Journals Entry

 

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Literature Analysis (Fiction)

 

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel. The plot of the novel is humanity first contact with an alien empire called the Covenant becoming a war zone. The Covenant weren't interested in making peace with humanity instead they were here to find lost technology from an extinct powerful alien race called the Forerunners.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel.  Avoid cliches.  The theme of the novel is the beginning of the Human and Covenant war. 
3. Based on the author's tone, describe how you imagine the author's morning routine.  Does s/he get up early or sleep late?  Coffee, tea, or no caffeine?  Yoga/meditation/exercise?  Groggily stumble to the toilet and wish s/he wasn't so hungover?  Breakfast?  If so, what kind of food?  No, I am not kidding.  There is no shortcut for this, only your own imaginative thinking based on how you read his/her work and interpret his/her tone.  Include no fewer than three (3) excerpts from the text that illustrate your points.               Based on the authors tone I fell like his morning routine is waking up 6 in the morning feeling tied from last night work, getting up from bed thinking of what he should write next. Going to his kitchen making himself a cup of dark coffee to wake himself up while cooking two eggs and three bacons. Once done preparing his breakfast, the author sits down eats his eggs first and then his bacon while still thinking what he should write to grabs the readers attention. After finishing his breakfast the author leaves his unclean dishes in his sink, grabs the keys that are hanging next to the door. The author locks the door to his 2 million home getting into his car and dives away. Driving  though the streets the author still thinks about his next writing. Once arriving to work the author inters the building and goes to his office. Before sitting down the author finally thought up a good plot, sitting down and quickly writes down his work. What I'm saying from this is the author thinks deeply  of his work to let readers understand details they haven heard of. Three examples are in the begging the books describes how a space ship can travel though space quickly, second deeply describing how the Covenant govern its empire and last how AIs work.    
4. Describe five (5) literary techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone.  These techniques may include characterization, figurative language, or anything else you've ever studied.  If you can't come up with five, do your best to remember and then look up "literary techniques" online and see if something rings a bell.  Include three (3) excerpts for each technique that will help your reader understand the technique and how it helped you gain insight.  Five literary Techniques i observed that strengthened my understanding of the theme are hyperbole, Irony, Point of view, Flashback and Anthropomorphism. Anthropomorphism was use to describe the characteristics of the aliens that have similar traits as animals giving the reader a understanding of how the aliens looks like. Point of View gives a better experience for the reader to know what's happening or what's the character experiencing, this books as a lot of action going on and telling it in first person allows the reader to not get confuse. Irony helps the reader understand what's doing on in the story, sometimes the character's point of view gets a bit confusing because the books uses words that I see from a math book.         

NEXT LEVEL
These questions include some reflection on your own reading habits.  Now that you've begun analyzing someone else's story, continue with more detail and share your own story of how you read.

Reading is a relationship.  Sometimes we get to the last page and feel wistful saying goodbye.  Other times we find ourselves telling a book, "It's not you-- it's me.  I just need some time apart, see other novels, get some space... "

1. What drew you to this book?  What did you expect and/or hope to experience through reading it? What drew me this books was from a video game called halo 1 that is connected to the books timeline. I expected to learn how the Human and Covenant War started,   
2. What kept you reading past the first ten pages? What keep me reading past the first ten pages was it mentioned one of my favorite characters from halo named Avery Johnson. I wanted to if Johnson was apart of the beginning of the war.
3. Describe your reading habits. I don't read book every day I often read a book when I'm in a mood. If I find a really interesting then I will spend hours reading. 

There are elements of literature that any well-read citizen is expected to know.  If we can't identify and articulate an author's main idea (a.k.a. theme), for example, we are functionally illiterate.  Sounding out words isn't reading.

1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).

After rethinking about the plot of  novel I notice that there are a lot of plots in the novel. One was Tartarus killing his uncle, two was the leaders of the covenant finding out that humans are the descendants of a Powerful alien race they worship as gods. Instead of telling the truth to their followers the leaders made up a lie about humans doing a sinful acted of destroying relics of their gods. The last one was The AI had already predicted the Covenant was going to attack Harvest. I fell like the second plot was the one that fulfills the purpose, This novel was about the beginning of the Human Covenant war and this plot explains how it stared the war started.  

2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches. The theme of the novel is how the war began by three leaders of an alien empire who were jealous that humans are the descendants of forerunners. Their beliefs of being the chosen's was wrong and are afraid that their followers will leave the empire.      
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s). The authors tone is serious  when telling a tough situations like from page 18 were Johnson had to a difficult decision of shooting a hostage in order to stop the explosions or letting his comrades get kill in the explosion. Second tone is anger, some where in page 300 Tartarus was furious that his uncle is doing a great job on commanding the attack so he commanded his uncle in a angry expression to fight for the position of commander. Third tone is concerned, In page 37 Johnson wakes up in a hospital thinking if he had failed the mission and was worried about comrades surviving the explosions.        
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
Ten literary Elements I observed that strengthened my understanding of the author's sense of tone are Point of View , Mood, Conflict, plot, Irony, Setting, Foreshadowing, Metaphor, Dramatic structure, and simile. Point of View page 11, buts its five-millimeter , full-metal rounds ripped ugly holes in his targets powder blue clean-suits. Mood page 9 Avery's were creamed with cold. Squeezing his hand into fist to keep his blood flowing. Conflict page 25 Avery failing to take down the bomber cost the lives of his men. Plot, page 24 the bomber as taken a child hostage leaving Avery a hard decision. Irony page 15, Avery taking orders to neutralize the prisoners felt it was wrong but did it anyways. Setting page 9 For close to an hour the hornets had matched the manic undulations of a volcanic plain, and now jerked back and fourth to avoid the petrified trunks of a forest burned long ago. Foreshadowing page 24, when the father tried to tackle the bomber who took his child hostage I had a feeling the bomber would set of the explosion and it did happen. Metaphor, page unknown, the book explain the alien ship looked liked a fishing hook. Simile page unknown, Describes an alien being big as a bear.   

Characters aren't people, but they often provide the most compelling connection with a text.

1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?  Two examples of direct characterization are cold and no feelings. Two indirect characterization is having a human heart and now is positive. I think the author uses both approaches to let the reader see the character change. In the end my last impression of the characters results are impressed.
2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?  I think the author uses diction when focusing on the character because its gives details about the character. Like for example Avery looks like cold soldier who can take any order but hesitates when told to execute the prisoners.  
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain. I think the protagonist dynamic because in the beginning he didn't to much about human life but in the he does care.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction. Yes I have seen this character from a video game called halo and reading about him gave me more info about him then the video game.

451 QUESTIONS, 20 ANSWERS)

 

1. The Hearth and the Salamander” seems an odd choice for a chapter title. Why do you suppose Bradbury chose it? What connections did he want to create? (hint: in mythology, the salamander is a fire lizard, said to be capable of starting and putting out fires)   I think Bradbury chose this to make a connection with the beginning part of the story. The connection Bradbury wanted to make is  Montag as the Salamander and the home being burned as the Hearth. What is a Heath? well hearth is fire place and what causes the fire place to burn fire, fire. The Salamander in mythology its a fire lizard so the lizard is the one who can lit up the fire place because its made up of fire.    
2. The lines, “It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed” (1) tell the reader a great deal about the protagonist, Guy Montag. What assumptions can the reader make? In my point of view the protagonist seems to enjoy burning in a crazy way. In my opinion the readers assumption would be the same because who enjoys watching things burn?    
   
3. Bradbury’s use of metaphor and animal imagery begins on page one of the novel. He writes, “With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head...” (1). Why would he have chosen to characterize a fire hose as a “great python?” Is the imagery positive or negative?         In my opinion he chose great python to characterize fire hose because of how similar those two are. I think Bradbury choose to characterize a fire hose as great python to make the readers image this part scary. The imagery is negative because its describing an object as a big snake that spits out venom. 
   
4. Also on the first page, we learn that Montag’s fire-helmet is inscribed with the number 451. What is the symbolic importance of this number? This number represent the temperature at which paper burns. This important because Montag burned books in the story. 
5. Explain how Clarisse McClellan is first described. What is it about her that immediately strikes Montag? Clarise was first descried by her futures and dress. Clarisse McClellan was first describe by her appearances. What made her immediately strike Montag is how she acted Infront of Montag.
6. The names “Clarisse” and “Guy” a re significant. How? By how different those two are.  Clarisse knowns what's going around her while Montag is blinded thinking that he is living a happy live, but in reality he isn't.
7. Clarisse questions Montag about his way of life. How does she question him, and how does he react to
   her questions?  Clarisse questioned Montag if he enjoys doing what he does, this causes Montag to laugh it off thinking he's already happy.
   
8. During the first conversation between Clarisse and Montag the reader discovers several odd things about the society in which these two characters live. Describe at least three odd things we learn. Fire men starting fires, divers driving their cars really fast, and billboards being really big. 
9. Montag employs two similes in thinking of Clarisse. What comparisons does he make and why? He compares Clarisse face being thin as a clock and how she acted like a eager watcher. The reason why montage made those comparison is tp point out her unique characteristic. 
10. What does Montag realize about himself after Clarisse leaves him the first time? What montage realize about himself after Clarisse leaves him for the first time is he is not happy. 
11. What are “Seashells” and how does Montag’s wife, Mildred/Millie, use them? The seashells are head phones and she uses them to listen to music.
    
12. There is a stark difference between Bradbury’s first description of Clarisse and his first description of
    Mildred. What does the reference to her face (11) signify and how does it contribute to our
    understanding of both her character and the marriage between Montag and Mildred?   The reference of her face signify a cold almost dead body. This makes us understand the marriage between Montage of Mildred is not looking to well.
    
13. Describe the machine used on Mildred. Explain the symbolism.  The machine used on Mildred was descried as a black cobra sliding down into the well, looking for the old water and the old time gathering in there and drinking up all the dark matter. What this means is the tube is inserting a tube into Milden to clean out the bad stuff she had consume. 
    
14. Montag’s comment that “Nobody knows anyone” (14) is telling. What is the epiphany he has? The epiphany Montage has is realizing the world he is living in doesn't make sense. 
    
15. Unthinkingly, Montage finds himself drawn to the window of the McClellan household. Explain the
    contrast between his house and this one. What does the contrast tell the reader about society at large?  The difference between his home and this one is its full of darkness and unhappiness while the other home is full of liveliness and laughter. This tells the reader that this society is depressing. 
    
16. Montag’s confused statement, “‘I don’t know anything anymore’” (15) signifies a pivotal moment in the 
    text. Explain. When Montag witness the incident it has caused him to change his perspective on the world he is living in.
    
17. When Mildred wakes up from her near-death experience, she does not seem to remember what
    happened. Describe her mood at this point. Why has Bradbury characterized her this way? What does Millie’s conversation with Montag reveal about her? Mildred's mood was apathetic and demanding. I think Bradbury characterized her this way to give Montag another reason why he is living a sad life. Mildred's conversation with Montag reveals she selfies only caring about herself and not Montag's fellings.
      
    
18. Why does Clarisse visit the psychiatrist? Clarisse visits the psychiatrist to tell what she does in her free time like hiking, watching birds, and collecting butterflies. For some reason it sounds like the psychiatrist thinks what Clarisse is doing looks weird.
19. What is “the Hound” and what is its function? Why is Montag bothered by the Hound? The hound is a eight-legged robot dog that is function to hunting any animal it sees by injecting them with morphine or procaine. The Reason why Montag is bothered by the Hound is how it is used to hunt the small animals for entertainment and it would always try to attack him.   
20. Why does the woman want to stay-- and burn, and die--with her books, rather than surrender to the fireman and leave the books and her home to burn? The old woman didn't want the fire men to burn the books instead she burned the books herself to voice her disagreement on the practice of burning books from fire men.

FIRE CAN WARM OR BURN (How is fire described in the first scene of the book? Is it helpful or destructive? Explain.)

In the first scene of the book it described fire being destructive, The fire man spraying  kerosene with his hose towards a building showed an expression of enjoyment of seeing a building burn down. The kind of expression a crazy person who likes burning things would showed. In the first scene it showed fire being destructive but later on the story gives use an explanation on why fire men are burring down buildings. In this future building become fire proof so the only use for fire men is burring down buildings that aren't fire proof. Could you imagine this happening later on in the future! 

ENTER CLARISSE (What is the effect of Clarisse showing up? What is your first impression of her?)

 The affect of Clarisse showing up was it opened so many question like the fire fighter man questioning himself if he really enjoys what he's doing and mentioning her uncle getting arrested for pedestrian which is almost connected to a story I read two weeks ago. My first impression of her is she acted pretty normal but was laughed at by the fire fighter for saying stuff from the past almost like what she's saying doesn't make sense cause their in the future and in the future everything's opposite.   

IMAGE OF A MAN (What is your first impression of Guy Montag?

 My first impression of reading Image Of A Man was confusion because in the begging of the story the Fire fighter was starting a fire and in my mind I thought, "That's strange shouldn't a fire fighter stop fires not cause them"? After reading more I started to understand that this story takes place in the future where every thing is opposite. This story contained so much of similes and metaphor that it made think of that it is talking about like the python spiting out venom actually  meant a fire hose spitting out flammable liquids.     

Journal Entry Sunday, November 1, 2020

 JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tune: "Missing You" by John Waite]

Today I got to speak with my daughter online. Who are the people you miss right now because you can't get out of the house or do the things you usually do?

The people I miss are friends and family members, sure we technology to get in touch with them but talking to them by phone or zoom call isn't really the same as visiting them shaking their hands or high fiving them feeling. The feeling where you sit down and relax or go somewhere to eat and talk.