Reflection Blog: Of Plymouth Plantation

I thought that the story had some better detailed compared to the stories we read in the past. For being so short, there were quite a few descriptive words that were used, but overall the story was plain. The story was straight forward. Basically the author told you what happened and gave you a reaction, that was about it.

 I think that the story does a good job at reflection Puritan writing in a number of different ways. The first way I noticed right off the bat was how much the story talked about God. In the Puritan writing style, God is always the main focus. People could be dying, but the people in the story are always praying to God and glorifying him. When the pilgrims first step off of their ship and onto the land, they are so overwhelmed and happy that they drop down to their knees to pray and thank the Lord (Bradford 65). Even though when they were at sea the pilgrims were facing many troubles, they always had faith in God and trusted things were going to be okay. Voyages on the sea of the time period were very dangerous (Bradford 63). Obviously they did not have as much technology as we do now and had to rely on each other to make the ship truly work. The pilgrims believed that the sailing of the ship was pleasing to God, which was important to them (Bradford 64). One of the things that influenced the puritan style of writing was probably the change economically in the story (Reuben, Paul). Here, the pilgrims landed on Cape Cod and had to get along with the Indians already there (Bradford 64). At first they were so shocked the Indians spoke some English. The Indians were willing to make a pact, or set of laws with the pilgrims (Bradford 67). The economic change is an underlying theme of Puritan writing. The Puritans believed in a God who gives and takes away (Reuben, Paul). In the story the people represent that thought. When people were dying because of such a harsh winter, the survivors never gave up hope and they always looked up to God for support (Bradford 65).The Puritans believed that through suffering God was preparing their hearts to accept the grace and love he was giving to them. They really had no fears because they knew they had a place saved in heaven.

The one thing I like about the story is how it is split up. The first part of it talks strictly about the journey and the challenges they overcame. The second part of the story talks about the colony itself and how the people established it and got along with each other. Another example of the Puritan writing style is the work ethic established in the story (Reuben, Paul). The pilgrims and the Indians worked hard with each other so the colony would work. They made a set of laws to live by and each group worked to get along. The Puritan writing style was overall evident in the story once each part was broken down.

Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation. Ed. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. Glencoe Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 65. Print.

"Before You Read." Introduction. Meet William Bradford. American Literature ed. Columbus: Glencoe Literature, 2009. 62-63. Print.

Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 1: Early American Literature to1700 - A Brief Introduction." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. WWW URL: http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap1/1intro.html. 12 Oct. 2011.

Journal 3-Hostage

I would not be the person to be held hostage. I would not be able to control myself. I do not like the feeling of someone else controlling me and having no ability to change it. If I were held hostage, I would first be really scared. I would think about what is going to happen, if I will get hurt, and if I will survive. I would cope by trying to calm myself down first of all. I would think of ways to escape from hostage. In a hostage situation, things are usually very intense. I think that I would not only be scared, I would be upset. What would upset me the most is not knowing what will happen to me in the future. At that point, I would decide whether or not I would want to live or die. Depending on the seriousness of the hostage situation would influence my decision. If I have the feeling that I might not get out alive, I would try to escape with all costs, and whatever happens to me happens. If I have the ability to try and make it out alive, I would stick it out until the end and see if I could be one of the last ones standing. It would help me if other people were in hostage with me. I would have somebody to talk to, to keep me from going completely crazy. Together, we would make a plan of escape and give each other's opinions. If I were in hostage alone, I would probably go crazy. I would spend too much time thinking about my family, friends, and how much I am going to miss while in hostage. I would start to think of all the things that I wanted to do before I die, and all the things that I wish I had said to people. At that point I would try to make myself a better person because would not know if I would survive or not. I would drive myself crazy talking to myself about the things that should have and could have been done. I think that if I were held hostage, well, then that just will not be the right situation for me to be in.

Reflection Blog: Puritan Writing

As I was reading "Upon the Burning of our House and A Narrative of Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson", I found many similarities in the writing styles that were used. Both were very great examples of Puritan writing. Upon researching typical things to look for in Puritan writing, the main point I came across was how Puritan writing always resembled God in some way. The stories had a purpose of glorifying God, and it was evident that the stories were both religion based.

 I think that the stories did a very good job at expressing their gratitude toward God. They both looked for him for advice, help, and healing. In the narrative of Mary Rowlandson, she sat holding her ill son in her arms (Rowlandson 83). She was praying that God would look after her son and try to make him better. She prayed that he would help heal her son. In the other story, the main character sent all her cries up to God. She wanted God to help her with all of her problems. Anything that was wrong she gave to God. As I was reading the stories, I realized they both a very mono tone to them. They were not happy stories by far, but they were not completely sad. I think that the stories were trying to portray a message to the public through the writings. In the narrative of Mary Rowlandson, Mary was a very hard worker. She worked and earned everything she had (Rowlandson 83). She would make clothes constantly just to pick up scraps of food from people. She was very caring. She cared for her children a lot (Rowlandson 84-85). She was constantly wondering where they were, if they were okay, if they had food, and so forth. The reader could tell that the journey, or travelling had a very hard effect on her. A Puritan Legacy is the city upon the hill (Reuben, Paul). In the narrative of Mary Rowlandson, her son was buried at the top of the hill (Rowlandson 83). I think that is a pretty cool way to correlate Puritan legacy with literature. Another Puritan legacy is the request, or search for freedom (Reuben, Paul). I think that in both of the stories one of the main themes is freedom. In each story each character wanted to be free from something. In the narrative of Mary Rowlandson, Mary wanted to be free from the Indians who caught her and took her away from her home. In The Burning of the house, she wanted freedom for the harsh effects of daily life (Bradstreet 90). God is the ultimate reoccurring symbol in each story.

God was the main person the characters and the Puritan people looked up to and worship. He was the basis for all stories and in each story he is constantly recognized (Reuben, Paul). Puritans believed God's grace was freely given, which would explain why the characters in the story would always give their struggles to God. Overall, I think both of the books did a really good job of expressing Puritan beliefs and legacies through the writing portrayed. I could clearly understand the story and relate to the story on a religious level.


Bradstreet, Anne. "Upon the Burning of Our House." Glencoe Literature. Ed. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph. D. American Literature ed. Columbus,: McGraw Hill Co, 2009. 91. Print.

Rowlandson, Mary. A Narrative of Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. Glencoe Literature. Ed. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph. D. American Literature ed. Columbus,: MrGraw Hill Co, 2009. 82. Print.

Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 1: Early American Literature to1700 - A Brief Introduction." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. WWW URL: http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap1/1intro.html. 12 Oct. 2011.

Journal 2- Manners

Max and Ruby were playing outside their house one day. Their parents were out of town on a business trip. Max and Ruby were not old enough to take care of themselves,since they were such young bunnies, so their grandmother came over to babysit them for the weekend. Max and Ruby were not very good at sharing. Each day Max would bring out his toys, which were very loud, and annoyed Ruby and her friends. Ruby was trying to prepare for her upcoming fireflies meeting with her troops. The meeting was at her house this week, and she needed to have everything prepared. Max was playing with his firetruck outside in the grass, but he kept running the firetruck into all Ruby's decorations. Ruby told him many times to stop and play with his toys elsewhere, but Max was not satisfied with that. He wanted to use his firetruck to carry Ruby's decorations to the table. He just wanted to help out! Ruby was not happy. She was nowhere near ready for the meeting and already her troop was knocking on the front door. She hurried to get dressed so she could answer the door in her uniform. When her friend Harriet and Louis  came in the door, they forgot to take off their shows, and Ruby noticed. They were not being very polite. They dragged dirt throughout Ruby's house. Ruby was very upset. Nothing was going as she hoped it would. She politely asked them to take of their shoes and follow her to the table. When they got to the table Ruby was so surprised at what she saw! Max and used his firetruck to take all of the decorations to the table. He helped out his sister so that the table looked good when her troops came for the meeting! Ruby was so proud of Max and felt bad for being mean to him in the first place, so Ruby allowed Max to eat with the troop and he got a special dessert at the end. Ruby doubted Max very much, but even though Max was little, he still helped Ruby in the biggest ways possible!

Journal #1

The king of the jungle was once a little cat. The lion, who was once so coward, discovered he could roar in the most unusual way. As the Native American groups were gathering for the evening feast in the village, the mighty lion swarmed the jungle. The people had just sat down to begin their evening meal, when a loud noise came from the west side of the jungle. The king of the jungle was accompanied by the queen, who already had her roar. They were the best of friends and got along very well until one day the queen started to make fun of the king lion. Every day the queen lion made fun of the king lion, saying he is not a true king because he did not have a roar. This made the lion become very angry.The lion wanted to prove to the queen lion that he was strong and he was a leader. So one day, the king lion took the queen lion over by the edge of the cliff. He wasn't going to hurt her. He just wanted to let her know he was the king lion and she had less power. The queen became very nervous. At this point rain had started to fall. The Native American people came running quickly to see where the noise was coming from. When they got there they were terrified of what they saw next. The queen lion knocked the king lion to the ground and accidentally hit his throat trying to get away. The king lion was very mad and quickly sprang back to his feet. He opened his mouth and a huge roar came out. The king and queen were very shocked. The lion received his roar because the rain moistened his throat. When his throat became moistened and when the queen hit his throat on accident, the block that was lodged in his throat became loose, allowing him to find his roar!

Blog #52 The Catcher in the Rye Opinion

The last book I read was The Catcher in the Rye. The book was good, but not great. The tone of the book was very sad and depressing so I was not really happy when I was reading it. I thought the book was interesting though. I think it ended just a little too soon. The book just kind of stopped. I think more detail could have been used in the story. In a book that has a lot of negativity, I think there should have been more positive moments. I liked that the book was told in a first person narrator because the other two books were told in third person, but the only downside with a first person narrator is the reader misses details about other people. I only know the other people in the book by the way Holden describes them. The book was not completely modern, but it was a little more relatable than the other two were. The main message was fitting in and finding yourself. It was really about connecting with people and figuring out who needs to be in your life and who doesn’t. I could relate with Holden at some points in the story. The book was pretty easy to follow, but I did not like the sequence of events. The events did not really go together. I was basically reading one man’s journal about the weekend he got kicked out of his school. The characters were not really what I expected them to be. My favorite character was probably Phoebe because she was just a little girl but she had the power to change her big brother for the better. Without even knowing she helped him find happiness. My least favorite character is the crooks. The lady who stole Holden’s money and the elevator attendant who beat Holden up are my least favorite. They had no respect for Holden and did not really care about anyone else’s feelings. There were only two people who really affected Holden. The two people were Phoebe and Mr. Antolini. Not many details were included about his family or anything. I think the book was alright overall it was not my favorite, but it was my second favorite. I like the modernization that the book had so I could easily understand what was happening. 

Blog #51 The Old Man and the Sea Opinion

The second book I read was The Old Man and the Sea. I really liked this book a lot. The book was short and easy to read. It was packed full of detail, and I easily followed the storyline. I think that the book is really good. Overall it had a very positive message. The message was about pride, accomplishment, and the power of struggle. I could easily relate to some of the instances in the book. I am like Santiago because I do not let comments get to me, just like Santiago didn’t either. Santiago accomplished many things in the book. He worked hard to prove other people wrong and prove that he was still worthy. He did not give up no matter what. The message was inspiring. I think the reason I was able to read the book so easily because of the constant suspense. As soon as Santiago was stuck at sea is when the suspense started because I was constantly wondering if he would make it home and if he was going to be able to catch the fish. I like the book because the main character and my favorite character, Santiago was not afraid of anything. He had enough knowledge and skill to make it through any situation. He never gave up. He persevered. Santiago was inspiring to me because he was such an old guy, but he worked so hard and for so long. In that time he really showed his true strength and proved its never to late to follow your dream. Mainly from the book I took away the message of never giving up. Times will always be rough, but in the end happiness will come. My least favorite characters were the sharks because they represented struggle. I did not want to see the old man get hurt by the sharks and crush his pride. I think the fact that the old man was alone proves a lot about his character. Even though he wished the by was there, he found an inner strength which helped him survive while he was at sea. Overall this book was probably my favorite. 

Blog #50 Grapes of Wrath Opinion

The very first book I read was The Grapes of Wrath. The book was very interesting and not what I was used to. The language was hard to follow at some points and some of the words that were used are not common in my vocabulary. I enjoyed the book because the family was really close and I liked reading about them. The journey to California was very rough on the family, but they were brought closer together when I thought they were going to drift apart. The characters were very memorable. They all helped display an important message. The message is probably the importance of family and sticking together. Since the family stuck together, that is when they were strongest. They did not give up, which helped them as they were travelling. They kept a very optimistic mood about things. They always looked to the positive side of all the situations. The book was not my favorite though because it is not my favorite type of book to read. I like to read more modern and suspenseful books. I think the message is very timeless, but the book itself was just okay. The journey itself was very long. I did get a little bored with the book, but thankfully there was enough suspense to keep me engaged to finish it. My favorite character is Ma Joad because she really brought the family together and made them never give up no matter how hard things got. My least favorite character is the uncle because he was the negative one in the family. He never forgave himself for the death of his wife. Instead of properly burying Rose of Sharon’s baby, he let the basket go on the river and just let her float. The plot flowed very well, but the book was kind of hard to follow. I did not really like some of the chapters that were like two pages long and did not explain much. Those chapters distracted me from the story and what was really happening. Overall, it was not my favorite book out of the three that I read. 

Blog #49 Climax and Falling Action (The Catcher in the Rye)

The climax is when the elevator attendant and Holden began to fight. Holden is not a fighter, so he stood there and took punches from the elevator attendant. He lost the fight. In the very end he got punched in the stomach very hard. The girl grabbed Holden’s wallet and took the five dollars she thought she deserved (Salinger 102). The falling action is when Holden meets with his sister Phoebe. Phoebe really changes Holden for the better. When Holden first sees his sister, he just sits there and watches her sleep for awhile. She is not a really heavy sleeper, but Holden just wanted to take everything in. He studied her patterns and read through her notebooks (Salinger 161). He was trying to reconnect with his sister. When he woke her up, she was very excited to see him. He was very excited to see her too. He wanted to please her so much. He told her about the record that he had, but it broke on the way to the house. She was so grateful to even have the pieces that he had saved. They talked for awhile and they danced around the room until his parents came home. When they came he hid in the closet. After they went to bed, Holden tells her he has to leave, but promises to her that he will come see her in the play. Holden keeps his promises to his sister, which is one thing that I like. I think he respects his sister a lot and her opinion is worth a lot to them. In the end, Phoebe helped Holden to realize that the little things in like can make him happy. Simply watching his sister go around on the carousel brought tears to his eyes with joy (Salinger 211). Holden overcame his struggles with people. He did return back to his house after their day together, just like he promised her. Phoebe was the main reason Holden was able to overcome his struggles.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #48 Rising Action (The Catcher in the Rye)

The storyline for this story was very well developed. Some of the rising action was when Holden comes in contact with people. When he comes in contact with people, he decides how he will treat them. The very first person Holder came in contact with was his old English teacher Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer made Holden feel really guilty, so Holden did not like to stay around long (Salinger 12). In the beginning of the story, the second person he comes in contact with is Ackley (Salinger 20). He feels bad for Ackley for many reasons. Ackley is the type of person no one really pays attention to. He is a pimply and nerdy person who is not included in many things. The third person Holden comes in contact with is his roommate Stradlater (Salinger 27). Stradlater was a very neat, smart boy. Holden was nice to him, but they were not the best of friends. Holden did not like conversing with him, and Stradlater did not want to talk to Holden all that much. Holden then comes in contact with various girls. The girls he came in contact with were not very nice. They were too old for him and usually they did not want much. They would dance a couple times and not really talk to Holden. The climax of the story is when the elevator attendant sends a girl up to Holden’s hotel room. Holden was very lonely that night and he wanted some company. Holden got all dressed up to meet her and he was feeling his finest, but when the girl actually got to his room, he became very nervous and did not want to do anything with her (Salinger 92). He refused to pay her the full amount because they did not really much but talking and she did not stay for long. The elevator attendant only said ten dollars, not fifteen. The girl complained and brought the elevator attendant back up to the room with her.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #47 Tone (The Catcher in the Rye)

The basic tone of the book was depressing and sad. I spent half the time feeling bad for Holden. Holden is a very troubled character and throughout the whole story he struggled. He struggled with people, places, money, school, his personality, and his future. The people he came in contact with determined what kind of a mood he was in. His mood really affected the tone of the book. If he was happy you could tell he was really happy. When he was sad and depressed the reader could really tell. Even though the tone was very depressing and sad, I think each reader can kind of connect with Holden on a personal level. I think that the tone is very different from most books. Most books generally start of happy, become suspenseful in the middle, and usually have a happy ending. In this book though, the beginning started off very sad because Holden was sitting by himself on a hill watching the football game instead of going down with his peers (Salinger 3). Towards the middle of the book the tone was still very depressing and sad, but it did become suspenseful at a couple of points. When the elevator attendant sent a girl up to Holden’s room and in the end he ended up getting robbed was when the most suspense took place (Salinger 103). In the end of the story the tone was sad and depressing until the very last four pages when Holden was with his sister Phoebe. There were only really two main points in the book where Holden was truly happy or found happiness. One event was when Holden came in contact with the nuns at the restaurant (Salinger 110). The other incident is when Phoebe was riding the carousel at the end of the story. Those moments were really the only true moments where he was happy. I think the tone affects the reader. I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to know if things would become better. I developed and emotional connection with Holden because I can relate to him in some ways. I think the tone overall did justice for the book because it was something different and not usually what readers expect.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #46 Symbol: Red Hat (The Catcher in the Rye)

One of the main symbols in this book is the red/orange hunting hat that Holden takes with him almost everywhere. The hat is really a symbol of Holden’s independence. He uses a little item, such as a hat, to stand out from other people. In the winter too, it helps him because it has built in ear muffs that keep him warm as he is walking from place to place in the snow. He is very weird about that red hunting hat. He wears it to stand out from other people, but in the story, he makes sure to mention when he puts the hat on and when he takes the hat off. When he is around people he knows, he tends to keep the hat in his pocket. When he was visiting home, he took of the hat in the elevator because he did not want to look suspicious to the elevator attendant (Salinger 157). I think that Holden uses the hat to distance himself from other people. He feels good when he wears the hat. He does not care what other people around him think of the hat either. When he gets around people he knows and he is close to though, he tends to be very picky about the hat. When he went to visit Mr. Antolini, he kept his hat in the pocket of his coat. The hat really has no significance to the book, but it is the way that Holden stands out from his surroundings. When he described the hat as being red, I could already picture in my mind what the hat looked like. Red to me is a color that stands out the mos. I think the hat gave Holden more confidence when he wore it. I also think that when he put the hat away around people he knew showed he was kind of ashamed of it. I like at the end of the story how Phoebe took the hunting hat from Holden’s pocket and put it on his head (Salinger 213). I think that gave Holden a boost in confidence because he could wear the hat proudly around someone he was really close to, and they did not care. Holden even offered Phoebe his hat. Overall, the hat helped Holden stand out when he wanted to, and blend in when he felt the need.

 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #45 Character Analysis: Mr. Antolini (The Catcher in the Rye)

Another main character that stood out to me in the book was Holden’s old teacher, Mr. Antolini. Mr. Antolini is a very generous person. When Holden called in the middle of the night, he agreed right away that Holden could come over (Salinger 180). Mrs. Antolini stayed up to make coffee for them before she went to bed. Holden was pretty close with Mr. Antolini. I think Holden knew Mr. Antolini would not turn him away, especially in his time of need. Mr. Antolini was a very good English teacher, which was Holden’s best subject (Salinger 182). He is a very good person; it is evident in the reading. He lets Holden sleep over because he knows that Holden has no other place to go. He realizes that he cannot go home yet because Holden has yet to tell his parents he got kicked out (Salinger 186). So, being a good host, Mr. Antolini lets Holden sleep on the couch a night so he does not have to spend Phoebe’s money. When Holden arrives at the house, Mr. Antolini is very welcoming to him. The reader can tell he just wants to catch up and talk. During their conversation, he said some really powerful things to Holden (Salinger 188) . I think that Holden thought very hard about his accusations and advice. I see Mr. Antolini as more of a friend to Holden than a teacher. Holden used to play tennis with Mr. and Mrs. Antolini at tennis courts. Holden is pretty comfortable with telling Mr. Antolini about his personal life, and Mr. Antolini is not afraid to tell Holden straight forward, like it is. He is important in the story because he makes Holden stop and think about things. Out of all the other people in the story, Mr. Antolini is the only one who gave him helpful advice and made him stop to think about his life and future (Salinger 194). He is also a heavy drinker in the story. He drank the whole time he was talking with Holden and even after Holden fell asleep. Holden became very uncomfortable when he woke up with Mr. Antolini’s hand patting his head (Salinger 192). I think that Holden took things a little out of context. Yes, Mr. Antolini should not be patting Holden’s head while he sleeps, but also he was drunk and he was a very generous person. Even though Holden was uncomfortable after that incident, he still had a lot to think about. I think Mr. Antolini helped Holden a lot in the story whether Holden realizes it or not. I like and respect Mr. Antolini.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #44 Character Analysis: Phoebe (The Catcher in the Rye)

My second favorite character in the story is Holden’s sister Phoebe. Phoebe is much younger than Holden. She is still at going to school while Holden is away at school and their other brother is in Hollywood. She has a brother Allie, who died, and Holden and her care a lot about him and think about him throughout the story (Salinger 198). Phoebe is very mind set. When she wants something, she really wants something. When she is angry with someone, she is really angry with them. For example, Holden told her that he was going to head out west and get a job out there. He wanted to do that so he did not have to face his family, but he loves his little sister so much and he respects her, so the least he could do was come say goodbye. When she met Holden at the museum, she walked up with a suitcase in her hand and she was ready to go (Salinger 208). She did not want her brother to leave her again. At that point nothing else mattered to her; she did not even want to be in the play anymore. Phoebe helped Holden discover who he was in a way. She helped him find happiness in the little things without even knowing she was doing so. She is a very inspiring character in the story because of how focused she is. She can make up her own mind and when she does she is very powerful and has enough power to change people. She changed Holden’s mind, which is a very difficult thing to do. Phoebe and Holden share the same trait, independence. She is very independent for a little kid. She is very mature for her age, compared to the other kids who skip school (Salinger 203) or spend their time down at the ice skating rink. She was very neat too. She always kept her clothes and schoolwork very organized (Salinger 159). Overall, she was a very happy person. She was so excited when Holden came to visit her in the middle of the night. She was really surprised when he asked her if she would like to dance with him. It was very late in the night, and here her brother comes to see her because he loves her so much and he could not wait (Salinger 175). She is also a very quick person. She is quick to become mad at someone if they say or do something she thinks is wrong. For example when Holden could not tell her what he really likes she became very mad at him. The reader can tell that Phoebe is very close with her brother. In this book she was a huge character simply because she helped Holden realize it is the littlest things that can bring happiness and smiles.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #43 Character Analysis: Holden (The Catcher in the Rye) Continued.

He really wanted to talk to his sister most, but she had school and he did not want to risk getting caught by his family. During this time, I think Holden did not make the brightest decisions, but he was always careful and cautious after the decisions were made. I think he wanted to have fun, but he was also a little scared. He did not fit in with most people. The hunting hat he wore made him stand out from all the other people (Salinger 153), and that was a symbol of his independence. He was actually a very caring character. He cared a lot about other people and when they did something nice for him, he always noticed it (Salinger 193). He is also a very troubled teen though. That fact that he failed out of four different schools really shows the reader something about his personality. Life is not always what you like and most of the classes he failed because he did not like the class or the exercises they did in class (Salinger 183). Most things did not appeal to him. He was weird like that. He would rather have someone stagger from topic to topic instead of continually talking about one thing. He got bored really fast. After he made a date with a girl, when he finally got there with her and took her to the movie, you could tell he did not like her all that much; he just gave up when he got bored. When he gave up, he basically insulted her and they did not speak for a long time. He also has a very hard time connecting with people and in the story the reader never really figures out why. I think that he wants the best, but he expects the worse. I also think that once Holden has a thought in his head it stays there. It takes a lot for a person to change Holden’s mind. It was very evident. Overall he was my favorite character just because I learned so much from him in the story.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #42 Character Analysis: Holden (The Catcher in the Rye)

The main character in the story is Holden. I really like Holden. He is a very independent character and he is not afraid to say what he thinks. He seems very smart. Even though he has been kicked out of many schools, he is smarter in life than he is book-smart. In the beginning, I think I got the wrong impression of Holden. I thought he was very negative and mean. Really though, he just sees good things in people, but he focuses on the things that annoy him or make him mad. For example, Ackley goes to his school and is a very nerdy and pimply guy, but Holden treats him well because he knows many other people are easily annoyed with him and do not really include him (Salinger 167). Holden does get annoyed with Ackley because he does not have good hygiene habits (Salinger 22-23), and that is what he mainly focuses on, when really deep down he feels bad for Ackley and tries to include him. Holden struggles throughout the whole story with trying to find himself and what he wants to be. He comes from a pretty successful family (Salinger 172), which adds a little bit more pressure to him. You can tell that Holden does want people’s approval and he does not like to be lonely, but he has a hard time getting close to others and really opening up to them. In the middle of the story, the reader can easily tell Holden is depressed. After he got kicked out of Pencey, he really has no where to go. He leaves two days before he is supposed to because he does not feel like he should be at the school anymore, but after he gets off the train he has no where to run to. His family was expecting him to come home on Wednesday when the winter break was starting (Salinger 177). If he showed up to his house two days early, his parents would automatically know that he got kicked out of the school. So for a weekend he is very independent and learns how to get by on his own. I think during this time he struggled the most because he did not have a lot of people that he could talk to. 

Discussion Question 8- The Catcher in the Rye

This question is hard to answer because the book was not focused on addressing main events in history. There were really no specifically historical events explained. The book was more themed based. Therefore, I do not think the book did a good job in accurately displaying events in history. The main character, Holden, did not really associate with many people in the book. There were a few that stood out, but mainly he kept to himself. Since the story is told from his point of view, it is hard for the reader to develop a sense of the people around him. The reader only knows about the other people through Holden’s eyes, so it is hard to make an accurate judgment of character. I think the author could have put more relationships in the story, but it would loose some of its powerful theme. The main relationship present is between Holden and the people he surrounds himself with. The relationship all depends upon the people. When Holden is with a girl, he gets really nervous. He does not really know what to do, which is normal. He can call a girl on the phone when he feels like it, dance with them if he wants to, or even pay for one to come to his hotel, but he becomes very bored with the girls, or simply looses interest. The teachers Holden visit give him a lot of advice. He has a different attitude toward a couple of his teachers. The teacher in the beginning was simply guilt tripping Holden and he notice. He did not like that teacher very much. The teacher in the end of the book was very understanding of Holden and he was welcoming and generous. When Holden was with his sister, he was a completely different person. He was nice around her. He sought out the little things that made her happy. He bought her a record and even though it broke, she still took it and was very grateful. When Holden asked her to dance you could tell she was so happy. Even at the end of the book when Holden took her to the zoo and got her a ticket to the carousel. He focused on the things she liked and once he saw her having fun he became very happy. Overall, the relationships in the story depended upon who Holden connected with the best.

 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Discussion Question 7- The Catcher in the Rye

The author uses many techniques to try and engage the reader in the story. Probably the main technique used is sadness. The author used a sort of sad and depressing tone in the story. I was so engaged in the book simply because I felt bad for the characters. I felt especially bad for Holden. He was always sad, lonely, depressed, and disappointed (Salinger 90). He only had a couple moments where he was really happy. I think that the author used the sadness to emotionally connect the reader to Holden. The author also uses a little bit of suspense to keep the reader engaged. Every book needs some suspense just to keep the reader on their toes at points. The most suspenseful part was probably when Sunny came to Holden’s hotel. After Holden refused to give her an extra five dollars, Sunny goes down and gets the elevator attendant. The attendant beats up Holden while Sunny takes an extra five dollars out of Holden’s wallet (Salinger 101). This was the most suspenseful part because I did not know if Holden was going to be alright after he was continually getting punched in the stomach and basically robbed (Salinger 103). He was scared at this point in the story, and the reader could tell. I think the author uses points of happiness in the book too so that the whole story is not that depressing. When Holden helps out the nuns in the diner, the reader really gets a chance to see a softer side to him. Also in the very end of the story where Holden connects with his sister and they become very close, the reader can see how happy he is by the change of tone in the story. The techniques were very effective throughout the story because each technique followed the sequence of events. There was an equal balance of each technique that really made the book come together and enjoyable to read. Without these techniques, I think the theme of the story would have been unclear.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Discussion Question 6- The Catcher in the Rye

I think we still read this book for many reasons. I think that a lot of teenagers should read this book. Even though it is not based in the present day, the message is very timeless and a lot of people will be able to relate to the message. When I read this book, I saw a different side to things. As I read, I really took into account what Holden was saying. The things that interested him were fascinating. The little things that mad him depressed really got to me too. I think I like the book because it was not completely happy. Most books have a happy ending, and gradually get happier as the book goes along. The book did get happier in the very end, but until the very end the book was kind of sad. I think that the message is so important. Lots of people struggle with finding who they are and where they fit in. Every person can admit to doing that at least one time in their life. I think that the book shows the downside of things in a way.  The book is told through Holden’s point of view. Holden is not the happiest character, which sort of sets the mood for the entire book. Another message that I took away from the book is that you cannot please everyone. I could tell that Holden tried to please most people he came in contact with, but there are just some people that you cannot connect with. I think that people should not try to hard to please other people; they should just worry about themselves. Holden does a good job of worrying about himself, but he also wants to please the people around him, especially his sister. I think his sister helped him find his happiness and I think Holden connected with her for once in his life. He wants to make his parents proud too. That is why when he got kicked out of Pencey he did not go home right away, He did not want to face his parents and he did not want to face disappointment. I think the characters are so timeless because they display the message. Also the characters in the story were usually all so giving and understanding. It is hard to find those kinds of people today.

 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Discussion Question 5- The Catcher in the Rye

I think the book does a pretty good job at showing some of the history of the time period even though the main focus is on the theme. The book takes place in about the 1940’s and 1950’s. Even though that does not seem like very long ago, our generation now has become way more advanced then they were in the book. The main transportation was a train or a cab. I did not really hear about anyone driving in the story. The schools are a lot different. Most of the schools were private schools. There were all-boys schools and there were all-girls schools. Even though Holden is only a teenager, he is basically attending a university. He is away from his parents at school with people his age and older. Money could get a person a lot further back then than it could now (Salinger 179). Holden did not have a ton of money but he had enough to get a hotel room for a couple nights, go to see a movie, eat his meals, pay a stripper, pay for cabs, and pay for the various drinks he bought. If a person were to do all that today, they would have to have a large sum of money. People were more lenient back then. Holden could go in to some places and they would easily serve him scotch and soda even though he was too young to drink (Salinger 85). Holden could basically sleep wherever he wanted, go to wherever he wanted, and see whoever he wanted on his own time. Family was also very different. I expected Holden’s family to be closer, but when I was reading I kind of felt like they were all independent and not really together as a whole. The book did not go in depth about his mother or father really. So overall, I can find many differences between modern day and back then. The symbolic significance is the journey in finding yourself and what it really takes to do so.

 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Discussion Question 4- The Catcher in the Rye

I think the hero in the story is Holden Caulfield. Yes, for the majority of the book Holden struggled with everything. In the very beginning of the book he struggled with people, mainly his roommates and classmates at Pencey (Salinger 28-29). In the beginning of the book he struggles with facing the truth. He got kicked out of Pencey for failing in many of his subjects. The whole middle part of the story he is coming home from Pencey, but avoiding going home. He does not want to face his parents because he is afraid of their disappointment. He struggles with reality. He does not want to accept people for who they are most of the time. He always finds the worst quality in people and that is what his focus was on. In the end he struggled with finding happiness. I think he struggled so much in the end because he probably was not sure what true happiness was and did not think he could find it in the littlest things. One of Holden’s main traits is independence. In the story, Holden leads you to believe he does not really need anyone else. Of course, he wants a girl, but once he is with one, he chickens out and he does not want a girl (Salinger 94-98). He says he is lonely, but I think he likes being lonely. Even though it depresses him, he did not make a huge effort to surround himself with a lot of people. I think he likes his independence. He believes that he can live on his own and stick to his ways, no matter how depressing they are. Another one of his common traits is kindness. In certain parts of the book, the reader really sees how kind Holden can be. When he gives money to the nun’s he shows how kind he is deep down. He did not have much money at that point, but he wanted to give the nun’s more than ten dollars to help them pay for their breakfast. At the end of the story the reader also sees his kindness when he is with his sister. He treats her really well and does not break his promise to her no matter what. He buys her a ticket for the carousel and that is where he truly finds his happiness (Salinger 211). Since the conflict is internal, Holden is the only one who can really be the hero because he had to find himself and happiness in order to resolve the conflict.

 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Discussion Question 3- The Catcher in the Rye

I think the universal theme that the book addresses is self-worth and self confidence. Basically how you view yourself. I think this book does a good job on explaining how easy it is to take little things and turn them into problems in your life. There are many points in the book that I do not like Holden because he looked for the worst, or only focused on the worst in the story. I think the story does a great job at displaying the universal theme. It is such an important theme also, especially when and if the book is directed toward teenagers and people in their 20’s. In the book, the reader follows as Holden is switching schools, telling us of his personal experiences, and trying to find his place in the world and in his life. He does not know what he wants to do. He struggles a lot with not knowing. He struggles a lot with getting to know people and being close to them. He would not call anyone on the phone simply because one moment he felt like it and the next moment he didn’t (Salinger 59). He did not really ask anyone for help in the story. He mainly kept to himself. He did take some handouts if they were given to him generously, but he never overstayed his welcome. He was carefully about the people he surrounded himself with. The nuns were probably one of my favorite parts in the book because he gave them money to pay for their breakfast (Salinger 110-111). There, I saw Holden as a gentleman who was trying to make a difference in those nun’s lives. I think that the book also explores confidence. Holden did not have a lot of confidence in himself, it was evident, but he did not let people know that. I think the universal theme is so powerful because many people struggle with finding and accepting who they are. People focus on the positive mainly, and it was nice to read a book that contradicts that point.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Discussion Question 2- The Catcher in the Rye

Well, to start, the conflict of the book is an internal conflict. Holden really wants to connect with other people, but he also wants to view everyone as a phony or a fake. He really struggles with belonging in the story. He wants approval from other people, but he looks for the negative in people and that is why he feels people put on an act. In the beginning of the story, Holden is sitting by himself while everyone else is at the big game at Pencey. He alienated himself from the rest of his peers (Salinger 3). This is the point of the book where I really see that Holden is struggling. You can tell he wants to be at the game, especially when his roommate is with Jane Gallagher. Instead of people putting on a show, he puts on a show for them. I think some of the causes of the conflict is all the schools Holden has attended. At each school, he is constantly getting kicked out, so he does not have a lot of time to connect with people and really fit in. He puts up a guard. I also think another cause is his family. His father is a successful lawyer, his mother is smart, his little sister goes to school, and his brother is a writer in Hollywood. He has a lot to live up to in his family. I think Holden can gain a lot from the conflict. Towards the end of the story he starts to find happiness as he is watching his sister on the carousel. Even though he is still stuck in his old ways, he made a promise to his sister and he stuck to it. He is becoming closer with her, and I think when he is with her he feels he can be himself. Another gain from the conflict is that Holden can explore with people. He can go around with people and decide who he wants to surround himself with and set aside the people that do not fit him (Salinger 103). Some of the losses of the conflict is time. Holden wasted a lot of time in this book because he was usually in a bad mood, depressed, or lonely (Salinger 91). He wasted a lot of time, when all he needed to do was tell the truth and move on. I think that he struggled with his self-being and knowing who he really is in the story, which is a great plot because it has such a powerful message, especially towards teenage readers.

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Discussion Question 1- The Catcher in the Rye

The writing for The Catcher in the Rye depressed me a little bit. The writing was mostly negative. He did not really see the good in the little things. A lot of things upset Holden, and he was very tense and on edge throughout the whole book. Only a couple of things brought him joy. For instance, watching his sister ride around on the carousel gave him happiness (Salinger 213). I think the writing reveals a different viewpoint for the readers. Most books focus on the positive side of things. Even though there may be tragedies and struggles in a story, the plot usually focuses on the more positive effects. In this story though, the reader gets to see what it is like to focus on the more negative side of things. I think the writing reveals the author’s “second side.” The author was not really afraid to have a different point of view. The main character told it like he saw it, and he really did not care what other people thought. He had that attitude where he did things on his own time and did not really listen to anybody else. The author does have values though, and you can tell in the book. Holden really did want to do that right thing. He tried very hard to please everyone, but everyone knows that is not possible. I think the author did a very good job of using detail to show a different viewpoint. I have never read a book so in depth with detail. Holden depicted every situation in the book. He really analyzed things, and from there he decided if he was happy or depressed. The story is told from the point of view of Holden Caulfield. He is a teenage boy who really struggles throughout the story with finding out who he is. He does not know what he wants to be and he does not know where he is going in the future (Salinger 188). He thinks too much about things and that is why the story was depressing in a way. 

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. 1951.

Blog #33 Tone (The Old Man and the Sea)

There is a certain tone to this book. As I was reading the book, I felt like I was aboard the ship with Santiago watching him as he struggled with the first. The detail in this book is very simple, but it appeals to the sense and helps the reader better understand what is happening along his journey at sea. The words are short and simple, but the tone is very optimistic and happy, for the most part, which made me want to keep reading. Santiago is very positive about all the things that happened to him while he is at sea. He never let one struggle get him down, and he figured he knew enough about the sea to get through anything that came his way. His optimism is what made the book so inspiring. If you compared Santiago to a current fisherman today, Santiago was very patient and calm (Hemingway 10-11). A fisherman today would most likely give up after having a long streak of bad luck. Santiago’s inspiring tone is what really made the book interesting to read and very easy to follow. For the most part, the book was optimistic, but the other part of the book was very relatable and understandable. The reader could easily connect with Santiago when the most difficult part of his journey began. The reader can understand the frustration Santiago had with not knowing what was going to happen. All that Santiago wanted to do was catch the marlin, no matter how many days or nights he was at sea. I respect him for that. I would not be able to stay awake that long for a silly fish, but Santiago had that positive spirit that made me realize his optimistic attitude toward the journey. Do not get confused though, Santiago did have a point where he doubted many things. He doubted if he had enough strength to stick with the fish. He doubted whether or not he would make it to shore with the fish and himself in one piece. Each doubt he had though he brushed right off of his shoulders because he knew he had to think positively if he wanted to make it back to shore, and that is exactly what he did (Hemingway 87). The tone of this book really helped me to move on and keep reading.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Blog #32 Symbol: The sharks (The Old Man and the Sea)

The sharks are one of the main symbols in the book. The sharks come to attack the marlin that the old man caught because the fish was bleeding and they could smell the blood (Hemingway 107). Santiago knew that the sharks would be coming at some point and he was pretty prepared for them. When the sharks first came and started attacking the marlin, Santiago used all of his might to kill them. As more and more sharks kept coming up to the boat, the old man started to get tired. He was running out of supplies and ways to kill the sharks. Some of the sharks were harder to kill because of their position near the boat. The old man knew that striking the sharks in on the very tip of the head, close to the eyes, would rupture the skull and they would die (Hemingway 111). The sharks in the story represent struggle and obstacles of life. The old man worked very hard to catch the marlin and when the sharks attacked it, he was devastated. He was mostly devastated because he had worked so hard to catch the marlin in the first place and bring him into the dock. The sharks were just another obstacle in life that the old man had to face. Even though sharks are dangerous and they were very hungry, the old man put all of his effort and all of his strength into killing the sharks. As the great marlin had less and less meat on him, the old man lost a lot of his hope. The sharks were the cause of his great loss of hope. He wished he would make it back to land and the sharks would not continue to follow. Every time a shark attacked, the fish bled more, which attracted more sharks. The old man overcame the sharks though, which also shows how people can overcome obstacles in their life. The sharks were a hidden meaning in the story because even though they were represented as evil, the old man built up an inner strength and defeated them in the end, just like we can do in our lives.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Blog #31 Character Analysis: Manolin (The Old Man and the Sea)

The other main character in the book is the young boy, or Manolin. The boy is very important to the book because he is the old man’s support system throughout the book. His appearance is not really described in the book mainly because the book focuses on Santiago. The boy loves to go fishing with the old man. He learns a lot of things from Santiago when they are out at sea together. When the boy’s father banned him from fishing with Santiago (Hemingway 9), the boy was devastated, but he really did not have any other choice. He could not fish with the old man anymore because the old man was not having any luck fishing lately and bringing in no money. The boy still helped Santiago carry all of his equipment to and from the dock. Each morning the boy would come to the old man’s house and wake up with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. They would talk for awhile and then they would head out to sea. Manolin is only present in the beginning and the very end of the book. He is almost like a son to the old man. Santiago is basically his mentor. He is probably one of the most important characters in the book because he never gives up on the old man. Even though he is not allowed to fish with Santiago, he is completely devoted to him. Each day he makes sure that the old man has everything he needs. He will start a fire, make him dinner, cover him up, make him comfortable, listen to him, talk about sports, and loves him (Hemingway 18). The old man wishes for Manolin many times while he is at sea because I think he sees a lot of himself through Manolin. I think the old man wishes he was as young and capable as Manolin is and that is why Santiago teaches so many of his skills to the boy. 

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Blog #30 Character Analysis: Marlin (The Old Man and the Sea)

One of the main characters in the story is not a person, but a fish; a marlin to be exact. The marlin was a purple color, had fins, a huge tail, and a long body. Santiago, the main character, hooks the fish halfway through the book. The fish is large and mighty, but Santiago does not find this out until the fish jumps out of the water. For a long time the fish just swam under the water and did not come up at all. The fish represents struggle in the book. More than anything Santiago wished for the fish to jump just to see what kind and size of fish he had to deal with. The marlin caused a lot of pain to the old man, but the old man was smarter than he was. When the marlin came out of the water is really when the old man figured out just what he had to do to kill the marlin. See the fish was very strong, so the tougher the old man fought, he kept going at the same pace. He swam constantly under the water which is part of the reason the boat drifted so far into the sea. When the fish started to become calm, that is when Santiago started to calm down. The marlin started circling and that is when Santiago took action and killed the fish. I think that the fish showed the true strength of Santiago. When the marlin was strapped to the side of the boat being attacked by the sharks, both Santiago and the fish felt defeated. The fish was helpless the rest of the story, the rest was up to Santiago. When the skeleton was finally brought onto the dock, the amazing Marlin turned out to be 18 feet long. Even though the marlin is not a person, he still represents an abstract idea, which is struggle and defeat. He helps the old man overcome his challenges and gain back pride.

 Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Blog #29 Character Analysis: Santiago (The Old Man and the Sea)

The main character in the story is the old man, or Santiago. The old man is very wrinkly and looks his age. He is skinny, full of scars, and has brown splotches on his skin.   Santiago is on a streak of bad luck in the beginning of the book. He looks very old, except for his eyes (Hemingway 10), which are just as young as he wants to be. His eyes are still full of the sea, the colors and everything. Santiago is the type of character who does not care about what other people think. When the other fishermen sit on the terrace and make fun of him, he pays no attention for the opinions of the others do not matter to him (Hemingway 11). The old man struggles within himself. He knows that he is a very good fisherman and that his time will come again when he has a streak of good luck. He internally wants the approval and respect of the other fishermen who constantly put him down. When he heads out to sea, he becomes stronger. He is sure that this time will be the time that he catches a fish. When he finally does get a bite, he is very happy. When he realizes how strong and big the fish really is, at first he is overwhelmed, but he lets no problem get to him. He is the smartest character in the book. He has an advantage over many of the fishermen because he is of old age and has had more experience. The struggle with the fish pulls out many characteristics. He is very courageous to go out so sea alone, not knowing all the dangers that may lie ahead. He took a big risk. He is very smart and knows what to do when things get tough. He is a thinker. Santiago consistently talks to himself (Hemingway 77) and the fish to make his feelings and thoughts out in the open and keep an internal argument. The old man is very hopeful and full of pride. He never lets a challenge get him down, and each challenge he faces makes him grow stronger in pride and stronger as a person. Of course he is my favorite character in the story simply because of the themes he portrays. The message he gives is timeless and in this novel the reader has a chance to personally connect with Santiago.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 8- The Old Man and the Sea

I think the book does an ok job at reflecting events in history. I think some of the events in the book are a little to far-fetched than what would really happen in life. When Santiago is fighting the sharks single-handed, I feel like a person today would not be able to do that. Granted, Santiago did know the correct spot to hit the shark, but to use such little supplies and to have that much force, I think the book over exaggerated just a little bit. Plus, Santiago had the strength to fight off many sharks, and groups of them, so it just seemed a little too good to be true. In the book the author develops responsibilities between men and other men. The men that are in the book are all fisherman. The author uses the fisherman to show how you can never judge a book by its cover and that you have to have respect for other people. A bad luck streak means nothing because bad luck can always be turned around. Good luck can always end. So for the fisherman to judge the old man and make fun of him for trying, the underestimated what he could really do, and in the end they looked like idiots because they had no faith in the old man. The author also establishes a responsibility between man and nature. The man developed care for the fish. He started talking to the fish (Hemingway 96) and saying he was sorry that he had to die and sorry they went so far out in the sea. Even though he wanted to fish to die for his own sake, he personally connected with the fish. Also the old man connected with the sharks. He was protecting his property and what he worked so hard to achieve. I think the hard working people influenced the author. I also think the underestimated people influenced the author. Santiago was very hard working and underestimated by many other fishermen, but in the end he not only proved how hard he worked, but he gained the respect of the others (Hemingway 122).

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 7- The Old Man and the Sea

The author uses many techniques to keep the reader engaged in the story. He fits a lot of information into a 122 page book. One of the main techniques he uses is appealing to the readers emotions. I think that the author in a way wants the reader to feel bad for Santiago. When the author says things such as “They sat on the Terrace and many of the fisherman made fun of the old man,” the reader feels bad for him because that is when the old man is down on his luck, and the other fishermen surrounding him are not making him feel any better (Hemingway 11). When the old man says that he is alone at sea, the reader also feels bad for him because he would not be alone at sea if the boy’s parents would let him fish with Santiago. The boy could have been there to help the old man when he needed it (Hemingway 56). Another technique the author used to keep the reader engaged was suspense. When the old man was out at sea, the reader was constantly wondering when the fish would appear, and ultimately when the fish would die. Although Santiago became attached to the fish, he wanted to fish to die very much. The reader also wondered if the old man was going to survive out at sea. Since he was very old, the reader can only assume that he is not very strong, and not in the best of health. Constantly I wondered if the old man was going to have enough food and water to last him and keep him strong. When the old man hurt his arms, and his back, and shoulders, the reader is consistently questioning whether or not the old man is going to give up and return home. Even when the old man came in contact with all the sharks, the reader wonders if the shark is going to eat all of the fish and if the shark would end up attacking the man and the boat. The techniques used were very good considering I always wanted to know what happened next!

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 6- The Old Man and the Sea

I think we still read the novel because the message is so important for any generation. Not only can people in general learn from this story, but individuals can take away life lessons that they can use. I think that the book does a great job at portraying its themes. The themes are what I took away from this book and I will use in my own life. I think one reason we read this book is to learn to not judge a book by its cover. The way a person appears on the outside can be totally different from who they are on the inside. From the outside, Santiago looks old and weak. Most people would assume that Santiago is not much help, and that he likes to fish for fun no matter how many times he may be unlucky. On the inside though, Santiago has a lot of pride. He looks at each challenge as a new way to challenge himself. He finds an inner strength within himself the moment he feels like giving up, which I love. The characters in this book are timeless because as you read the book, you discover hidden meanings in their existence. The boy existed to help take care of the old man. He was always there for the old man and never doubted him. He wished to go fishing with Santiago even when his parents said no. He never gave up. The old man existed to fish. He was a fisherman. Even though he had bad luck, he was very good at what he did. The eighty seven days he did not catch any fish (Hemingway 10) were just leading up to the day where he catches the biggest fish in his life. I think lots of people can learn how determination helps you succeed. When it may be easier to give up, it’s better to persevere because in the end you will succeed. I think readers can also learn honor and respect from this novel. The people at first did not have a lot of respect for the old man (Hemingway 11), but after he caught the huge fish at the end of the story more people respected him and wanted to help him out. Honor is a good thing, if people do not become full of themselves. I think that the old man did everything in the book because he was honored. It was what he loved to do. Even though he was alone, he accomplished many things. Overall, I think the book is timeless simply because the message it brings to its readers.

 Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 5- The Old Man and the Sea

This book does not do a very good job at describing the time period and social issues because it is focused on one man’s life, rather a journey, instead of comparing his life to others in the world. The book takes place in the late 1940’s. Many people in the 1940’s loved to fish, especially when on the Gulf of Mexico, near Cuba. Anyways, the history is not really described. The main thing the book is good at doing is showing how people are quick to give up and to doubt people, which is still true today. The other fishermen do not think that the old man will be able to catch any more fish. They think that his time had come and gone. He was running out of luck while the other fishermen were succeeding. The doubted the old man’s pride and strength, and in the end he proved them all wrong. The behavior for the time period seems quite normal. The houses were not the best, but people did what they could. Sports are a main part of the character’s lives, especially Santiago who dreams about baseball (Hemingway 67). The reading of the newspaper and drinking coffee is still a daily routine for many people today. People fished for food to bring into the market. Fishing is not only a hobby, it’s also a job. People in the 1940’s could earn a good salary by fishing and selling their fish at the marketplace. As for social issues, I think the main issue expressed in the book is pride and also money issues. Pride is a big deal in the book because each person is proud of what they do. The old man is very proud of himself, he just wanted to renew his pride and show others that he could still make a living by catching fish, even if he was on a bad-luck streak. The money issues show how many people actually did fish for a living, but also for fun. Santiago wanted to take the big fish he caught to the marketplace to sell so he could feed many other people. The symbolic significance of this book is to never give up. Once you feel like giving up, that is when you find an inner strength. The thematic significance of this book is the determination. The determination in this book was key to everything because if Santiago was not determined, he would not have survived out at sea.

 Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 4- The Old Man and the Sea

The hero of this story would have to be the old man, or Santiago. He is the hero because he is the main character in the book, who overcomes a lot of struggle to have his happy ending. The old man is very strong. He is weak on the outside, but he is very strong on inside. He does not let other people get to him. Towards the end of the book you do see the man does have strength when he is killing the sharks (Hemingway 109). The old man is also very determined. He never gives up on the fish or himself. Even though he is not very religious, he says prayers to ensure the death of the fish, and health for himself (Hemingway 65). The fish caused him a lot of trouble. Santiago could not fully carry out needed tasks because he always had to watch the fish. When he was trying to get some food, he had to constantly hold on to the fish which made his hand cramp (Hemingway 58), but even then he was hopeful and determined to kill the fish. It was so easy for the old man to give up, but he was so determined to bring the fish to the dock that none of the struggles mattered because he was successful in his journey. Santiago was a very smart character. He knew many things about the sea that other fisherman probably did not know. He had a lot more knowledge and skill that when conflicts came up, he always had a solution. He had a lot of knowledge about the weather at sea. He knew if a hurricane or rain was on its way. When he was being attacked by sharks, he figured out a way to kill him with the limited supplies he had. At the beginning of the book the old man is portrayed as very weak, and not able to catch any more fish, but by the end of the book, the old man is portrayed as respected and surprising. Not a lot of people expected him to catch any more fish, especially a fish that size. One of the main abstract ideas is courage. Santiago has a lot of courage because he went out to sea and lost sight of land. He was on the sea with big fish, many sharks, and limited supplies. He was alone and no one could help him. He had strength, courage, determination, and skill which helped him survive in his journey and be successful.

 Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 3- The Old Man and the Sea

One of the main universal themes in this book is struggle and defeat. In the very beginning of the book, you can tell the man feels really defeated. The old man has gone eighty-seven days without catching a fish (Hemingway 10), while other fisherman are coming in with multiple fish everyday (Hemingway 11). People are loosing hope in him, and he is loosing hope in himself. He wants to prove to people that he is still a good fisherman and can still catch fish. Throughout the story, the reader follows the old man as he tries to overcome his defeat and his struggles. When the big fish first starts to bite, the old man figured he would be an easier kill, until he figured out the size of the fish. The reason the old man stuck with the fish is because he was overcoming his defeat. He had not caught a fish in awhile, and he decided this fish was his opportunity to prove himself to the people who doubted him. Each struggled he faced at sea made him grow stronger. In the end, if he did not struggle with the fish, he would not have overcome his defeat. It would have been so easy for him to give up and let the fish go, but he knew the size and used all of his strength to stick with it. Another universal theme is pride, which the old man gained through his determination and success. Pride was very important to the old man. Even though he was down on his luck at the sea in the beginning, he was still very proud of himself. He still knew he was a smart and great fisherman. He realized that his luck would be coming soon and he would have a streak of success. Each time he dealt with a shark at sea (Hemingway 107), the old man gained more pride because he had the knowledge to defeat the sharks, even when he was in pain. The old man knew that he had sailed out to far, yet he was not worried because he had a sense of pride. He knew his way around the sea and recognized weather patterns. He had no worries because he knew that in time everything would be okay. Each theme is very strong, and the book does a great job at portraying both.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 2- The Old Man and the Sea

The conflict of this book is ongoing and last for the whole middle part of the book. The conflict is Santiago, or the old man, is struggling to catch a fish so big that he stays at sea for 3 days until the fish dies. The cause of the conflict is partially self pride. The old man wants to become a good fisherman again and prove to the other fisherman that he can still catch fish even though he is getting older. Another cause of the conflict is the old man sailed out too far into the sea (Hemingway 120). He did not loose his direction, but he lost sight of land and had to depend on himself and his little supplies to keep him healthy. Since his hand was not completely healed and did not un-cramp all the way (Hemingway 82), his performance on the sea was altered. He could not properly kill the fish significantly because of his pain, but he did what he could and succeeded. The old man gained many things from struggling with the fish. He gained a sense of pride in himself because he caught the fish and stuck with it until the fish died. He also gained approval from other fisherman. The other fisherman gathered around and suddenly became more concerned with the old man, his health, and protecting his fish. The old man also gained appraisal from other people. Many tourists came and viewed the fish’s skeleton and people just walking by would wonder at the fish. As for himself, the fisherman gained knowledge, which was one of the most important. The knowledge gained came from within. He knew how to solve all of the problems before they happened; he just had to think about the solution. He was very knowledgeable at see, which is why he survived. The old man built up an inner strength that helped him to last the whole 5 days total. The losses of struggling with the fish are once it died, there was a trail of blood which attracted many sharks. The sharks ate away at the fish until there was close to nothing left. Another loss is that his hard work brought him almost nothing in return. Since he did not have a whole fish when he brought the fish into the dock (Hemingway 122), he did not get money, and ended up giving the leftover parts of the fish away to other fisherman.

 Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952

Discussion Question 1- The Old Man and the Sea

The writing in this book reveals a lot of things about the author’s attitude and values. The book reveals that the author does not believe in giving up. He shows strength through the old man, who is weak on the outside, but very strong on the inside. While he is at sea for days struggling with his biggest fish ever, he finds himself. Each time a struggle comes along, he does wish to give up and be in his bed (Hemingway 120), but each time he realizes that pain only lasts for a little while and he will get better (Hemingway 103). The writing also reveals that the author believes in determination, which goes along with not giving up. The old man was at sea for 3 days struggling with the fish, but he knew the size of the fish and he did not give up. Each day, he went with no sleep, little food, and barely any water, but he was stronger than ever because of his determination. He wanted to prove to himself that he could kill this fish and bring it in (Hemingway 105). I also think he wanted to prove the other fisherman wrong, who watched him come in each day from sea empty-handed. I think that the writing also reveals pride. Through the old man, you can tell that he is proud to be a fisherman. Even though he is old and weaker than many of the other fisherman, he is proud. If he comes in with no fish, he goes out the next day. He knows not every day will be his lucky day, and I think that is why he stayed out with the fish for so long. He wanted to prove to himself that he is still a fisherman and he can solve problems as they come because he is old and has a lot of knowledge about the sea. The book is told from the point of view of an anonymous narrator, or outside viewer, who follows the old man along his journey out at sea. During some parts in the book, the point of view switches to the old man, who talks to himself and aloud so the readers know what he is thinking and of his dreams.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. Cuba. Scribner’s Publishing. 1952