Novel Project (All of the steps are on here.)

Word	Re-Written Sentence	Sentence & Page #	My Own Definition
Protruded	A rifle sticking out from the young man’s backpack.(Protruded)	A rifle Protruded from the young man’s backpack #3	Something that projects it self or sticks out.
Semiautomatic	With a Remmington self loading rifle isn’t the sort of thing that gives motorists pause in the forty-ninth state. (Semiautomatic)	With a Remmington semiautomatic isn’t the sort of thing that gives motorists pause in the forty-ninth state. #4	A rifle or firearm that reloads it self.
Wiry	Five feet seven or eight with a lean build.(Wiry)	Five feet seven or eight with a wiry build. #4	Some one or something that is lean and small. (Like a wire).
Improbably	A questionable light load for a stay of several months in the backpack country, especially so early in the spring.(Improbably)	An Improbably light load for a stay of several months in the backpack country, especially so early in the spring #4	Something that is unlikely to happen or be true, also something questionable or doubtful.
Congenial	He was pleasant and seemed well educated.(Congenial)	He was congenial and seemed well educated #5	Some one who is nice to be around and can adapt easily to new environments.
Meandered	The broken line wandered west from Parks Highway.(Meandered)	The broken line meandered west from Parks Highway 5	Something that wanders or twists without a direct path.
Reigned	A vast silence swept over the land.(Reigned)	A vast silence reigned over the land 6	Something that dominates or takes over.
Amalgam	Carpeted in boggy rare white mineral that is made of mercury and silver of muskeg.(Amalgam)	Carpeted in boggy amalgam of muskeg 10	A rare white mineral, which is a mixture of silver and mercury.
Estranged	If McCandles felt alienated from his parents and siblings, he found a surrogate family in Westerberg.(Estranged)	If McCandles felt estranged from his parents and siblings, he found a surrogate family in Westerberg.	A feeling of alienation, to keep a distance and turn away from affection.
Surrogate	If McCandles felt estranged from his parents and siblings, he found a family that took him in in Westerberg.(Surrogate)	If McCandles felt estranged from his parents and siblings, he found a surrogate family in Westerberg. 18	To act for another person or do a job for something or someone else
Copped	He confessed a plea to a single felony.(Copped)	He copped a plea to a single felony.19	To plead guilty or confess to a crime in order to receive a lighter sentence.
Altruistic	The latter is a reference to Tolstoy’s alter ego, unselfish, questing, illegitimately born.(Altruistic)	The latter is a reference to Tolstoy’s alter ego, Pierre Bezuhov altruistic, questing, illegitimately born.)19	Someone or something that is unselfish and concerned for others.
Illegitimately	The latter is a reference to Tolstoy’s alter ego, Pierre Bezuhov altruistic, questing, born out of wedlock.(Illegitimately)	The latter is a reference to Tolstoy’s alter ego, Pierre Bezuhov altruistic, questing, illegitimately born.)19	Someone who is born by parents who aren’t married to each other.
Odyssey	This trip was to be an adventure in the fullest sense of the word, and epic journey that would change everything.(Odyssey)	This trip was to be an odyssey in the fullest sense of the word, and epic journey that would change everything	The odyssey was one of the first myths or stories of our time it was an adventure.
Bore	The bore of brown water came (Bore)	The bore of brown water came 28	A hole made with an instrument.
Unheeded	He was ignorant, happy and near to the wild heart of life.(Unheeded)	He was unheeded, happy and near to the wild heart of life	Uncared for or ignored.
Recalcitrant	She’s right:In both photos Chris stares at the lens with the same pensive, UNWILLING squint.(Recalcitrant)	She’s right:In both photos Chris stares at the lens with the same pensive, recalcitrant squint.	A person with an attitude and who is uncooperative towards authority.
Pensive	She’s right:In both photos Chris stares at the lens with the same THOUGHTFUL,recalcitrant squint.(Pensive)	She’s right:In both photos Chris stares at the lens with the same pensive, recalcitrant squint.	Someone or something that analyzes and goes deep into thought about things
Bereavement	Such mourning and grief, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow.(Bereavement)	Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow.	A state in which you experience intense mourning and grief after a loss
Eloquent	Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most expressive and forceful apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow.(eloquent)	Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow.	Something that is movingly expressive and very forceful.
Apologia	Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent written apology for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow. (Apologia)	Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow.	A written apology explaining or defending something.
Fatuous	Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring insane and hollow.(Fatuous)	Such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow.	Being foolish or insane, not making sense in this case doing activities that are foolish or insane.

 REVIEW:

BOOK REVIEW ROUGH DRAFT.

Into the wild is one of the best books I have ever read. Honestly, I usually try to MEANDER away from nonfiction books but, I would really recommend this book to any and everyone from the ages 14 and up since the vocabulary can be difficult to understand. This book is like a breath of fresh air it really changed the way I look at things especially at society. The main character Chris McCandless is a very wealthy and CONGENIAL young man,he views things differently than everyone else. Chris doesn't understand society; why people judge, why they think the key to happiness is being succesful, and as I read this book I really understood and could relate to how Chris feels and why he felt that he couldn't take it anymore. Sometimes I feel ESTRANGED from society, like I don't really fit in or understand why people do things or why they care about things of the littleist importance. And I know that it is very IMPROBABLE that I would ever go out and live in the wild but, after reading this book I really understand Chris's motives to just be free and 

BOOK REVIEW FINAL DRAFT:

Into the wild is one of the best books I have ever read. Honestly, I usually try to MEANDER away from non-fiction books but, I would really recommend this book to any and everyone from the ages 14 and up since the vocabulary can be difficult to understand. This book is like a breath of fresh air it really changed the way I look at things especially at society. The main character Chris McCandless is a very wealthy, ALTRUISTIC and CONGENIAL young man.When Chris takes a trip where he discovers that he was ILLEGITiMENTLY born, he views things differently than everyone else doesn't understand society; why people judge, why they think the key to happiness is being successful, and as I read this book I really understood and could relate to how Chris feels and why he felt that he couldn't take it anymore. Sometimes I feel ESTRANGED from society too, like I don't really fit in or understand why people do things or why they care about things of the littlest importance. And I know that it is very IMPROBABLE that I would ever go out and live in the wild but, after reading this book I understand Chris's motives to just be free and away from everything. Throughout the book I also felt so sorry for his parents even though they were so FATUOUS and superficial, they still cared about Chris and there was so much BEREAVEMENT, and suffering that they were slowly all falling apart. One of my favorite quotes or phrases in the whole book was “He was UNHEEDED, happy and near to the wild heart of life”.I think that this phrase really describes Chris because he was so blissful PENSIVE which made him ignorant to the ugliness that REIGNED over society. What I most admire about Chris is that he expressed his ideas and perspective so freely and ELOQUENTLY.  

Corrections: By Sophie Steckerl

1.0- check, all good
1.5- add more to your definitions. Don’t make them be just one word
2.0- fix punctuation, capitalization and spelling errors
2.5- perfect
3.0- try using transitional words to polish it up, I really liked your review you gave details but, you didn't give it away, also you had a really good use of the words and the paragraphs flowed nicely. You have some grammar mistakes but, over all your review is great.

DIAGRAM:

These words all give off a feeling of alienation from the rest of society, they connect in a strange way of being different.	These words all give off intense states of thinking or feelings, they are all emotions that affect you emotionally and mentally.	These words all have to do with the law, some are things that law enforcement uses, implies and requires.	These word all have to do with things you might find or discover on an adventure or while exploring.
Improbably	Pensive	Illegitimately	Odyssey
Meandered	Altruistic	Copped	Bore
Estranged	Bereavement	Semiautomatic	Wiry
Unheeded	Eloquent	Apologia	Amalgam
Recalcitrant	Congenial	Reigned
Fatuous		Protruded
Unheeded
Altruistic
Surrogate

 

Book Review

Book Review
-Talk a out a character
-Quotes from the book
-Talk about a theme in this book
-How the book made me feel
-The parts that you enjoyed the most
-Have to do: a recomendation who and why?

William Shakespear Rubric

Knowing: 

video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oPe7tG0vYs&feature=iv&src_vid=vQGATTeg1Os&annotation_id=annotati


Understanding: Notes
He was the greatest author that ever lived. Very perverse. Perverse kokes.
Born in 1564 parent john shakespear and mary arden. Straford upon avon is where he lived it was an english town. Unill the age of 13 he studided untill that age. 1582 he married anne hathaway. They had a daughter susana and twins hamlet and judith. At the age of 1591 27 he moved to london where he began writing he wrote 37 plAys and 154 sonets. He worked in the elizibethan era because of the queen elizbeth was ruling. She shut down all the places and theater because of all the disease that was spreading. (also plague time). 1611 king james the first wanted bible for him to read it. He asked very smart people to translate into english shakesper was the one who translated the pslongs. They entertained with public execution for commiting crimes. There was no toilets or sanitatiom facilities.shakespear was favored by queen elizbeth and often gave him ideas for characters and plays. The theaters were sometimes violent and were sometimes in poor neighboorhoods and they had animal bating, prostitution, etc. Shakespear had many misstreses and affairs. He retired very wealthy. All of the actors in the plays were men. His plays could be divided in 3 catorgories histories tradgities and comedies. They were many times based in real things. Histories are only written about the british monarchy. Comedies are the only plays that have happy endings. Tradgeities are the most well known romeo and juliet, hamlet, king lear, julius caesar.
Marlo was murdered
Applying:  What he was recongized for:

William Shakespear who was born in england and moved to London at the age of 27, also began writing plays and sonnets. With a total of 37 plays and 154 sonnets he created and is most remebered for his plays like midsummer night's dream, romeo and juliet, and also hamlet; those are some of his most famous pieces. William Shakespear is quite a mystery, dropped out of school at the age of 13 and with a kid at the age of 18 many question if his creation were really his. There are many suspicions leading up to this such as that he had very little schooling and his pieces show extensive knowledge, also that he references over 200 books and it is believed that he never even owned one. Many have the theory that William Shakespear murdered Marlo, a writer who was to shy to show his work, and presented it to the world as his own.
Analyzing: Comparing William Shakespear to Dr.Suess


William Shakespear:
Shakespear is considered to be one of the best writers of our time
He writes mostly plays and sonnets
He has different genres some are Tradgedy, comedy, mystery etc.
Dr. Suess
Is known mostly for his childrens books some of which composed entirely of rhyme
-He studied literature in Dartmouth college
-IGreen Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Horton Hatches the Egg, Horton Hears a Who!, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
Evaluating: What I think of William Shakespear (Him and his writing)
I think that William Shakespear was a great writer, and may have been one of the most avant gaurd writers of our time, I say this because I think that his works were something very different from anything that people heard or saw at that time in history. He brought new genres new, things and sides that people had not explored before and I think that fascinated people. I do however question if his plays and sonnets are his. There has been a lot of doubt in my mind since I learned more about him. Things that don't add up for me are the facts that he dropped out of school at the age of 13, wrote hundreds od pieces by 27 that referenced over 200 books, to which he was owner of none, and many places to which he had never been.
Creating:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX9chdLxgms&context=C42a7d42ADvjVQa1PpcFOTLJVM40TtBzkS0uowSrjSrLoK0ftQCwk%3D

Shakespear: A midsummer night's dream rubric

A midsummer night's dream


Knowing: A Midsummer night dream, video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1wMfOwlAZ

Understanding: A midsummer nights dream, the movie

Applying: A midsummer nights dream, worksheet

Analyzing: 


A Midsummer night's dream
-Comedy
-Has a happy ending
-Follows nearly all of the stages of comedy
Romeo and Juliet
-Tragedy
-Does not have a happy ending
-Has deaths
What they both have in common
-They are both love stories/tales
-In both plays their parents/family members do not approve
-There is always one person who is jealous
Creating:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT3Huig_BLY&context=C485c6cbADvjVQa1PpcFOTLJVM40TtB0ptJwnsdVNxTu2CjBtJmH8%3D

Notes on Theme

-Literary works primary purpose
-the central idea of a work of literature
-the moral of the story, life lesson, message or meaning
-applies to everyone; universal
-theme is not the same as subject it can be expressed as a word (the subject)
-idea writer wants to express about the subject opinion about the subject
Second Video
1.MAn struggles against human nature:
A character struggle against himself doubt-love.anger doing whats right against whats easy
2. MAN struggles to understand divinity
A character tries to know and make peace with god
3.Man struggles with societal pressure
Character is torn between what society says
they should be and know what they are
4.Crime does not pay
Honesty is honored and criminals will be called
5.Overcoming adversity
A character over comes a tough situation and triumphs
6.Friendship is dependent on sacrifice
You can't have friends if you dont act like a friend
7.The importance of Family
family bonds will over =come adversity and trials
8.love conquers all
Love is worthiest of things to be persued
9.Death is part of the life cycle
character realized life and death are intertwined
10Sacrifices bring rewards

Literary Techniques

A literary technique is a rule or guideline that is used in literature. Some are:
Symbolism 
is the "use of specific objects or images to represent abstract ideas" (It has to be something you can touch, feel hold etc)
Example:
In the movie Pochahontas the wind represents her mom who has passes away. Also it is symbol of peace
Foreshadowing
 is when the author hints that something might happen but, without saying it directly
Example:
In cinderella the step mothing gives her a angry and mean (evil) glare, which gives you the hint that she is going to do something bad to cinderella.
Flashback
is when the or a character in a story goes back to a memory (interupts a memory)
Example:
In the lion king simba has a flahs back of his father's death i the middle of an argument with his uncle.
Atmosphere
is when the setting of the story determines the mood or feeling of emotions in tat scene
Example:
In a very goofy movie goofy's son leaves for college, once he has left the house seems sadder, the setting changes.
Plot twist
is when there is an unexpected action or thing that occurs sometimes they can be foreshadowed with small hints and clues.
Example:
In the movie bambi, he and his mom are happily and peacefully together when SUDDENLY there is a hunter who kills his mother. You don't expect it at all!
Digressive time: is when the story moves from subject to subject like flash backs and flash forwards.
Progressive time: when an author writes in order, or chronologically (forward)
Suspense: when a story or scene causes you to build up anxiety while awaiting a descion or outcome.

Character Comic

Click on the link below to see my comic strip on Skeeter!
http://www.pixton.com/es/comic/z7qh9uhc

Characterization of a Character

The main character of this novel as I have mentioned before is Skeeter (Ms Eugenia). At the beginning of this novel Skeeter is shown as one of the ladies of high society Jackson, Missisippi. Member of the bridge club (cards) etc. As the story goes on you see that Skeeter is different from the rest in the sense that her priorities and what is important to her is different than how they are obssesed on getting married, or their clothes or that everything has to be perfect. Skeeter is an aspiring writer/journalist but, in the meantime she is stuck writing an advice column for the local paper. Skeeter becomes much more accepting of people; she becomes very close to Aibileen (Elizabeth's (friends) maid) Also Minnie who Hilly Holbrook one of her best friend hates. When Hilly came out with the idea of installing separate bathrooms for the help, Skeeter though that this was stupid and pointless. (She though that people should be treated the same). Skeeter goes from being someone who went with the flow to someone who stands up for what they believe in.

Defenitom

Digressive time:

When things happen out of order, flash backs, future 

Progressive time:

When the author uses stages moving forward in time. (chronologically)

Suspense:

Creates an emotion (buliding the feeling of anxiety). Events leading up to something, events begin to build up. Things that add to suspense like music, scenery (suprise),

Evaluation of the Author.

Evaluation of the Author. 

In my opinion the author, Kathryn Stockett did an excellent job on character development. She made how you felt about the characters strong emotions. Either you love them or you hate them or you feel bad for them. This novel made me laugh, cry, and be mad. It also opened my eyes to a different perspective, on how you may not think something is offensive to someone when it could be very hurtful. Thanks to this book I think twice on how I talk or ask for things or even think sometimes. The author used many different ways of expressing character’s feelings. She would show the story from the point of view of the owner of the house, and the maid, also she showed the differences of how maids were or are treated when there are guests and just alone at the house. I also noticed that Kathryn Stockett uses character’s past to make you feel a certain way about them. Something I thought was very clever. I think that the Author of this novel did a fantastic job on the character development. I would recommend this book to anyone, any gender or age I think that it is very important that people read this book and grasp what it was like in the life of a maid in the 1960’s. 

Character Development Plot Element of The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

Character Development Plot Element of The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

Character Development

The novel I read throughout this quarter was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The character development in the book takes place in many different ways. The author uses many different techniques such as showing the same events, with many different perspectives and points of views. The main characters in this novel are Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minnie. The character that you see most change in as the story develops is Skeeter. Skeeter starts of as one of the usual high society ladies of Jackson Mississippi. Later on in the story you begin to see that her priorities are different form the rest of her friends such as Hilly Holbrook. Skeeter aspires to be a journalist for a big paper which was considered a joke for women at this time. But, she starts out writing answers to questions for a local magazine. She gives advice on cleaning cooking, etc. For help on her column she asks her friends’ maids for help. Skeeter is different from any of the other (white) ladies in he story. The author makes you admire her bravery and her not caring of what other people think about her. Skeeter has a long time relationship with Stuart which ended when Skeeter told him that she was writing a book. Exposing all of her friends, telling the world the truth about a maids life working with these women. Skeeter became close with her friend Elizabeth’s maid Aibileen. When helping her to write her advice column. Later on Skeeter asks Aibileen for help on her book.  Aibeleen is a loyal and very loving character. The author makes you love her by the way she treats Mae Mobley (the girl that she takes care of). Also her will to help Skeeter, shows her loyalty towards people she cares about such as Minnie and Skeeter. Minnie makes you laugh, cry and love her at the same time. The author makes Minnie a back talker and a sassy maid. Which makes you love her even more, because she isn’t afraid of anybody or anything. Minnie is the kind of person who gives her honest opinion wether people want to hear it or not. And I admire her for that, although I know that some people may think she is way out of here league. 

Plot Elements

This novel takes place in Jackson Mississippi, in the 1960’s. It revolves around the three main characters that were mentioned above. Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minnie. Aibileen and Minnie being the maids of Skeeter’s friends Elizabeth and the mother of Hilly Holbrook who is the antagonist of the novel. Skeeter had always known these two but, had gotten closer to Aibileen when asking for advice on her columns in the local paper. When Hilly Holbrook began with the idea of making separate bathrooms for the help or maids. (Because they thought that they carried diseases that could get them sick) Skeeter was against this idea. She thought that It was ridiculous and began seeing things from another point of view. This is the beginning of the conflict which is Skeeter’s secret plan to write a book about working from the inside, exposing all of the stay home moms of Jackson. When Skeeter’s friends realize how much time she spends chatting with their maids suspicions begin to rise. Skeeter begins to be discriminated and treated like an outcast. Things really get heated when Skeeter finally gives the book to a publisher and they love it! In the book all of the names were changed but, it still took place in Jackson. There is a lot of talk in the United  States about this book, who was written by anonymous. When Hilly Holbrook realizes the book is about her, and her friends she explodes. But, she knows she can’t say anything because then people will know that it is about Jackson. And everybody would know all the terrible things she had done. People in Jackson look at Skeeter like she’s a trader and talk behind her back (I think that many people secretly knew but no one said anything). The resolution is when Skeeter is offered a job in New York, and tells Aibileen and Minnie about it, she is worried that something might happen to them but, they are so happy for Skeeter and insists she take the offer.

My 3 comments on my peer's novel projects

1. Comment on Camila Toro's blog.
Woah, I really like how you talked about the characters and how they developed throughout the story. Your explanations for the plot and character's development, give for people who have never read harry potter and those who have a base for the story. Your writing gets people thinking and imagining. Great job! (I couldn't comment on her blog but, here is the link to her blog check it out to see if you agree with me!!http://cngenglishblog.edublogs.org/2011/10/02/character-development-and-plot-elements-of-novel/)

2. Comment on Sophie Steck's blog
I totally agree with you on describing Jenifer! (I also read this book) I really liked how you show examples from the story that you use to give the reader an idea of how they are. I also like how you gave a breif but good description of the secondary characters; Martha and Clara. I agree with marianne that it would be nice if showed changes in the characters throughout the book a bit more. Check out Sophie's blog!! http://dolcevida-sophie.blogspot.com/2011/10/character-analysis-on-novel-for-quart-1.html?showComment=1319151329886#c5146150032020049134

3.Comment on Marianne Von Arim's Blog
I liked how you did it in an organized format! Its different from the other novel projects I've seen. I liked that you put a couple of sentences describing the characters a bit more and also giving some examples from the book. Explaining why at times the characters do or act the way they do or feel how they do! Great job mane

Character Development/Story Elements

Characters
Authors use a a special "character map" or a key to create a character and make you have a certain opinion of the character (the want you to like him, hate him, envy ect.)
-Looks
-Ambition
-Deep dark secret
-Worst Enemy
-Best friend
-What does she carry in her pocket
-What she/he recently lost
-What makes them different
Story Elements
Authors also use elements like setting, theme, conflict to create a base for their story. They can draw you in by making the conflict something you can relate to and connect with. Or they can make you scared by making you feel and imagine that you are part of the story. They can make you feel sad, change your opinion and perspective on something by putting you in a characters shoes. All of these feeling wouldn't be possible without the vital story elements.

Story Elements: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Main idea
This novel is about Dorothy and her friends whom she meets along her journey. It also has to do with taking things for granted, for example at the beginnign of the story Dorothy's life is described as dull an boring and as the story moves along all she can think about is being back home with her Aunt and Uncle in Kansas. Also her friends; the scare crow who claims to have no brains but, is really the smartest of them all, the tin man who says he has no heart but is most loving. The lion who longs for bravery while he the most brave. All of these characters didn't realize what they had until they lost it like Dorothy and the tin man. Throughout the story you see how the characters evolve and have a broader, more open mind. Like in real life too, the farther, or longer you go along life's path the more you learn and accept.
Plot
Exposition:
The main characters are:
-Dorothy
-Scarecrow
-Tin-man
-Lion
Rising Action:
Dorothy lands in Oz when a tornado in Kansas blew her and totto in her house, she crushes the wicked witch of the west. When she arrives she is greeted by a good witch who tells her that the only peron that can get her back home is the great wizard of Oz. The witch tells her to follow the yellow brick road. She kisses her forehead; so that she will be protected along her journey. The second main character introduced is the scarecrow who Dorothy helped down from his stake, he told Dorothy he would accompany her to ask for brains. Then they came across the tin man who was so rusted he could not move. Thy oiled him and he went along with them to ask for a heart. Finally they met the Lion who craved bravery and they all set out on a quest to see the wizard. After overcoming many challenges, they arrive in the land of Oz, the wizard tells them they must kill the wicked witch of the east to have their wishes granted.
Setting:
The story takes place in Kansas at the very beginning, and throughout in the wonderful land of Oz!
Climax:
When they set along their second quest the wicked witch won the battle by calling upon the flying monkeys who then captured Dorothy and her friends. Dorothy ended up becoming her slave w one day she was cleaning and she accidently spilled water on the witch and melted her! Dororthy was so happy she went out to find her friends and they all set out back to the land of Oz. When they arrived with prood they had killed the witch, they find out that the great wizard is nothing but a fraud. The scarecrow, tin man, and lion still insist on having their wishes granted. So the wizard had a makeshift ways of making them realize what they already had inside of them! As for Dorothy they plan on making a hot air balloon and floating up into the sky to see where it takes them, for how is how the great wizard landed in Oz. But, the plan fails whrn totto jumps out of the basket and Dorothy goes to retrieve him the balloon has already flown up into the sky!
Falling Action/ Resolution:
When all hope is gone for Dorothy, Glinda the good witch shows up and tells her to click her heels together three times while saying there's no place like home and as Dorothy does this se wakes up in Kansas surrounded by her family and realizes it was all just a dream.
Connections
I can understand how Dorothy felt suddenly being in a different world with different kinds of people and different ways of doing things. When I moved from Chicago to Colombia it sort of felt like I was a stranger in this big world. Also I can't literally connect but I can imagine how terrible it must of felt or feel not having a way to get back home.

Wizard of Oz summer questions

Questions


1. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published in 1900 and met with both commercial and critical success. It continues to be a favorite, and the story has been translated to the stage and film numerous times. What do you think makes this tale so appealing, so timeless, and so easily adapted to other  media?
 
What makes this tale appealing, timeless, and easily adapted to other media is the fact that it is different from any other story tale. Also given that it was published over 100 years ago it was a refreshing and new way of combining real-life events with fantasy. For example Dorothy, a young girl living in kansas with totto her dog, her uncle and aunt. But then comes a twist, a big tornado takes her and totto to a new world.

2. What roles do money and capitalism play in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? What is valued in the land  of Oz as opposed to what is valued in the real world?  

Money has no value in the in the land of Oz. Good will and power is valued as opposed to in the real world where friendliness is appreciated but not necessary.

 
3. In addition to being a writer, L. Frank Baum was an actor and playwright. Does theatricality play a role  in this book? How? What role does illusion play in the story?  
  
Theatricality does play a role in this story, because there is a lot of drama throughout the book, like the scarecrow not having any brains, or the tin man having no heart, lion without bravery, these are all drama-filled characters but there all of their problems are really all just illusions. Also the great Wizard of Oz was nothing more than a ballon artist that got trapped in his balloon and dropped from the sky to Oz.

4. One of the things that L. Frank Baum did not like about traditional fairy tales was the didactic we in which they taught morals and values. Does his story express any particular values or moral lessons? If so,  how does he communicate them?

The story does  express the moral value of  not taking your-self or what you have for granted. At the beginning of the story it describes Dorothy's life boring and gray, in an almost complaining kind of way as you get more in to the story they go through all these quests and battles so that Dorothy could get back home.
5. Though this story has had a timeless appeal, is there anything  time  bounded or dated about it?  Are there aspects of the story, characters, style, or setting that decrease the accessibility or appeal of the  book for a modern audience?  
 
The Wizard of Oz is a timeless tale because of the twists it has from any  classic fairy-tale. What really helps the tale I think is the good vs. evil between the witches, also the fact that the great wizard that everyone so dearly admires and fears is just a fraud.


6. The Scarecrow yearns for a brain, but in reality he is the most intelligent of the small group in which Dorothy travels. Is this irony present elsewhere in the story? If so, what do you suppose Baum's purpose  is in using this device?  
 
This irony is present throughout the whole story, with the lion who longs for bravery when he is the bravest of the group, or the tin-man who craves a heart when he is the most loving. I think that   the message that Baum is sending out to the world is to be aware of what you have and not take it for granted.


Analyze the character of the Wizard. Why does he behave the way he does? Is his behavior excusable  or not? He tells Dorothy that he is a good man but a bad wizard. Do you agree?  

 The Wizard behaves the way he does so that people will fear him and not come across his path, but when Dorothy and her friends do he caves in a reveals himself. I believe that his intentions where good of protecting all of the munchkins and people of his land, but the execution of his plans weren’t good.


8. What is the significance of the delicate people in the Dainty China Country? What is Baum saying  
about beauty and/or about sensitivity in this chapter?  
 
Baum is saying that you have to treat people with respect and listen to there opinions, Dorothy could’ve taken that princess home to Kansas with all good intentions not knowing that she would be unhappy and miserable. Also when she was chasing the little princess if she hadn’t heard her cry out and tell Dorothy to stop chasing her she would’ve broken her.

9. In his Preface to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum says that he aimed to create a tale in which  
"wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." Would you say he succeeded? Do you think that this type of optimism and pure entertainment are valuable? Why or why  not?  
In my opinion Baum did succeed and I do believe that his optimism and pure entertainment are an escape from the real world because when you begin reading this amazing tale you forget everything and you feel like your in the story.
What are the power dynamics in Oz? Who has power and who lacks it? How does one gain and lose power in Oz?  
You gain power by overcoming or defeating enemies, you loosepower when you are vanquished.  Also when you gain the trust of the citizens by doing good deeds, you loose their trust by betraying them.