tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74345430531721682142024-03-08T04:15:32.393-08:00Barnes & Noble Classics Book ReviewsNichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7434543053172168214.post-40484973694033548322013-02-12T05:54:00.001-08:002013-02-12T05:56:37.650-08:00A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">By: Mark Twain</span></div>
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<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781593082109_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)" border="0" class="product-image image img book" data-expand-image="" height="320" id="rnd-543197474" itemprop="image" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781593082109_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG" width="205" /></span></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: white;">Great Quotes:<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: white; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Old habit of mind is one of the toughest things to get
away from in the world. It transmits itself like physical form and feature.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">“You can't depend on your eyes when
your imagination is out of focus.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Analysis:</i> </span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is one
of Mark Twain’s less known classics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
said, A Connecticut Yankee is still worth your time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The book is an examination of how a person
thinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main character, Hank Morgan,
attempts to deconstruct Camelot and built 19<sup>th</sup> century America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He struggles because of how deeply the status
quo is ingrained in the society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
people of Camelot, from King Arthur to the lowest slave, have been taught and
trained that this is the ideal society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hank Morgan struggles to make a lasting influence because of these
convictions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">A Connecticut Yankee argues that we cannot
simultaneously improve society and maintain the status quo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must select one or the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we choose progress, we must be willing to
think new thoughts, do new things, and embrace the unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must discover our unperceived shortcomings
and overcome them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Connecticut Yankee
is a classic because it will be forever timely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We study history because it is easier for us
to see the errors of the past than it is our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we have less errors of thought than King
Arthur?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But maybe Arthur’s errors are just easier for
us to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe our errors are just as
numerous and just as appalling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we
have grown comfortable with our errors. </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p><u1:p></u1:p><span style="color: white;">Things
to take note of:</span></i><br />
<u1:p></u1:p><span style="color: white;">
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>I loved the pure silliness of several of the scenes
described.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, the knights of
the round table begin to ride bicycles. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: white;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7434543053172168214.post-7954224638106485082012-09-04T14:35:00.001-07:002012-09-04T14:50:56.991-07:00Nostromo<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By: Joseph Conrad<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Great Quotes:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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“A man betrayed is a man destroyed.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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“A transgression, a crime, entering a man’s existence, eats it up like a malignant growth, consumes it like a fever.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Analysis:</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nostromo is a phenomenal book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, be warned, you must be patient and persistent to get to the good parts of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Observing how the silver corrupts Nostromo is fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can relate to the book because we all face temptations. This book is about self-mastery. Nostromo expounds on Christ's piercing question, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt. 16:26. Here,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nostromo’s integrity failed him and he became the silver’s slave. By stealing the silver from the Gould's mine, Nostromo betrays and destroys his "incorruptible" self-image. In time, the silver betrays and leads to Nostromo's destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I also loved Conrad’s case study of a flawed character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nostromo has so many good qualities; he is brave and generous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he also becomes a thief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tension between Nostromo’s selfish and selfless attributes is enthralling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it makes Nostromo infinitely more human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph Conrad has written one of the most interesting and thought-provoking characters that I have ever read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Suffice it to say, that the book is deeply thought-provoking and worthy of its high praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conrad develops his characters and the country of Costaguana wonderfully. I highly recommend this book.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Things to take note of:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Joseph Conrad is an inspiration for aspiring writers everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is one of the greatest novelists of the English language, but did not learn the language until he was an adult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In one of the most intriguing parts of the book, Nostromo has his girlfriend cut the silver buttons off of his coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comparing this to the end of the book demonstrates how the silver has corrupted Nostromo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7434543053172168214.post-16522526642898863062012-08-08T09:08:00.000-07:002012-08-08T09:08:04.487-07:00The Adventures of Tom Sawyer<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><div id="imageViewerDiv" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By: Mark Twain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Great Quote:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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“He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it—namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Analysis:</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mark Twain begins Tom Sawyer with a brief introduction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This quotation begs the question, “Why would Mark Twain want adults to remember their childhood?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom Sawyer has several qualities that adults should attempt to maintain or recapture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will discuss only three of the many that stood out to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First, Tom Sawyer is creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember how vivid your imagination was as a child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A vivid imagination would help most adults as they tackle the daily tasks they are confronted with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine if you thought as creatively as Tom does when you were assigned tasks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of how Tom reacted when he is forced to whitewash the fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is the work done, Tom comes out ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom Sawyer’s solves almost all of his problems with his unquenchable creativity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Next, Tom is resourceful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he is lost in the cave, he blows out a candle to give himself more time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rations his food and finds a spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when the candles burn out he takes a piece of kite string and continues to search for a way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This quality of tenacious resourcefulness is something that we often lose as adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But children have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch a preschool age child that wants a treat that is out of reach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay hidden while they make their attempts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The child will build ingenious towers and try to scale cabinets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this is not always great behavior, but it is resourceful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally, Tom is admirable for his courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about how he treated Muff Potter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider the courage it would take to speak the truth in front of the Injun Joe in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine how much better a world we would live in if we all had Tom’s courage to speak out against injustice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> is a great book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark Twain is one of the greatest authors of all time and this story is well deserving of the praise it receives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is timeless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Something to take note of:</span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark Twain is a master of humorous writing, which is a very difficult task.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7434543053172168214.post-14549210160773752092012-07-31T09:08:00.001-07:002012-07-31T09:08:46.429-07:00Wuthering Heights<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By: Emily Brontë</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Great Quotes:</span></i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“‘They are afraid of nothing,” I grumbled, watching their approach through the window. ‘Together, they would brave Satan and all his legions.’”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Would you like to live with your soul in the grave?”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Now, my bonny lad, you are mine! And we’ll see if one tree won’t grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it!”</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Analysis:</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This was a great book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emily Brontë’s masterpiece is artfully written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can think of few characters which I despise more than Heathcliff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wuthering Heights shows that great writers are artists that paint with letters and words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt this book had two great interconnected themes.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">First, I thought Brontë’s work was an allegory about the eventual defeat of Lucifer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, Heathcliff represents Satan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wuthering Heights represents the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Thrushcross Grange loosely represents Heaven. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heathcliff is brought by Mr. Earnshaw to Wuthering Heights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In time, he comes to rule and reign over the estate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a tyrant and seeks to pervert and destroy all goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is especially intent on destroying those who are descended from the land owning class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The land owners—the Earnshaws and Lintons—represent the sons and daughters of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice how Heathcliff refuses to live at the Grange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not comfortable there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Heathcliff fails to accomplish his ultimate designs.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finds no lasting satisfaction in tormenting the descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is unable to destroy the land-owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And ironically, it is Heathcliff’s actions that bring the Catherine and Harenton together.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Second, the book is about the indomitable spirit of humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wuthering Heights reminded me of Victor Frankl’s inspiring book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man’s Search for Meaning</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice how Heathcliff can only destroy those that allow themselves to be corrupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heathcliff destroys Isabella, Hindley, and Linton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he is unable to destroy Catherine Jr. and Harenton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us can avoid life’s pain, sickness, and setbacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we can overcome and conquer them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will not all end up with our ideal lives, but we should all struggle to find happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that near the end of the book Harenton is still struggling to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was Brontë giving us insight into his character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has love, land, and money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harenton isn’t satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harenton personifies the “unconquerable soul” spoken of in Henley’s poem “Invictus.”</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Things to take note of:</span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Unfortunately for all of us, this is the only novel published by Emily Brontë.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When Heathcliff is found dead he “seemed to smile” and his cut was not bleeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was Heathcliff a man or evil incarnate?</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I think the Moors were a representation of Hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice how Heathcliff—the devil—loves to wander around there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And after Isabella marries Heathcliff—making a deal with the devil—she gains her freedom by traveling alone through the moors to the “beacon-light of the Grange.”</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Compare and contrast the physical features of Linton Heathcliff and Harenton Earnshaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brontë is using the tangible to demonstrate the incorporeal.</span></div>Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7434543053172168214.post-62991322838466716682012-07-24T12:08:00.001-07:002012-07-24T12:08:38.985-07:00The Time Machine and The Invisible Man<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
By: H.G. Wells<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b></div>
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Barnes & Noble occasionally combines several of a brilliant author’s shorter works in one publication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is the case this week as we examine two of H.G. Wells classics: The Time Machine and The Invisible Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will discuss each below in turn. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Time Machine</u></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Quotes:</i></div>
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“We are kept keen on the grindstone of pain and necessity.”</div>
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“We should strive to welcome change and challenges, because they are what help us grow. Without them we grow weak like the Eloi in comfort and security. We need to constantly be challenging ourselves in order to strengthen our character and increase our intelligence. ”</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Analysis:</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This book had me hooked from the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the abstract discussion in the opening pages about time—the 4<sup>th</sup> dimension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I particularly enjoyed the light mental exercises that Wells puts the reader through in the Time Traveler’s discussion of humans interaction with time. I also liked the vivid descriptions of the earth as the Time Traveler moved further into the future.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I felt like one of the great themes of this book was the need to be a complete person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Time Traveler arrives at a time when humanity has evolved into two distinct species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Eloi live on the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They live and appear childlike. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In contrast, the Morlock’s live underground and are nocturnal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are animal-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They eat the Eloi and attempt to capture the Time Traveler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wells hints that both the Eloi and Morlock culture has become stagnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that Wells’ message is that in order to reach our potential we must continue to learn and grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, both the Morlock’s and the Eloi are seen as something between human and beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Eloi are too trivial to be extensively pitied; the Morlock’s too brutal to be admired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, in order to be a complete person we must strive to balance our child and the beast inside of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we find that harmony we will be able to live a rich and rewarding life</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Things to take note of:</i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really became a huge fan of H.G. Wells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book was an interesting story and inspired some deep thoughts.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Notice how intriguing and relevant this book still is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mark of a classic is how well the story holds up under the strain of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Time Machine was originally published in 1895 and is still gripping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This observation really goes for both books.)</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The Invisible Man</u></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Quotes:</i></div>
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“Alone—it is wonderful how little a man can do alone! To rob a little, to hurt a little, and there is the end.”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></div>
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“I went over the heads of the things a man reckons desirable. No doubt invisibility made it possible to get them, but it made it impossible to enjoy them when they are got.”</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Analysis:</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Invisible Man was an interesting book that dealt with many issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously The Invisible Man screams the question: “What would you do if no one would ever know that you did it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book also deals with the ability of power to corrupt and destroy.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This book’s main theme was a theoretical discussion of crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Griffin begins his crime spree with small and, arguably, necessary crimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We trace Griffin’s criminal acts as they escalate from trespass to murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is interesting to note that every one of Griffin’s criminal acts is motivated by selfishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, Kemp represents the antithesis of crime—justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kemp leads the attack on Griffin, but also attempts to protect Griffin from further harm once caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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It is also interesting to observe that Griffin must convince others to assist him in order to succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Star Trek’s Mr. Spock perhaps said it best when he said, “Without followers, evil cannot spread.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Griffin approaches Kemp seeking a place to rest and gain strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Griffin offers to let Kemp share the profits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil always attempts to purchase the legitimacy of justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Kemp recognizes that if we do not allow evil to rest, it can and will be destroyed.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Things to take note of:</i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>I truly loved the ending and how Wells reincorporated Mr. Marvel into the story.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Griffin’s dead body is “naked and pitiful” and the townspeople cover him so they cannot see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When evil is destroyed, it is almost always because goodness has “exposed” it.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Notice how the police direct and organize the effort to stop Griffin, but only when the community acts together is the evil destroyed.</div>Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7434543053172168214.post-40028593139688918452012-07-20T22:00:00.000-07:002012-07-26T11:45:02.382-07:00Peter Pan<br />
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By: J.M. Barrie</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Quotes:</i></div>
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“To die would be an awfully big adventure.”</div>
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“Pan, who and what art thou?" [Hook] cried huskily.<br />
"I'm youth, I'm joy," Peter answered at a venture, "I'm a little bird that has broken out of the egg.”</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Analysis:</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This book really surprised me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that is because I grew up watching and loving the Disney adaptation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where the movie is very silly and breezy, the book tackles some very serious issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think children would enjoy the book, but it is probably best received by an older audience than the Disney movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My point is probably best illustrated by several examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, Tinker Bell calls several characters a “silly ass.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was surprised to find this language used in a children’s book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, Captain Hook and even Peter Pan—to a lesser extent—were more sinister in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, Peter Pan flippantly kills several pirates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was somewhat disturbing to the mental picture I had of Peter (admittedly, my mental picture is the same as the Disney character—silly and innocent).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please don’t get the wrong impression; the book was truly delightful to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just wasn’t what I was expecting.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This book is an examination of childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter Pan is the personification of youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To his credit, Peter is creative, happy, and carefree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Peter is also undependable, finicky, and self-centered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To explore the nuances of children Barrie gives us two polar opposites: Hook and Wendy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Hook is childhood’s negative attributes personified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hook, like Peter, is creative and impulsive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Hook is mean, selfish, and a cheater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hook is youth stripped of its virtues.</div>
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To contrast this, we have Wendy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wendy is youth’s virtues amplified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is caring, happy, and charitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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In the middle of these great opposites sits Peter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the character we can all relate to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barrie has given us an image of ourselves in Peter Pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is ours to decide to embrace, and thus become more like, Hook or Wendy.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peter also personifies life and vitality as the book explores aging, life, and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book’s final chapter becomes pensive and philosophical as we watch Mrs. Darling, Wendy, Jane, and Margaret age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barrie reminds us that life is fleeting when Peter returns and cannot remember Tinker Bell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Barrie hints at our fear of death when Wendy sighs and says, “If only I could go with you” when Jane returns to Neverland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Wendy is too old and Peter—or life—cannot wait for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We feel a tinge of sadness and wish that we too could join Peter and fly back to the Neverland of our childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Things to take note of:</i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Loved Barrie’s use of the word, Quietus which means: 1. a finishing stroke; anything that effectually ends or settles: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Having given a quietus to the argument, she left.</i> 2. discharge or release from life. 3. a period of retirement or inactivity.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Notice how adept Barrie is at telling a story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He invites you into the story and becomes your storyteller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He allows the reader a chance to escape back into childhood.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>I think that Disney most missed the mark with Tiger Lily and the rest of the Piccaninny Tribe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the book, they are a very noble and courageous people. </div>Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7434543053172168214.post-9019200905463109782012-07-20T09:16:00.001-07:002012-07-20T22:00:32.124-07:00Moby Dick<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
By: Herman Melville</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Quotes:</i></div>
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"From hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee."</div>
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“The most reliable and useful courage was that which arises from the fair estimation of the encountered peril, but that an utterly fearless man is a far more dangerous comrade than a coward.”</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Analysis:</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Moby Dick is a great read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melville’s writing is beautiful and descriptive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many things can be gained from Moby Dick, I felt the book was about failed leadership and the individual’s quest to know itself.</div>
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First, the whaling ship, the Pequod, is a case study in failed leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melville gives us this case study in the first-mate—Starbuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starbuck is clearly a flawed character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starbuck has all the attributes of a perfect leader except courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melville writes Starbuck to identify and demonstrate the need for courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consistently throughout the book, Starbuck has the intelligence to question Ahab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starbuck can clearly see that Ahab’s quest will end in financial ruin and possibly destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, Starbuck stands next to the captain throughout the whole endeavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt most sorry for Starbuck when the Pequod goes down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The quote about courage above foreshadows the entire book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In command of the Pequod we have Ahab—an “utterly fearless man”—and Starbuck—a coward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melville has given us the recipe for disaster.</div>
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Second, the book spoke to me about the individual’s quest to know and understand itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was most effectively demonstrated in chapter 99—“The Doubloon.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this chapter many of the ship’s crew approach a doubloon nailed to the mainmast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the coin each sees something different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doubloon acts as a personality mirror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the exposition of what each sees in the doubloon we are able to understand each of the characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the characters do not use the opportunity to understand themselves, Moby Dick gives the reader a chance to reflect and comprehend itself.</div>
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One other fascinating aspects of Moby Dick was the pacing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book begins slowly and ponderously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the book progresses, the pace accelerates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pacing gives the book the foreboding feeling of sinking faster and faster into a whirlpool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melville uses 21 chapters before the Pequod even leaves Nantucket, but only in the last 3 chapters does Captain Ahab tangle with Moby Dick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pace of the book is truly a masterpiece in itself.</div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Things to take note of:</i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Compare and contrast the ships that the Pequod meets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Melville uses these ships to demonstrate several things (it’s a work-in-progress for me, or else I would write more on it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you think they mean?</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Take note of the contrast between how the crew acts and reacts to situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my mind, this is one of the great comparisons that Melville was trying to make.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Ahab and Pip’s friendship signals Ahab’s growing obsessive insanity.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>One of my favorite chapters was “The Sermon.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Father Mapple really sets the stage for the entire book.</div>Nichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428823871810700296noreply@blogger.com1