I think that this book was chosen for that year for something like that because a lot of things were going on with other countries. Fighting with Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. Invading Afghanistan and multiple other foreign problems. I think that they chose the book to show that the United States is not completely innocent either. Its showing that we weren't always the good guys, especially to our own people. In this time everyone viewed these other countries as the enemy but choosing this book is showing the readers that although our country claims to be so great to its people that these people were treated the way that they were.
0 Comments
I personally love poetry. I think i have bought and read a total of 14 poetry books by various poets. I love the emotion that comes through in poetry, I don't think any other style of writing can move me the way that poetry does. Poetry has helped me so much through my hard times, the way you can interpret poetry in any way makes it easy to relate. Poetry has helped me find my words for how I feel. Whether its about love, happiness, loneliness or anything my books help me find the words for my feelings that I don't think can be described. Reading introduction to poetry today was interesting. I understand how the speaker would want people to look at the beauty and discover things about the poems for themselves because i do that all the time with my books. I hate the thought of chopping everything up, putting one meaning on everything because to many people the same poem could mean something so different to them. I think that poetry is so infrequently taught and read because people don't see the benefits behind it. Poetry has helped me through so much and helped me find my voice but I think some people don't think verses written on paper can have the power to do that.
The change in perspective or point of view from chapter one to chapter two affect the book in a small way. In chapter one the story was told in third person but it showed the mothers perspective of the situation. In chapter two the story was told in third person as well but it showed the little girls perspective of the situation instead of the mother. It changed the tone a little bit. I feel like part of this is because she is a child and she doesn't fully understand what is going on. Although none of the adults really know whats going on either they have been living in their homes and working at their businesses their whole life, but the little girl has only lived there for however many years she has been alive and probably doesn't have many experiences outside of her hometown so she isn't as sad about leaving. I feel like she is more excited to be going somewhere new, meeting new people and the whole experience. She will realize eventually but i don't think right now she notices, like her mother did, how much this move, even if temporary will affect them. The mother was the one that had to do all the packing and leave all of her things that she would lose money on. The little girl can be so much more care free.
"By early afternoon her handkerchief was soaked. She was breathing hard and her nose was itching from the dust. Her back ached. She slipped off her shoes and massaged the bunions on her feet, then went into the kitchen and turned on the radio." (Otsuka 9)
From this passage you can see part of the tone so far in the book. The book has a very dreary tone at this point in the story. It is like the author is showing through the tone that they are going from a happy and great life to something more sad and terrible. You can see that this is affecting everyone through her word choices and by showing the pain she is already going through. This passage shows all the work that she is having to put in for this and what it is causing. The tone is very negative as there aren't a lot of positives. If i had to leave home for an indeterminate amount of time and I could only take with me items that could fit in a backpack I would bring my phone and a charger and a portable charger because its worth a shot. I would probably bring some snacks because I am a really picky eater. Some magazines for entertainment. I would bring a sweatshirt and comfy clothes because I like being comfy and i'm constantly cold. I would bring some makeup, because its entertainment and it can make me look more put together sometimes. Shampoo, conditioner, and a brush because my hair is insane if i don't treat it right. I would bring headphones and maybe a bluetooth speaker so I can listen to music. I would bring a notebook and my colorful pens so i can doodle. I would probably bring some water too because i can't last an hour without my mouth being dry and my throat hurting. I would probably attempt to stuff my dog into my backpack as well because I love him and I don't think I could leave him behind.
I think that so many people want to settle in America for the American dream. There is not a single country like the USA that has the freedoms, the variety, and the pride that we do. The USA has so much to offer and so many different opportunities. People in other countries have limitations when it comes to their dreams, careers, etc but in the United States almost anything is possible, you can do anything you put your mind to. I think that it might be difficult at first for people with different cultures coming to the United States just because trying something new is hard at first. But I feel like we have such a variety of groups and such a variety of opinions and activities that after awhile they would fit in well. The good thing about the US is that what you do at home is your business so these people could still do their cultural things in private if they didnt feel comfortable around everyone else.
The video about the Japanese Internment camps here in America during World War II was very interesting to me. I had learned things about the internment camps in school in the past so I knew that they had happened but the video gave me more of a look into them. I feel like this is against American's freedoms but I can also see why the USA would have done this. It was all in an effort to keep them and every other citizen safe. I personally would sacrifice that to keep my own country safe. We were in a time of need and we did not know who was good and who wasn't and unfortunately the bad ruined it for the good. I feel like it was justified. Although I do not necessarily agree with these peoples freedoms being taken away and I do not think they were always treated as well as the video says they were it was an effort to keep the public safe, to win the war, to help. I do not think they meant anything bad with it, it was only for the security of Japanese American's and all other American citizens. I feel like it could be done today but the participants would not be as willing to help their country. Nowadays people are more selfish and would put themselves before their country and their countries people so i think there would be a lot of retaliation if it were to occur today and would be unsuccessful.
I thought to kill a mockingbird was a very good and well written book. It was not my favorite book considering it was not over a topic that I am very interested in. Usually I do not enjoy at all books that I am forced to read but the book was surprisingly compelling to me and I did not hate reading it. I think that I still view the story the same, people change in time and with all of the racial influences going on as Atticus aged I would not be surprised if his outlooks and beliefs had changed due to the very social racial issues.
Reading Alexis's personal narrative was a very cool experience. I learned a lot about her and I feel like I know her even more than I used to. I really felt like I was walking in her shoes and I could really feel how she felt and the emotions that she had. I learned a lot about Alexis. Being a Christian but not being super religious it was interesting to see inside someone more devoted to their religion. I do feel a lot closer to Alexis, I know more about why she is the way she is and that is really cool to me.
Atticus's case was very well-constructed. I think that he lost the case because of the fact that Tom Robinson is black. Everyone was kind of going against him so I think no matter how good of a case Atticus put up and no matter what the evidence Tom Robinson still would have been convicted guilty based on the color of his skin, because nobody in that mostly white town would believe a black man against a white family. I think that the criminal justice system is so much more fair and just. I think people now can be persuaded more. Also the fact that Juries are more fair now and that racial discrimination is not nearly as big of a problem as it was back then would also add to the fact that if Tom Robinson's case had taken place today he would be not guilty.
|