Wednesday, November 28, 2012

What is the significance of the death of Argos, Odysseus' dog? Why is it in the story?


Argos was Odysseus' faithful and loyal hunting dog. Argos waited for Odysseus to come home. Argos started aging for all those years that Odysseus was gone for. Argos was the first to recognize Odysseus' arrival at Ithaca. When Argos first say Odysseus in a very long time he tried to wag his tail. Argos was fulfilled with seeing his master. He whimpered and died. 

Odysseus didn't get the chance to spend time with his dog because he had to go to the battle of Troy. Men would hunt wild goats and rabbits with their dogs. Argos lived outside of Odysseus palace on a heap of manure. He was also covered with fleas. When Odysseus sees Argos he wipes away a tear casually so Eumaeus would notice that the old beggar was Odysseus. Odysseus tells Eumaeus that its is strange that this dog does not have strength or speed and out here lying in a pile of dung. Eumaeus replies that Argos belonged to a man who died a long time ago at Troy. He says if he took care of the dog like Odysseus did he would be in shape. His dog is in the story because Argos resembles loyalty and companionship. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The Odyssey Chapter 12 question 2.

  Scylla and Charybdis are creatures that Odysseus and his men pass by on their journey home. Scylla is a six headed monster who grabs and eat sailors from their ships. Charybdis is a massive whirlpool that teases the sailor by trying to eat their whole ship. Scylla grabbed six men from Odysseus ship and ate them. Scylla and Charybdis figuratively represent struggle in two decisions in life and a harmful choice in everyone's life. As Odysseus travels the sea Poseidon curses Odysseus and all the creatures of the sea and all the Greek mythological  creatures destroy Odysseus' crew. Scylla and Charybdis represent two harmful decision for Odysseus to make. Both of the outcomes are negative. Odysseus has to choose evil or the evil sea. "Of all pitiful things I've had to witness, suffering, searching out the pathways of the sea, this wrenched my heart the most." this quote on page 279, line 280 shows that it is hard to make harmful choices and knowing which way is right or wrong. The phrase "less or two evil." Is represented in that situation. One outcome is going to be less worse than the other.


Monday, October 29, 2012

Catcher in the Rye question 5 chapter 22

5. Given the context that has been developing, state what is represented by Holden's desire to catch kids so as to prevent them from falling off a clifT while playing in a field of rye. What could Holden mean by this odd reference? Holden means that he wants to catch kids from loosing their innocence. The kids falling off the cliff represents kids going into adult hood and loosing their innocence. Holden wants to save them from that.  The irony between the song and Holden is the song represents two farmers of a different gender having sex and loosing their innocence but Holden think the opposite. When the children run off the cliff and not know where their going represents teenagers being confused on how to handle the ways of growing. Holden doesn't want to grow up but has trouble figuring out if he wants to have sex or not. His immature innocent mind is holding him back from sex. 

  Holdens body is manipulating him to have sex but Holden is holding back and that's why he wants to save kids from sex and adulthood. Holden believes if you save someone you are not a phony. Holden is thinking all these thoughts but can't manage to figure the thoughts out. Holden does not understand how people can loose their innocence and this shows his immaturity. Holden likes talking about sex but doesn't. He is confused. Holden thinks he can save people from this confusion but Holden can't save himself. By catching kids from innocence it will make Holden feel not like a phony.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

CITR Chapter 10 question 3

3. What does the blonde's language reveal, and how does she behave on the dance  floor? The Blonde's language reveals that she is uneducated, Holden thinks this.The reader can tell that the blonde is interested in Holden or the dancing because she is looking around everywhere so she can get attention from Holden. The blonde keeps responding to what to Holden questions, she is pretending that she is not paying attention to holden which makes holden think that she doesn't care. But of course Holden judges her without even knowing who she is. When Holden curses she says that she doesn't like how Holden talks to her, she says this in an uneducated way. Holden always judge people before knowing what they are like. Holden's mind switches emotions. He thinks a person is cool and changes his mind. An example of this is when Holden thinks Stradlater is so cool but when Stradlater ticks Holden off he thinks of him differently. Holden thinks at first that the blonde is hot but when she opens her mouth he thinks she is a "moron."


Monday, October 15, 2012

Chapter 9 question 1

1. What is reemphasized about Holden's personality on the first page of this chapter.
    Holden's personality is innocent and childish Holden thinks to much into things. Holden wants to call somebody up because he is lonely but he doesn't want to. This shows his alienation to others. Holden is also procrastinating. It takes Holden twenty minutes in the phone booth just to figure out who he wants to call but calls no one. Holden even says he is so absent minded. Holden can't decide who to call. Holden always repeats "I am not in the mood." this is a statement that pulls Holden back from others. Holden thinks to deeply into what the reactions of the people he will call. Which is an example of Holden's alienation from others. Holden is trying to find connections with other people his personality is taking that away from him. Holden has no direction in life. Holden says that mrs. Hayes said Holden has no direction in life and that is true. Holden makes quick decisions without putting time and effort into them. When Holden says he is going to call someone he makes up what they are going to think. Holden says he wants to call Jane and tell the people that answer the phone that her aunt died in an accident. Holden doesn't even think once of what he is saying he just says it.
Holden is not considerate of others he is selfish.

Friday, October 12, 2012

CITR chapter 7 question 1

1. Why does Holden feel "rotten" and "lonesome" in this chapter?
  Holden feels rotten and lonesome in this chapter because he couldn't stop thinking about Stradlater and Jane having the time in Ed's car. Holden likes Jane and can't stop thinking about her. Holden mentions that Stradlater does a technique with girls and that is to talk in a sincere and very quite voice. When ever he thought about Jane and Stradlater he felt like jumping out of a window or wishing he was dead. Holden cringes when he hears or think of sex this shows that Holden is innocent and doesn't want to grow up. Sex is in Holden's way of not growing up. Holden was also lonesome because he did want to hang around Pencey any more. So he packed his things. Holden was saying that he was going to sleep over at a cheap hotel and have a minnie vacation this made Holden feel better about leaving. He got depressed when he was packing. Holden  packed these brand new ice skates his mom gave home. That made him depressed. The ice skates symbolize childhood. He felt rotten about the skates because his mom gave him the wrong kind of skate. Holden says when every he gets presents he becomes sad. Holden doesn't want to grow older and a sign of that is birthday present showing that Holden is growing up and the presents are a reward for that but Holden doesn't believe that. Holden believes that presents are a depressing thing to receive. Holden feels like he should escape his problems by going on a Minnie vacation to a cheap hotel in new York. The reader can tell that Holden does not want to face his problems but to run away from them.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Why is it ironic that Holden dislikes Ackley?

"He was one of these very, very tall, round- shouldered guys- he was about six four- with lousy teeth." this is the description that Holden gives Ackley, Holden also says that Ackley is a loner and has a terrible personality. This makes Holden a phony because Holden is just like Ackley but doesn't want to admit it. Holden always complains that Ackley is always up in his business but he also feels sorry for him. Holden feels sorry for Ackley because he is a loner but so is Holden. When I read this I thought, well does Holden feel bad for himself? Ackley is the foil of Holden. Since Holden feels bad for Ackley he invites him to the movies. I later find out the answer to my question, Holden hates himself  but doesn't want to admit it so he says he dislikes Ackley. Holden wants to reach out to himself but pretends he doesn't care. 

"Ackley was a slob in his personal habits."  Holden mentions the habits that Ackley does but Holden does the same but in a different way. Ackley annoys Holden by picking his pimples, touching Holden's personal stuff, and always mentioning how he hates Stradlater. Holden does the same things. He always mentions how Ackley and other people are annoying and phonies. Holden's habit is horsing around and annoying people just like Ackley. I believe that Holden is an Ackley to Stradlater. Holden always mentions Jane and tells stories about him and her to Stradlater, Stradlater gets annoyed when Holden does this. "He's one sonuvabitch I really can't stand." Ackley says this. This qoue reminds me of Holden and Ackley they can't stand each other but are each other.