"You're Ugly Too"

"I'm going out of my mind."  This quote was said early on in the story, "You're Ugly Too."  It may have been foreshadowing that even though she may had been kidding at the point, she really was going out of her mind.  When Zoe met the man dressed as a girl, she was very awkward.  She would keep trying to joke around with him, but he just thought it was weird.  At the end, it shows that she really is interested in this guy because she cares about what she looks like.  This story is also very sarcastic and ironic.  It is ironic because she talks about how she wants a guy, but she criticizes each of them and has a problem with everyone.  Zoe has very bad social skills.  However, it made the story more humorous!

"The Drunkard"

"Dadda, can't we go home now?"  This is a quote from "The Drunkard."  It shows a little bit about the relationship between the son and father.  The father in the story is either an alcoholic, or the kid just does not like it when his dad drinks.  This is because the son drank from the dad's cup of alcohol, so the dad would not drink it.  The dad was very angry at this, but he was almost just more embarrassed.  He did not want his friends to see that his 10 year old son was drunk.  He felt that people would judge him or make fun of him.  This was another unique story.

"Popular Mechanics"/ metaphor

"But it was getting dark on the inside too."  This was an example of a metaphor.  It is explaining that even though it was dark outside, it was dark inside.  This meant that it was very gloomy, sad, and frightening on the inside.  In "Popular Mechanics," the husband is leaving.  It is a very intense divorce, especially because it involves a baby.  They both want the baby, and they are both fighting to keep him.  The husband becomes forceful and almost violent.  I think at the end when it says, "the issue was decided," this means that the baby had fallen, and he had been seriously hurt or even died.  This story was very intense, but also made me very sad.

"The Lottery"/direct characterization

"He was a round-faced jovial man..."  This is an example of direct characterization.  It describes the man using many direct adjectives.  "The Lottery," like many of the other stories, was quite interesting, but a bit weird.  First reading this, I thought they may have actually been drawing for the lottery.  However, this lottery was a bit different.  Whoever's name was chosen, they would be stoned to death.  This would not be a lottery that I would want to win.  However, for this tribe, most people were excited about it and wanted to be chosen.  I feel that some people thought of it as an honor.  They performed rituals almost like the Aztecs.  The Aztecs would sacrifice people to the gods.  The people in this village would sacrifice people to have their crops grow.  This was a very weird story!

"Miss Brill"/Simile

"Although it was so brilliantly fine- the blue sky powdered with gold and great spots of light like wine splashed over the Jardins Publiques..."  This is an example of a simile.  The author is comparing the spots of light to wine splashed over the Jardins Publiques.  "Miss Brill" is an interesting story!  She is watching everyone in this park.  However, she starts to think that it is all a play, and everyone is acting.  In my opinion, this is a little crazy.  At the end, something is crying.  I think it is the little child within her, realizing she was grown up and old now. 

"Once Upon a Time"

"And then last night I woke up-or rather was awakened without knowing what had aroused me."  This was the quote from "Once Upon a Time."  This was a unique story!  In this quote, the woman is awakened by a loud noise.  She thinks that the sound is either a murder/rapist or the house falling in the ground.  This scene adds fear and suspense to the story.  "Once Upon a Time" is a title that is usually part of a fairytale.  However, this story is not a fairytale at all.

"A Worn Path"

"She was very old and small and she walked slowly in the dark pine shadows..."  This was a quote describing Old Phoenix from the "Worn Path."  This story is a bit of a funny story.  This is because there is an old lady wandering through the woods by herself not knowing why she was walking in the first place.  As said in the quote, Phoenix was an old, small lady who walked very slowly.  Also, she was a confused lady.  She would forget things very easily.  I am not exactly sure what the theme is in this story, but I feel that it may have to do with the saying: "It's the journey, not the destination that matters."

"Eveline"/Personification

"All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart."  This is an example of personification because the author is giving the sea human-like characteristics.  "Eveline" is a very interesting story!  However, it is a bit sad!  In the story, Eveline does not have much of a voice.  She does what people tell her do to, and I feel that a little of that comes from fear.  This is because when she was little, her dad was very abusive.  He would abuse her brothers, and she would just have to watch.  However, he would threaten to abuse Eveline.  He never did, though, because she was basically the house keeper of the house since the mom was gone.  He needed her!

"Bartleby the Scrivenes"

"Bartleby the Scrivenes" was a very long story.  Bartleby is a very unique character!  He is very awkward; however I find him kind of funny.  I think that he acts the way he does because he is scared to reach his full potential.  Also, only making copies as a career may have drove him a bit crazy!  However, he is actually a pretty hard worker.  "All who know me consider me an eminently safe man."  This quote describes the narrator.  He is the boss and a lawyer.  He is more of a push-over, and he is pretty sympathetic because he does not fire people, no matter how bad of a job he does.  Nippers and Turkey were characters who were not mentioned very much throughout the story.  However, I know that Nippers is a young, ambitious, and nervous man.  Also, Turkey is a man who can get irritated very easily.  I found these characters very interesting and funny!   

"Everyday Use"

"Every Use" is a very interesting that has much drama within the family in the story.  "In real life, I am a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands."  This quote describes the mother and how much of a hard worker she is.  Her two daughters, Maggie and Dee add much drama to the story.  I feel that they are both jealous of each other.  Maggie is jealous of Dee because she is attractive, and she does not have burns or scars on her body.  Dee is jealous of Maggie because she receives much of the mother's attention.  Dee is more of the intimidating character, and many people would follow her around because they wanted to be just like her.  Maggie is actually very insecure because her scars and burns from the fire.  In the story, she hid behind the door because she did not want to be seen. 

"Hunters in the snow"/simile

"Except for the blood he looked like a small bear skin rug."  This is an example of a simile.  This was said the moment when the dog was shot.  They are comparing the way the dog looks on the snow to a small bear skin rug.  In addition to the last blog, this blog I am going to talk more about the characters.  First, Tub is more insecure because he is overweight.  Also, he is the bud of every joke with Frank and Kenny, at least at the beginning.  Frank is the mediator in the story.  He tries to stay out of the fights.  Kenny is the instigator meaning he tries to bring people to get into arguments.  These characters added much drama to the story!

"Hunters in the Snow"/ personification

"You can't worry nature."  This is an example of personification because nature is being personified and is being talked about as if it had feelings.  Nature cannot worry!  Anyways, "Hunters in the Snow" was a weird, but a funny story.  At the beginning of this story, Frank and Kenny would team up against Tub, but they still called each other friends.  However, Tub and Frank shared some of their deep secrets and became best buds.  Frank's confession was that he was in love with the fifteen year old babysitter.  This I felt was wrong because first she is fifteen.  Second, he is married, and he should not be having an affair!  Tub admits that his problem has nothing to do with his glands; he is just fat and loves to eat. To satisfy his own wrong doing, Frank gives Tub four stacks of pancakes.  This was just so Frank would feel better about his faults.  This story was very interesting!

"A Rose for Emily"

"She will persuade him yet."  This was a line from "A Rose for Emily."  This story was a bit creepy and suspenseful!  This line shows that Emily was very persuasive and usually got what she wanted.  The guy she was interested in did not feel the same way about her.  It turned out that he was gay.  However, one day she went to buy poison.  Suddenly, the guy she was interested in disappeared, and she was not seen very often either.  It turned out that Emily poisened him.  Emily wanted to be with him so badly that she killed him, and left him in the attic.  Then she would go up there and cuddle with him.  After she died, people went up to the house and were shocked by what they saw.  The people in the town were the one's that discovered all of this.

"Interpreter of Maladies"

"Mr. and Mrs. Das behaved like an older brother and sister, not parents."  This is a line from "Interpreter of Maladies."  This story was a very interesting one, that was more suspenseful.  Throughout the story, I could tell that Mr. Kapasi was devoloping feelings for Mrs. Das.  However, when Mrs. Das asked Mr. Kapasi on advice because she thought he could fix problems to due his job, then I could tell that she was not very interested in him.  I feel that Mr. Kapasi developed feelings for Mrs. Das because of the cruel way his wife treated him.  He just wanted to be loved!  At the end of the story, Bobby was attacked by monkeys.  It was basically Mrs. Das fault because she was eating the rice that surrounded Bobby when the monkeys attacked him.  However, she and the family took care of Bobby after he was attacked.  This gave a more happier ending to the story!

"How I Met My Husband"/allusion

"Muriel Lowe and I used to sleep on her front veranda and watch her sister and her sister's boy friend saying good night."  This was the time in "How I Met My Husband" when Edie was watching Chris and his "fiance" on their "date."  This is an example of an allusion because Edie is thinking about a time in the past when she and her friend would watch her friend's sister and her boyfriend.  The reason I put fiance and date in quotes is because it really was not his fiance.  I think that Alice is one of Chris' girls he got with when he landed in some town.  She is just one of the girls who is very clingy and thinks there is actually something between them.  Chris did not have sex with Edie, but he was close.  He got her hopes up telling her that he would write to her, but he never did.  However, she found happiness in the end with what seemed to be a great man.

"How I Met My Husband"/diction

"...the first close-up plane I ever saw."  This line came from the cute story of "How I Met My Husband."  This line shows the improper diction that Edie had when speaking to people.  It shows that she was not very rich or educated.  I really actualy enjoyed this story!  It had a neat little twist at the end when Edie ended up with the mailman.  Now they have five kids, showing that they truly love each other.  There was a part in this story, when I thought that Chris and Edie were going to get married, that it reminded me of "Cinderella."  Chris saw Edie when she was dressed all nice.  However, he found out that she was not like that most of the time, and he still liked her.  However, Chris basically turned out to be a jerk. 

"Elegy for my Father, Who Is Not Dead"

"Elegy for my Father, Who Is Not Dead"  by Andrew Hudgins was a bit of a depressing poem.  "He's ready."  This line meant that her father was ready to die and go to Heaven.  Possibly he was very ill, and he just wanted to end his pain.  However, it could have also been because he was going through a depression or something.  Also, the poet writes "world beyond this world," which I took as meaning Heaven.  "He's ready.  I am not."  This shows again that the dad is ready to die.  However, the daughter does not want her dad to die!

"Delight in Disorder"-oxymoron

"Delight in Disorder" by Robert Herrick was a very challenging poem!  I could also tell that it was a sonnet by the fourteen lines.  I really did not understand much about this poem.  However, I noticed a couple of things.  "I see a wild civility."  This is an oxymoron because these two words contradict each other.  This proved to me that maybe the poem was about a crazy situation.  Also, possibly the whole town was crazy.  I really am not sure about this poem; it just really confused me!

"Edward"

Weirdly enough, when I was reading this poem, I kept getting "There's a whole in my bucket" by Goofy in my head.  I think this was because of the structure of the poem.  For example, the speaker kept saying "Edward, Edward", and in the song, Goofy says "Dear Liza, Dear Liza."  This is a link to a video to hear "Dear Liza" if you choose too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTeWGD4Q9T4&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL89A0CA535B95D276.

Anyways, this poem was one of the longer ones!  I have a few ideas of what it could mean.  "O I have killed my father dear, Alas, and woe is me O!" "And what will you leave to your children and wife, when ye go over the sea, O?"  These two lines make me feel that the speaker possibly killed his dad, and he is now considering killing himself because he realized the huge mistake he made.  He keeps thinking to himself, though, what will happen to his wife and kids.  He is also thinking about how much he must have hurt his mom by doing this awful thing.

"Death, be not proud"-personification

"Death, be not proud."  This line from "Death, be not proud" by John Donne is an example of personification.  The speaker is talking to death as if it were a person, and they are telling death not to be proud.  "And soonest our best men with thee do go, rest of their bones and souls delivery."  This is another interesting line from the poem.  I took it as talking about the brave soldiers who sacrifice their lives for our country.  "One short sleep passed, we wake eternally."  I think that the speaker looks at death in a more positive way than most people do.  I feel that he saying that the "wake eternally" is when one goes to Heaven and reaches God, and finds complete happiness.

"Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night"- simile

"Old age should burn and rave at close of day."  This line is from the poem "Do No Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas.  In my opinion, it is one of the most challenging poems of the seven.  The line that started this blog I took as meaning that sometimes a reason for someone's death is just simply old age.  "Do not gentle into that Good night."  I think this line means do not leave me or pass away.  "Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay..."  This is an example of a simile.  It is comparing the eyes to meteors.  I really could not understand most of this poem.  Frankly, I am a bit confused!

"Hazel Tell LaVerne"-diction

"Swimmin aroun an tryin ta climb the sida the bowl..."  "Hazel Tells LaVerne" by Katharyn Howd Machan is a very cute poem.  It is almost a "remix" of "The Frog Prince."  However, the diction is very different, as shown in the quote of this blog.  The diction proves that the girl is not proper at all.  This adds humor to the poem because she is not meant to be a princess.  "Me a princess"  Even though this poem lacks punctuation, I can tell that the girl is asking herself and basically laughing at herself because she is thinking that there is no way she can ever become a princess.  This poem was one of my favorites!

"Dove Beach"

"Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold is a peaceful poem, but it has much contrasts.  Basically, the first two stanzas are very peaceful and are describing a very calming atmosphere.  Then, the last two stanzas are much different.  They are very pessimistic, and they talk much about the problems in the world.  "The Sea of Faith was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore."  I think this line means that everyone used to have faith and hope; however, people's hope has deteriorated throughout the years.  I feel that everyone has to always have faith and hope because if people don't, what else is there to hold onto.  God is always there for us!  The speaker also was saying that the beach brings back many memories, and they make him think.  Most of these thoughts bring him misery.

"The Apparition"

"When by thy scorn, O murderess..."  The poem "The Apparition" by John Donne is a confusing poem in my opinion.  The quote beginning this blog made me think that the poem must be about the killing of someone, or it is about something scary.  I feel that the speaker may have been kidnapped, and they are worried about being killed.  They are thinking of what will happen to them when they die.  Also, the speaker was talking about his loved one, and he mentioned "his ghost."  This made me think that the speaker was worried about his loved one, especially for her safety.  Another meaning of the poem could be that the speaker is afraid of dying, or they afraid of their loved on dying. 

"Crossing the Bar"-personification

"Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me."  This is an example of personification.  The author is stating that the star is calling the speaker, giving the star human characteristics.  "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a really cool poem, actually.  I feel that this poem could have a couple different means; I am not sure which one is more correct.  Either someone just passed away, and when the speaker looks at the stars, it reminds him of his loved one that passed away.  Also, he is remembering that they will see each other again, after he "crosses the bar," meaning the bar between Heaven and earth.  The other meaning could mean that the speaker will one day meet God.  "My pilot..."  This was a reference to someone in the poem.  I think "my pilot" stands for God.  However, it could mean both meanings.

"My mistress' eyes"- simile

"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun."  This is an example of a simile.  This compares the mistress' eyes to the sun.  This line came from the poem "My mistress' eyes" by William Shakespeare.  This is a very interesting poem, but it was a little difficult for me to understand.  "Black wires grow on her head."  When the speaker says this, it makes it seem that he finds his mistress as unattractive.  It also proves that her hair is black.  "With false compare."  When I read this line, I felt that it meant that he did not truly love her.  He is just using her for sex, since she is a mistress.

"next course of God America i"

"Next course of God America i" by e.e. Cummings is a very confusing poem.  It seemed that it may just be self-explanatory, and someone is just talking about America.  However, of course like every other poem, there is more meaning behind it.  First, I feel that the speaker was a soldier for the U.S. army because of the way he talked about America.  I could tell that he had a very personal connection; not just one of being a citizen.  There was a line in the poem that said, "heroic happy dead..."  These were the soldiers who fought in the army to save our country.  "They did not stop to think they died..."  This meant that the soldiers kept all the citizens in mind, and they fought to protect our freedom.  I am very grateful for all the soldiers who fought for our country!

"Barbie Doll"

"Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy is a different poem.  It's actually a little strange!  However, there is some meaning behind it.  I feel this poem is about a girl who has growing up, she became ugly.  "Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs."  This describes the way people saw the girl.  So many people picked on her and made fun of her.  She wanted to be prettier, so she made herself that way.  "She cut off her nose and her legs."  This is compared to a doll in the way they can take off some of their body parts.  Now thinking of it, I have another interpretation, and I am not sure which one I think is more correct.  Possibly, the girl was a bully and was ugly on the inside.  Then, when she realized she did not have any friends and not many people liked her, she decided to be nice!

"APO 96225"- irony

"APO 96225" by Larry Rottmann is a weird poem.  I could not tell if it was an insulting poem or a depressing one.  "Please don't write such depressing letters.  You're upsetting your mother."  Frankly, this response was not what I expected at all!  I had to read it another time to just make sure I was reading it right.  I feel that the author was trying to lighten up the moment, or trying to be funny about a really touchy, depressing subject.  I feel that there was irony throughout this poem.  Some of it I felt was sarcastic; however, I think there was a little bit of meaning behind it.  I feel that the speaker is saying that parents always say they want to know everything that is going on in their child's life.  However, when the child tells the parents everything, the parents wish they had never known.

"Sorting Laundry"-metaphor

"Sorting Laundry" by Elisavietta Ritchie is a bit of a sad poem.  "Folding clothes, I think of folding you into my life."  This is an example of a metaphor.  The speaker is missing someone, and she wants this person back in her life.  In this poem, the speaker is looking back on her life with a previous loved one.  The laundry symbolizes all the memories they had together.  "A mountain of unsorted wash could not fill the empty side of the bed."  The "unsorted wash" stands for all the things they missed out on.  This also shows that her lover either left her or passed away.

"Batter my heart, three personed God"/ similie

"Batter my heart, three personed God" by John Donne is a very interesting poem!  I am not exactly sure what it is about, but like always I have an idea.  I am taking this poem literally, and I think it is really about God.  "As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend."  This is saying that God always knocks, and wants to be a part of our life.  However do we always listen?  "That I may rise and stand."  This means that when God calls, we should rise and stand before Him.  "I, like an usurped town, to another due."  Truthfully, I just know this is an example of a simile, and I am not sure what it is about.  I took from this poem that the speaker is saying that we are all sinners.  He is asking God to cleans us and accept us even though we have done wrong.  I know that God always forgives us. 

"The Joy of Cooking"

"The Joy of Cooking" by Elaine Magarrell is a bit of a weird poem actually!  However, I think I can make sense of it!  "I have prepared my sister's tongue."  This was one of the lines the speaker said; however, people cannot take this literal in poetry (at least I don't think).  Possibly, the speaker is implying that her sister says dumb or mean things.  Possibly, she is a gossiper or something of the sort.  I think the speaker has just had enough of the stuff her sister says, and she is expressing how she feels.  With brother, I think the speaker is trying to express that her brother is mean.  She describes dipping the heart in sour sauce, so maybe the brother has a sour personality.

"Dream Deferred"- Similie

"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes is a confusing poem with many similes throughout.  One examples would be when the speaker says, "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?"  This line is comparing a dream that did not come true to a raisin drying up in the sun.  I think the speaker is asking, "Does the dream just vanish when it first does not come true?"  "Should one give up on their dream when this happens?"  One other thing I noticed throughout the poem was that the author compared the dream to food much of the time.  In my opinion, one should never give up on their dreams.  People need to always persevere!

"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning"

"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne is a poem that took much thinking.  However, once I read it twice, I feel I understood more of it.  It is a little bit of a depressing poem.  "The breath goes now, and some say no."  This means that some people are dying.  Their physical bodies, along with God are saying now is the time for them to go to Heaven.  However, others are not ready for them to leave earth.  Also, there is another significant line throughout the poem.  "No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move."  I feel that the speaker is saying do not cry for me because we will one day be together again!  One of the most important meanings of the poem that stuck out to me the most was that when someone dies, love is what keep them and people on Earth together.

"Toads"-Symbolism

"Toads" by Philip Larkin is a very interesting poem, and shows much symbolism.  I feel that the "toad" is meant to symbolize something that is a burden or a hardship.  As the speaker states, "Why should I let the toad work, squat on my life?"  I think this means that the speaker is trying to conquer their obstacle or challenge they are being faced with.  They are determined to not allow the "toad" affect their life.  In my opinion, the speaker is insecure about himself because he talks much about what other people have, and what he does not.  For example, he says, "Their unspeakable wives are skinny as whippets."  This is the speaker talking about other people's wives.  As I said, he seems jealous of all the riches others have, and he regrets what he does not.

"The Pink Dog"- Imagery

"The Pink Dog" is a very interesting poem where one has to dig deep to really understand what it means.  There is also much imagery in this poem.  "Never have I seen a dog so bare."  The speaker is speaking of his sight; however, I do not feel the author is talking about a dog, but the speaker is talking about a poor person.  The speaker keeps referring to people who beg, or possibly prostitutes.  I think when the speaker says, "Naked and Pink," she is referring to naked as being someone who does not really have anything.  They are without their basic necessities in life.  I thought that pink may have meant burnt because they were talking about a beach at the beginning of the poem.  However, I do not know how being burnt from the sun would relate to a beggar.  This is where I am a little confused.

"London"

"London," written by William Blake, is very interesting, however a little confusing.  In the second stanza, the author says basically that everyone is in misery.  "In every cry of every man..."  This obviously suggests that something awful is happening around the city.  Also, "black'ning Church" implies that the Church is not helping anyone during this time; they are basically shunning everyone.  Another example of destruction is when the author writes, "Runs in blood down Palace walls."  This is said to show that the monarchy is corrupt.  In addition, in the last stanza, the author says "Harlot's curse."  I feel that this suggests that the author feels sorry for the prostitute, which is a Harlot, because of the kind of life they have.  I feel the author is trying to imply that sometimes people cannot control the kind of life they have.

"London"

"London," written by William Blake, is very interesting, however a little confusing.  In the second stanza, the author says basically that everyone is in misery.  "In every cry of every man..."  This obviously suggests that something awful is happening around the city.  Also, "black'ning Church" implies that the Church is not helping anyone during this time; they are basically shunning everyone.  Another example of destruction is when the author writes, "Runs in blood down Palace walls."  This is said to show that the monarchy is corrupt.  In addition, in the last stanza, the author says "Harlot's curse."  I feel that this suggests that the author feels sorry for the prostitute, which is a Harlot, because of the kind of life they have.  I feel the author is trying to imply that sometimes people cannot control the kind of life they have.

"The Convergence of the Twain"-Personification

Thomas Hardy's, "The Convergence of the Twain," is a poem about the Titanic.  This was a very depressing day in our history.  There is also an example of personification throughout the poem.  "Dims moon-eyed fishes near gaze at the gilded gear."  In this example of personification, the fish are asking a question: What happened to the ship?  "And as the smart ship grew in stature, grace, and hue, in shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too."  Titanic was said to be the largest ship made during that time.  I feel that is why the author calls it the "smart ship."  When the author says,"...as the ship grew in stature and grace, so did the iceberg."  This is said because the ship ran into an Iceberg, and that is how it sank.

"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain"- Imagery

Dickinson's, "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain," is a little bit of a confusing poem that can have many different interpretations.  At first, I thought this poem was trying to describe someone having a nightmare.  However, after analyzing more closely, I came up with a better conclusion!  "Funeral, in my brain," is explaining that her head is going to go basically die.  The woman become mental at this point.  One of the most important lines throughout the poem was,"Plake in reason, broke."  This is saying that at that very second the woman became very crazy and lost her mind.  Also, there is much imagery throughout this poem, as well as many other poems!  "Like a drum."  This line describes imagery because it is saying that the service, or possibly the woman's mind "kept beating-beating."  At this point, I feel the woman thought her mind was going to explode.  Finally, one of the senses not described throughout this poem was the sense of sight; however, every other sense was mentioned.  The use of senses is used to show much imagery throughout the poem.

"The Widow's Lament in Springtime"

William's poem, "The Widow's Lament in Springtime," is a very sorrowful poem discussing a widow's grief due to her husband's passing.  In the first line, sorrow is compared to her yard.  The widow looks out at her yard and all the beauty, but it just makes her think about her husband.  "With the cold fire that closes around me this year."  The cold fire describes the sadness that is surrounding the women this springtime.  "...but the grief in my heart is stronger that they."  In this line, the lady is saying that the grief in her heart is stronger than the beauty outside.  All the flowers and bushes remind her of her husband, and it just brings her grief.  "I feel that I would like to go there and fall into those flowers and sink into the marsh near them."  I think that this line means that the widow just wants to go peacefully to Heaven and be with her husband.  This poem was beautifully written, however it was very sorrowful and gloomy. :(

"Spring"- Similie

Hopkin's poem, "Spring," is a beautiful poem with much symbolism and comparisons.  There is also the use of similie throughout the poem.  "The ear, it strikes like lightening to hear him sing."  This is a comparison between the man's voice compared to lightening.  Spring time is the glorious time where most people celebrate Easter, rejoicing over Jesus' Resurrection.  "Thrush's eggs look little low heavens."  This line mentions eggs, which is a significant symbol used to describe Easter.  Also, the eggs are compared to Heaven, reminding people of what Easter truly stands for, which is Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and rising from the dead.  "A strain of the earth's sweet being in the beginning in Eden garden."  This line refers to the garden of Eden as the beginning of time.  However, it also references that Jesus' Resurrection is the new beginning because it opened the gates to Heaven.  One more significant line throughout the poem was, "Nothing is so beautiful as spring."  This line is implying that there is no more beautiful time than spring because it reminds everyone of the loving and courageous thing Jesus did for us!

"The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry"

     In Perrine's, "The Nature of Proof in the Interpretation of Poetry," he states many important facts and views on how to look at poetry.  He suggests many methods and statements on how to go about analyzing poetry; most I agreed with, a few I took a different stance.  I agreed with the statement that said, "There are no correct or incorrect readings: there are only readings which differ more or less widely from a statistical norm.  However, Perrine contradicts himself throughout the writing.  He gives reasons some opinions for why some interpretations would be incorrect.  This confused me a little bit because he is saying two different things.  Perrine also says many interesting things that I agreed with.  "No poet, however, likes to be caught in the predicament of having to explain his own poems."  He is stating that poets do not want to explain their poems.  The write their poems in a certain way, so others would analyze and have their own interpretations of the poem.
     I also found it very interesting that all the poems Perrine addressed, we read in class.  By reading his interpretations, I understood more about what the poem is really about.  I agreed and understood the analyzations made by Perrine referring to these poems.  Referring to the untitled poem by Emily Dickinson, I felt that the ships and seas were being referred to as flowers, so Dickinson was describing a garden.  However, Perrine suggests many good reasons for why it is describing a sunset.  He says, "Daffodil' would normally be plural if it referred to flowers rather than to color: why would not the poet say "On a sea if daffodils?"  For some reason, this statement convinced me the most that the poem was being compared to a sunset.  This reading was very helpful and interesting!

Epistrophe and Vernacular

"O brave new world, O brave new world..." (pg 210).  This is an example of an epistrophe because it repeats this many times, and I think the writer is trying to prove a point.  As shown, the title of the book is Brave New World.  I think that brave new world has a type of meaning behind it.  I almost think it means that the world sometimes is a hard place to live in.  There are hard times and good times, success and failure.  However, in life, people have to perservere and always reach for their goals.  People who do this are brave people in the world!  Also, the vernacular in this book was usually english, or a nongrammar form of english.  Lenina and Bernard, and the others spoke English.  However, John and the other "savages" spoke more of a slang version of Enlish.  This book was a little confusing, but I enjoyed it!

Lenina

"Henry, Henry" (pg 258).  This is what a girl shouted as the savage was whipping and chasing her.  I think that the girl was Lenina for many reasons.  First, when people were yelling at the savage, "the girl" held out her hand to help him and tears were streaming down her face.  Also, she started yelling for Henry.  Because of this, I think that Lenina was with Henry, and she came to see the savage.  When John, the savage, was in front of everyone, it reminded me of the movie, King Kong.  He was being treated almost as if he was some kind of beast or animal.  People were basically tortoring him for their enjoyment.  They were also just watching his every move.  In King Kong, the guerrilla is captured and people just watch him on a stage, and they stare at him in amazemnt.  This is almost just like what happened to John.  Once John began to move to certain places, people became a little frantic.

Fable

"There's a story one of the old Indians used to tell us, about the Girl of Mataski.  The young men who wanted to marry her had to do a morning's hoeing in her garden.  It seemed easy; but there were flies and mosquitos, magic ones.  Most of the young men simply couldn't stand the biting and stinging.  But the one that could- he got the girl."  This is an example of a fable.  It was a story to show lack of civilization is certain places.  John and Mustapha Mond were arguing about their philosophical differences.  John says that God still exists in every day life.  However, Mond says that God existed a long time ago.  I feel this is why they made up Ford, instead of God.  They believe that God no longer exist.  Mond and others banned religious books talking about God.  I feel that was so the younger kids would not believe in "old things," which to them meant God.  However, I believe that God does exist, and he is always with us. 

Imagery and Mood

"Goes through life inside a bottle" (pg 223).  Here, the Controller was describing life as a bottle.  He was stating that Alphas bottles seem to be enormous.  This is an example of imagery. 

"You can't send me.  I haven't done anything.  It was the others.  I swear it was the others" (pg 226).  Bernard said this when he was recieving his punishment.  The controller told them that they would be sent to an island.  Before this Bernard was very quiet.  However, his mood changed very quickly, and he became terrified and started blaming others.  This seems like the typical Bernard.  He will do whatever it is to make himself look good, and to keep himself out of trouble.

External and Internal Conflict

"...Bernard and, urged by a sudden impulse, ran foward to help them; then thought better of it and halted; then, ashamed, stepped foward again; then again thought better of it, and was standing in an agony of humiliated indecision..." (pg 214).  This was the time when Bernard was being indecisive on if he should be a good friend or not.  John was being attacked because he was telling the people to not take the soma for their own freedom.  Helmholtz was a good friend and went to defend John, even though he knew he was risking his life.  This is an example of an external conflict because John was against the whole society.  However, there was also an example of internal conflict.  Bernard was having a conflict within himself.  He could not decide if he should help John or if he should not do anything due to his fear of being killed.  Bernard was also hesitant due to his fear of what people thought of them.  He wanted to be associated with John when John was considered "famous."  However, when John is disliked or looked down upon, Bernard does not want much to do with him.

Mothers/ Anger

"She's my mother" (pg 199).  John said this to the nurse in the hospital.  The nurse became very distraught.  This is because no one ever had mothers or fathers.  However, the nurse showed him to Linda because she was afraid.  When John was with Linda, he became very angry because he thought that she did not remember him.  He shook her and yelled to her who he was.  A few minutes later, Linda died.  I feel that John is almost a little mad, maybe even bipolar.  There are times where he is very calm and nice, and then almost turns into this awful beast.  He became very angry with Lenina, and then he was violent towards Linda.

Metaphor

"Fanny's voice was a trumpet; she might have been a Y.W.F.A. lecturer giving an evening talk to adolescent Beta-Minuses."  This was the time Fanny was speaking to Lenina.  She was trying to convince Lenina to not like the savage.  Lenina described her voice as a trumpet, which is a metaphor.  Later in the chapter, Lenina goes to see John.  She tries to make love to him, but he does not want to.  He begins to become mad and calls Lenina names.  Earlier, though, he was speaking about marriage to her.  I feel that Lenina does not want to get married, or she may not even be familiar with what marriage is.  However, I think that John wants marriage, and I feel that is all he is familiar with.  I feel that people in his "village" do not make love to each other, even when they are married.

Friendship

“What should have been the crowning moment at Bernard’s whole career had turned out to be the moment of his greatest humiliation” (pg 176).  Well, ever since John has been with Bernard, Bernard has become very conceited.  Most people have been annoyed with Bernard and the way he was acting.  However, some people looked at him as if he has some kind of power.  Some of the girls basically worshipped at his feet, and the rumors about him stopped spreading.   Because of this, when John said that he would not come out of the room for the party, everyone turned against John.  However, Helmholtz was still a good friend to him, even though Bernard was so rude to him before.  This proves that Helmholtz is a true friend to Bernard!  There is a saying out there that goes something like this, “A true friend is someone who will stick next to you when everyone else is against you.”

Savages and Clones

"To say one was a mother- that was past a joke: it was an obscenity" (pg 153).  John is sayin that Linda is his mother.  Bernard and the others feel that this is absurd because to them no one has a mother or father.  Also, they feel that John and Linda are savages.  However, they are just normal people.  Lenina likes John, and I feel John likes her too!  I can especially tell last chapter when Lenina was asleep, and John started quoting Romeo and Juliet.  Lenina wants him to make love to her.  However, John is resisting.  I think John is going to give in very soon, though!

The Director

"My father" (pg 151).  This was said by John when he found out that his father was the Director.  This seemed like a very dramatic chapter!  The Director was trying to embarass Bernard in front of everyone and tells him that he is being move to Iceland.  However, Bernard embarrassed the director by bringing Linda and John in.  The Director was very embarrassed when people found out he was the father.  To tell the truth, this chapter was a little confusing for me!  However, I think someone may have told Bernard that the Director was going to dismiss him because how else would he have thought to have Linda and John come in.  I am excited to see what happens next!

Analogy/ Love

"He shut his eyes, he shook his head with the gesture of a dog shaking its ears as it emerges from the water" (pg 144-145).  This is an example of analogy.  It is comparing the way John was shaking his head toward his thoughts to a dog shaking its ears.  I think that John was shaking his head because he feels that he may love Lenina.  Since Lenina was asleep, he was very tempted to touch her or kiss her.  However, he resisted from the temptation and just stepped away once Bernard came back.  John is afraid to feel something for Lenina.  This is because he knows that Lenina and Bernard are something special, and he feels it is wrong what he is feeling!  I actually am not sure if at the end if Lenina with end up with John, Bernard, or possibly someone else because both John and Bernard treat Lenina very well!

Connection to Jesus

"I wanted to know what it was like being crucified.  Hanging there in the sun..."  One of the people Bernard was talking to had this dream.  He stood against a rock in the middle of the summer.  Then he layed his arms out, like Jesus on the Cross.  I made this resemblance about the Indians last chapter.  These Indians make sacrifices to their gods by whipping people as they walk.  Well, when Jesus was being crucified, he was walking down a long road.  Also, he was whipped several times before he began this trecherous walk.  Also, Lenina started weaping when one of the boys was being whipped.  This reminded me of the weaping women Jesus passed as he walked.

Diction/Mothers and Fathers

"Hullo.  Good-morrow" (pg 116).  This quote was said by the Indians that Lenina and Bernard met.  The quote shows diction by changing the e in hello to an o.  Also, good-morrow is an example of an english word.  Because of this, the diction shows that the Indian spoke unproper English.
"Linda and he- Linda was his mother (the world made Lenina look uncomfortable)- were strangers in the Reservation.  Linda had  come from the Other Place long ago, before he was born, with a man who was his father.  (Bernard picked up his ears.)" (pg 118).  Lenina and Bernard do not have mothers and father.  I feel that they are really bothered by this, especially when people talk about their parents.  It is especially noticable at this circumstance because they both made some kind of expression to show that they wished they had a mother and father.  I also noticed that when Lenina and Bernard saw an old Indian they looked especially afraid.  I think this is because since everyone they are usually with does not physically show with age, then they were shocked when they saw people who did.

Ford and Soma

"Oh, for Ford's sake, be quiet" (pg 90).  I feel that the Greater Being is Ford.  They refer to Ford as people in the world today would refer to God.  I feel that instead of calling God, God, they refer to him as Ford.

"...why you don't take soma when you have these dreadful ideas of yours" (pg 92).  A couple blogs ago I asked what soma is.  However, I think soma is like a type of drug of some sort to help people feel better.  I feel that it makes people feel happier when they're said, or even physically better when they are hurt.  Soma is like an addiction, such as alcohol or drug in the real world.  It seems like Lenina uses it very often! 

Bernard and Lenina

"Talking?  But what about?"  Bernard thought that Lenina and him should just have a date of walking and talking.  Lenina is confused because she does not know what they would talk about.  Lenina and Henry usually partake in sexual activity, so Lenina thought that she and Bernard would do the same.  However, I feel that Lenina is going to fall in love with Bernard at the end, and not Henry.  I think this because Bernard wants to do more than just be sexually involved with her.  He also wants to be friends with her too.  I think that Lenina is going to like this because girls do not like to be treated as an object, but as a human being.  I am excited to see what happens next!

Bernard/Confusion

"He heard nothing and, for him, nobody was coming.  Nobody-in spite of the music, in spite of the mounting excitement.  But he waved his arms, he shouted with the best of them; and when the others began to jig and stamp and shuffle, he also jigged and shuffled" (pg 84).  At this time, everyone heard the Greater Being coming down the stairs.  However, Bernard could not hear anything.  Still, he acted like he heard the footsteps on the stairs.  As I have noticed, Bernard just wants to fit in and do what everyone else does.  He does not want to look alone or like an outsider.  So, since everyone was screaming, he thought he should too!  However, I am a little confused why he cannot hear anything?  I also do not exactly understand what soma is?

Pride

"He wished Bernard would show a little bit more pride."  Bernard was beginning to feel alone and alienated.  Because of this, he went to visit his friend,  Helmholtz Watson, to seek for some advice.  Bernard really worries about what people think about him.  People spread rumors about him, and it makes him feel alone and depressed.  Helmholtz wishes that Bernard would just not always worry about what people think.  He wishes that Bernard would have more pride and confidence in himself.  This reminds me much about people in High School.  People say things they want to say, and people get hurt.  However, people need to not worry about what anyone else thinks and just be themselves!

Similie

"The tropical sunshine lay like warm honey on the naked bodies of children tumbling promiscuously among the hibiscus blossoms.  Home was in any one of twenty palm-thatched houses."  This is an example of a similie, comparing the sunshine upon the kids to warm honey.  This similie is used to explain in more detail the way the kids were acting outside.  The kids were all naked outside and were involving themselves in sexual games.  I truly do not understand why they are forced to be naked and are encourged to play in sexual games.  Also, Lenina is dating Henry, but also wants to date Bernard.  Her friends are strongly encouraging her to be more "permiscous".  However, in the world today, people are looked down upon if they are permiscous.  So, the series of events in this book are much different than the world is today!  However, no one knows what the future holds.  I strongly hope that we do not start cloning in the future!

Their People!

"Put them down on the floor" (pg 20).  This quote was said by one of the Directors to one of the nurses.  He refered to the infants as if they were not even people.  They force the infants to not like certain things, and to be afraid of other things.  They basically control the infants!  This event reminds me of something I learned in health, Pavlov's dogs.  Pavlov did an experiment and learned that the dogs salvate at the sound of a bell when they see food.  Well, the director and the nurses ring a siren whenever the infants see books or flowers.  This causes the infants to be terrified of books and flowers!  I am a little afraid to see what else they do to control the infants.

Analogy/ start of Brave New World (Cloning)

"The light was frozen, dead, a ghost" (pg 1). This quote is an example of an anology.  The analogy is used to describe the look and feeling of the laboratory.  Also, as I start reading this book, I realize that it is also about cloning, just as Never Let Me Go.  These two books seem very similar as they both are about cloning and science fiction.  In addition, by reading both of these books I realize that cloning could be possible in the near future.  However, I do not think that is a good plan because it interfers with God's plan.  As Aldous Huxley writes Brave New World, he goes into much detail on how cloning works.  If his way actually works, cloning could be possible in the near future! : /

The Exception/ Mood

"What you've got to realise," she said to Chrissie, "is that even though Tommy was at Hailsham, he isn't like a real Hailsham student.  He was left out of everything and people were always laughing at him.  So there's no point in asking him about him about anything like this.  Now, I want to go and find the person Rodney saw."  This is an example of how Ruth sometimes treats Tommy.  Chrissie told them that there is a rule that if they love someone they can wait to give their donations for like three years.  When Tommy heard this, he said he did not remember this rule.  I got the impression that he did not truly love Ruth.  I still have the same feeling that Kathy and Tommy will become a couple because Tommy will get tired of the way Ruth treats him!

The mood here is very uncomfortable.  I felt that the characters felt very different emotions.  I felt that Tommy was afraid and did not know what to say, and I feel that Ruth felt frustration and anger because Tommy was disagreeing with her.

Ruth and Kathy's conversation/ conflict

"You must know what I mean.  Tommy doesn't like girls who've been with...well you know, with this person and that.  It's just a thing he has.  I'm sorry Kathy, but it wouldn't be right not to have told you."  Ruth said this statement to Kathy.  She was talking about how Tommy would never like Kathy like a girlfriend time because she has been with too many guys.  Even if this is true, I think it is a very mean thing to say to a friend, or anyone for that matter.  I think that Ruth is jealous of Kathy and Tommy's friendship.  I feel that this is why she said this rude comment to Kathy.  She does not want Kathy to be around Tommy anymore, so Ruth said this so Kathy would be mad with Tommy!  I feel that Ruth and Kathy's friendship is ended.   However, I feel Kathy and Tommy will find each other later on in life.

This situation also demonstrates a conflict.  A conflict is the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story.  Ruth and Kathy actually get into many conflicts within the story.  I am not sure if they truly understand what a good friendship is!

The end/Third Person Omniscient Point of View

"I lost Ruth, then I lost Tommy, but I won't lose my memories of them."  At the end of the story, Tommy passes away.  Also, the theory is not true.  They were a little upset at first, but then they begin to think about Rose, and how she just wanted the best for them.  I actually did not like this story much at the beginning, and I did not understand it much.  However, about the fourth chapter in, I started to find it interesting and felt intrigued to know what was going to happen next!  This book can relate to people in the real world a little bit because people always lose loved ones in their lives.  However, when someone we love dies, we have to move on gradually, and remember them in every step in our lives! 

Also, this book is in third person omniscient point of view because Ruth is the narrator.  However, she still is in the story and talks about all the other characters.

Art/ Motivation

"Ruth did well for us," he said, softly.  "She got it right."  Here, Tommy and Ruth were talking about how Ruth really helped them out.  She found where Madame lived, and she helped Tommy and Kathy get together.  They are very grateful towards Ruth, and she is always engraved in their memory.  I feel that Ruth is Tommy and Kathy's motivation for going to see Madame.  Motivation is a literary term meaning the reasons for a character's behavior.  Kathy and Tommy want to find Madame for themselves, but they also want to do it for Ruth since she is not with them anymore.  Tommy and Kathy finally get to Madame's, and they find that Miss Emily is living there.  They are very shocked, and I am not actually sure what is going to happen!

Friendship and Love/ Hubris

"I don't know what I'd been intending to do, but when Ruth said this, for some reason, without really thinking about it, I just stepped out of the car.  Ruth stayed where she was, and that was why, when Tommy came up to us, his gaze fell on me and why it was me he hugged first."  This chapter was filled with many interesting things.  Ruth and Kathy went to go visit Tommy.  As they were heading back from the boat, Ruth apologized to keeping Kathy and Tommy apart from each other.  Tommy and Kathy did not really know what to do at that point.  Ruth I feel knew she was going to die, so she wanted to set everything straight before she did.  Ruth wanted Kathy to be Tommy's carer and "give it a try."  Before Ruth passed away, Kathy told her she would be Tommy's carer and "give it a try."  I feel that Kathy is doing this for herself, but also because she wants to remember Ruth and be a good friend to her because that is what Ruth wanted.  I also appreciate the fact that Ruth and Kathy had time together before Ruth passed because "you truly never know what you got until it's gone."

Also, in these couple chapters, Kathy and Tommy truly see how fragile Ruth is when she is afraid to go under the barbwire fence.  This demonstrates hubris because Ruth comes across as tough and in charge; however, she is more fragile and sensitive than anyone knew.

Hailsham, Donors, and Carers

"A lot of them, you can tell, are just going through the motions, waiting for the day they're told they can stop and become donors."  Kathy said this referring to the way people at Hailsham who are having to donate soon.  Everyone is worried because sometime the donations do not go very well.  For example, Ruth's first donation did not go very well.  Now Kathy has become Ruth's carer.  They were getting along at first, now their friendship is a little rough.  Ruth wants to go see Tommy, and I feel Kathy does too!  I feel Tommy is going to be more excited to see Kathy than Ruth.  I cannot wait to see what happens!

Pun/ Friendship

"But for me atleast, this non-appearance of Hailsham students just added to a feeling that Hailsham was now far away in the past, and that the ties binding our old crowd were fraying."  A pun is a play on words.  In this instance, Ruth is comparing the group she has at Hailsham to ties that are fraying.  She is using this expression to show that sometimes she feels that her group is not as close.

"That was partly because of the tape; and maybe if I have to be honest, because I was pleased by the notion that Ruth wasn't taking the animals seriously, and everything that implied."  The thing that is starting to puzzle me is that Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are supposed to be like best friends.  However, they all get jealous easily, and they do not always wish good will upon each other.  For example, in this quote, Kathy was pleased because Ruth did not like Tommys' pictures.  Also, Ruth was angry when Kathy and Tommy talked about the theory, and she did not find out til later.  This is getting much more dramatic,and I wonder what is going to happen!

The Tape/ Gallery

"A present?"  I looked at him in surprise.  "I'm not sure Ruth would approve of that.  Not unless you got her a bigger one."  Tommy told Kathy that he wanted to get her a type of present.  Ruth responded with this blunt response.  The type of present was that Tommy wanted to find the tape for Kathy, the one she lost.  This is a very cute gesture of Tommy, and Ruth very much apprectiated it!  I think that this is where there love will begin to grow.  Also, they were talking about the theory behind the gallery.  Tommy thinks that the gallery is the way they can tell if you really love someone.  However, Tommy never turned in any pictures.  Kathy was very surprised and distraut by this.  I feel that Kathy is upset because she loves Tommy, and if the theory is correct, Tommy cannot extend his donations by three years.

Friendship

"Oh, look who's upset now.  Poor Kathy.  She never likes straight talking."  This quote was said by Ruth after she said that they were cloned by trash.  She feels that their "possibles" are people who are not successful!  This really bothered Kathy, so her and Tommy split from Ruth Chrissie and Rodney.  I think that Ruth is very rude, and she is not a good friend or girlfriend.  Earlier in my posts, I said that Ruth and Kathy would be friends later in their life.  However, the way they act toward each other, I feel their friendship will end soon.

The Feeling of Seperation and Jealousy

"Of course, I didn't say anything.  In fact, listening to her, I even started wondering if maybe it was all feasible, if one day we might all of us move into a place like that and carry on our lives together."  In this context, Kathy is talking about how Ruth wants to move to a different place.  Kathy really stresses to herself, that if Ruth leaves, her and Tommy will also go, too.  I feel that Kathy wants to always be will Tommy and Ruth.  I think that she is afraid of seperation and moving on.  Also, in the beginning, Chrissie and Rodney were talking about how they thought they found Ruth's possible.  Kathy keeps talking about how that it is most likely not Ruth's possible, and how Chrissie and Rodney made the story up.  I feel that Kathy is just saying this because she is jealous of how Ruth might have found her possible, and also how Ruth has other friends.

Tommy and Kathy

"Here.  Give these to Ruth.  See if they do anything for her."  This chapter was a little weird!  I do not understand why a teacher has porn magazines.  However, I think it is cute how Tommy comes to Kathy's rescue.  As I said in previous blogs, I think Tommy and Kathy were going to get together as a couple.  It is obvious that Kathy wants to because the way she tells Tommy to go be with Ruth.  Pretty soon Tommy will feel the same way.  However, I believe Ruth and Kathy will still be friends!

Life Changing/Allusion

"Because somewhere underneath, a part of us stayed like that: fearful of the world around us, and-no matter how much we despised ourselves for it-unable quite to let each other go."  By this statement, I feel that the kids, especially Kathy are not sure what they can do in life.  They are afraid to try to new things because they always had people telling them what to do.  Also, there are no guardians, so Kathy and the others feel that they do not have any protection.  They need to move on now and try to live their lives as normal people.

"Gawd help us."  This allusion to television programs Kathy used to describe the way the people at the cottages would act.  They would try to be like the people they saw on television.

The Future

"Like you say, Kath.  We're going to be leaving her soon.  It's not like a game any more.  We've got to think carefully."  As they are about to leave Hailsham, the students, mainly Tommy, Ruth, and Kathy were talking about their future.  Ruth wants to be back together with Tommy.  My opinion on that is that Kathy and Tommy will somehow end up together.  Also, Miss Lucy told Tommy that his art is evidence.  But the question is, evidence for what?  I think the evidence is for after they are done giving their organs, there will be proof that they once existed.  However, that may be an unreasonable assumption.  However, at the end of the chapter, Miss Lucy left, or "had been told to leave" Hailsham. I am wondering the reasoning behind it!

Weird Theories

"Hannah had the theory that it was their duty to make us have sex because otherwise we wouldn't be good donors later on."  This was one of the theories that the students came up with on why they think their teachers want them to have sex.  If this theory is true, it is pointless.  First of all, how does sex help make peopl better donors.  What good does it do for your organs.  Second, sex is special, and it should be with the person you marry.  These teachers should be teaching the kids to not have pre-marital sex. The teachers should not allow the kids to think sex is ok during teenage years, even if they cannot get pregnant!

Their Future/ Elbow Cut

"I know you don't mean any harm.  But there's just too much talk like this.  I hear it all the time, it's been allowed to go on, and it's not right."  Miss Lucy said this concerning the kids wanted to be actors or do something productive with their lives.  She told them that they came into the world with one purpose: to donate their organs.  I am just a little confused why the kids are not scared, or they are not trying to escape the school!  These kids do not have a typical life, and they are much different than normal people.

"Don't you know?  If it's right on the elbow like that, it can unzip.  All you have to do is bend your arm quickly.  Not just that actual bit, the whole elbow, it can all unzip like a bag opening up.  Thought you'd know that."  This was said by Christopher H. concerning Tommy's elbow.  It really bothers me that he gets made fun of!  However, it seems like they do not know very much about the real world.  If Tommy did not exactly know what happens when you get a cut, then what else do they not know?

Implied Metaphor/Smoking and Pregnancy

"Even if we were being shown a picture of a famous writer or world leader, and they happened to have a cigarette in their hand, then the whole lesson would grind to a halt."  The metaphor "grind to a halt" really helps to express in a different way that the lesson stopped.

"You've been told about it.  You're students.  You're...special.  So keeping yourselves well, keeping yourselves very healthy inside, that's much more important for each of you than it is for me."  This quote was said by Miss Lucy.  It is very suspicous, and if I was the kids I would have most likely asked what that is supposed to mean.  I feel that the "guardians" want them to be healthy for their organs.  It's really creepy!

Also, the kids are cannot get pregnant!  I am a little confused why, and it is very upsetting.  Hopefully, I will figure out the reason!

Similies/Kidnapping

"It was like the split second before you step into a puddle, you realise it's there, but there's nothing you can do about it."  This was said by Kathy.  It's concering the time when Kathy walked up to Ruth and some of the other guards when they were talking about something secretive.  When I read this, I was able to visualize what was going on.  The similie makes the situation more realisitic.

"Then how come I've personally heard them talking about it?  Talking about how they're going to take Miss Geraldine to the woods in the milk van?  How come I heard them planning it myself, nothing to do with Ruth or anything else?"  Kathy said this to Moira saying that the story of the kidnapping of Miss Geraldine is real.  This will make the story more dramatic and interesting!

Suspicion/ Diction

"All that I can tell you today is that it's for a good reason.  A very important reason.  But if I tried to explain it to you now, I don't think you'd understand.  One day, I hope, it'll be explained to you."  This quote was said by Miss Lucy concerning why Madame takes the kids' things.  I am really curious why Madame is taking their things and I think it is really strange.  I just want to know the reason!

Also, I am confused why words are spelled incorrectly in the book.  For example, these words are all spelled incorrectly: "honour, rumours, humoured, realise, and favourite.  I feel that these are spelled wrong for a reason, and it has to do with the diction.  However, I do not get the point of spelling them incorrectly.  Hopefully I will discover later!

Gallery

"The gallery Tommy and I were discussing was something we'd all of us grown up with.  Everyone talked about it as though it existed, though in truth none of us knew for sure that it did."  In Chapter three, there is much talk about the gallery.  It is very interesting because it seems there is something very suspicious going on in the gallery.  None of the kids have seen the gallery; however, they have heard about it.  Also, everytime the teachers bring up the gallery they stop themselves and act like it is a secret!  This and other secrets in the story seem very interesting and adds more drama.  I cannot wait to discover the mysteries and suspicions!

Thoughts on Bullying

"I've grown up a bit, I suppose.  And maybe everyone else has too.  Can't keep on with the same stuff all the time.  Gets boring."  This was a quote said by Tommy.  In "Never Let Me Go," Tommy is a little different, and he gets picked on often.  When people are mean to Tommy it makes me angry and upset! For example, all the kids decided to pick Tommy last for the kickball team just to watch him throw a tantrum.  It really made me proud, though, when Kathy was kind to him!  She was a little embarrassed at first, but she knew it was the right thing to do.  However, relating back to the quote, everyone is now being nicer to Tommy.  I am excited to keep reading to see this is for real or just an act!