Minder Mike

Dear Embarrassed in Encion,

Thanks for writing to me, Embarrassed. I'd love to help you, but I don't think I can. You don't seem to understand what makes people get friends. People get friends by being loud, and showing off what they have. You're feeling ostracized because you arn't socializing like a normal person. People LOVE IT when you make lots of noise. Just the other day, I pulled this fantastic woman by showing her my thousands of medals, and yelling about the war. Trust me, it worked. In fact, I'm dating this fantastic woman right now, and she seems to LOVE it when I show what I won in the war. Just the other day she asked me to tell another war story. I didn't feel like it though, I've told them so many times, it gets boring for me to recite the exciting stories so often, to so many admiring people.

My advice to you is to stop being such a coward. Through those reservations out the window, and get making some noise. Women love noise, and bravado. Once again, trust me on this. You're cowardice is whats affecting your reputation. Nobody wants to spend time with you because you arn't exciting. Man up, my friend. You mentioned at the beginning of your letter that you are uncomfortable with their loud, rude behaviour in public. I know that I've been telling you to be loud as well, but you also need to take into account being assertive. Assertiveness is a tennant of manhood. If these people are making you feel oppressed, tell them so. Don't let anybody get you down, or take control of you. You have to take control, you have to tell them to get out of your face, and let you be your own man. You have to be assertive, and make them stop ruining your reputation. Reputation is what makes a man. I mean, I have hundreds of medals, and they obviously show me as a warhero. Without those medals, I would have less of a reputation, and therefore be less of a man. You have to keep that reputation, my friend.

I really hope that this advice helped you out,

Minder Mike

Interesting passage from The Sun Also Rises

While reading Chapter 15 of the Sun Also Rises, I noticed an interesting item, there was a passage where a festival celebrating foreigners was very prominent. Jake's journalistic experience helps him to spot things that most people would pass of as not needed, or that would be passed over by a casual observer. On pages 158, and 159, we see a festival were workmen and women dressed in red celebrate the coming of foreigners to the town. At first, this seems rather innocent, but upon further analysis is a lot more political. 

Since 1923 up until 1978, Spain was a fascist country, and as such, was very anti-Communist. This passage is majorly led by Communist party members, who want to bring about change in their society, and are using the presence of foreigners in their town to help support that cause. This is evident from the line, 'Hooray for Wine! Hooray for the Foreigners!'. One important tenant of Fascism is nationalism, which means keeping the country to its natives. The Communist members of the festival are celebrating having foreigners around, as it means that the Fascist party is being defeated, even if on a small level. Bill and Jake are confused at first about who the foreigners, but soon realise that they ARE the foreigners that are being celebrated. This prompts them to go and find Brett and Mike, so that they can join in on the fun.

The communism symbolism is throughout the chapter. It mentions the peasants at the beginning sitting in wine stores, going out of its way to use peasants where it could have called the townsfolk, which highlights the working class more so than is necessary for the passage. This symbolism continues onto the next page, where it mentions men dressed in workmen's clothing, and wearing large red handkerchiefs, which lends itself to Communists dress, although subtly. This allusion continues through the chapter, with reference to soldiers being ridiculed, something that rebellious people would do, if only to stir up unrest or antagonism.

This whole parade is something that I would expect Jake to pick up upon, because of his interest in politics, and especially the feelings that him and Bill hold towards certain governments. Their joy at the Communist themed party is unsurprising, considering to their love of the working class, and their hatred for the more upper-class American government. It is surprising how Brett and Mike enjoy the party, especially considering Brett's status as a lady. I believe that this highlights her stupidity, and her shallowness, as she doesn't understand that the fiesta is communist themed.

Why I chose this passage from Chapter 3

"You neither."
"It doesn't make any difference with me. It doesn't make any difference with a woman."
"What are you called?"
"Georgette. How are you called?"
"Jacob."
"That's a Flemmish name."
'American, too."
"You're not Flammand?"
"No, American."
"Good, I deteste Flammands."
By this time we were at the restaurant. I called to the cocher to stop. We got out and Georgette did not like the look of the place. "This is not great thing of a restaurant."
"No," I said. "Maybe you would rather go to Foyot's. Why don't you keep the cab and go on?"
I had picked her up because of a vague sentimental idea that it would be nice to eat with some one. It was a long time since I had dined with a poule, and I had forgotten how dull it could be. We went into the restaurant, passed Madame Lavigne at the desk, and into a little room. Georgette cheered up a little under the food.
"It isn't bad here," she said. "It isn't chic, but the food is all right."
"Better than you eat in Liege."
"Brussels, you mean."
We had another bottle of wine and Georgette made a joke. She smiled and showed all her bad teeth, and we touched glasses.
"You're not a bad type," she said. "Its a shame you're sick. We get on well. What's the matter with you, anyway?"
"I got hurt in the war," I said.
"Oh, that dirty war."
We would probably have gone on and discussed the war and agreed that is was in reality a calamity for civilisation, and perhaps would have been better avoided. I was bored enough.

I chose this passage, which is taken from pages 24 and 25 from The Sun Also Rises, because it delivers a variety of important facts to the reader. It provides large amounts of characterisation, as seen when Georgette insults the Flemmish, and also where Jake mentions about having a sentimental idea about eating with people. This line, in fact, gives us more insight into his character than the rest of the passage, as it lets us know how much his injury has hindered him, and how it has completely changed his life. This is an insight to the character that also helps to explain some of his motivations. One of these motivations, which we see in this passage, is his inviting a woman he meets off the street to eat dinner with him. This shows how he still tries and keeps some semblance of his life before the war, and that he wants to keep living.

Another reason that I chose this passage is because of its value in literary elements. The dialogue is short, and uses little description, and is used simply to get the point of what one character wants to say to the other. Jake doesn't say more than he needs to, even though  Georgette seems to want him to. He only says what he feels is necessary, once again giving us an insight into his character. He is a journalist, and therefore feels that there is no need to mince words. He feels that you just need to get the point across to the reader, or in this case, the listener. The final sentence of the passage gives us a great insight into the character of Jake. It shows us that he is cynical, something that really helps to explain some of his other points.

The casual racism from Georgette at the beginning of the novel not only ages the book, and gives us a point of view into the social climate of the time period, but it also gives us some characterisation of Georgette, the woman who we have only just met, and who we do not see again in the book. It seems strange  that Jake would report on somebody that he only sees once, but it again shows us something about him. He simply reports on what he sees, however insignificant, and states it matter-o-factually, which again harkens back to his training as a journalist. I believe that this passage shows us themes, motifs and important characterisations, and is therefore a very important passage from Book 1.

Commentary Outline on Route March

Step 1 - Annotations

Step 2 - Context

This is a World War One poem, written by the poet during his time in the army, and based on his observations and experiences during the war. The author talks to a group of men, without them being there, which shows use of apostraphe.

Step 3 - Questions

Who?

The narrator is an unnamed person, probably a squad leader or the equivalent, who seems to have knowledge about death and war. The use of the second person in the poem shows us that the character is actually present in the setting, and that he is talking to a group of specific people, soldiers in this case. A group of soldiers, who are probably going to die are addressed in this poem, adding to the sombre mood of the poem, and also helping to propogate the message of the poem.


What?

The soldiers are being sent to the frontlines, a location that has negative conotations, and that is known for the massive amounts of deaths associated with it.

Where?

This poem takes place on a World War One battlefield, which both has a negative connotation, and adds to the dark diction of the poem.

How?

There is a perverse diction in this poem, as words such as 'rejoice' are used to deal with death. Death is shown in a very positive light, which is a perverse juxtaposition with the setting and actions of the poem.

Patterns?

There are many patterns in this poem, mainly to do with the mechanical elements of the poem. It uses an AA, BB, CC rhyming scheme, which gives it the idea of being like a nursery rhyme, once again adding the perversity of the poem. The word earth is used quite often, as are words like sleeping, which make death seem pleasant.

Tensions? This poem is clearly being used as propoganda. It makes death seem like nothing to be worried about, and praises men for marching off into the fight and dying. It makes death seem trite and easy, which removes some of the honour from the dead men. The poem is possibly used as satire against governments that willingly send their men off to die without worrying about them.

Step 4: So What?

Introduction:

Who? What? Where? and author and poem name

Body: How? Patterns?

Conclusion: Tenisions?

Step 5:

I will focus on structure, rhythm, imagery and diction.

Step 6:

Introduction: Author, poem title: Charles Sorley, Route March. Written in 1914.

Body:

Structure:

Rhythm is used to sound like marching soliders and drums.

Repetition isn't very prevalent. Indentation is used to give some semblance of repitition.

Rhyme is used to make the lines flow together, to add the idea of a solider's unit marching, and to make the poem flow of the tongue better.

Tonally, the poem starts off in a positive mood, but holds some sarcasm from the speaker. There is a juxtaposition between happiness and death, and what seems to be repetition of the 'so be' phrase. There is also a lot of reference to earth, which makes it seem a little more natural.

Blog Portfolio for Quarter 1

Coverage:

Contrasting Characters

Allusion in The Sun Also Rises

Jaques as an Antagonist

Books On The Big Screen

Sarcasm in Shakespear

How The Globe And Me Differ

My Favourite Aspect of Act 1

Commentary Outline for Route March



Depth:

Jaques as an Antagonist


Discussion:


Books On The Big Screen


Xeno-blogging:

Anuraag's Blog on Friendship


Interaction:

Contrasting Characters

Wildcard:

Dead Island Game Review

Allusion in The Sun Also Rises

Throughout the Sun Also Rises, we see allusion to a variety of novelists. This helps to build immersion in the novel, and help us to relate the novel to the real-world. This is a common feature of novels, especially ones set in the real world, and is usually used to help the readers of the novel make connections between other works and the novel they are actually reading. This helps with backing up some the themes that are prevalent in the novel, and also helps to keep the novel in a contemporary setting.

In the beginning of the novel, we see an allusion to The Purple Lands, which is a novel about the futility of love, which is one of the novels most prevalant themes. The use of this book not only gives a second-dimension to the novel, by making the story feel as if it takes place in the real world, but it also makes the characters in the novel more interesting, as it helps the reader to make connections to the characters, as they understand the reasons behind characters referencing the books, making the characters themselves feel more real as well.

In Book 2 of the novel, we see quite a few references to famous people from the 1920's, which once again helps to build immersion into the story, as it feels like a more real setting. The first of these allusions that we see is in the reference to A.E.W Mason, where Jake mentions that he is reading a collection of short stories, most likely The Four Corners Of The World, which was published in 1917. Mason was an author and politician, who also served in the British army during World War One. He attained the rank of Major, and helped to set up counter-espionage in Spain and Mexico. Mason sounds like he would be somebody that Jake (and Hemmingway) admires, which again gives us more depth to the novel.

Another allusion is in the style of H.L. Menchken, where we see Bill and Jake quoting lines from one of his novels. Without extensive research, its difficult to tell what novel or play this quote is from, but it does tell us something about the relationship between the two men. They are able to quote lines from a play that they both love fluently, and do it in the complete comfort of their friendship. This shows that there is a love and friendship between Bill and Jake that goes back far, and bonds them also in a brotherly manner.

Basque is a reference to the area of Northern Spain where Jake and Bill holiday. He refers to the people from this area as Basques.

The reference to Ronceveux is again a reference to an area in Northern Spain. Jakes reference to it as grey metal while on the bus, and remembers that it was ambushed during World War One, which once again links Jake to his job as a soldier during World War 1.

The Fratellinis are a reference to three clowns who became very popular during the First World War. They were well known for ridiculing the war, and Bill's singing of Irony and Pity is a reference to both the Fratellinis ideals and their work in ridiculing the war.

Primo De Rivera was the spanish dictator between 1923 and 1930, who enforced strict nationalism. Bill references this while telling Jake to be "ironic" to the waitress.

Dred Scott was the name of an African-American slave. He was taken by his master, an officer in the U.S. Army, from the slave state of Missouri to the free state of Illinois and then to the free territory of Wisconsin. He lived on free soil for a long period of time.Bill references this while talking to Jake about the Civil War, and when he tells Jake that Lincoln was gay. This exemplifies Bill's wacky ideas when he is drunk.

The Anti-Saloon league were the main group of people that lobbied for prohibition in the United States. Bill references them to Jake when he is telling him that he is drunk.

William Jennings Bryan was a politician who was well known for his "Cross of Gold" speech. Bill references him when talking about the "Monkey Trail", an idea that talked about the differences between evolution and creationism.

Bill's reference to the Holy Cross is his attempt at humour and irony, as The Holy Cross was a christian school in Massachusetts, but Bill was extremely critical of religion.

Frankie Fristch was a baseball player in New York, who Bill name drops while talking about who he went to school with.

Bishop Manning was a bishop in New York, who played a large role in World War One. Jake mentions him while talking about what public figures he was around while going to school in New York.

Wayne B. Wheeler was an attorney who advocated the prohibition, and is probably one of the people in the world that Bill and Jake didn't like very much.

President Calvin Coolridge was the 30th President of the United States, and would have been president during the time of the novel.

Contrasting Characters

 My favourite part of The Sun Also Rises so far is the contrasting characters of Cohn and Jake. Throughout the first book, we see them interacting in very similar ways, although with different motivations or different desires. First of all, Cohn is a very physically fit man. He is very strong, very big, but seems to be emotionally damaged, due to his previous experiences with women. These experiences include being in serious relationships twice, and both times the women breaking his heart.

On the other hand, Jake is not a big man, and he is not physically fit. He is in fact impotent, something that he constantly dwells on, which means that he is also, in a way, damaged because of his inability to interact with women successfully. He is not as large as Cohn, or as strong, but he still manages to find some success in what he does.


These two characters are both very similar, and very contrasting. They both have problems with women, they both have varying degrees of literary success, and they both seem to love Lady Ashley.  Jake approaches this in a way that seems to be that of a platonic friend, and tries to spend time with her, and simply talk to her, but Cohn sees it as something a lot more visceral. He sees it as a love that he would attribute to somebody that he wants to marry.

Finally, they are similar in the ways that they feel about each other, however they display these in very different ways. Cohn is very open about his affection towards Jake, and even tells him at one point that he is his best friend. Jake is a little reluctant about admitting his feelings towards Cohn, and only expresses his friendship to Cohn in hidden ways. He rescinds comments that hurt Cohn's feelings, and feels bad for Cohn when Cohn says that Jake is his best friend. This shows that Jake does care about Cohn, just doesn't feel comfortable expressing these feelings, possibly because he is a very 'manly' man.


This contrast is something thats very prominent in fiction, and something that helps to build character. In one of favourite book series, The Legend of Drizzt, the main character is almost parallel to his arch-enemy, except for one fact. Drizzt is compassionate, and his enemy is not. This is not only helps to build character, but it also highlights one of the main reasons for conflict, in real life and in fiction. It highlights that similarities between people generally lead to conflicts. If you have two people that are very similar, chances are that between them they are going to end up starting a fight. Although that hasn't happened yet between Cohn and Jake, we see some definitite tension between them, which is mostly a cause of this.

One of my classmates, Sitara, disagrees with my theory, however. She believes that the relationship is completly one-sided, with Cohn showing un-recipricated love towards Jake. I understand what she is saying the piece, but I feel that she is wrong, as if Jake didn't like Cohn, why would he be taking back his insults? She makes an interesting point on Jake putting Cohn down because he feels insecure in his masculinity, which is understandable from Jake's point of view, but then every guy puts down his friends, just to get that little bit of an edge on them. You can read more on what she has to say on it here: http://sitaramathur.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/jake-barnes-vs-robert-cohn/