Mr. Farmer's Grade 12 English - Recently Updated Pages

Symbolism

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:32:44 CST

Candy's Dog
Candy's dog represents anything that has outlived their purpose and is not as useful as it one day was. Once a useful sheepdog which would help out around the ranch, is now crippled due to old age. Candy shares an emotional relationship with the dog because he had raised him since he was a puppy. The fact that Candy did raise the dog from a puppy means nothing at all to the ranch hands. Carlson promises to kill the dog painlessly but his insistence that the dog must die supports that the strong will dispose of the weak. Candy who has one arm and is also aging much like his dog fears that he will soon be useless on the ranch and no longer be welcome.

After Candy let Carlson shoot his old, smelly dog Candy does not say anything or even look at anyone. He sadly regrets letting a stranger shoot his dog. At one point he said to George, " George I shouldn't have let a stranger shoot my dog." This symbolizes of what is to come. After Lennie breaks Curley's wife's neck he then does what George has asked of him through out the novel. George always told Lennie that if he were to get into any trouble that he should run back to the place in which they spent the first night. George is then faced with a life changing decision to shoot and kill Lennie himself or to let Curley seek out his revenge. George decides to do the opposite of Candy and kill Lennie himself for it is is the right thing to do, like Candy said, "I shouldn't have let a stranger shoot my dog.".

Weed
Throughout the book George is saying to Lennie "Remember Weed, we don't want that to happen again." What had happened in weed was very similar to what happened with Curley's wife. Lennie started to pet the farmers daughter, and lost control and she started to scream, and Lennie freaked out. If they had stayed in Weed they would have shot him. Then after all of George's warnings to Lennie to stay away from Curley's wife, he was drawn in by her beauty. At first when she entered the barn she said that she just wanted someone to talk to, after Lennie had started to talk to her, he told her that he liked to pet soft things, this lead her to tell him to pet her hair because it was so soft. Lennie then started to pet her hair, after a minute of petting he started to pet harder and harder, until she told him to stop. But Lennie couldn't stop he was in the mood for petting hair and he lost control, and when she started to yell for help he had to make her stop. Instead of letting go, he put his hand over her mouth, then he started shaking her violently. Then she was dead, he had broken her neck. This was similar to the time in Weed, when he had started to pet the farmers daughters dress, and when she started to yell he grabbed her to make her stop, but when she started yelling even more it scared him to the point of not being able to let go. Luckily in Weed George was able to come and save the day by hitting Lennie in the head with a shovel. But Lennie and Curley's wife weren't so lucky to have George come and see what was happening. So the worst happened.

"The Rabbits"
The novel's opening and closing chapters, Steinbeck describes the activity of the natural world. He writes that the rabbits happily "sit on the sand", and are then disturbed when George and Lennie arrive- "they hurry noiselessly for cover"(2). Not until later we realize that significance, rabbits represent for Lennie's dream of obtaining a farm if their own and living "off the fatta the lan"(15). The scattering of the rabbits at the beginning suggests already that this dream will prove short-lived. With Lennie thinking in big terms of his own pleasure, he equalizes the thought of tending the rabbits, with soft fur that he wished to pet, and the attainment of utter happiness. Lennie takes deep pride in the notion that he would be assigned to raise the rabbits, to protect them, to feed them out of their alfalfa patch. He places this future happiness on this one image of caring for rabbits. This dream of the rabbits becomes literally a dream at the end of the novel, when Lennie hallucinates a giant rabbit who tells him that he will never be allowed to tend to rabbits. This highlights the extent to which Lennie bases his entire life around the goal of tending to the rabbits. Lennie is aware that if he does anything "bad" that George will not allow him to tend to the rabbits.The manner in which he fails to see his actions in terms of good and evil, and instead views them as good and bad, revealing how unfit Lennie is for society.

Tarzan of the Apes

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:26:15 CST

Tarzan of the Apes is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first in a series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published in the pulp magazine All-Story Magazinein October, 1912; the first book edition was published in 1914. So popular was the character that Burroughs continued the series into the 1940s with two dozen sequels.

As I Lay Dying

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:23:05 CST

As I Lay Dying is a book about a family trying to fulfill there mothers last wish before her death " To be burred in Jefferson". The family goes through many obstacles, and some members have different reasons for even going on the trip. This book was written in the way that it has fifteen narrators, which makes it a tricky read.

As I Lay Dying Characters

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:15:26 CST

Character List
Addie Bundren
Anse Bundren
Cash
Dewwy Dell
Jewel
Vardaman
Darl
Vernon Tull
Cora Tull
Lafe
Whitfield
Peabody
Samson
Armstid
Gillespie
Moseley
MacGowam
The Gillespie boy

Addie Bundren: Addie Bundren is the wife to Anse Bundren and the mother of Cash, Dewey Dell, Jewel(son which she had through her affair with the priest Whitfield), Darl and Vardaman. At the beginning of the novel she dies which creates the journey to Jefferson. She had wished to be buried with her family in Jefferson and thus creates the week and a half journey to Jefferson. She was a very unhappy person in her life, she believed that living her life was her punishment for her sins. She has four children with Anse (Darl, Dewey Dell, Cash and Varadaman), and one child from extra-martial affair with the priest Whitfield (Jewel). Her corpse is carried throughout the counties, surviving fires, floods, and horrific odor, until she is laid to rest in her final destination of her wishes.

Anse Bundren: Anse Bundren is the husband of Addie Bundren and the father of Darl, Dewey Dell, Cash and Varadaman. He is a poor, low class farmer who just simply wants to honor his wife's last wish and get himself a new set of teeth. He has not had teeth for fifteen years and cannot eat like a normal person can. He is very careless and often acts before he thinks. He is a very negative person, which he blames on the weather. He also blames a lot of the family's misfortune on the fact that there was a busy road built near there house, he feels this has brought the family "bad luck". He forces the family onward to Jefferson, through flooding and outlandish circumstances, sending Darl Away upon discovery of the horrific fire's source. Later on he trades Jewel's horse for a team of mules, he than steals Dewey Dell's ten dollars from Lafe. He returns from town at the end of the novel with a new set of teeth, a gramophone, and a new wife.

Cash: Cash is the oldest son and is a passive, kind person. He is a master carpenter who is consistently working on his Addie's (his mother), coffin throughout the first portion of the novel. Oddly he decides to work on the coffin thought the window that his mother sleeps in her last days, as she is dying he works to try and finish it in order to show her. In the last minutes of Addies life she calls Cash's name. In reply to this he puts the peaces of the coffin together to show her what it will look like when it is done. As the family journeys closer to Jefferson, his leg breaks and he becomes ill. The family pours cement over it in order to set it, causing him permanent injury and the eventual loss of the leg. He never complains and always does as he is told, in order to cause as little conflict as possible.

Dewey Dell: Dewey Dell is the only daughter of Addie and Anse Bundren and has a habit for seduction and flirtation. She is impregnated by Lafe a worker on the neighbours farm and wants to go to Jefferson to get an abortion as well as to bury her mother, but each time she try's to get an abortion the women working there wont let her.. Each time she enters a pharmacy, her penetrating gaze strikes the men working.

Jewel : Jewel is the illegitimate son of Addie by the priest Whitfield. A strong man, he is usually treated as part of the family. He and Darl live in competition and conflict, despite their companionship in the work field. Cash and Darl discover one night that Jewel has been working during the middle of the nights clearing a field so that he may earn enough money to buy his own horse. Anse, acting before he acts, trades Jewel's beloved horse for a team of mules to take the family to Jefferson. Jewel loves his mother dearly and follows the family on his horse throughout most of the journey. He rescues Addie's coffin and other barnyard animals from the fire in Gillespie's barn. For his illegitimacy, Addie favors Jewel over her other children.

Vardaman: Vardaman is the youngest child and son of Anse and Addie Bundren. Addie gave birth to him, in a sense, to make up for the affair which created Jewel. He is simpleminded and has difficulty dealing with and understanding his mother's death. As Addie is dieing Vardaman is trying to impress her with fish that he caches. At one point he caches a fish and would like to show his mother right away, but every person that he sees on his way to show his mother tells him to do something that will further delay him showing his fish to his mother. After she dies, he must cut up fish for dinner, consequently conditioning his mind to relate fish to his mother. He doesn't handle his mothers death well, after she dies he runs from the house, cursing Peabody, blaming him for his mothers death. For the duration of the novel, he believes his mother to be a fish. He observes Darl setting fire to the Gillespie's barn and tells only Dewey Dell. He feels sorry for his brother Darl when he is sent to Jackson, but knows that Darl is in a better place for his type of life.

Darl: Darl is the somewhat crazy son of Anse and Addie Bundren, who is constantly in competition and conflict with Jewel. They work together and fight together. Darl speaks the most monologues in the novel and eventually goes insane. After setting fire to the Gillespie's barn, Anse pounces him in the town streets and sends him on a train to Jackson. Cora believes him to be the honorable and blessed son of Addie, instead of Jewel. He is typically unemotional at her death and has difficulty accepting his family's fate.

Vernon Tull: Vernon is the Burderns' wealthier neighbour. He hires Darl, Jewel, and Cash for odd jobs and helps the family when he can. Vernon and his wife Cora, are critical of the Burdrens' decision to bury Addies body in Jeffersons.

Cora Tull: Cora is Vernon's wife. Cora stays with Addie during her last few hours. Cora is constantly on Addies case for her behaviour.

Lafe: Lafe is the father of Dewel Dells child. Lafe never appears in person in the book but certainly plays a large role in Dewey Dell's behaviour and thoughts.

Whitfield: Whitfield is a local minister. He is also a hypocrite. His affair with Addie results in Jewel's conception and though he resolves to confess the affair to Anse, he ends up deciding that the simple intention of confessing will do just as well.

Peabody is a severally overweight rural doctor who attends to Addie and later to Cash. He is extremely critical of the way Anse treats his children.

Samson is a local farmer that puts up with the Bundrens on the first evening of their disastrous funeral journey. He sees the Bundrens problem as a judgement on the family's unfamiliar manners and on Addie and Anse's disregard for God and their own children.

Armstid is a local farmer who puts up the Bundrens on the second evening of their funeral journey. Anse repeatedly and rigidly refuses Armstid's offers to lend Anse a team of mules.

Gillespie is a farmer who puts up the Bundrens later in their journey.

Moseley The Mottson druggist who indignantly refuses Dewey Dell’s request for an abortion.

MacGowan - is a young employee at Jeffersons drugstore. He extorts sexual favour from Dewey Dell in return for a fake abortion treatment.

The Gillespie boy is Gillespie's son who helps Jewel save animals from the burning barn.

Source: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/asilay/characters.html

Plot Summary

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:24:41 CST

Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, are miles away from the Californian ranch in which they are due to start work. George Milton an intelligent, contemptuous man and Lennie Small a mentally handicapped man who is known for his strength and size are very much both polar opposites. They are brought together by their lifelong friendship and fear of being lonely. George very much in every way takes care and looks out for his very much larger companion Lennie as he promised Lennie's aunt on her death bed to take care of him. The two walk for miles and decide to stop at a clearing with a pond where George finds that Lennie had been carrying and petting a dead mouse, which he has kept in his pocket. Lennie has a fascination with stroking soft things but often kills them due to his strength and lack of mental capabilities. At the clearing, George and Lennie decide to stay the night. This is when their dream of buying their own piece of land, farming it, and much to Lennie's content, tending of the rabbits is first introduced to the reader. George tells Lennie " Lennie-if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush." (Page 15, Line 28) This is important as the foreshadowing that will occur at the end of the story.

The next day, the two best friends arrive at the ranch in which they will be working. George in fear of losing their jobs previously had said to Lennie " Now, look-I'll give him the work tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won't get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we're set."(page 6, Line 20) This shows that George is very well aware of Lennie's mental capabilities of what he can and can't do. When George and Lennie meet the ranch boss he starts to question why Lennie is not talking but eventually thinks nothing of it through George's persuasion.

After they get hired by the boss of the ranch George and Lennie meet Candy an older handyman with one hand and an ancient dog. Curley the boss' son who is newly married and has a very mean spirited personality is introduced to both George and Lennie. George says to Lennie " You keep away from Curley" (page 30, Line 10). Curley's wife appears when George and Lennie are alone in the bunkhouse and she tries to flirt with both men. Lennie tells George that he thinks she is pretty and George yet again must remind him to stay out of trouble and stay far away from Curley and his wife. Curly clearly is jealous of Lennie's size being very small and takes a couple of jabs at him, almost egging him on to fight. Once the farm hands come back from the field the George, and Lennie are introduced to Slim a mule driver with much influence on what goes on at the ranch. Slim comments how friendship such as that of George and Lennie is hard to find. Carlson (one of the ranch hands) starts to complain about Candy's ancient smelly dog. He offers to shoot it and put it out of its misery. He tells Candy to just have one of the pups in the barn. Eventually Candy gives in and Carlson grabs hold of the dog and shoots him out in the field. Candy immediately begins to feel guilty he had Carlson shoot the dog and not himself. This action of events foreshadows what is to come and the decision in which George will be faced with in the latter part of the novel.

The next day George and Lennie begin talking about there dream and ambition of owning their own plot of land and Lennie tending to the rabbits. Candy who has money saved up overhears their conversation and offers to use up his savings so the three of them can work for themselves. Quickly this dream which Lennie and George had always shared ultimately became a reality. All they had to do to make it possible was to work for one month then they would have enough money to make a down payment and begin living there new lives. The three men make an agreement to not let anyone know their plan.

After Lennie, George, and Candy make their agreement Curley enters angrily into the bunkhouse. Curley who is always looking to start a fight decides to pick on Lennie and attack him with punches. Lennie who is known for his strength and size grabs hold of his hand and crushes it. Slim warns Curley that if he were to tell anyone the truth and that Lennie initially was the one responsible for his hand, that he was going to be the laughing stock of the farm.

The next day, Lennie and his fascination with stroking soft things accidentally kills a puppy in the barn much like the mouse earlier in the story. Curley's wife had seen Lennie in the barn and strolled in to talk to him. George had always told Lennie to stay away from her and girls like her were always looking for nothing but trouble. She sees the dead puppy and begins to console with Lennie and Lennie tells her how much he loves petting soft things. She immediately offered to let Lennie pet her hair. Due to Lennie's mental incapability's he begins to pet to hard causing her to scream. Lennie tries to calm her down and silence her but in doing so accidentally snaps her neck and kills her. As the men back at the ranch discover her dead body they immediately know it was Lennie and gather a mob to find him and kill him. George immediately remembers where he had told Lennie to meet him if he got in any trouble. George sneaks off from the mob and joins Lennie at the clearing by the pond in which they had stayed at the beginning of the book. Much to Lennie's surprise George is not mad at him. Lennie asks George to tell him about their dream of owning there own plot of land. As he begins to talk about the rabbits, he hears the sound of the mob heading in their direction and shoots Lennie in the back of the head.

When the mob arrives George leads them to believe it was Lennie who had the gun, and George had wrestled it away from him and shot him. Slim immediately knows what had happened and George had killed his best friend out of mercy as he realized it was best to let him die happy than mobbed to death. The two men decide to go get a drink and walk away from the once angered mob.

Of Mice and Men

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:19:16 CST

George and Lennie are migrant workers in the 1930s great depression. Lennie is retarded and George looks after him. While working as hands on a Californian ranch, they dream of owning their own ranch and the opportunity may be available with enough work., if Lennie can keep his head on straight and his hands in his pockets.

Tarzan Symbolism

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:09:20 CST

The Tree House

The tree house in this novel symbolizes Tarzan's hopes and dreams of not only being a part of the normal human world but to be socially excepted and to be with people who are like him. Throughout the book Tarzan is alienated because he is different from everyone else and he just wishes that he could fit in. To Tarzan when he is in the tree house he is in the normal world. He learns to read and learns about his real parents in the tree house. Often times throughout the book Tarzan leaves the tribe of gorillas to go and spend time in the tree house. To him the tree house was an escape. He symbolizes the tree house throughout the book as a hope and a dream. Once he realizes that there are other people that look like him he becomes nearly obsessed with the idea of being a part of their civilization. Tarzan wants to be with people like him so much that he ignores his tribe's request to stay clear of the humans who have recently came onto the island. After Tarzan rescues them however he finds it very hard to fulfil the request of the tribe. He begins spending more and more time with the humans and begins to learn their language as well as how to act like a normal human being. In the his parents tree house, Tarzan isn't judged. To him this is somewhat of a safe haven as all his worries disappear. Tarzan later realizes that his hopes of fitting in with humans is rather far fetched as he is just too different. He has grown up in the jungle and that is where he is destined to stay.

The Lasso and Knife
Tarzan was very disappointed in his ways as an ape, he couldn't fight very well, and he wasn't strong. Discovering how to make a lasso was the start of his change of ways. After making the lasso Tarzan started to use his mind to fight instead of his strengh. He used his superior intelligence as a human to make, and discover new more efficient ways to fight. When Tarzan found the hunting knife at his parents tree house and uses it to fight the great gorilla that attacks him with him, he realizes that that small tool makes him one of the most dangerous members of the tribe. This symbolizes that as a human raised by apes, your brine will still work in the way of a human to discover and create.

Finding the tribe of humans

From when Tarzan was a small boy he had known that he was different from the apes, he didn't look like them, he wasent as strong as them, and he couldn't do all the things they could as easily as they could. But he was smarter which lead to him learning and teaching himself new skills. This "learning and teaching" made Tarzan start to believe that he was a different kind of living thing then the apes. This thought was right, and finding the tribe of humans proved to Tarzan that he was different, and started the scirch for answers.

Tarzan Relationships

BigseatO_o — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:42:27 CST

Tarzan - Jane
Tarzan - Paul D'Arnot
Clayton - Lady Greystoke
Tarzan - Kerchak

Tarzan - Kala

Kerchak - Kala

Tarzan and Jane
Tarzan and Jane don't meet on particularly good circumstances. Jane was on an uncharted rain forest exploring with a few others. She accidentally strays from the others and begins to be chased by a gang of baboons. Tarzan, who lives in the jungle with a group of apes hears Jane scream. He quickly comes to her rescue and saves her from the baboons. At first Jane is very scared of Tarzan. To her Tarzan is acting just like an ape but looks like a human. She doesn't know what to think about him as he has no morals or social skills. Tarzan however shows a great interest in Jane because she is the first human he has ever seen. Throughout Tarzan's life he has felt very alienated as he does not look like any of the other members in his family. Little did Tarzan know there is a whole other world out there of people who look like him. Jane realizes Tarzan's immense interest in her and begins to use it to her advantage. She feels that if she teaches him English and proper morals that he will lead her to the apes which she came to observe. While she is teaching Tarzan the two become very close. Tarzan automatically feels a great connection with Jane because his whole life he had been looking for someone that was like him. Before he realizes it he is starting to not only show interest in this girl but he is starting to fall in love with her as well. Jane too begins to have feelings for Tarzan as she had never met a man like him before. As the book continues these two begin to fall more and more in love. After she leaves the island and returns to England, Tarzan is heartbroken. Tarzan decides to chase after her but when he gets to England he finds that she is married to William Clayton. Tarzan however decides to keep the truth about who he actually is and the estate a secret in order to ensure Jane's happiness with William Clayton.

Tarzan and Paul D'Arnot
After Tarzan rescues Jane and brings her back to her camp, he is introduced to a french naval officer named Paul D'Arnot. Tarzan ends up saving Paul from the natives who have inhabited the island. Paul proceeds to teach Tarzan the french language. As well as teaching Tarzan how to speak french, he teaches Tarzan how to act like a proper, civilized white man and how to survive in a normal civilized world. He also gets Tarzan to show him the way to many tribal outposts. Through spending time with Tarzan, Paul has learned a lot about his past through looking at pictures and documents from his parents cabin. He learns that Tarzan is the rightful heir to his parents estate. However in order to ensure Jane's happiness, he decides not to tell anyone and lets William Clayton take over the estate that should have been his.

Tarzan and Kerchak

Tarzan and Kerchak didn't have the greatest relationship. Kerchak was the king of the apes, a true leader. Tarzan was adopted by Kala, Kerchak's wife when he was just a baby. Kerchak didn't agree with Tarzan coming into the tribe. Right from the beginning Kerchak resented Tarzan because he was not an ape and therefore made Kerchak's tribe seem weak. Also Tarzan slowed down the tribe as a kid which irritated Kerchak. As the novel progressed however Tarzan began to grow in strength and ability. Tarzan hoped that this would make Kerchak finally accept him into the tribe but instead it had the opposite effect. In hopes of showing off to get Kerchak's attention he got the attention and envy of the rest of the tribe. This made Kerchak feel jealous and threatened by Tarzan. Kerchak's jealousy gets so intense that he attacks Tarzan. In the ensuing battle Tarzan kills Kerchak thus taking the leadership and new role as king of the Apes. Kerchak feared all along that Tarzan would take his spot as king. However Tarzan had no intention of doing this but by attacking Tarzan he had no choice but to take the thrown from Kerchak.

Tarzan and Kala

Tarzan is adopted by Kala shortly after birth. After Tarzan's parents die Kala feels bad for the baby Tarzan knowing that he will die if she doesn't adopt him into their tribe and raise him as her own. The tribe king Kerchak does not agree with Kala's decision of introducing a human into the family but reluctantly agrees because Kala is a very big and strong ape, and kerchak knows that if he kicks her out, other tribes will be glad to have her. Kala raises Tarzan teaching him the ways of apes, but is murdered by a human from a tribe when Tarzan is around 18. Tarzan is alienated even more after Kala's death but Kerchak keeps him in the tribe out of mainly pity for Tarzan. Tarzan thought of Kala as his actual mother for the longest time and was driven by revenge for her death. He still thought this fact to be true until he discovered his parents cabin and learned of his true parents.

Kerchak and Kala

Kerchak was the king of the apes and there for had the rights to bread with whomever he wanted, he chose Kala because she was a strong, big ape, and a very beneficial member of there tribe. Kala's ape sun had been killed when Kerchak was on one of his rampages through the ape kingdom, and chose to go after Kala. Wile trying to escape from Kerchak Kala's newborn fell from around her neck when she jumped from one tree to another, a move which apes hardly make due to there weight and not knowing how much the other branch could take. This is when Kala found and decided to adopt Tarzan. Kerchak did not agree with Kala but allowed her to keep Tarzan because he knew if she left, many of the other apes would go with her. Shortly after this Kala was murdered and Kerchak was left to deal with Tarzan. Kerchak suffered a similar fate as Kala when he attacked Tarzan. During the fight Tarzan killed Kerchak. Kala and Kerchaks relationship in this book was not one of love but of the need to bread great apes for there tribe. This is similar to the ways of the move 300 when they only breed for the biggest strongest men. Like them Kerchak knows that to get the biggest strongest ape he must bread with the biggest strongest female ape in his tribe.

Relationships

BigseatO_o — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:51:04 CST

Lennie and George

The two main characters in Of Mice and Men show a remarkable relationship and an everlasting love for each other, when in their time many others thought nothing but of themselves. To begin, Lenney gets himself into so much trouble and bad situations that he would go to live in the hills to let George have a better life."Well, I could. I could go off, in the hills there. Some place I'd find a cave." says Lenney after George scolds him for getting into trouble. Lenney is a big weight on George's shoulders and holds George back from living a fulfilling life. George knows this but because of his love for his best friend cannot let him go into the hills or anywhere else because he knows deep down that Lenney cannot survive without him. This strong friendship is most distinctly showed when George shoots Lenney on the riverbank because he felt that he had to. His love towards him pushes George so hard that he cannot bear to see his best friend die by the gun of a stranger so he kills him while Lennie is thinking happy thoughts and dies happy rather than painfully.

Candy and his Dog

The retaliation ship of Candy and his dog, resembles that of Lennie and George. Candy loves his old farm dog, and doesn't want to put the old, blind, death dog down. But when Clarson kill Candys dog, Candy tells George that he should have killed his dog, and not let some stranger do it for him. These words that Candy gives George, are the words that pushes George to killing Lennie at the end of the novel.

Curley and Curley's Wife

Curley and his wife's relationship is strictly lustful one, Curley is always out of the house and doesn't spend any time with "Curley's wife". This leads Curley's wife to becoming a flirtatious person, she wanders around the farm looking for some farm hands to flirt with when ever Curley is not around. This flirtatious attitude eventually leads to her death.

Characters

BigseatO_o — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:39:36 CST

Character List
George
Lennie
Candy
Curley
Curley's wife
Crooks
Carlson
Slim
Whit
The Boss
Aunt Clara
William Tenner
Andy Cushman
Al Wits

George Milton is a migrant worker who travels from farm to farm with his mentally impaired friend Lennie during the depression. The two men dream of earning enough money to someday buy a small farm where Lennie can tend to the rabbits. Since, Lennie is mentally incapable of thinking for himself, George assumes a dominant role with Lennie, acting as a parent. Lennie tends to involve George in difficult predicaments. George must be responsible, level-headed and ready to deal with any tragedy that may arise. Despite the many problems that Lennie causes George, he stays with his simple-minded friend, in hopes someday they leave the migrant work to live on their own farm and work for themselves. George has a great importance to the book because he has to be with Lennie at all time's and if he was not, Lennie would get both of them in trouble. For instance, when they were working in Weed and a lady thought Lennie was raping her, both men went into hiding and fled the town. At the end of the book when Lennie kills Curley's wife, George finds Lennie before the other men of the ranch do. He knows that Curley is going to kill Lennie so he makes the decision to shoot him because he would rather shoot his best friend then watch someone else kill him. George is involved in many conflicts and main events in the book, he plays a major role in the novel.

Lennie Small is a very calm and simplistic man. He obsesses over simple sensory pleasure, particularly finding great joy in touching soft things, being a cotton dress or soft puppies. Although he is mentally disabled he is still capable of great violence. Lennie is incapable of making decisions by himself and relies on George entirely. Lennie's stupidity and carelessness causes him to unwittingly harm animals and people, which creates trouble for both George and Lennie. Lennie enjoys hearing George tell the stories of how someday they will own a farm and how he can tend to the rabbits, most likely so he can pet their fur when ever he wishes to do so. Lennie is helpless at attaining his dream and remains a static character throughout the novel, relying on George to continuously bale him out. When it comes to Lennie murdering Curley's wife, George knows better then to let someone else shoot his best friend, resulting in him shooting Lennie. Lennie is the least dynamic character and is set up for disaster. He is very important to the book.

Candy is a swamper at the ranch. He is very attached to his dog who has become weak and smelly because of old age. The dog depends on Candy to survive but when Carlson objects to the dog's bad smell, Carlson convinces Candy to the put the dog out of it's misery. This is hard for Candy because he raised the dog since he was a puppy. The dog being killed symbolizes the strong killing the weak. This is very disheartening to Candy because he to is old and is afraid that one day the same may happen to him. Candy is a forbearing man, unable to take any independent action. Candy plays a major act of importance in the book when he offers Lennie and George money in order to buy a piece of land with them and ultimately make there dream become a reality. With this happening he can become dependent on them and not have to worry about being kicked off the ranch because of his old age.

Curley is the son of the ranch owner. Curley is aggressive, full of him self, with a temper and a tendency to provoke conflict with the weak, as he shows with Lennie. Curley is constantly monitoring his new wife showing stems from anxiety when he believes she is off with other men. Curley does not play a large role in the book but he does start a lot of arguments. For example one of the arguments with Lennie causes in a crushed hand for Curley. Curley is also the one who decides that Lennie must be killed on sight after they discover that he has killed Curleys wife.

Curley's wife is generally considered to be a tramp by the men at the ranch. She is the only character in the book that Steinbeck did not give a name to, she is simply known as Curley's wife. She does not like her husband and she feels desperately lonely at the ranch because she is the only women. She also feels very isolated from all the characters in the book. She believes there is still hope for a better life, claiming that she has a dream to become a movie star much like George and Lennie's dream of owning their own plot of land. For now she is a bitter woman who uses sex to intimidate the men at the ranch. When she starts to use sex to intimidate Lennie, she finds her self in the place that she has wanted to be with many of the other farm hands. She is being touched, and "loved", at least that's what she thought. But Lennie, liking to touch soft things, was going crazy because he had never had the chance to touch a woman's hair. So she is just starting to get what she has wanted for so long, and Lennie starts to scare her, and then he accidentally kills her. She was a sort of trigger person in this novel, she set the hunt into action, it was because of her actions that she is dead, and Lennie is dead.

Crooks is a skeptical stable buck at the ranch and is also the only black man in the novel. He is a proud, bitter man and has a high-handed way to present himself in which he uses to prevent others from excluding him due to his race. He is defensive until Lennie shows an act of kindness towards him, he even considers helping Lennie and George with their plan to buy land. Curely's wife threatens him and forces him back to his normal aggressive self. Crooks does not play a major role in the story. Although he dose show a brief moment of friendship with Lennie which leads Lennie into trouble.

Carlson is a wheat harvester that works at the ranch. In the book Carlson is the instigator. He is the one who is always pushing people to do things that they don't want to do. Carlson pushed Candy to let him shoot his dog and is also right in on the hunt when they start to look for Lennie after they learned that Lennie had killed Curleys wife. His gun was also stolen by George just after they found the Curley's wife dead, George was going to kill Lennie with it and didn't want Carlosn to do so. Carlson had the personality of a ruthless killer, he shot Candys dog without hesitation, and he would have killed Lennie also with out hesitation.

Slim is the jerk line skinner at the ranch and is a seemingly ageless man who carries himself with great gravity. He gave Lennie one of his puppies to care for. Slim is a great leader in the book and cares for the others. He tries to act like a "father figure" to the ranch hands. He was very nice to the "odd pair" George and Lennie when they arrived, "His tone was friendly. It invited confidence without demanding it" (34). Slim was even nice towards his enemies, when Lennie crushed Curley's hand, Slim offered him a drink and comforted him. He is a very understanding man, he is one of the most unique characters in the book.

Whit is one of the workers at the ranch, a young man who shows Carlson the magazine with the letter from William Tenner.

The Boss of the ranch is Curley's father. He acts suspicious of George and Lennie upon their arrival thinking there is something odd about the two mismatched companions for he is not used to two men traveling together, in there world of work there are no real friends only temporary friends.

Aunt Clara is the women who raised Lennie. Though deceased, she appears to Lennie in a hallucination when he hides in the brush in chapter six. In the hallucination, she appears as a short but hefty woman who scolds Lennie for his stupidity. Lennie pleads with her for her forgiveness but she gives none.

William Tenner is a former worker at the ranch who drove a cultivator. Whit shows Carlson a magazine that has a letter to the editor that Bill Tenner wrote.

Andy Cushman is an acquaintance from grammar school, George tells Lennie that he is now in the San Quentin jail.

Al Wilts is the deputy sheriff of Soledad. Curley sends Whit to find him when his wife is murdered.

Tropic Plot Summary

BigseatO_o — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:52:18 CST

The book starts with Henry Miller living at the Villa Borghese with his friend Boris. It is the second year of Miller living in Paris during the fall. Miller introduces his book by writing: "This is not a book. This is libel, slander, defamation of character.” He calls the novel a “song” and writes: “It is to you, Tania, that I am singing. In little time we meet or learn of Miller's friends. Miller lives on the good will of others, as he writes disturbing literature. The only thing that currently interests Harry is writing literature, and he recalls walking the streets with a women named Mona, and one particular night of a sexual encounter he had with a nameless American girl. This happened while Mona waited for him upstairs. Rage, insightful observations, and sexulaity are all mixed into his daily routines. The reader then learns that Mona has been away for quite some time, and is returning to Paris. He feels deeply in love with her upon sight, and they make love that night in a cheap hotel.

Henry continues to recall more explicit memories. He remembers a prostitute named Germaine, who he had met when walking down a boulevard. He got a hotel room with her using money that his wife had sent him from back home. This encounter gives him quite a few ideas for his literature, and he is in very good spirits. His friend and fellow writer Carl however, is often complaining about how much he hates the city.

Miller meets a Russian man named Serge in Villa Borghese after Tiana leaves for Russia with Sylvester, and Serge puts Henry up in his house in exchange for english lessons. Miller cannot stand the bug infested mattress he had to sleep on however, and leaves after a short period of time.

Miller then heads back to Paris, and is able to scam some money out of a man named Peckover. He then meets up with an old acquaintance named Nanantatee, who also puts Miller up with the agreement that Henry will help him with the household chores. Miller once again does not like this arrangement, and wants to escape.

Miller makes an escape with the assistance of one of Nanantatee's friend Kepi, and from now on Henry decides to live his life completely in the present.

At one point he works as a proofreader with a newspaper, something he finds comfortable because he does not care about the stories themsevles. Constantly looking for someone to care for him or some means of survival, Henry takes up with an arrangement in a suburb of Paris but feels too hemmed in and returns to the city. At another time he leaves Paris to teach English in Dijon, a very distressful period for Henry. He feels as if he is in a penitentiary. Henry decides to again return at his first opportunity due to the fact that he feels almost like he is trapped in Dijon.
Henry loves Paris and it makes him feel free, even though at some points he must beg for meals. He doesn't care about the security of shelter as much as getting just enough food and shelter to keep on writing. He receives this and more from his friends, including rich French food, plenty of alcoholic drinks and women. He lives a life that is impossible to find in his native New York City or any part of America, possibly no other place than Paris. In Paris his writing takes on many qualities, some global, some existential. While away from Paris his writing becomes near manic-depressive. He cannot let Paris go, nor will Paris let him leave until he accomplishes something.
What Henry accomplishes is a feeling of contentment that leads him into a greater understanding of Paris, America, the world, and his relationship to the world. Henry finds the real freedom that can come with money, along with a sense of completion, an internalizing of qualities that he has read about in great literature and experienced firsthand. As Henry grows into a flowing being, his first book is finished.

Themes

BigseatO_o — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:38:01 CST

The Predatory Nature of Human Existence

The majority of the characters from, Of Mice and Men such as, George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife all deal with the nature of human existence. These characters have a strong feeling of isolation and loneliness shown through different sections of the novel. All of the characters love the comfort of a friend and love for people to listen them. For example, when Curley's wife admits to Candy, Crooks and Lennie that she is not happy with Curley and the relationship that she has with him. Another example of loneliness and isolation in "Of Mice and Men" is when Crooks tells Lennie that he needs to be grateful for the friend that he has with George because life is no good without a companion to turn to in times of confusion and need. "The characters are rendered helpless by their isolation, and yet, even at their weakest, they seek to destroy those who are even weaker than they...The novel suggests that the most visible kind of strength—that used to oppress others—is itself born of weakness." (spark notes).

Fraternity and the Idealized Male Friendship

"One of the reasons that the tragic end of George and Lennie’s friendship has such a profound impact is that one senses that the friends have, by the end of the novel,they lost a dream larger than themselves." (Spark notes). George and Lennie are not only one of the most perfect pairs of friends in the world but share a large dream that they would like to fulfill soon, since they do not want to be country traveling workers anymore. The dream that the duo has lost is the amazing farm that they begin to talk about, the same farm that Crooks says has a heart warming appeal to it, so much so that he would invest money into it. Since there are such high hopes for the fantastic duo after it ends you feel as though the brotherhood has broken up and the dream has come to an end. Not only Lennie and George have this small brotherhood but all of the men on the farm all do together also. "That is, they want to live with one anothers best interests in mind, to protect each other, and to know that there is someone in the world dedicated to protecting them". The brotherhood can be explained because of the lifestyle that the men on the farm live. Each man travels place to place in search of food, shelter and work and barely gets to where he is going. When the men get to that place , they are usually in good spirits and a brotherhood between the small community is formed because of the loneliness in their lives. In Lennie and George's case their friendship got so strong that George had to kill Lennie because of the brotherhood they had formed and how each brother watches out for one another in the community.

The Impossibility of the American Dream

Many of the characters in Of Mice and Men dreamed one time or another throughout the novel about a different life that they would like to have other then the one that they have. "What makes all of these dreams typically American is that the dreamers wish for untarnished happiness, and for the freedom to follow their own desires.". To begin, Curley's wife states that she would like to be a famous movie star but in reality, she is married to Curley unhappily and unfulfilled. This dream obviously does not come true and in Curley's wife's eyes her life is almost impossible to get out of or change. Furthermore, the biggest dream that would like to be accomplished but in the end is tarnished, just like the others, is Lennie and George's dream of buying the farm. To Lennie and George the farm symbolizes hope that they will not have to travel and work on different farms anymore. Since the two have no family, belongings or any other valuables this farm would be the first valuable that either of them would have to take care of. Their excitement and love towards the farm make you feel as though this dream of theirs is almost impossible and can't be done. In the end the "American Dream" for Lennie and George comes to an abrupt halt when George shoots Lennie, again the dream of the character is not achieved.

Companionship

The strongest companionship in Of Mice and Men is obviously the unique friendship of Lennie and George. To begin, Lennie and George own nothing and only have a small amount of money to their names but only long for the company of each other. In their profession, as traveling men that work on farms where ever they can get work, many men are very lonely. The duo is supremely fortunate to have each other to talk to and to care about each other because as Slim says, "Oh I dunno. Hardly none of the guys ever travel together. You know how the hands are, they just come in and get their bunk and work a month, and then they quit and they go out alone. Never seem to give a damn about nobody." (page 39, line 13). Lennie and George's friendship grows to such an immense level that at the end of the novel George cares and shares feelings for Lennie so much so that he feels the need to save Lennie from the brutal death of Curley. He takes the friendship to the next level by "saving" Lennie from Curley and shoots him in the back of the head so Lennie would go peacefully and without any hatred directed towards him while he was dying. Companionship is also tested as a theme between the men that all live on the ranch. As explained before most of, if not all, the men have limited or no family. When on the ranch for a long enough time the working hands become friends and kind of form a family. The men do everything together from work, to playing cards. Even at the hardest times the men come together and act as one just as they did when they figured out Lennie had killed Curley's wife. When Lennie kills Curley's wife Candy finds the body and instead of telling everyone he thinks of George's best interests and tells George and keeps calm so that everyone does not think that George had anything to do with the murder. In these swift moves by Candy it shows that he cares about George and what happens to him. Another companionship is formed within the "family".

Loneliness at Home

Most of the characters in Of Mice and Men exhibit signs of desperate isolation. For example, Candy, the only character who has an unconditional love for a fellow creature (his dog) is left torn apart when Carlson takes his dog out back and shoots it. Candy's immediate attachment to George and Lennie's plan to settle on a farm of their own can be seen as a natural emotional progression following his loss. He looks for new companionship, now that he has lost his dog. Crook's and Curley's wife also show signs of desperate loneliness, though they respond quite differently. Both of them are mistreated causing themselves to be isolated. Because Crook's is black, he is shunned by the other men. He spends his time in his room, alone and bitter. Curley's wife also spends her days hounded by her "mean" husband. She attempts to reach out to the other men. This backfires and earns her the reputation of a flirt. Despite their hard and bitter shells, both characters reveal a desire to overcome their loneliness and win friends. In both cases, Lennie is the one that turns to them and makes them feel welcome. Although, the talk with Crook's and Lennie is subtle, the outcome of Lennie and Curley's wife's talk ends in bitterness and tragedy. The one man who could serve as a nonjudgmental companion cannot coexist safely with others. Through this Lennie also shows that he to has a desire for companionship, he is drawn to George, as George is his best friend. But when George leaves Lennie to go out at night or to go to dinner with his new friends, Lennie cannot resist the temptation to go and look for someone to talk to or play with. In a one case he finds him self talking to Crooks, the black man, and another case Curley's wife despite the constant warnings from George. But for a wile Lennie was doing well with his puppy, until he ended up killing it. Lennie was drawn to people, and would do whatever they wanted from the start of the book to the end of his life, but this was also is down fall for he could be easily talked into things by his desire to be around living things.

Dominate writing styles of Pre - WW2 Literature

BigseatO_o — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:37:12 CST

Stream of Consciousness

Throughout the novel As I Lay Dying the author, Faulkner presents fifteen different points of view, each chapter narrated by one character, including Addie, who after dying, expresses her thoughts from the coffin. In 59 chapters titled only by their narrators' names, the characters are developed gradually through each others perceptions and opinions.

The Great Depression
Many of the writings from before World War II were reflections on the great depression or comment on the great depression that occurred in the 1930's. Many authors were struggling throughout this time, and people such as John Steinbeck and Fitzgerald reflect this in there works The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men shows how Lenny and George had to struggle and work between jobs in order to make ends meet. There are also many other books that the group didn't decide to read, like The Grapes of Wrath, and Summer of the Monkeys. These books also reflected the life of the depression, some reflected the life of a child in the depression. Many of the authors either grew up in the depression or lived through it, so there lives and storeys would be around what they experienced in those times because the storeys they lived through, they knew that would make a great book to read.

Olden English

Olden English was the way that people talked in the 1830's so it would also be the way that they wrought there books. For the people who read the books in the 2000, we find it a complicating way to reed and speak, which turns many people off of these old books. But if you read through the olden English you will find yourself understanding it in know time.

Tarzan Characters

BigseatO_o — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:16:42 CST

Character List
Tarzan
Kerchak
Kala
Jane
William Clayton
Paul D'Arnot
Sir Clayton

Tarzan: John Clayton (Tarzan's human name) is the protagonist of this book. Tarzan's parents, Lord and Lady Greystroke, become stranded in the jungles of Africa. Shortly after Lord and Lady Greystroke build a cabin Tarzan is born. Tarzan's parents are eventually killed by the king-ape Kerchak. Tarzan ends up being adopted by the she-ape Kala when the ape tribe comes across the cabin. Kala does not know Tarzan's name (John Clayton), so she names him Tarzan which stands for white skin in the ape language. As a young boy, Tarzan had trouble keeping up with the other gorillas in his family. With help from his gorilla friend Terk and elephant friend Tantor, Tarzan grows into a more then capable man of the jungle. Although Tarzan became a skilled hunter in the jungle, he always felt alienated from the rest of the apes due to the physical differences. Tarzan discovers his parents cabin, and the books he finds in there help Tarzan realize that there are others like him in the world. When Tarzan finds Jane Porter and Clayton walking through the jungle he becomes very interested in them. Tarzan then rescues Jane from a pack of baboons and realizes she is like him. For all of Tarzan's life he felt different and alone. Because of this Tarzan was very happy to have found Jane and very anxious to spend time with her, Porter, and Clayton. After learning the human language and about life outside of the jungle, Tarzan begins to think that maybe he would be happier outside of the Ape's, in a human society. He also begins to fall in love with Jane. It's this very connection he feels with Jane that gets him into a lot of trouble throughout the book.

Kerchak: Kerchak is the leader of the gorillas (the tribe Tarzan is in). Kerchak does not agree with Kala's decision to adopt Tarzan into the tribe, but he knows that losing Kala isn't worth the loss to the tribe for she is a great and strong ape. Kerchak refuses to accept Tarzan as an equal member of the tribe because he feels that Tarzan is different, and has had bad experiences with humans before. As Tarzan becomes more and more skilled in the jungle, the rest of the apes begin to give Tarzan more respect. Kerchak eventually becomes so envious of Tarzan that he attacks him. Tarzan is victorious in that battle and therefore takes Kerchak's place as "king of the apes."

Kala: Kala is one of Kerchak's mates. She is a very big, strong gorilla who lost her when new born when Kerchak goes on one of his rampages and chases many of the gorillas into the high trees. He is chasing Kala when she makes a jump from one tree to an other, this is something that apes rarely do due to there wight. When she did this the baby gorilla couldn't hang on to her neck and fell to its death. After finding Tarzan's parents already slain by the gorilla, Kala decides to adopt Tarzan and treat him as if he were her own. All is well until Tarzan realizes there are people like him. Kala is killed by a hunter in a black African tribe, Tarzan gets revenge for her death by playing mean tricks on the tribe and kills a number of the tribesman as well.

Jane: Jane is an explorer from England who came overseas with her father and Clayton. Jane meets Tarzan after he rescues her from baboons. After noticing Tarzan's interest in her, she decides to teach him the English language and how real people socialize and live their lives. At first, she hopes that by teaching Tarzan he will in turn take her to see the gorillas. After spending so much time together, Tarzan and Jane end up falling in love. Although Jane comes off as a weak city girl at first, she begins to conform into a true jungle girl.

William Clayton: Clayton is a hunter who came on the expedition with Jane and Dr Porter to be their body guard or protector. After treating Tarzan poorly and with very little respect however Clayton reveals that his true motives for being there are to capture the gorillas and make a large profit off of them. Tarzan is also oblivious to the fact that William is actually his cousin, and because John Clayton (Tarzan's human name) is presumed to be dead, William is to inherit Lord and Lady Greystroke's estate. William ends up marrying Jane at the end of the book, and Tarzan passes up his chance at the inheritance, and leaves it to William in order to protect the happiness of Jane.

Paul D'Arnot: Paul D'Arnot is a french naval officer, that Tarzan rescues from natives in the jungle. Paul teaches Tarzan even more about human civilization. He teaches him the french language, as well as how to behave as a proper white man. The clues that D'Arnot find in Tarzan's parents cabin help him prove Tarzan's true identity as the inheritance of Lord and Lady Greystroke's estate.

Sir Clayton : John Clayton is a Colonial Officer who is sent to a new post in British West Africa. John is a noble man who comes into play at the very start of the novel. He loves his wife and fears when she wants to come on the voyage with him to his new post. On his way to his new post, the ship that he is traveling on experiences a minute, this sends great fear for his wife as they will be marooned on a island to wait for help to come. He fears that he wont be able to protect her and the baby that she is carrying from the dangers on the island. He is a strong, brave man that knows what has to be done to survive, he knows he has to build a shelter, gather food, hunt, and protect his wife and soon to be sun. As time goes on things are good, until one day when he is out from the cabin and a gorilla attacks him, his wife comes to the rescue but suffers a sever blow to the head from the gorilla. This blow to the head makes her delusional, for the rest of her time in the book she thinks that she is in London England. John makes the decision to not tell her that they are really on an island and that what she thinks was her dream is really true. He braves through all the lies he has to tell his wife, just to keep her happy. In the end when his wife dyes, he is at a loss of what to do and doesn't believe that he will be able to keep his new baby boy alive, for he has no milk to feed him. This is when the apes attacked, when his guard was down, and he was hurt the most.

Pretties: Symbolism

richfarm — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:09:43 CST

Tracking Bracelet
Pretties is set in the future with considerably more technology than the modern day society possesses. One of the new technological gadgets is a tracking bracelet that tells the government the location of anyone in New Pretty Town and can also hear a great deal of their conversations. The main purpose of the bracelet is to prevent anyone from escaping but also to ensure that no one is thinking "unpretty" thoughts or trying to defy to government. The tracking bracelet in Pretties is a symbol of oppression and control. The tracking bracelet restricts Tally and David's movements and also prevents them from discussing escaping and destroying the mind lesions. The bracelet symbolizes how the government often tries to prevent people from speaking their minds and want to make sure that everyone is doing what they are supposed to. Many corrupt governments take away their citizens' rights, such as freedom to speech, like is done in Pretties.

Eye Jewelery and Spin Tattoos
In modern day society, people modify their appearances according to what is considered beautiful. Mainly, people will desire expensive brand name clothing, make-up, and other accessories to enhance their own beauty. The same phenomenon occurs in Pretties but to a different extreme. In the pretty society, people are willing to undergo painful surgeries for things like eye jewelry or spin tattoos simply to enhance their own appearance similar to liposuction or botox treatments. The eye jewelery and the spin tattoos represent the pressure to be beautiful and conformity. After seeing one person have the latest form of beauty, it's almost impossible for everyone else to resist. The envy that they feel can only be satisfied when they somehow manage to outdo the other. The tattoos become larger and more elaborate and the eye jewelery becomes fancier. The pressure to be the most beautiful is stressful for most Pretties as they try to make sure that they are the ones coming out on top.

Mind Lesions Pills
The mind lesion pills represent the sacrifice between Tally and Zane. Both were unaware of what the pills might do to them but each agreed to take one so they could both be cured together. They also symbolize the last hope for humanity. Society depends on these pills if they are expected to return to normal. This is the last chance to make a change in the world because without them it will continue on the same destructive path that it is currently on. The pills are a symbol about how are society today needs to be fixed. But the only way to do it is to destroy what we have ruined and recreate a more peaceful, and happier society.

Animal Farm: Characters

JesseDawn18 — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:14:45 CST

Napoleon:
Napoleon is the pig that emerges as Animal Farms leader after the rebellion. Initially he is in competition with Snowball for this position, but uses manipulation to force Snowball from the position and eventually from the farm itself. Based on Joseph Stalin Napoleon continues to manipulate the animals of the farm, and intimidates them with his power to follow strictly by the rules that he enforces upon them. He even has loyal attack dogs that become his weapon against those who speak out. Napoleon is the main contributor to the theme "Communism can lead to dictatorship". He begins controlling the farm and taking more for himself. He even implements the new commandment "all animals are equal but some are more equal than others.". He quickly shows how power can go to your head and how easy it is to control.

Snowball:
Snowball is the pig who challenges Napoleon for the control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. He is intelligent, passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than Napoleon. He wins the loyalty of the other animals and cements his power. His character is based on Leon Trotsky.

Boxer:
Boxer is a strong, dedicated, loyal cart horse who plays a large role in the early prosperity of Animal Farm as well as the completion of the windmill. He shows his devotion to Animal Farm's ideals but is unable to think about them independently and trusts the pigs to make all of the decisions for him. His motto's are: “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right”.

Squealer:
Squealer is Napoleon's minion, who spreads his propaganda around to the other animals, and farms. He explains why all of the horrible things Napoleon is doing (such as the monopolization of resources), with false statistics to make the farm seem much more organized. He shows how those in power use rhetoric and language to twist the truth and maintain social and political control.

Old Major:
Old Major is the prize-winning boar who teaches the other animal “Beasts of England” to inspire them to rebel against Mr. Jones. He dies three days after telling them about how the farm could become a utopia, which leaves Snowball and Napoleon to struggle for control. His character is based on Karl Marx, a German political economist, and the Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilyc Lenin.

Clover:
Clover is a gentle and kindhearted cart-horse. She is very good friends with Boxer, another chart-horse. Clover is often the one who suspects all the pigs have been changing and violating the Animal Farm Commandments, but she ends up believing that she has just misremembered the commandments.

Moses:
Moses is the tame raven who tells the others about the paradise they will go to when they die, Sugarcandy Mountain. Although a small role, Moses shows how communism exploits religion as something with which to pacify the oppressed.

Mollie:
Mollie is a flirtatious and very vain young mare. She is usually the horse that pulls the farm's owner, Mr. Jones, around in his cart. Mollie craves attention from human beings, and all the grooming and pampering that they give to her. She has a very difficult time adjusting to a her new lifestyle at Animal Farm, because she misses having ribbons in her mane and indulging in sugar cubes, from time to time. She eventually leaves Animal Farm in order to return to her original pampered lifestyle. She represents the petite bourgeoisie that fled from Russia a few years after the Russian Revolution.

Benjamin:
Benjamin is the old donkey who refuses to participate in the Rebellion since he believes that life will never get better, no matter who is in charge. He understands the changes that take place, but is unwilling or unable to stand up to the pigs.

Muriel:
Muriel is a white goat. Clover always consults her when she believes that the Animal Farm Commandments have been violated by the pigs, so that she can reread them to her.

Mr. Jones :
Mr. Jones is the owner of Manor Farm, before the animal's rebellion. He often neglects his livestock their basic necessities, such as food and water, for his own enjoyment of an alcoholic beverage. Mr. Jones is meant to represent Tsar Nicholas II, who was the last ruling Emperor of Russia, Grand Duke of England, and the Duke of Finland. Tsar Nicholas II's dwindling popularity is believed to be the underlying reason why the Russian Revolution occurred.

Mr. Frederick:
Mr. Frederick is the operator of Pincefield, a neighbour farm, and is a shrewd, tough character based on Adolf Hilter (the ruler of Nazi Germany 1930-1940). He proves to be an untrustworthy neighbour.

Mr. Pilkington:
Mr. Pilkington is the owner of the neighbouring farm, Foxwood. He is an easygoing gentleman who is Mr. Frederick’s enemy and represents the capitalist governments of England and the United States.

Mr. Whymper:
This is the solicitor who initiates the first contact the animals have to human society and the animals are alarmed by him. Napoleon hires him to represent Animal Farm.

Jessie and Bluebell:
Jessie and Bluebell are two dogs, who give birth to puppies at the beginning of the novel. Napoleon then takes their puppies away, telling everyone that he is going to educate them. Later on in novel he uses the now full grown dogs as vicious weapons, against those at Animal Farm who question or disobey Napoleon's rules.

Minimus:
Minimus is a small pig, who enjoys poetry. He composes the song “Animal Farm, Animal Farm” to replace “Beasts of England”, which Old Major had passed on to the others.

Works Cited

NovelGuide. "Character Analysis". Novel Analysis: Animal Farm. 2009. January 04 <http:/www.novelguide.com/animalfarm/characterprofiles.html>.

SparkNotes. "Character List". Animal Farm. 2009. January 04 <http:/www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/characters.html>.

A Clockwork Orange: Symbolism

JesseDawn18 — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:13:39 CST

Motifs: Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

Nasdat
This Russian and Cockney English slang is a major motif within this novel. This combination indicates that Alex's society is based on American Capitalist and Soviet Communism, the major governmental influences of Burgess' time. The main character, Alex, uses Nasdat to describe his world to the reader. At first it is difficult to understand and the reader feels alienated, but eventually begins to understand his speech. This protects the reader from the horrible things Alex is doing (violence, rape, etc.) so that the reader is able to sympathize with him later on. A connection is also made since Alex is communicating on his terms. This is an idiom for teenage language as well, since adolescents are prone to using slang. Nasdat can also be seen as a form of brainwashing, as some of the terms give us a certain perspective of how Alex feels about the acts he commits. For example, cigarettes are called “cancers”, which puts a very negative, but reference to the object.

Classical Music
Classical music gives both structure and theme to A Clockwork Orange. If you pay close attention to the structure of the novel, you will notice that it follows the ABA pattern of classical music. It is communicated in three parts, each of which have seven sections (chapters). The first and third parts are mirror images, both beginning with,“What's it going to be then, eh?”, the first time with Alex asking and the second time a prison guard asking Alex. These two parts are inversions of the same plots. For example, in part one, Alex preys on unwilling victims, and in part three those same victims prey on him (the homeless man, and the man whose wife he killed). The second part also follows this pattern because it is substantially different from the first. Alex is no longer referred to by name, instead as a number, and he is in jail, instead of in the comfort of his own home. In terms of theme, Alex's love for classical music within the repressive government, which he associates with love and violence, follows Plato's theory that music is connected to revolutionary pleasure and that music must be repressed to maintain social order. This connection can be seen when Alex loses his love for classical music after his harsh experience at Reclamation Treatment.

Christ
References to Christ provide an analogy for Alex's life. In A Clockwork Orange, he is a martyr who gives up his identity for his society, and his attempted suicide in the last part of the novel can be seen as a sacrifice to expose the evil of the repressive State. There is also a similarity in the way Alex goes through three stages, like Christ's three final days. Alex follows this pattern since he gets caught, is buried in prison, and returns to himself at the end. He occasionally alludes to Christ, when he says things such as how he, “will turn the other cheek” after being punched. This reference insinuates that Alex's violence is being used against him by the State. His impulses let him identify with the Romans (who crucified Christ) and since the Romans were the “State” of biblical times, Alex is connecting himself to the “State” without really knowing it.

Symbols: Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colours that are used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Milk
Since milk is generally for infants, this symbolizes the immaturity of the teenagers who drink it in this novel at the Korova Milkbar. It implies that the drinkers are unsophisticated and helpless of the State's citizens. It also symbolized uniformity since it is white and homogenized. The drugs that are used to lace the milk becomes somewhat ironic and suggests that they are less innocent than adults, who do not drink the milk. It also may be seen as poison that the adolescents have chosen, making them the evil youth that they are.

Drencrom, Vellocet, and Synthemesc
These are the hallucinogens that are added to the milk, that everyone drinks at the Korova Milkbar. These drugs symbolize the way that the peoplecan become “inhuman” while using them, avoiding reality. As they poison contine, the teens choose to expose themselves to what helps to makes them much more violent. This can represent evil.

Darkness, Night, and the Moon
Night is the time when Alex, and the other youth, are most comfortable, so it represents peace and security. It is when he feels the solitude he needs to make choices freely and exist as an individual. It also enables crime because it is harder to be seen or found, and creates a sense of anonymity. The dark colour that the chaplain is wearing also represents security for him, as the chaplain defends Alex against the State.

Lightness and Day
Lightness and daytime represents danger to Alex. During the day, there are more policemen (figures of repression) around than at night and there is nowhere to hide, as seen in the interrogation room at the police station. This makes Alex feel exposed, vulnerable, and out of his element. It represents the demystification of the individual as seen when the doctors wear white, as does the chaplain, when he forces Alex to snitch on his fellow inmates to further his own ambitions.

Works Cited

N. A. "Symbolism, Imagery, and Allegory". A Clockwork Orange. 2007. January 03 <http://www.shmoop.com/clockwork-orange/symbolism-imagery.html>.

SparkNotes. "Themes, Motifs, and Symbols". A Clockwork Orange. 2009. January 02 <http://www.sparknotes.com/film/clockworkorange/themes.html>.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth: Theme

JesseDawn18 — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:11:29 CST

Take Risks in Order to Achieve your Dreams
The main theme in the dystopian novel The Forest of Hands and Teeth is that you need to take risks in order to achieve your dreams. All throughout the story, the main goal of the protagonist; Mary is to reach the ocean, which her mother always talked fondly of when she was a little girl. Getting to the ocean was Mary's dream so that she could finally be free and so she took some big risks to reach it. She risked not only her life, but the lives of those around her. By leaving the village, they are all at risk of being eaten or bitten by the Unconsecrated. This is also a huge risk because according to the Sisters, their community was the only human population left on earth. This means that by leaving, Mary and her friends were venturing out into the unknown and were headed straight to their untimely deaths. However, the slight possibility that there was something good out there in the world was enough to make Mary take the risk, and in the end it paid off because she makes it to the ocean and presumably lives, "happily ever after".

Survival of the Fittest

With all of the action, danger, and unknown elements in this novel, it is truly a "survival of the fittest" scenario, both mentally and physically. Mentally, you need to have a high need for survival or the Unconsecrated will make you go crazy. The constant fear that they provide as well as the bleak future and lack of possibilities is enough to drive the weak to kill themselves. There are also the cases like Mary's mother's, where a loved one became Unconsecrated, and the living person was not strong enough to survive on their own without this person, so decided to willingly become an Unconsecrated themselves. Finally, those still alive would need to be fast thinkers for if the Unconsecrated broke in through the fence into the village. As seen in the story, when they do eventually break the fence down, some of the people panic and fail to take immediate action and get to safety, causing them to die. Physically, the living need to be fast and strong, as well as good with weapons to survive against the undead.

What Goes Around Comes Around
It is never stated in The Forest of Hands and Teeth how the Unconsecrated came about, but it is understood that the ancestors of those still alive provoked the whole mess. This follows the theme of “what goes around comes around” because something that the ancestors did caused the Unconsecrated to begin, or at the very least get worse. The karmic payback for their actions (what ever they were), is that their children, or their children's children will now have to pay for their mistakes. It may have even been the elders in the community, such as the Sisters, that caused the Unconsecrated, there is no proof either way. In the end, someone always pays.

Love Overcomes All Obstacles
Love plays a big part in this story, whether it is romantic love or just love the characters love for their families and friends. There are many examples of love for another person giving someone the will to overcome great obstacles. Out of their love for Mary, or others that are leaving, Jed, Beth, Harry, and Travis all follow Mary out into the forest to try to find something good in the world. They were all terrified, yet their love was more important than their fear. Travis and Mary's love for each other is also seen overcoming those who they are supposed to be with (Harry and Cass) as well as the horrible circumstances they are in (such as living in that house by themselves surrounded by Unconsecrated in the next village they discover). Since the characters are constantly overwhelmed with fear, love is seen quite often helping them overcome this. Jed's love for Beth and his unborn child is greater than his fear of what will happen if he does not tell anyone that Beth was bitten. Cass's love for Jacob is greater than her fear for her life. Jacob's love for the dog and Cass helps him cope with his surroundings, and the most prominent of all: Travis' fear for his life is worth risking to save the ones he loves when he decides to sacrifice himself to the Unconsecrated so the others can get to safety.

Works Cited

Ryan, Carrie. "The Forest of Hands and Teeth". Carrie Ryan Blog. 2009. January 06 <http://www.carrieryan.com/forest-hands-teeth.php>.

George Orwell

K-Brine — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:39:36 CST

Eric Arthur Blair (pen name: George Orwell) was born in Motihari, India on June 25, 1903 and died in London, England on January 21, 1950. Both of Orwell’s parents were members of the Indian Civil Service and after attending college in England, Orwell himself joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma from 1922 to 1927.

Orwell left Burma and returned to England to become a professional writer from 1928 to 1931, where he mainly lived on the streets. In 1930 he began work as a school teacher and also worked in a book shop but continued to write. Many of Orwell’s novels were based off of or inspired by his personal life experiences. For example, his work on the police force inspired one of his earlier works called Burmese Days (1934). Burmese Days was not the only novel he published in the 1930's include: A Clergyman’s Daughter (1935), Keep the Apidistra Flying (1936), and Coming Up for Air (1939). However, the pieces that got him noticed were documentaries called: The Road to Wagon Pier and Homage to Catalonia.

Homage to Catalonia relives Orwell’s experiences fighting for the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War. In July 1936 the Spanish Civil War broke out and Orwell wanted to be involved in the political battle between fascism and democracy. In December of 1936 he traveled to Spain and enlisted in POUM which was a revolutionary Marxist party from Barcelona.

Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) are Orwell’s best known books that strongly mirror his personal distrust for the government from two different perspectives. Animal Farm represents Stalinism through an animal farm where all the characters develop different roles (i.e. Snowball is the leader). Nineteen Eighty-Four is a dystopian novel that shows his concerns for this government in the future. After a year on the battlefield he was wounded in the throat and soon returned to England.

In March 1938 Orwell was diagnosed with tuberculosis which is a potentially fatal lung disease. He was considered unfit to serve in the armed forces in WWII, so he worked as a journalist for various magazines and was then employed by the BBC. In 1945 he was sent to Germany as a war correspondent.

This British author had achieved great success over his career writing several different pieces including satires, documentaries, essays, and criticism. All of his work established him as one of the most important and influential writers of the century.

‘Who controls the past controls the future:

who controls the present controls the past.’

- George Orwell ‘1984’ (1949)

Works Cited

George Orwell - Eric Arthur Blair. Novels. Essays. Articles. Reviews. Biography. Bibliography. Web. 28 Oct. 2009.

<http://orwell.ru/>.

"George Orwell". LEVITY. Web. 28 Oct 2009. <http://levity.com/coduroy.orwell.htm>.

Rathbone, Mark. "George Orwell (1903-50).(File On ...)(Biography)." Hindsight 17.3 (April 2007): 32(2). General

OneFile. Gale. Avon Maitland District School Board. 26 Oct. 2009

<http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS>.

Koushun Takami

K-Brine — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:38:08 CST

Koushun Takami ( 高見広春 Takami Kōshun) was born in the year 1969 in Amagasaki, Japan, located very close to Osaka. He grew up in the Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku. Takami is best known as the author of the novel Battle Royale, that was originally published in Japanese. The novel was later translated into English by Yuji Oniko and published by Viz Media.

He graduated from Osaka University with a degree in literature, after he dropped out of the Nihon University liberal arts correspondence-course program.

After his university graduation he worked for a news company called Shikoku Shinbun that reported on various subjects such as politics, police reports, and the economic situation within the country.

Takami's first novel, Battle Royale, was completed after he left his job at the news company. His book was rejected in the final rounds of a literary competition that was sponsored by a major publisher. Takami's novel lost the Kadokawa Myster Prize due to it's controversial content. Finally, in 1999 in Japan Battle Royale was published and quickly became popular among young readers. This quick success landed the novel on a best sellers list. In 2000, the novel was created into a manga series (comic) and also a feature film.

Koushun Takami currently resides in Amagasaki and is working on his second novel.

Works Cited

"Battle Royale, Battle Royale Series, Koushun Takami, Book - Barnes & Noble." Barnes & Noble.com. Web. 02 Jan.
2010. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Battle-Royale/Koushun-Takami/e/9781421527727.

"Koushun Takami | The Cult." The Cult | The Official Chuck Palahniuk Site. Web. 02 Jan. 2010. http://chuckpalahniuk.net/recommended/author/koushun-takami.