Mr_Shank

The character I would like to focus on is the narrator’s younger brother. Like the narrator, we do not know his name. However it is known that he lives in London and upon hearing of the Martian’s arrival sends a telegraph to his brother, telling him that he would like to come to his house to investigate the Martians for himself. The brother is very much like the narrator in that he likes to see things for himself and that he keeps a cool head in times of danger. Also, like the narrator, he seems very chivalrous. The narrator insisted on leaving his wife to return their cart to the innkeeper they borrowed it from. This requires him to go back to their town, which is under seige. The narrator’s brother, during his flight to escape the Martians, attempts to help a lot of people and tries to do the right thing. Upon seeing two women being attacked by robbers, he fights of the men and is almost killed when one of the women come back with a revolver and drives the thieves off. While traveling with the two women, he also attempts to save a man from being trampled by a cart, an act which nearly gets him killed, and helps in convincing Mrs. Elphinstone to come with them on the boat and travel to safety instead of staying on land and putting herself in danger out of fear of leaving for a new country. The brother seems to be a very self-righteous person. What do you think drives him to be so chivalrous? Do you think his self-righteousness will keep him alive or eventually get him killed?

Madame Defarge is always knitting when she is around people, she is knitting names into a register and these people will be executed.  What Madame Defarge is doing reminds me a bit of voodoo dolls, maybe because you sew them and just the fact that she is knitting the names is strange.  What do you guys think about her knitting the names of people who are to be executed?

Also, after Lucie and Charles are married we see Dr. Manette return to his old habit of making shoes again because he thinks he is losing Lucie.  When people get depressed so drink, smoke, do bad things to themselves or others, what Dr. Manette does really reminded me of a drinking problem because he can stop for a bit but as soon as something goes wrong he returns to his old ways.  Then when Lorry sees him in this state he chops of the shoemaker’s bench and hides the tools in the garden so Manette can’t make shoes anymore.  This to me is kind of like rehab in a way because he cut Dr. Manette from his shoe making supplies like alcoholics are at a rehab center.

-Rebecca Krick

To start off this discussion, I would like to talk about the first and second book.  It is kind of weird that we start off with a lost father, and turn around to a top priority treason case.  What are your guys thoughts on the first books?  Are there a connection, why Dickens would start off the book like this?

Also it seems as the trial is the main part in this book.  It involves Darnay, who is Monsieur the Marquis nephew.  It is said that he was involved in killing people from England and France.  It was said that he was targeting soldiers.  Even so, there was no hard evidence of this, but do you think he did it?  Nobody really saw his identity at any of these places.

Also in this story Monsieur the Marquis and his coach hit a young poor boy.  He does not blame his guy for hitting him, and instead hands out some gold coins and leaves.  What is your thoughts on this.  Also I notice in the stories that this is a struggle class problem/theme in the story.  It seems as the poor of the old, are the slaver that had occurred in America.  Do you think that this would be a good argument?  Also explain your answer.

Also a major problem in this book is the marriage of Ms. Manette.  It seems as Darnay wants her hand in marriage, but so does Mr. Stryver.  At the end of the chapter 12, we learn that Mr. Stryver will not marry her, because she does not wish for that.  But Darnay’s fate is not yet determined.  Do you think they will “hook up?”  Also what do you think about Darnay’s name problem?  Do you think that will affect his chance?  Also if they were to marry, and he told the truth, would they brake up?  This seems like something to watch out for, because if I were a girl I would not like the lies.  So put yourself in a girls shoes, and tell if you would like this name problem.

Also the last topic I want to talk about is the development of the relationship of Dr.Manette, and his daughter.  Also I want to talk about Mr.Lorry a little bit.  It seems as the development of the relationship is great.  There is not much detail of how they are doing, but it is a good sign that they are all talking about this marriage problem.  You can infer that they are loving being together, or she probably would care on his opinion of the marriage.  What do you guys think of this?  Also with Mr.Lorry, do you think he symbolizes anything?  To me it seems as he is the god father that has always looked after her.  Also I get the feeling that he could be related to them, and that is why he has always looked after her, and knows all about her.  Do you think my thought is right?

Alright that is all I have so have fun answering the questions.

-Alex

Colin Easter

Most of the civilians are running away from the martians now that they are attacking.  The soldiers who tried to fight them were wiped out.  This leaves a few questions that can be asked:

1.Do you think that the civilians will always run and hide from the martians?  More importantly, will the narrator keep running for safety?

2. What is the “red glare” the author keeps mentioning?  Is it the fire from the heat ray or does it mean something else?  

3. Do you think that the martians can tell the difference between soldiers and civilians?  If they could, do you think that they would still kill the civilians?

Try to support your answers with evidence from the text.

Hello everyone! While reading, I discovered many passages and quotes I found to be interesting. One of the more profound sections is found in chapter 7 and is said by Mrs. Nelly Dean to young Heathcliff during the flashback narrated by Nelly. It says the following: 

“Yes: you had the reason of going to bed with a proud heart and an empty stomach. Proud people breed sad sorrows for themselves. But, if you be ashamed of your touchiness, you must ask pardon, mind, when she comes in.”

This quote I found to be very interesting because it shows the level of wisdom Nelly Dean has. I would like some other input about this quote to further be able to understand its meaning. I think that when Nelly talks about proud people, she means that they raise the amount of their own griefs without taking in the consideration of other peoples’ feelings at that time. Any other thoughts? My question is, why does Mr. Heathcliff need to be repremanded so? Is it because of his physical misbehavior or his mental and emotional misunderstandings?

Another quote I found particularly interesting is when Mr. Heathcliff is comparing himself to Mr. Linton and says he would love to have as much money as him someday. This is interesting because it is an example of foreshadowing to later in his life, but not foreshadowing to the reader as in the majority of novels. Did anyone else notice this? Any other thoughts? Why do you think the author included this in the novel? For effect?

Megan Douglas

This may seem corny but the connection I made was in the movie cinderella.  Catherine reminds me of Cinderella who was once dirty and did all the chores. Blue collar almost. Mr. Linton would be the fairygod mother who changes Cinderella into a “princess” just like he changed Catherine into more of a lady. And Mr. Heathcliff would be the step-sisters becuase the step-sisters are jealous of how Cinderlla got more attention. I think this connects with Mr. Heathcliff becuase when he finnally meets her once agian she treats him lower and he is jealous of this. Do you guys agree with me?? Can you find any other connections in Cinderella to Wuthering Heights???

What are you thoughts on Taylor moving in with LouAnn? We all expected them to overlap each other in the story, but did you expect them to be this close? The tires. Do you think the author intentionally used the accident with Dewt at the beginning of the story to foreshadow her new job? Taylor’s first word. Bean. What do you think of this? Direct connection to the title? Also, what are your feelings on how close LouAnn and Taylor are becoming. Turtle is really three and she is not growing because of her abuse. What affect with this have on Taylor; it seems like she does not want to believe it? Finally, April. What are your thoughts on that?

-Dan

          Although the book Return of the Nativehas many similarities to many other works of literature, I believe that it most resembles the situations that arose in The Fiddler on the Roof. Many of the characters in Fiddler on the Roof were supposed to marry certain people because of their money or royalty. Like how Thomasin married Wildeve but probably likes the reddleman more. Also, being interested in someone who you aren’t supposed to marry is a big deal. Back then your parents wanted to marry the person they picked for you no matter what. Or, if you picked that person you can not change your mind. This was obvious when Thomasin said she would marry Wildeve because she had already agreed to it and that she shouldn’t change her mind. I also believe that like Fiddler on the Roof one of the couples are going to run away because they want to be married but their parents won’t let them.

So, i ask you this, do you believe that one of the couples are going to be forced to run away if they want to be together?

Also, why do you think people were so strict about marriage back then?

These are some questions I thought should be discussed from chapters 6-10:

How does Nelly describe Catherine? Does she judge her?

Do you think Catherine accepts the change she went through at the Linton’s? Did she want to change?

How does Heathcliff react to Catherine’s change? Does he feel they are unequal?

After reading The Lord of the Flies our class discussed many “lenses” that Golding had written the book in. Such as the psychoanalytic theory (Freud), the religion, and history/politics. As our group reads War of the WorldsI wonder why the author is writing this book. I wonder what is purpose is. Is it mere entertainment? or is their a meaning behind it all? We know now that they war between the martians has begun, and it is a hard fight. My question to you is:

What is the authors purpose in writing this book? What lens is H. G. Wells writing from?