Lit Anal #5 Tale of Two Cities

General

1). The plot of the satire is that there are two cities along the French countryside suffering from different yet similar controversies. Both England and France are suffereing with social turmoil causing a revolution. In London, Dr. Manette has been locked up without any explanation and set free without an explanation after eighteen years. Mr. Lorry, the business man who worked with Lucie, wants to help bring him back to the life he used to know and reunite him with his daughter in England. Dr. Manette is a very unhappy man due to his time spent in jail and quite frankly, insane. Once reunited with his daughter, Lucie, he is brought back to life. He begins practicing as a doctor again and is part of everyday society. After four years together, Lucie and her father get called to testify in the case of Charles Darnay who has been accused of treason. Lucie sells Darnay out but feels bad because of how nice he was to her. A member of Darnay's team stands up to reveal that he is a Darnay look-a-like. Darnay is set free and becomes close to the Manette family just as Mr. Lorry did. Sydney Carton also visits frequently and confesses his love to Lucie. Lucie puts that aside and marries Darnay. Darnay tells her father that he must tell him a secret but Dr. Manette tells him to wait until the wedding. Darnay and Lucie go on to have two kids right around the time that Darnay gets himself back into trouble. Darnay receives a letter marked to Marquis St. Evrémonde and says he will deliver it when really it is for him because he is the Marquis St. Evrémonde; a descendant of the corrupt rulers of France that had originally imprisoned Dr. Manette; that is the secret Darnay was withholding. 

2.) The theme would have to be the emphasis on sacrifice. Like most things in life the good comes with the bad and sacrifices need to be made. Sacrifices are made along the way while achieving happiness.

3.) The authors tone would be very serious. Dickens writes to inform his audience about the French Revolution and the life during that time period.

4.) Imagery: Dickens uses imagery in order for his audience to better relate to the events occuring at that time.
 Setting: The setting plays a major role in understanding how serious the issues of the time were like the treason that Darnay was accused of committing. The time period is what makes the events of the satire appropriate. 
Tone: Dickens serious tone emphasizes that this was no laughing matter. That the events that occurred throughout the French Revolution were not to be laughed about and were to be taken seriously. 
 Diction: The diction Dickens uses to convey the theme is vivid. He writes with long almost exaggerated sentences using "run-on" sentences for lack of a better word.
Syntax: Although Dickens writes for the satire to be set in a past time period, his syntax is very up-to-date making it much easier to read while understand his work. There is no comparing of him to Shakespeare.
Foreshadowing: In my reading and research, I found that Dickens uses a technique known as doubling. He uses this most often in characterization yet also uses it when comparing the
 two cities of the time."It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . . .”
 Symbolism: The symbol of the time period would be the Marquis. The Marquis represents the evils of that time and the aristocratic rule.
Genre: The historical genre is a HUGE part of the tale. Without such a historical, serious feel, the satire would be nothing of sorts.
 Point of View: Dickens point of view is noted throughout the satire. It is apparent that Dickens is very wise and takes an almost know-it-all point of view about the circumstances of the time.
Style: Style often has much to do with diction, syntax, tone etc. Dickens has an exquisite style. It is his own. He uses such language in order to create such vivid images for the reader to see.

Characterization

1). An example of direct characterization would be the descriptions provided about characters such as Dr. Manette. Dickens makes note of the wear and tear due to his imprisonment. We get a pretty clear vision of what Dr. Manette would look like in real life. Dickens also describes Mr. Lorry as old and somewhat stocky in his physical appearance. Mr. Lorry could also be characterized indirectly. He is a very respectable man due to his job at the bank. Charles Darnay is another example of a character who is characterized indirectly. There is much to be learned from his thoughts especially during his journey back to France.

2). I would definitely say that Dickens syntax as well as diction changes when describing specific characters. Often Dickens will almost ramble on about one character or about ones thoughts and then vaguely touch on anothers.

3.) Dr. Manette, the protagonist, is a dynamic character. From the time he is introduced and we learn of his past to the end of the satire, Dr. Manette develops in so many areas. By the end he has been very well described and identified by Dickens and has become a major contributor to the world he lives in where as before there was almost no hope for him.

4.)  I definitely feel like I came away meeting about half of the characters in the satire. I really understood Dr. Manette and could see myself having met him as well as Darnay and Carton. But who I REALLY felt I had met was Mr. Lorry. Although he wasn't the major character but one of, I still felt I had met him in person after getting to know him through Dickens text. "If you knew what a conflict goes on in the business mind, when the business mind is divided between good-natured impulse and business appearances, you would be amused, Mr. Darnay." -- Mr. Lorry

Lit Anal #4 Tortilla Curtain

General

1.) The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle is a novel about a man named Candido Rincon and his wife, America, who entered the United States illegally, to achieve the American Dream in California.  However, California life is not treating them so well because they have no home, so they must camp out at a national park. Another couple, Delaney and Kyra live in a gated community. The two couple's met when Delaney hit Candido (accidently.) The two couple's had great influence over one another. However, Candido is feeling shameful because he is unable to get a job and because of an injury he has. His wife is pregnant, and is unable to provide for her. Even America is able to get a job. Delaney’s family has a few problems with the struggle of criminals and illegal aliens. While Candido causes a huge forest fire, America is given birth to a beautiful baby girl, Socorro. The couple is forced to hide in the Delaney's shack where America confesses how she was raped, which might have caused their child to be blind. Delaney is extremely angry and runs towards the shack to attack the couple, however, a landslide hits the shack. The couple survives, but their baby died from drowning in the river. In the end, Candido saves Delaney from drowning, even though the discrimination and racisim he has against the couple.

2.) The theme of this novel is racisim and discrimination. Candido is constantly judged and hated against because he is an illegal alien. His wife, America is raped because of her race. The novel proves how good people are good people. They do not have to be white. It is shown when Candido saves Delaney, although Delaney hates Candido because he is a fforeigner.

3.)  The author’s tone for this novel is very serious and sad. Boyle is a realistic author describing the world because illegal aliens are shut out against. (Not always) He provides a story that can be related to and looked up on. 

4. ) Boyle had a variety of literary elements and techniqutes to express the message he wanted to send to his audience. He uses diction, symbols, foreshadowing, allegories, and such. Boyle is into detail throughout the novel. The diction/syntax he uses is comprehensive and causes the audience to feel what the characters are going through. 

Imagery: “Everywhere he turned he saw those red-flecked eyes, the rictus of the mouth, the rotten teeth and incongruous shock of gray in the heavy black brush of the mustache- they infested his dreams, cut through his waking hours like a window on another reality.” 

Diction:“The wind screamed. It screamed for blood, for sacrifice, for Tenksgeevee, and the flames answered it.”

Symbolism: “No education, no resources, and no skills—all they’ve got to offer is a strong back”

Allegory: “And Candido, despite his exhaustion, despite everything, began dragging the big balky sheet of plastic up through the unyielding brush, and as the branches tore at him and his fingers stiffened and the helicopters swooped overhead, he thought of Christ with his cross and his crown of thorns and wondered who had it worse.” 

Simile: “All he wanted was work, and this was his fate, this was his stinking pinche luck, a violated wife and a blind baby and a crazy white man with a gun, and even that wasn’t enough to satisfy an insatiable God: no they’ll all had to drown like rats in a bargain.”

Characterization

1). The author uses indirect and direct characterization so the audience can understand the character's feelings.

“I agree that everybody’s got a right to work and have a decent standard if living, but there’s just so many of them, they’ve overwhelmed us, the schools, welfare, the prisons and now the streets

2). The author's diction/syntax changes as it goes character to character. It is based on individual.

3). The protagonist never changes from the beginning to end. Candido is still the same nice, genuine person he is. The antagonist, Delaney changes throughout the novel because he realizes that just because Candido is Mexican, doesn't make him a bad person. In fact, he's a hero.

4). I felt I have the characters before because the novel is so realistic about racisim and discrimination towards Mexicans. Also, in the town I live in, we have illegal aliens. 

Lit Anal#3 Bless Me Ultima

General
1) Tony is confronted with a new culture, the English speaking academic world. Tony is having a hard time finding respect for his own culture. Tony is not sure about all the things he has been taught and questions if there is more than one source of divine knowledge.

2) A major theme in Bless Me Ultima is the transition from innocence to experience.Tony yearns to understand why bad things happen.

3) The author uses a sad tone. I consider the authors tone to be sad because the author really emphasizes the effect all the bullying and cruelty had on Antonio and the way it effected his cultural views.

4) One literary element the author uses are dreams. Antonio has many dreams to show the interpretations of his thoughts. Another literary element used is the use of symbolism. Antonio has those dreams to reflect his growth from innocence to maturity.

Characterization

1) One example of direct characterization is when the author talks about how Antonio has no respect for his culture. Another example would be his adolescent state of mind and how he always asks childish questions. An example of indirect characterization would be when Antonio sees Lupito get shot, Antonio suddenly begins to ask all the right questions. Lastly, Antonio's interest in spending time with Ultima deepens when he realizes she can help him find the answers to his questions. These are examples of indirect characterization because it shows his improvement of maturity.

2) The authors diction changes when focused on Ultima. The diction changes because Ultima has a way of impacting the lives around her and the author is able to express that.

3) Antonio is a dynamic character. Antonio transitions from a young boy into a young man in a matter of months, all due to his determination to find answers to all of his unanswered questions.

4) I feel like Antonio is a lot like my little brother Ace . Antonio is a young boy who is constantly surrounded by adults. My brother to is also surrounded by older people . I find Ace to be mature for his age because he does ask a lot of questions and he learns a lot from my family and I, due to the fact that he looks up to us and he is eager to learn.

literature analysis#2 The Great Gatsby

General
1) This novel took place during the Great Depression . The main characters were traveling from Oklahoma to California in search for a better life. The gist of the novel is about the adventureadventure that one family can encounter.

2) The theme that I got from the novel was the pursuit of the American dream.

3)The author uses a lot of indirect characterization to make the reader feel the atmosphere of the society of the 1920`s by analyzing behavior. The author talks indirectly about how the family feels.

4) One literary example used in the novel is the authors use of dialogue. For the most part, the characters in The Great Gatsby are well educated. Their speech and dialogue reflect this education,which in turn reflects their wealth. Another literary example is figurative language. ex: simile-"went like moths among the whispering and the champagne and the stars." Another literary example is foreshadowing. Nick mentions how he feels that Daisy and Tom are part of a secret society when he first meets them in their new house in East Egg indicating that they will stay together and disappear like a secret society if something happens. Lastly, the last literaryliterary element is symbolism. The use of East and West in the novel is highly symbolic.

Characterization

1) The author doesn't really use direct characterization . The entire story is based around something much bigger than a characters experience. When he explains Tom Joads experience after getting out of jail, he tells you how scared he is without using any dialogue.

2)The story changes only through characters points of view.

3) Tom Joad the main character is a dynamic character. In the beginning of the novel Tom had no goals in life, at the end of the novel,however; he has accomplishe'd the goals he wanted in California.

4) I feel like we all know people who are troubled and need help. all you can do Is support them and hope they make the right choices.

Lit analysis #1 No Exit

General
1) We allow other people to control us that is when we truly find hell. We allow people to have a huge impact on us and our abilities. When we allow negativity into our lives we are opening doors to more troubles.

2) The theme of this is when allowing others to control us we lose faith in ourselves.

3) The authors tone is vindictive. I see the author as being vindictive because the the characters are trapped in a small room forever with the same people. The author makes all of them explain why they  feel like they are in hell which I find to be vindictive because the author knows they will never be able to leave this hell that they are stuck in .

4) One of the literary elements in the play is an extended metaphor. The extended metaphor is that hell is not us but it is other people.

Characterization
1)An example of indirect characterization would be the room because it causes 3 people to live in such a tiny space that to them it feels like a torture chamber. An example of direct characterization is that they are really annoyed by one another. The male character Garcin says he is disgusted by Inez and Estelle.

2) I think the diction changes when Garcin and Estelle talk. Estelle really tries to be a good person, especially in front of Garcin.

3) I think that all of the characters can be considered protagonists because they all manage to annpu each other. They get into each others minds and they drive one another crazy.

4) I feel like we all have the potential to be in the position of these characters.If you are around one person long enough it is very possible to go crazy!