all knew Germaine loved being the cop. Germaine took his role very seriously. He wanted to show people how good he was at playing this game. Germaine caught everybody very quickly, except for Hidalgo. Hidalgo was fast. Germaine was trying to catch Hidalgo and everybody was shouting. Hidalgo was just very quick. Germaine thought about giving up because he was all out of breathe, but then he thought he had to impress everyone and stop Hidalgo. Germaine saw a rock and he thought about throwing the rock at Hidalgo. He didn;t think of how bad it could hurt him, he just thought that it was the only way he could stop Hidalgo and make everyone think he was cool. Germaine chucked the rock and it smashed and cracked Hidalgo's head. Germaine made the wrong decision and this was when he became a social outcast.
One day at school, Germaine was sitting by his lonesome self during lunch. A group of kids were pointing and laughing at Germaine. The kids noticed Germaine's butt crack was showing due to his unfitting shorts.
"I adore your shorts Germaine!" said Lucy, a pretty girl thought Germaine.
"You do?" Germaine was surprised.
"Yes! You should wear them more often. They always bring a smile to my face," Lucy giggled.
Germaine thought Lucy actually like those shorts, so he wore them all the time, even though he thought they were uncomfortable. He thought he was impressing her. Later Germaine found out everybody made fun of him because his crack was showing. All he was doing was trying to impress Lucy. He did not even like those shorts.
Germaine always fell into peer pressure. He only did things because he wanted to impress people. One time, he let some person cheat off of him during a test and he got caught. He was sent to the principle's office. His Aunt Gemimma had a talk with him.
"Why did you let Hank cheat off you? You are a smart guy. Why would you do a dumb thing like that?" asked his aunt with great concern.
"Well Hank was telling me how awesome I would be if I let him cheat," replied Germaine with tears forming underneath his eye lids. His aunt rolled her eyes
"Did letting him cheat make you feel good and awesome like he said you would be?"
"Not at all. He told me I was cool, but never talked to me again,"said Germaine in a soft low voice.
"You need to understand that trying to make yourself something others want you to be will not always be good. In fact, the only thing that will make you happy is yourself and by doing what you want."
A bit after this incident, Gemaine's aunt died. He had a choice to either live with his uncle and go back to Iowa form where they came from, or stay in San Jose, but live in a foster home. Germaine wasn't as much of an outcast as he used to be. He was known for being the smartest kid in his class, which everybody liked him because he helped others learn. He thought back to his Aunt Gemmima. She told him that he shouldn't do what others' wanted him to do, but do what he wants to do. Germaine decided to return to his home state.
The theme i tried to use was that you have to be able to understand your goals in life in order to make decisions, otherwise you risk allowing others' judgement and wishes to dictate how you live your life.
Some techniques i used was dramatic irony on how we knew that the little girl was making fun of Germaine, but he didn't. This was just to emphasize the theme that you shouldn't do things because of others.
I used a Mentor to pretty much throw the theme out and make it obvious. Although, I just now realized I shouldn't make the theme come out obvious, but i already wrote pastiche.
I used Flashback on Germaine's childhood to show how important this theme is to many people's life and how often it can occur.
It all began when Germain was seven years old during spring time. San Jose was witnessing a beautiful day. The sky was as blue and patchy as Germain's torn jeans during a joyful day at the park. Around seven o' clock, most of the young kids started to return back to their homes for dinner. The rest of the kids, including Germaine, still wanted to play. The day was growing older and the skies started to dim. There wasn't much light out and the kids felt like it was the perfect setting to play a game of cops and robbers.
\ "Germaine is the cop and the rest of us is the robber!" a couple kids shouted because they all knew Germaine loved being the cop. Germaine took his role very seriously. He wanted to show people how good he was at playing this game. Germaine caught everybody very quickly, except for Hidalgo. Hidalgo was fast. Germaine was trying to catch Hidalgo and everybody was shouting. Hidalgo was just very quick. Germaine thought about giving up because he was all out of breathe, but then he thought he had to impress everyone and stop Hidalgo. Germaine saw a rock and he thought about throwing the rock at Hidalgo. He didn;t think of how bad it could hurt him, he just thought that it was the only way he could stop Hidalgo and make everyone think he was cool. Germaine chucked the rock and it smashed and cracked Hidalgo's head. Germaine made the wrong decision and this was when he became a social outcast.
One day at school, Germaine was sitting by his lonesome self during lunch. A group of kids were pointing and laughing at Germaine. The kids noticed Germaine's butt crack was showing due to his unfitting shorts.
"I adore your shorts Germaine!" said Lucy, a pretty girl thought Germaine.
"You do?" Germaine was surprised.
"Yes! You should wear them more often. They always bring a smile to my face," Lucy giggled.
Germaine thought Lucy actually like those shorts, so he wore them all the time, even though he thought they were uncomfortable. He thought he was impressing her. Later Germaine found out everybody made fun of him because his crack was showing. All he was doing was trying to impress Lucy. He did not even like those shorts.
Germaine always fell into peer pressure. He only did things because he wanted to impress people. One time, he let some person cheat off of him during a test and he got caught. He was sent to the principle's office. His Aunt Gemimma had a talk with him.
"Why did you let Hank cheat off you? You are a smart guy. Why would you do a dumb thing like that?" asked his aunt with great concern.
"Well Hank was telling me how awesome I would be if I let him cheat," replied Germaine with tears forming underneath his eye lids. His aunt rolled her eyes
"Did letting him cheat make you feel good and awesome like he said you would be?"
"Not at all. He told me I was cool, but never talked to me again,"said Germaine in a soft low voice.
"You need to understand that trying to make yourself something others want you to be will not always be good. In fact, the only thing that will make you happy is yourself and by doing what you want."
A bit after this incident, Gemaine's aunt died. He had a choice to either live with his uncle and go back to Iowa form where they came from, or stay in San Jose, but live in a foster home. Germaine wasn't as much of an outcast as he used to be. He was known for being the smartest kid in his class, which everybody liked him because he helped others learn. He thought back to his Aunt Gemmima. She told him that he shouldn't do what others' wanted him to do, but do what he wants to do. Germaine decided to return to his home state.
The theme i tried to use was that you have to be able to understand your goals in life in order to make decisions, otherwise you risk allowing others' judgement and wishes to dictate how you live your life.
Some techniques i used was dramatic irony on how we knew that the little girl was making fun of Germaine, but he didn't. This was just to emphasize the theme that you shouldn't do things because of others.
I used a Mentor to pretty much throw the theme out and make it obvious. Although, I just now realized I shouldn't make the theme come out obvious, but i already wrote pastiche.
I used Flashback on Germaine's childhood to show how important this theme is to many people's life and how often it can occur.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Journal #8
In the first paragraph of page 100, Hurston uses simple sentences. These sentences emphasize what Janie is thinking. These are her inner thoughts on what Tea Cake is doing and that he might be fooling with her. This technique characterizes Janie making her seem worried and cautious and that she assumes things.
p108, the first paragraph has lots of figurative language in it to show Janie's emotions. She feels doubtful. She is trying to doubt her love for Tea Cake, and is trying to doubt his love for her. It is the first time she ever felt like this. This technique of figurative language sets the atmosphere and mood Janie is in. It contains lots of imagery where you feel like you are part of Janie and feel like you are experiencing it too.
"De men wuz talkin' bout it in de grove tuhday and givin' her and Tea Cake both de devil." p111
Hurston uses dialogue for this particular technique. In this passage, it talks about all the people discussing about Janie and that what she is doing is bad. This technique is used to give an outside view of the main event and main character. It makes the story more interesting and makes the reader if this outside conflict will turn out to be a bigger problem then what it really is.
p108, the first paragraph has lots of figurative language in it to show Janie's emotions. She feels doubtful. She is trying to doubt her love for Tea Cake, and is trying to doubt his love for her. It is the first time she ever felt like this. This technique of figurative language sets the atmosphere and mood Janie is in. It contains lots of imagery where you feel like you are part of Janie and feel like you are experiencing it too.
"De men wuz talkin' bout it in de grove tuhday and givin' her and Tea Cake both de devil." p111
Hurston uses dialogue for this particular technique. In this passage, it talks about all the people discussing about Janie and that what she is doing is bad. This technique is used to give an outside view of the main event and main character. It makes the story more interesting and makes the reader if this outside conflict will turn out to be a bigger problem then what it really is.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Journal #7
And then Buck smiled upon his own Glory. Glory, it's paws grasping its prey. The king of the jungle that filled like a jelly bean container, mysterious with unknown flavors. What discovery must Glory find, and what tools gives this beast Glory? He uses his sense of smell to pick out his flavor. Sniffing and smelling whenever he is hungry,waiting for the right scent that satisfies his needs. Hunting for hours after the last target failed. He was turning the wrench the opposite way forgetting his righty tighty and lefty loosey. He was sweating and struggling. Poor Buck! He shouldn't have stripped the nut. He tried using his own strength, but that wasn't enough. Building muscles are for tough jobs like these, but they just couldn't apply enough power. The machine was a stickler. Always breaking down and such. Maybe the machine is unrepairable. That was what Buck had thought. So as he walked on out of the shop, he saw the power tools. The shop was massive, so he thought to take a gander around the shop, and he then saw the power tools. Determined that their must be a way to fix the machine. He almost gave up on the job. Perseverance, his tools, helped Buck fix the machine.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Journal #6
The second sentence ," Death, the stranger being with the huge sqaure toes who lived way in the west." This makes me feel a little confused on exactly who is death, but i know death is a character in this book and is playing a significant role.
"What need has Death for a cover, and what winds can blow against him?" From this sentence, I'm realizing Zoa Neale Hurston is suggesting Death is very powerful if no wind blows against him because there will be notihing going against Death, thus Death is unstoppable.
The author states that Death has been standing over the world over looking it before there was a where or a when or a then. I think this means that even the most powerful men, I think referring to Joe, that the most pwerful men can still lose all their power and look very weak from nature because nature has excisted vefore men, and will excist after men.
I think, this might be overthinking, but I think that she parallels birds and the wind together. A bird flies better when the wind is going along with the bird, which resembles that life is going good. Then when the wind is blowing against the bird, the bird is going to suffer through harsh times. And when the bird loses all of its feathers, t wont go anywhere and the wind can't take it anywhere. She was talking that Janie would find a feather the birds wings, and that means that the bird is getting closer to death.
"What need has Death for a cover, and what winds can blow against him?" From this sentence, I'm realizing Zoa Neale Hurston is suggesting Death is very powerful if no wind blows against him because there will be notihing going against Death, thus Death is unstoppable.
The author states that Death has been standing over the world over looking it before there was a where or a when or a then. I think this means that even the most powerful men, I think referring to Joe, that the most pwerful men can still lose all their power and look very weak from nature because nature has excisted vefore men, and will excist after men.
I think, this might be overthinking, but I think that she parallels birds and the wind together. A bird flies better when the wind is going along with the bird, which resembles that life is going good. Then when the wind is blowing against the bird, the bird is going to suffer through harsh times. And when the bird loses all of its feathers, t wont go anywhere and the wind can't take it anywhere. She was talking that Janie would find a feather the birds wings, and that means that the bird is getting closer to death.
Journal #5
Thesis Statement:
Zoa Neale Hurston uses wind throughout the enitre book and to symbolize power and along with power, change will occur. Whenever the wind is blowing hard, it can blow anything in it's direction depending on how powerful it is.
Zoa Neale Hurston uses wind throughout the enitre book and to symbolize power and along with power, change will occur. Whenever the wind is blowing hard, it can blow anything in it's direction depending on how powerful it is.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Journal #4
Pattern#1
Joe and power. A pattern of Joe having lots of power has been occurring a lot throughout chapter 5 and 6. People think he has lots of power and he thinks he does too. This power is allowing him to do pretty much whatever he wants and make people do whatever he wants.
ex: They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down. (p50)
ex:
Pattern #2
Wind: Wind has been used to describe many things so far in this book. I think the wind describes power and may relate to power because power can destroy things when its really strong and wind can do the same. They can be used interchangeably at times.
ex: "He's a whirlwind among breezes," Jeff Bruce threw in.
"Speakin' of winds, he's de wind and we'se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows." (p49)
Pattern #3
The Oak tree/trees in general: Oak trees. In all honesty, i forgot why i tabbed the oak tree, besides it seeming like it was a motif.
ex: In the first place everybody was late in coming; then the next thing as soon as they heard where Jody was they kept right on up there where the new limber was rattling off the wagon and being piled under the big live oak tree. (p40)
Joe and power. A pattern of Joe having lots of power has been occurring a lot throughout chapter 5 and 6. People think he has lots of power and he thinks he does too. This power is allowing him to do pretty much whatever he wants and make people do whatever he wants.
ex: They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down. (p50)
ex:
Pattern #2
Wind: Wind has been used to describe many things so far in this book. I think the wind describes power and may relate to power because power can destroy things when its really strong and wind can do the same. They can be used interchangeably at times.
ex: "He's a whirlwind among breezes," Jeff Bruce threw in.
"Speakin' of winds, he's de wind and we'se de grass. We bend which ever way he blows." (p49)
Pattern #3
The Oak tree/trees in general: Oak trees. In all honesty, i forgot why i tabbed the oak tree, besides it seeming like it was a motif.
ex: In the first place everybody was late in coming; then the next thing as soon as they heard where Jody was they kept right on up there where the new limber was rattling off the wagon and being piled under the big live oak tree. (p40)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Journal #3
PART 1: I researched a little bit on Walter Francis White. Walter Francis White was an African-American civil rights activist. He was one of the founders of the Harlem Renaissance. Zora Neale Hurston accused him for stealing costumes from her play, The Great Day. He never returned the costumes, even after she mailed and pleaded him. He led the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Walter White joined this staff in 1918 and led from 1931 to 1955. He recruited a bunch of people and set up the Legal Defense Fund.
PART 2: Dialect Rules
1: pronunciation
"h" becomes "g" (here-gere)
"th becomes "f" (that-fat) (the-fee or fuh)
"g" becomes "qu"
2: Grammar
verbs all past tense
future tense verbs will be normal tense
every sentence starts with verb
3. Phrases
person.
I'm not treading the same book.- I don't get you.
Fiving your frandma a visit- chill out and relax.
alien minded- crazy
PART 3: Story
Walter Francis White and Biblo (White's imaginary dream character) are in an argument. Biblo is trying to tell Walter to return to Zora Neale Hurston's costumes in the play, The Great Day. He will not return them and found himself arguing with his conscious in his dream.
"Returned you must costumes to Zora." Biblo told Walter while slanting his eyebrows in a concerned manner.
"No, I will not return them. They are mine now." replied Walter.
"Gurted Zora's feelinqus, you are," responded Biblo quickly, " Gurted people's feelinqus do you like?"
"Of course I don't. A man like me, who has been fighting for African-American rights, proves i care for others." Walter said with a face that looked like he just won a debate.
"Cared you did not about Zora's feeliqus fen?" Bilbo asked curiously.
"Must you keep on pushing my buttons?" Walter asked while clenching his fists.
"Yes. Would I," while starring and daydreaming about Zora, Biblo said."Was Zora now currently a lovely person."
"I know she is. I care about her a ton. She is a wonderful lady." said Walter.
"Read the same book you are not. Liked her, if you did, keeped her costumes you did fen?" asked Biblo.
"Fine already!" screamed Walter, "You are driving me crazy!"
"Feeze Walter. Cooled down and fiving your frandma a visit." Biblo said sarcastically.
"Alright Biblo. Do you really want to know why I have taken Zora's costumes?" Walter asked Biblo calmly.
"Yes. Say to me. Fought everybody fat you was alien minded." Biblo told Walter.
"Well, you see Biblo..:" Walter started to explain why he is not retuning the costumes.
"Was fis better be!"rudely interrupting Walter, Biblo shouted while Walter was still talking.
"Okay, be quiet and listen! So, the reason why I have not returned Zora her cost..." Boom! A bunch of members from the Ku Klux Klan broke into Walter's house and woke him up.
"Are you Walter Francis White?" shouted a member.
PART 2: Dialect Rules
1: pronunciation
"h" becomes "g" (here-gere)
"th becomes "f" (that-fat) (the-fee or fuh)
"g" becomes "qu"
2: Grammar
verbs all past tense
future tense verbs will be normal tense
every sentence starts with verb
3. Phrases
person.
I'm not treading the same book.- I don't get you.
Fiving your frandma a visit- chill out and relax.
alien minded- crazy
PART 3: Story
Walter Francis White and Biblo (White's imaginary dream character) are in an argument. Biblo is trying to tell Walter to return to Zora Neale Hurston's costumes in the play, The Great Day. He will not return them and found himself arguing with his conscious in his dream.
"Returned you must costumes to Zora." Biblo told Walter while slanting his eyebrows in a concerned manner.
"No, I will not return them. They are mine now." replied Walter.
"Gurted Zora's feelinqus, you are," responded Biblo quickly, " Gurted people's feelinqus do you like?"
"Of course I don't. A man like me, who has been fighting for African-American rights, proves i care for others." Walter said with a face that looked like he just won a debate.
"Cared you did not about Zora's feeliqus fen?" Bilbo asked curiously.
"Must you keep on pushing my buttons?" Walter asked while clenching his fists.
"Yes. Would I," while starring and daydreaming about Zora, Biblo said."Was Zora now currently a lovely person."
"I know she is. I care about her a ton. She is a wonderful lady." said Walter.
"Read the same book you are not. Liked her, if you did, keeped her costumes you did fen?" asked Biblo.
"Fine already!" screamed Walter, "You are driving me crazy!"
"Feeze Walter. Cooled down and fiving your frandma a visit." Biblo said sarcastically.
"Alright Biblo. Do you really want to know why I have taken Zora's costumes?" Walter asked Biblo calmly.
"Yes. Say to me. Fought everybody fat you was alien minded." Biblo told Walter.
"Well, you see Biblo..:" Walter started to explain why he is not retuning the costumes.
"Was fis better be!"rudely interrupting Walter, Biblo shouted while Walter was still talking.
"Okay, be quiet and listen! So, the reason why I have not returned Zora her cost..." Boom! A bunch of members from the Ku Klux Klan broke into Walter's house and woke him up.
"Are you Walter Francis White?" shouted a member.
(end of chapter)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Journal #2
"' Tain't Logan Killicks Ah wants you to have, baby, it's protection. Ah ain't gittin' ole, honey. Ah'm done ole. One mornin' soon, now, de angel wid de sword is gointuh stop by here. De day and de hour is hid from me, but it won't be long. As ast de Lawd when you was uh infant in mah arms to let me stay here till you got grown. He done spared me to see de day. Mah daily prayer now is tuh let dese golden moments rolls on a few days longer till Ah see you safe in life"
- The author obviously writes in a style that when you read, it is hard to understand. The style how the blacks used to talk back around the time where the setting takes place.
- done is italicized to emphasize Nanny's tone when she is speaking.
- The tone in this paragraph is a mix of sadness and a tone that has a important part where one learns something.
- Day is used several times to represent time and that time plays a significant role throughout this story and in life in general.
- The excessive usage of commas while Nanny speaks means she is calm while speaking to Janie.
- Nanny talks about the lord and talks about praying, so this characterizes her and makes her seem very religious.
- The last sentence has many words ending in "s" and the author may have done this to make this sentence stand out more to the others.
- The last sentence's purpose to stand out can be foreshadow and show that without Nanny, Janie will not be safe.
Journal #1
If I were to tell my entire life story, I would tell it to my step sister. She is currently living in Monmouth, Oregon and i attending Western Oregon University. I would begin it during a time right before she left my family and it changed my perception of our world today.
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