Again, choose a sentence or two from this chapter that you found interesting and comment on it. (Include the sentence and page number.) Why did it stand out? Do you agree with what he said? Why or why not?
Page 200 "But more often than not physical markings by their very nature call attention to themselves and signify some psychological or thematic point the writer wants to make." I totally agree with the author on this sentence. I don't think an author would put a character in a story with a defect or scar just for the heck of it. They want to make the character look weak, or in many stories the author will make a character have a defect so that they will be stronger in other areas. Also if a character has something wrong with it, it usually will carry on throughout the story and have a point at the end.
Page 193--"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually. This sentence basically states that a scar in real life doesn't make us think deeply or think it has a special meaning but in literature or a movie, a scar will normally mean something to the story.
"Are deformities and scars therefore always significant?" I found this question on page 200 and I like this question because it makes you question yourself beyond just the question itself. I think that to have some sort of deformity is just that in itself, it doesn't shape someone personality or at least it shouldn't and it shouldn't affect someone else's opinion of that person.
Page 193, second paragraph. "The obvious but nonetheless necessary observation :in real life, when people have any physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically, or spiritually." This quote shows a contrast between reality and fiction. In books, just like Harry Potter, a scar or certain mark could be what the book or story is based upon. But in real life there is no real meaning behind the imperfection mark. It shows how little details a author adds could change a whole book but mean nothing in real life. Its like the author could use a scar for a literary device.
Page 193.. ." All characters who are as famous for their shape as for their behavior. Their shapes tell us something, and probable very different somethings, about them or other people in the story." I agree with this because if you read a book and they describe a nerd well the first thing that you will think is that he takes to school a little to seriously and he doesn't get out much.
-p.193 "All characters who are famous for their shape as for their behavior" I agree with this. This immediately makes me think of Paris Hilton. I love the girl to death, but we all know she hasn't been on her best behavior the past few years. She just recently got arrested on possession charges and this was not her first offense. This lets people know that she is not in the best shape right now. -p.195 How many stories do you know in which the hero is different from everyone else in some way, and how many times is that difference physically visible?" After he says this he mentions Harry Potter. This was my first thought. His difference is physically different because of his scar. This scar proved that he is the only person that valdamort did not kill.
If a writer brings up a physical problem or handicap or deficiency, he probably means something by it. Now, go figure out Harry Potter's scar. Page 200 I choose this quote because I thought it was funny how he ended the chapter with the " Now go figure out Harry Potter's scar." It just hit me as funny. I do agree with the author though I think there has to be a reason if the author is saying the character has a handicap. Why would the author waste his time mentioning it if there wasn't a reason.
"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually." (page 193) This sentence really stood out to me because it is so true. I agree with what the author said because he is saying that in literature anyone who has an imperfection, such as Harry Potter's lightening shaped scar, then it usually symbolizes something and is there for a certain reason to convey the character in a certain. But in real life, imperfections, as Mr. McElrath would say, don't necessarily have a deep meaning.
"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually." -193
It always amuses me that all of the themes in literature-the many archetypes and symbolism and deep STUFF that we talk so much about in English class-is bupkis in real life. We place so much importance on something that isn't even true in real, honest-to-God life. It's all theoretical, I suppose? I find it interesting. I don't mean to sound like I'm demeaning the importance of such things, I think having knowledge of symbolism in literature is EXTREMELY important to fully understanding it.
"How many stories do you know in which the hero is different from everyone else in some way, and how many times is that difference physically visible?" page 195 i think if you think of this it is pretty cool. yes, heroes are different from the other people in the story but in my opinion not very often do you notice anything physically different
Page 193--"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually. I agree with this--to a point. Our physical deformities are a part of us, pure and simple. The way we don't let them bother us or do, is a part of us. It wasn't intentional, sure, but it's ingrained into our being. Take a girl who doesn't have her left arm. You see her at the mall, her hair enviable by any female, her makeup done perfectly, her arms strong, her style modern, sharp. With the combination of those two things, we know something about her. She's a fighter. She could've let losing her arm destroy her. She could've fallen and stayed down. She got back up though. My scar from my surgery is a part of me purely because it stands for what I went through. The years of medical problems, the things I know, the ways it affected me, changed my life. It's ugly as can be. It could've been worse though. The ways it changed me, my life? There's no going back. It's a part of my life story though now. Physical deformities always play in. Scars, burns, all of it. Even if the person it's on shrugs their shoulders at it, that's part of what defines them. Maybe we're not the beast looking for our Belle, but it plays in.
"Sameness doesn't present us with metaphorical possibilities, whereas difference-from the average, the typical, the expected-is always rich with possibility." This line is found on page 194. This line stood out to me. It said that being different is the way to get messages across. I agree with it. The only way you can get someone's attention is by grabbing it. If you are different, you can get the job done a lot faster and easier. Although, it can be done without being different. It is just more difficult.
Page 200 "But more often than not physical markings by their very nature call attention to themselves and signify some psychological or thematic point the writer wants to make." I totally agree with the author on this sentence. I don't think an author would put a character in a story with a defect or scar just for the heck of it. They want to make the character look weak, or in many stories the author will make a character have a defect so that they will be stronger in other areas. Also if a character has something wrong with it, it usually will carry on throughout the story and have a point at the end.
ReplyDeletePage 193--"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually.
ReplyDeleteThis sentence basically states that a scar in real life doesn't make us think deeply or think it has a special meaning but in literature or a movie, a scar will normally mean something to the story.
"Are deformities and scars therefore always significant?" I found this question on page 200 and I like this question because it makes you question yourself beyond just the question itself. I think that to have some sort of deformity is just that in itself, it doesn't shape someone personality or at least it shouldn't and it shouldn't affect someone else's opinion of that person.
ReplyDeletePage 193, second paragraph. "The obvious but nonetheless necessary observation :in real life, when people have any physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically, or spiritually." This quote shows a contrast between reality and fiction. In books, just like Harry Potter, a scar or certain mark could be what the book or story is based upon. But in real life there is no real meaning behind the imperfection mark. It shows how little details a author adds could change a whole book but mean nothing in real life. Its like the author could use a scar for a literary device.
ReplyDeletePage 193.. ." All characters who are as famous for their shape as for their behavior. Their shapes tell us something, and probable very different somethings, about them or other people in the story." I agree with this because if you read a book and they describe a nerd well the first thing that you will think is that he takes to school a little to seriously and he doesn't get out much.
ReplyDelete-p.193 "All characters who are famous for their shape as for their behavior"
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. This immediately makes me think of Paris Hilton. I love the girl to death, but we all know she hasn't been on her best behavior the past few years. She just recently got arrested on possession charges and this was not her first offense. This lets people know that she is not in the best shape right now.
-p.195 How many stories do you know in which the hero is different from everyone else in some way, and how many times is that difference physically visible?"
After he says this he mentions Harry Potter. This was my first thought. His difference is physically different because of his scar. This scar proved that he is the only person that valdamort did not kill.
If a writer brings up a physical problem or handicap or deficiency, he probably means something by it. Now, go figure out Harry Potter's scar. Page 200 I choose this quote because I thought it was funny how he ended the chapter with the " Now go figure out Harry Potter's scar." It just hit me as funny. I do agree with the author though I think there has to be a reason if the author is saying the character has a handicap. Why would the author waste his time mentioning it if there wasn't a reason.
ReplyDelete"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually." (page 193)
ReplyDeleteThis sentence really stood out to me because it is so true. I agree with what the author said because he is saying that in literature anyone who has an imperfection, such as Harry Potter's lightening shaped scar, then it usually symbolizes something and is there for a certain reason to convey the character in a certain. But in real life, imperfections, as Mr. McElrath would say, don't necessarily have a deep meaning.
"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually." -193
ReplyDeleteIt always amuses me that all of the themes in literature-the many archetypes and symbolism and deep STUFF that we talk so much about in English class-is bupkis in real life. We place so much importance on something that isn't even true in real, honest-to-God life. It's all theoretical, I suppose? I find it interesting. I don't mean to sound like I'm demeaning the importance of such things, I think having knowledge of symbolism in literature is EXTREMELY important to fully understanding it.
"How many stories do you know in which the hero is different from everyone else in some way, and how many times is that difference physically visible?" page 195 i think if you think of this it is pretty cool. yes, heroes are different from the other people in the story but in my opinion not very often do you notice anything physically different
ReplyDeletePage 193--"First, the obvious but nonetheless necessary observation: in real life, when people have an physical mark or imperfection, it means nothing thematically, metaphorically or spiritually.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this--to a point. Our physical deformities are a part of us, pure and simple. The way we don't let them bother us or do, is a part of us. It wasn't intentional, sure, but it's ingrained into our being. Take a girl who doesn't have her left arm. You see her at the mall, her hair enviable by any female, her makeup done perfectly, her arms strong, her style modern, sharp. With the combination of those two things, we know something about her. She's a fighter. She could've let losing her arm destroy her. She could've fallen and stayed down. She got back up though. My scar from my surgery is a part of me purely because it stands for what I went through. The years of medical problems, the things I know, the ways it affected me, changed my life. It's ugly as can be. It could've been worse though. The ways it changed me, my life? There's no going back. It's a part of my life story though now. Physical deformities always play in. Scars, burns, all of it. Even if the person it's on shrugs their shoulders at it, that's part of what defines them. Maybe we're not the beast looking for our Belle, but it plays in.
"Sameness doesn't present us with metaphorical possibilities, whereas difference-from the average, the typical, the expected-is always rich with possibility." This line is found on page 194. This line stood out to me. It said that being different is the way to get messages across. I agree with it. The only way you can get someone's attention is by grabbing it. If you are different, you can get the job done a lot faster and easier. Although, it can be done without being different. It is just more difficult.
ReplyDelete