Raisin in the Sun. A III sc 1

5/13/14 Raisin in the Sun A III: sc 1

Summary: Asagai asks for Beneatha's hand in marriage, and to return to Africa with him to become a doctor there. On the other hand, Walter almost gives in to the man's offer to not move to the white neighborhood, but then decides not to.

Quote: “There is always something left to love. And if you havent learned that, you aint learned nothing.”

Sig of Quote: This quote practically describes the entire book. Through all the stuff the Youngers have to go through, they always have eachother. Nothing can take their love away as they took away their money.

Reflection: The love in this play is amazing. This family knows what their priorities are: each other. They have so many obstacles that they have faced, and they may have made some mistakes, done one another wrong, but they always forgive and forget. They are what hold each other down. Like Ruth and Mama keep Walter from doing something even stupider when hes drunk. Like Walter and Mama give Beneatha advice on her love life. Like how Mama cares so much for Travis. The Younger love is neverending. It is always circulating.

Question: Will the people of this new neighborhood be violent towards the Younger family?

Raisin in the Sun. A II sc 3

5/12/14 Raisin in the Sun A II: sc 3

Summary: The Youngers start to pack their home for the move. They are very excited, then a representative of their new neighbourhood shows up to tell them that they shouldn't move there. Then they find out that the man Walter entrusted the money to was a liar and had stolen their money.’

Quote: “...Cause sometimes its hard to let the future begin!”

Sig of Quote:  Everyone is timid when they are about to change their lives. This is a HUGE change for the Youngers, and it will take a moment or two to let it process.

Reflection: I think it is terrible how Walter pretty much ruined all their chances of living out their dreams by getting fooled by the terrible man. It was a very selfish thing he was doing either way. Even if the man wasn't a fake, Walter would have still given away Beneatha's education money. He wasn't thinking of his family, or their dreams, just his. Now they will live in a home without any money. Beneatha will have to give up on her dream of being a doctor. And Mama will have to work even harder for the new home. 

Quote: What will Beneatha do now that she cannot go on with Medical school?

Raisin in the Sun A II: sc1

5/7/14 Raisin in the Sun A II: sc1

Summary: This scene starts when Walter returns home drunk, and he and his sister have this big dramatic thing. I dont know what it was. Mama returns home after george and Bennie leave, and she tells the good news: she has bought a new, bigger house in a better area.

Quote: “... So you butchered up  a dream of mine-you- who always talking ‘bout your childrens dreams…”

Sig of Quote: Though it is a great thing, that Mama bought her family a better home, it is a little unfair that she didnt tell anyone what she was up to. Walter probobaly had a great idea about his liquor store, but his Mama didnt really give it a chance.

Reflection: Mama did a great thing for her family. Buying them a home, it resolves many problems.  However, she also created a number of problems too. Moving into a neighborhood where no colored people live, it will bring trouble. Travis and his coming sibling will have a lot of bullying in that area. Also, Walter and Bennie will be devastated that they didnt get a chance to live out theiri dreams. Now their dreams will shrivel up like a raisin in the sun, and Ruths and Mamas will actually happen.

Question: What will Bennie have to say about this?
 

Raisin in the Sun A I: sc 2

5/6/14 Raisin in the Sun A I: sc 2

Summary: In this scene, the Younger family is cleaning their home when Bennie gets a call from a friend called Asagai, a young man from Africa. Ruth returned from the doctor and drops a hint that she went to an illegal abortion doctor. When Asagai leaves, the postman comes with the check. The scene ends with a huge fight between Walter and Ruth.

 

Quote: “ MAMA    Oh, so now its life. Money is life. Once upon a time freedom used to be life- now its money. I guess the world really do change…”

 

Sig of Quote: It is really sad how money is so important that our worlds revolve around it. Why don't our lives revolve around love, and life itself, instead of little pieces of paper/cotton?

 

Reflection: This check isn't the only thing in the Younger house thats bringing chaos. The new baby of Ruths, I believe, will bring forth a problem even bigger than the money.  Since the house is already crowded as it is, it doesn't make any sense to bring another body into it. If Walter and Ruth lived in a separate home with Travis, it would be a different story. Mama is being unreasonable. She is trying to make everything work. If she just stopped and thought about all the havoc this baby would bring about the house, then maybe she wouldn't be so angry with Ruth. I think that the check should be used to purchase a home for Walter and his family so Ruth did not feel obligated to get rid of her child.

 

Question: What will Walter do if he returns home drunk?

 

Raisin in the Sun A I: sc 1

5/5/14 Raisin in the Sun A I: sc 1

Summary: In this scene, we are introduced to a variety of the characters. The plot is revealed: the Youngers are receiving a large check and all have different ways to use it. Walter, Ruth, Bennie, and Mama all have different ideas of how they want to use their fathers money.

 

Quote: “ MAMA     I ain't meddling (Pause) Put a lot of nice butter on it? (Ruth shoots her an angry look and does not reply) He likes lots of butter."

 

Sig of Quote: Acting as Travis is her own son and trying to care for him may be Mamas way of coping with her husbands death. Since she used to care night and day for her husband, once he died she took a new interest in Travis.

 

Reflection: This book gives great insight into the lives of a African American during the 1950s. It tells of their very poor life, and what they do to keep the roof over their heads. They all contribute- Walter, Mama, and Bennie- to afford the very small home they live in. Their jobs are low paying because of what their skin color is, for back in those days, it was a hard time for “colored people”. Its terrible really, how they all have dreams in which they contribute even more to their home. They all want to do something more with their lives, but until now, none of them have gotten a chance to achieve those dreams.

 

Question: Why is there so much conflict between Walter and Ruth?

 

Animal Farm ch10

 

5/1/14 Animal Farm ch 10

Summary: Some years pass, and the original animals of the revolution have passed, except for the pigs, Benjamin, and Clover. One night, Squealer took all the lambs and taught them a new moto. The next day, the animals watch all the pigs walk out of the barn walking on hind legs, wearing clothes, and arranging a meal with the neighboring farmers.

 

Quote: “No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pigs to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again.”

 

Sig of Quote: There now is no difference, in what the animals can tell, between the men and pigs. This quote isnt just saying that the pigs looked like men, but its saying how both pigs and men are acting like “pigs”.

 

Reflection: Overall, I really dislike the pigs. They broke every commandment they created at the begiining. But they over wrote them by adding words to confuse yet fool the animals. They took advantage of their intelligance over the less smart animals of the farm. But they may not be as smart, but they do have feelings. They have very strong feelings, actually. The horses know the right from wrong, but the sheep are just too dumb to know the difference of anything. The pigs have no soul. They are terrible animals and to be honest, I hope the farmers turn against them and turn them into bacon. Any other pig that isnt cruel, though, can go about their happy pig life, and hopefully not turn into bacon. But to reiterate, only Squealer and Napoleon and the rest of the evil pigs, should be baconized.

 

Question: Why didnt the animals run away to a better farm?

Animal Farm ch9

4/29/14                   Animal Farm ch 9

Summary: This chapter really focuses on Boxer. Boxer took the windmill wreckage the worst out of all the animals and is starting to work himself to death… Literally. When he falls over out of exhausteon, he is taken away by what Napoleon told the animals was a Hospital Car, but Benjamin knew it said “... Horse Slauster..” on the front.

 

Quote: “...when a pig and any other animal met on a path, the other animal must stand aside: and also that all pigs, of whatever degree, get the privilage of wearing green ribons on their tails on Sunday.”

 

Sig of Quote: This quote reflects onto what the black segragation was like. The pigs are acting as the whites did, making themselve sthe priority inn society.

 

Reflection: Now that Boxer has “given his life” for the windmill, the pigs will use that concept to trick the other dumb animals that they should do the same. But I think that they may do something to Benjamin to get rid of him. He poses the only real threat to the pigs lies, for he i sjust as smart as them. Thankfully they dont seem to know about his ability to read yet. Boxer’s life was ended terribly, and whats worse, is that  the pigs posses so much power, and are so col hearted, that they both killed him off and lied about it. They are becoming more and more evil each chapter.

 

Question: Will Benjamin do something about what he knows?

 

Animal Farm ch8

4/28/14 Animal Farm ch 8

Summary: Napoleon is made into something like their God, for they all worship and believe he is “always right”. They get double crossed when trying to double cross the neighboring farmers, Frederick and Pilkington. The farmers attack Animal Farm and blow up their windmill. Many die, and the event is called Battle of the Windmill.

 

Quote: “Every beat great or small,

Sleeps at peace in his stall,

Thou watchest over all,

Comrade Napoleon!”

 

Sig. of Quote: This is funny because Napoleon doesnt watch over the animals, they actually watch over him! When he sleeps (in a bed), he has four dogs watch over him all night long. They are holding a blind over the animals eyes so they do what the pigs want.

 

Reflection: This is a chapter of devistation, and annoyance. Napoleon was not just tricke done time, but twice, in one day. He thought he was being clever and a little trickster, but really he was the one being tricked. The farmers plotted against the animals, and of corse the animals are startinng to believe that they are the smartest things on earth so they never would have guessed that THEY were the ones getting fooled. The pigs (Napoleon in particular) are starting to think of themselves as better than they really are.

 

Question: Will Napoleon make the animals work even harder to get the windmill up again?

 

Animal Farm ch 5-6

4-24-14 Animal Farm ch 5-6

Summary: Mollie is being troublesome and ends up running off to another farm and never comes back. Also, Napoleon takes over control of all the concerned animals. In chapter 6, the animals of the farm are given a new set of orders, making them check in at certain times to do specific duties. The windmill is destroyed and they have to rebuild it.

 

Quote: “Bravery is not enough,” said Squealer, “Loyalty and obedience are more important…”

 

Sig of Quote: Loyalty and obedience to Animalism is what Squealer means. They want all the animals to act and be a certain way.

 

Reflection: The windmill getting destroyed is somewhat symbolic to this time. With Mollies runaway, and the whole farm starting to become chaotic, its like they are falling apart. Like the mill did. But the fixing of the mill is going to take a long time and will be almost impossible, since the animals don't have opposable thumbs to actually work on a project like that. The mixing and stabilization of their society will be just as difficult. They may even be too late to save it.

 

Question: How are these animals accomplishing so much with such a weak system of order?

 

Animal Farm ch 3-4

4-22-14 Animal Farm ch3-4

Summary: The animals are forced to do the work that the farmers once did to get their food and other necessities. They are having difficulty with some tasks while making others much easier. The pigs are assumed of being selfish for all winter apples and milk were only to the pigs. The word of the rebellion is spread to animals and humans alike, and Jones gathers together a band of men to get his farm back. This battle was named Cowshed.

 

Quote: “And then the human beings listened to it, they secretly trembled, hearing it to be a prophecy to their future doom.”

 

Sig of Quote: The song, “Beasts of England”, acts as a foretelling story. The humans are right to be frightened, since now that the animals are getting wiser and more savage than ever before.

 

Reflection: In no time at all will the animals attract as many followers needed to wipe out the humans. But it seems that some of the animals have different perspectives on the humans than others do. For example, Boxer was devastated when Snowball pronounced the young stable boy dead. He said how its the right thing to do, but Boxer is still guilty. He didnt want to kill, even if it was a human, their “enemy”. The pigs are the ones enforcing this life onto the other animals who aren't as smart as the pigs. Them not being as smart as the pigs is leaving them with no rights, and being treated just as bad as they were when Farmer Jones was still around.

 

Question: When will other animals start to riot and what will happen then?

Animal Farm ch 1-2

 

4/21/14 Animal Farm ch 1-2

Summary: Old Major, the old pig, first calls all the farm animals and gives a speech on how Man are unfair to animals, and how animals should overpower Man. Chapter 2 begins with the death of Old Major, from simply old age, and the birth of a revolution. The animals revolt against the Jones’, and start to build a government of their own.

 

Quote: “Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever.”

 

Sig of Quote: This quote is very accurate. Some people think that Man are the leading cause of many bad things. The animals have the viewpoint from peasants and the poor, overworked people in our world.

 

Reflection: Orwell’s message is clear. He is using these overworked, and underfed animals to portray the poor workers in our world. They had been knocked down, with no say, for nobody cared what they said. As if they were mute. Same goes for these animals. They can't defend themselves, they don't have the freedom of speech that we Americans have. The farmers don't hear what the animals are feeling, so they have to rebel against their leader to be heard. The peasants of the French Rebellion did the same thing. They weren’t being heard, therefore they lashed out to get attention.

 

Question: Will this book be in any way like “Lord of the Flies”, in which the leader goes crazy for power?

Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 85-110

4-9-14 Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 85-110

Summary: Sam and Patrick return home, and they take Charlie to another party. He takes a acid tablet, and has a very “bad trip”. He ends up in the hospital and his parents think that he is starting to go crazy again. So he is getting signed up to see a therapist again. He also gets asked to the Sadie Hawkins dance by Mary-Elizabeth.

Quote: “Charlies wearing a feather boa! Charlies wearing a feather boa!”

Sig of Quote: I love how Patricks and Charlies friendship has grown so much that now they can fool around with each other and pick at each other as best friends do.

Reflection: Its sad because, as much as Charlie is glad he got asked to the Sadie Hawkins dance, he just wishes that it wasnt by Mary Elizabeth. The one who he wanted to get asked by is Sam. The poor guy can't help who he has fallen for, and he can't stop it from happening. His love for her will only grow for as long as they’re friends. But Charlie has so many annoying obstacles in his way. Dave being the biggest threat. I see all these things as threats because Charlie deserves to be happy, and Sam is part of what will make him happy. There's an invisible love triangle between Sam, Charlie, and Dave. Little does Mary Elizabeth know, she just stepped into the triangle, now its even more complicated.

Question: Will Sam be jealous that Charlies going to the Sadie Hawkins dance with Mary Elizabeth?

Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 73-84

4-8-14 Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 73-84

Summary: Sam and Patrick leave for their holiday vacation. Charlie is left at home with his sister who's still angry with him, and his mother whose fussing over his older brothers arrival. After christmas and Charlies birthday, the family goes to his dads old home in Ohio.

Quote: “‘Is it your Aunt Helen?’

Its the way she said it that got me feeling.”

Sig of quote: According to further evidence including this, Charlie’s aunt Helen must have been a very important person in his life. Her death must have been devastating, sending Charlie over the edge.

Reflection: Charlie’s life has been surrounded by disappointment for a long time. First, the death of his favorite aunt die, and believing that it is his fault. Then, the sudden death of his best friend Michael. Later, even after Michael death, his friends from middle school practically abandon him when they step through the high school doors (not literally). However, as seen in these holiday letters, Charlie has a wonderful, supporting family. Some may be difficult to handle or be around, but for the most part they all try to help cheer Charlie up as much as possible. Of corse, they seem to tip toe around him, gingerly making attemps to be let in. Charlie is something of a mystery to me.

Question: Do Charlies siblings try to avoid conversations with him?

Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 61-72

4-7-14 Perks of being a Wallflower      pgs 61-72

Summary: With Christmas near, Charlie is involved in a Secret Santa that Patrick and Sam put on with all their friends. Charlie is Patricks Secret Santa. When th e final exchange is upon them, Charlie gives everyone involved a gift. He gave Sam an old record that meant a lot to him. He reads Patrick a poem about Michael for the final gift.

Quote: “And she kissed my cheek and whispered so nobody could hear.

‘I love you’”

Sig of Quote: Hearing this come out of Sams mouth may have been the best thing that has ever happened to Charlie. Even if it was just in a friendsly way, it still means a lot to him. Now he knows that he has friends who love him.

Reflection: This is an amazing bonding experience for Charlie. Before he met this group of people, he felt as if he had to purpose in life. After the death of his closest friends Michael, he was left completely alone. This is very accurate, for all his old friends have changed since middle school. Sam and Patrick becoming friends with Charlie is the best thing to heal is wounded soul. These great kids have distracted Charlie from his problems, and opened his eyes to new amazing life opportunities.

Question: Did Charlie write that poem he read to Michael?

Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 33-56

4-2-14 Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 33-56

Summary: At the homecoming party, Charlie meets a boy named Bob, who gives him a special brownie. Charlie is stoned for the entire party and it is the funniest thing. The next letters, Charlie tells of the people he has met, like Mary-Elizabeth, and his family. He fixes things with his sister, and then attends a Thanksgiving dinner with his family.

Quote: “And at that moment, I swear we were infinite”

Sig of Quote: This is the most beautiful thing I have ever read. It may be short, but it means so much. Charlie see’s things and feel’s things in deeper ways than others do. The tunnel car-ride was a new experience for him, and the way it makes him feel is too amazing to just use the word “amazing”, and infinite fits just right.

Reflection: As he and his friends are driving through the tunnel and the music is playing, and Charlie says he feels “infinite”, thats when Charlie discovered what he loves. It may not be football like his brother, or “teasing” boys like his sister, but its a love of something real. When he looks back on his freshmen year, he will think of those moments; for they are what made him grin from ear to ear, and what lifted his body from the ground. In reality, his experiences may be even truer and fuller than the football jocks or drama geeks. These moments weren't planned frame by frame, they were improvised. They happened to him, and only he can remember just how he felt, nobody can re-act them or re-play them.

Question: Is there something deeper to his brothers no-show on thanksgiving?

Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 21-32

4-1-14 Perks of being a Wallflower     pgs 21-32

Summary: Charlie told Sam about his dream of her, and in return she tells him that there can never be anything between them. In the next letter, Charlie tells his friend about how he told Bill of his sisters boyfriend slapping her. Then, when he got home later that day, his parents were arguing with his sister about that same thing. His sister is very angry he says. Nearing the end of this section of reading, Sam and Patrick invite Charlie to an after-homecoming party.

Quote: “ ‘He’s my whole world’

‘Dont ever say that, not even about me.’”

Sig of Quote: Charlie’s mother has a clear winning point. This is a lesson to Charlie and his sister, and the audience reading.

Reflection: I understand Sam’s point, for shes a senior and Charlie is a freshmen. If she were to develop feelings for him, then the separation would be horrid. Being “just friends” is whats best for both of them, especially Charlie. More heartbreak upon him may lead to worse problems. He deserves a long lasting love, not one that will only last a year or so. Sam and Charlie could develop a love relationship in the future, like when Charlie graduates. But until then, its best that Sam remains only his friend.

Question: Do Sam and Patrick think of Charlie as one of their best friends as he does them?

 

Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 1-20

3-31-14 Perks of being a Wallflower pgs 1-20

Summary: Charlie, a troubled freshman, tells of his feelings, and of those that mean much to him. He is starting high school alone because his best friend Michael killed himself the year prior, and has to meet new friends as they all think he is a freak. Thankfully, he befriends Patrick and Sam, two free-spirited seniors. However, Charlie admits to being ashamed of dreaming of Sam that same night.

Quote: “They both told me to have a seat, and they both seemed to mean it, so I took a seat.”

Sig of Quote: You can already tell that Charlie has trust issues, or acceptance issues. But Patrick and Sam seem to be genuine and nice people to Charlie. Having anyone tell him to sit down without it being out of charity is a big deal to him.

Reflection: Obviously, Charlie has several mental problems that he hasnt addressed yet. But he does very well with dealing with them. He is such a bring young man who has too many obstacles in his way. He has to deal with so much, plus his mind works in a different way… He interprets everything he see’s. And everyone. We need more people like him, people who really care, and really listen and see.

Question: What happened to Aunt Helen?

 

Night pgs 81-93

3-20-14 Night pgs 81-93

Summary: Elie describes the terrible journey to the new camp. Running 43 miles non stop, and telling of the deaths of many other jews like him. When they all arrive at the new camp, its just as bad as the run there. Elie looks death right in the eye but pushes through it. Others like Juliek weren't so lucky

 

Quote: “My father's presence was the only thing that stopped me… He was running at my side, out of breath, at the end of his strength, at his wit’s end. I had no right to let myself die.”

 

Sig of Quote: Elie cannot let himself die. As much as he wants to, for he believes that death would be better than the nightmare he’s living, Elie has a reason to stay alive. His father is what's pushing Elie to live on.

 

Reflection: In this section you can feel the shaky legs, and frozen fingertips that Elie experienced. He writes of it all in such detail. What he felt, and what he saw. The number one thing on every jews list is life; their own life to be more specific. The trampled bodies that they look over once they reach the shack, had no chance once they hit the ground. No jew looked back to help another up. Not even a son to his old, shaky father. Elie seems to be the only one whose father is a priority. Of course, if anyone else would fall to the ground next to Eli, he wouldn't hesitate. Running was the goal. To never stop running. Never to stop fighting for life. He was running for life. They all are.

 

Question: What is happening to Elies mother and sisters?

Night pgs 66-80

 

3-18-14 Night pgs 66-80

Summary: The Jewish New Year is approaching and the jews are starting to lose faith in their god. The SS officers started to kill of many more of the jews, thankfully Elie and his father weren't one of those unfortunates. They are brought to a camp further into Germany.

 

Quote: “I hated it. Whenever I dreamed of a better world, I could only imagine a universe with no bells.”

 

Sig of Quote: The bells, what give the command to wake up and go to sleep, are one of the many things Elie can't stand about the camp. Its surprising because, in everyday life bells are  beautiful things, but Elie makes them seem just as terrible as death itself.

 

Reflection:  The rabbi who has begun to lose faith in god is setting an example to all the jews around him. Having lost everything else around them, God is pretty much all they have left to believe in. If they all start to completely lose hope in their God, then they won't have anything to fight for anymore. Nobody to ask advice to, or ask for mercy. Only the lucky ones have someone who they love with them during this terrible times. Like Elie and his father. He has somebody he loves to fight for life with.

 

Question: What will the journey to the new camp bring to the jews?