1. Mrs Mossop reminds Joseph of a bird. Why? How does this image change as she talks with his mother?
She reminds Joseph of a bird because of her 'thin, upright posture' and the 'neat formality of her clothing'. (pg 44) At first, Joseph's image of Mrs Mossop goes from a 'crane' who gossips, to a 'bird of prey' who becomes influencial and tries to persuade Laura not to let him do it.
2. What causes Joseph to change his mind and tell his mother and Mrs Mossop that he 'probably' would draw Tom Leyton?
He says it probably just to annoy Mrs Mossop as she is so opposed to the idea. He says it so casually as if it was obvious that he was going to go with that desicion.
3. What feelings and memories does the mango tree arouse in Joseph?
The mango tree arouses feelings and memories of his childhood and how he used to play Tarzan and pirates. He also seemed to forget reality and drift off into another world. It was like his little hide away and a place where he could escape from reality.
4. What effect does the final incident in this chapter create? How has language been used to achieve this?
The final incident when the branch of the tree breaks, Joseph drops and injures himself. Very descriptive language and similies have been used to achieve this with the use of such words including 'hit Joseph's heart like a jolt of electricity', 'calf raked', 'knee butted', 'his hands closed automatically like a vice', 'ankles streaked with blood'. It was almost exaggerated a bit as every event, big or small was mentioned.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Dreams
Do you remember your dreams? Do you have recurring dreams? Discuss the symbolism of dreams.
I often remember my dreams but only bits and pieces of them as dreams aren't played like a movie, they are little flashes- like photos and you have a few dreams night. More often than not, you only remember the last dream that you have. I don't remember having reccuring dreams but I often have dreams that continue from the night before if I can remember them. I think that the symbolism of dreams depends on the people, place and events that occur in the dream. Often, I have my family and friends in my dream but occasionally I have people who I haven't seen in many years. Strange places often occur in my dreams as well as strange events. The other day, I dreamt about a friend, her parents and me in a sky-cab or gondola going past what seemed to be a movie set with guns, a big metal construction site and a big man in an army outfit! Usually I can figure out what my dreams were about, but that one seemed ambiguous to me. I find the symbolism of dreams quite interesting as usually you can figure out what you were thinking or worrying about that day.
I often remember my dreams but only bits and pieces of them as dreams aren't played like a movie, they are little flashes- like photos and you have a few dreams night. More often than not, you only remember the last dream that you have. I don't remember having reccuring dreams but I often have dreams that continue from the night before if I can remember them. I think that the symbolism of dreams depends on the people, place and events that occur in the dream. Often, I have my family and friends in my dream but occasionally I have people who I haven't seen in many years. Strange places often occur in my dreams as well as strange events. The other day, I dreamt about a friend, her parents and me in a sky-cab or gondola going past what seemed to be a movie set with guns, a big metal construction site and a big man in an army outfit! Usually I can figure out what my dreams were about, but that one seemed ambiguous to me. I find the symbolism of dreams quite interesting as usually you can figure out what you were thinking or worrying about that day.
Chapter Questions- 3
1. Why do you think Joseph's childhood nightmare of the Running Man returns?
I think that Joseph's childhood nightmare of the Running Man returns as Tom Leyton and his suspiciousness and peculiarity reminded Joseph of the Running Man.
2. What does Joseph decide at the end of the chapter? Why?
At the end of the chapter, Joseph decides that no one would be able to persuade him to draw Tom Leyton, not even Caroline and he wouldn't even try it once.
I think that Joseph's childhood nightmare of the Running Man returns as Tom Leyton and his suspiciousness and peculiarity reminded Joseph of the Running Man.
2. What does Joseph decide at the end of the chapter? Why?
At the end of the chapter, Joseph decides that no one would be able to persuade him to draw Tom Leyton, not even Caroline and he wouldn't even try it once.
Chapter Questions- 2
1. What are the attitudes of Mrs Mossop, Laura Davidson and Joseph towards Tom Leyton?
The attitudes of all three of them are very negative, opposed and suspicious. I don't think that Laura and Joseph really want to believe this gossip but they are kind of subjected to it by Mrs Mossop. I think that they want to give the Leyton family a chance.
2. What is Joseph's reaction to the suggestion that he draw Tom Leyton for his school project?
Joseph seems shocked by the proposition, he couldn't sleep on the night that he heard the news and he kept thinking about the words and pictures that he remembered from the conversation. He had become almost frozen and filled with embarrassment.
3. What references are there to Joseph's father in the chapter? How does Joseph respond to any mention of his father?
The two references to his father in the chapter are about where he is and about his job and when Mrs Mossop said to Laura that 'the boy needs a male in the house' (pg 23)In the first instance about where his is and his job, Joseph seems to not want to be reminded about him and either gives a short, one-word answer or a simple head-nod. In the second instance, Joseph only over hears the comment but is filled with 'resentment' (pg 23) by the comment.
The attitudes of all three of them are very negative, opposed and suspicious. I don't think that Laura and Joseph really want to believe this gossip but they are kind of subjected to it by Mrs Mossop. I think that they want to give the Leyton family a chance.
2. What is Joseph's reaction to the suggestion that he draw Tom Leyton for his school project?
Joseph seems shocked by the proposition, he couldn't sleep on the night that he heard the news and he kept thinking about the words and pictures that he remembered from the conversation. He had become almost frozen and filled with embarrassment.
3. What references are there to Joseph's father in the chapter? How does Joseph respond to any mention of his father?
The two references to his father in the chapter are about where he is and about his job and when Mrs Mossop said to Laura that 'the boy needs a male in the house' (pg 23)In the first instance about where his is and his job, Joseph seems to not want to be reminded about him and either gives a short, one-word answer or a simple head-nod. In the second instance, Joseph only over hears the comment but is filled with 'resentment' (pg 23) by the comment.
Chapter Questions- 1
1. The story begins with Joseph attending a funeral. What feelings and emotions is he experiencing?
Joseph may be feeling are of guilt, sorrow, loss and regret. The feelings would have also been strong as he was sitting in the front row which means it was probably someone close to him. (pg 1)
2. As Joseph tries to work out the chain of events that has brought him there, he finds himself thinking of silkworms. Why?
He finds himself thinking of silkworms as around that time he couldn't help himself and he realised that 'trying to unravel the tangled threads of the past was like unwinding the silk from a silkworm cocoon'. (pg 3) He was relating his complicated past to that of the untangling of silk in a silkworm cocoon.
3. When he recalls the recent past, Joseph sees the faces of three men. Who are they and what feature of each man's face is highlighted?
The three men are his father, who looked 'bewildered, hurt and angry' (pg 3), Tom Leyton, whose face was 'silent as stone' (pg 3) and the Running Man whose eyes were 'burning with a desperate fire' (pg 3).
4. The chapter ends with an image of Joseph's neighbours' house. What similie is used to describe it? What effect does it create?
The similie used to describe the house is 'perched high on its black timber stumps like some long-legged creature waiting in the shadows'. (pg 4) It creates an effect so that the house sounds sort of creepy and mysterious like something is hiding behind you, hoping not to be seen.
Joseph may be feeling are of guilt, sorrow, loss and regret. The feelings would have also been strong as he was sitting in the front row which means it was probably someone close to him. (pg 1)
2. As Joseph tries to work out the chain of events that has brought him there, he finds himself thinking of silkworms. Why?
He finds himself thinking of silkworms as around that time he couldn't help himself and he realised that 'trying to unravel the tangled threads of the past was like unwinding the silk from a silkworm cocoon'. (pg 3) He was relating his complicated past to that of the untangling of silk in a silkworm cocoon.
3. When he recalls the recent past, Joseph sees the faces of three men. Who are they and what feature of each man's face is highlighted?
The three men are his father, who looked 'bewildered, hurt and angry' (pg 3), Tom Leyton, whose face was 'silent as stone' (pg 3) and the Running Man whose eyes were 'burning with a desperate fire' (pg 3).
4. The chapter ends with an image of Joseph's neighbours' house. What similie is used to describe it? What effect does it create?
The similie used to describe the house is 'perched high on its black timber stumps like some long-legged creature waiting in the shadows'. (pg 4) It creates an effect so that the house sounds sort of creepy and mysterious like something is hiding behind you, hoping not to be seen.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Silkworms by Douglas Stewart
All their lives in a box! What generations,
"What centuries of masters, not meaning to be cruel
But needing their labour, taught these creatures such patience
That now though sunlight strikes on the eye's dark jewel
Or moonlight breathes on the wing they do not stir
But like the ghosts of moths crouch silent there.
Look it's a child's toy'. There is no lid even,
They can climb, they can fly, and the whole world's their tree;
But hush, they say in themselves, we are in prison.
There is no word to tell them that they are free,
And they are not; ancestral voices bind them
In dream too deep for wind or word to find them.
Even in the young, each like a little dragon
Rampant and green upon his mulberry leaf,
So full of life, it seems, the voice has spoken:
They hide where there is food, where they are safe,
And the voice whispers, 'Spin the cocoon,
Sleep, sleep, you shall be wrapped in me soon.'
Now is their hour, when they wake from that long swoon;
Their pale curved wings are marked in a pattern of leaves,
Shadowy for trees, white for the dance of the moon;
And when on summer nights the buddleia gives
Its nectar like lilac wine for insects mating
They drink its fragrance and shiver, impatient with waiting,
They stir, they think they will go. Then they remember
It was forbidden, forbidden, ever to go out;
The Hands are on guard outside like claps of thunder,
The ancestral voice says Don't, and they do not.
Still the night calls them to unimaginable bliss
But there is terror around them, the vast, the abyss,
And here is the tribe that they know, in their known place,
They are gentle and kind together, they are safe for ever,
And all shall be answered at last when they embrace.
White moth moves closer to moth, lover to lover.
There is that pang of joy on the edge of dying —
Their soft wings whirr, they dream that they are flying.
"What centuries of masters, not meaning to be cruel
But needing their labour, taught these creatures such patience
That now though sunlight strikes on the eye's dark jewel
Or moonlight breathes on the wing they do not stir
But like the ghosts of moths crouch silent there.
Look it's a child's toy'. There is no lid even,
They can climb, they can fly, and the whole world's their tree;
But hush, they say in themselves, we are in prison.
There is no word to tell them that they are free,
And they are not; ancestral voices bind them
In dream too deep for wind or word to find them.
Even in the young, each like a little dragon
Rampant and green upon his mulberry leaf,
So full of life, it seems, the voice has spoken:
They hide where there is food, where they are safe,
And the voice whispers, 'Spin the cocoon,
Sleep, sleep, you shall be wrapped in me soon.'
Now is their hour, when they wake from that long swoon;
Their pale curved wings are marked in a pattern of leaves,
Shadowy for trees, white for the dance of the moon;
And when on summer nights the buddleia gives
Its nectar like lilac wine for insects mating
They drink its fragrance and shiver, impatient with waiting,
They stir, they think they will go. Then they remember
It was forbidden, forbidden, ever to go out;
The Hands are on guard outside like claps of thunder,
The ancestral voice says Don't, and they do not.
Still the night calls them to unimaginable bliss
But there is terror around them, the vast, the abyss,
And here is the tribe that they know, in their known place,
They are gentle and kind together, they are safe for ever,
And all shall be answered at last when they embrace.
White moth moves closer to moth, lover to lover.
There is that pang of joy on the edge of dying —
Their soft wings whirr, they dream that they are flying.