The Stranger Quick Write 4/9/14

Meursault: Emotionless and Self-indulgent

Meursault, although a simple man, is very bland. He never gives a straight and definitive answer and is very self-indulgent. His physical wants overpower his focus on his emotional needs. This lack of realization of what he needs doesn't allow him to connect with people on a personal level. For example, he enjoys the company of Marie Cardona, yet when asked if he loved her, he nonchalantly replies " it didn't mean anything, but that he probably didn't love her" (41). Although he won't love her, he is willing to marry her on a whim. While Meursault's lack of ability to find emotional attachment is self-proffessed to avoid conflict with others, it seems to serve more as a protective barrier for himself not to get hurt.   

Fahrenheit 451 Essay Intro

“So it was the hand that started it all” (38). Montag allows his thoughts to flow freely through his mind: the books, Captain Beatty, the woman, and her last words. As he lays in bed, hearing his wife’s miniscule humming to the melody of her seashell radio, he begins to contemplate him and his wife’s relationship. In Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag lives in a futuristic, utopian society where reading is a felony, as are many other common amenities we take for granted. In this backward society, firemen don’t save people’s lives and homes, but rather burn books and destroy their homes. As a fellow fireman, Guy Montag participates in book burning and doesn’t question it until he meets Clarisse Mclellan, the seventeen-year-old “divergent”. Guy Montag allows himself to be manipulated. His lack of realization and understanding allows others’ thoughts of revolution to penetrate his mind and make him believe that they are his.  

Fahrenheit 451 essay brainstorm

Question: How does Montag allow others to influence and manipulate his thoughts and actions? 

Montag's influences: 
     Faber
     Clarisse
     Beatty

Example: ender's game
     Graff
     Valentine
     Bonzo
     Stilson (?)

Essay ideas

- Compare Beaty and Montag in their interpretations of books 
- Describe Clarisse's impact on Guy Montag's transformation
- Describe Guy Montag's transformation/evolution from burning to preserving books

Fahrenheit 451 reading

As I began reading chapter 2 of the book I found it quite interesting. Montag's attitude toward books changes completely. After having watched the woman set herself on fire rather than be taken away, really affected him. He took a book for himself and hid it. However, he had collected books before, which were hidden in the ventilator shaft. I don't understand why he had books previously to the time when Millie discovered the book behind his pillow.

Once he lit the flame of his determination to make books a popular pastime, he doesn't seem to let fear or obstacles block him from his goal. 

Fahrenheit 451

As we continue to read Fahrenheit 451, we see the development of Guy Montag through his daily interactions with Clarisse, his seventeen year old neighbor. During his times with her, he develops a nature of questioning what he thought he knew. This seems to parallel Ender in "Ender's Game" because he begins to question what he is being taught and his knowledge. The common theme I can see is questioning of "common" knowledge. 

Questions continued

How does the monitor work? 
How does Ender's anger play a role in his success? 
Does Valentine serve as Ender's motivation throughout his time at Battle School? 
Why do valentine and Peter want to rule the world? 
How and why does Ender stand out from the rest of the other students at the battle school? 
Are children more ruthless than adults? 
Imagine peter's reaction to ender's success.
How does space time affect people? 
How is Alai significant?
Would Ender have continued his studies if he had known what happened to Stilson? 
How do they prevent the students from crying? 
Why do they not want the kids to develop like not normal children?

Ender's game discussion questions

Does Valentine serve as Ender's motivation throughout his time at Battle School? 

How and why does Ender stand out from the rest of the other students at the battle school? 

How does Ender feel having so much pressure being put on him? 

Does Ender like isolation?

Why did they pick Ender as the focus of their attention?

Why are the soldiers children and not adults, since adults are usually associated with wisdom? 

Second semester goals

In second semester I hope to be able to analyze and understand the important parts of the novels as well as assigned textbook reading. Having this skill will allow me to develop my own ideas and opinions on the reading and be more open to sharing my ideas. I hope to also have developed a greater interest in reading, so that both assigned reading will be more enjoyable and I will be more inclined to discover books that I can read for pleasure. For college, skim reding is an important skill that I need to be able to learn and use. At the moment, I tend to want to read every sentence to find information because I feel that I may miss an important idea that will be discussed or tested on. Learning the skill of skim reading will allow me to get more accomplished in a short amount of time. 

Essay writing is challenging for me because sometimes I have many ideas, but no way to express them in the manner that I would like. I want to learn to write a more concise, elaborate, and in-depth essay that fully explains my ideas. I also want out learn to have my ideas be connected more coherently from the thesis to conclusion.