Writing Analysis for Insurgent- Book Project #2

     In the science fiction book Insurgent by Veronica Roth, the main theme is Courage. There are so many events in this book that are courageous, whether dangerous or emotional. Veronica Roth is showing the courageous side of human nature, but also so many more- romantic, heroism, cowardice, rebellious, etc. One of the most Courageous things Tris does through out this book, is risking her life, for others safety and well-being. Tris is being selfless, but at the same time she is exceedingly courageous. The theme developed throughout the story because someone was always do something courageous. One specific event was when Tris turns herself into the Candor because of her Divergence so that the other divergent wouldn't have to suffer. This was a very courageous and selfless choice.
     Tris isn't the only courageous one in this book- every character has their moment of fame. Tobias (Four) is extremely courageous. He travels to the factionless to confront his mother after years of him thinking she was dead. This was so courageous, it definitely helped develop the theme of courage. Even though he is very courageous, he can be cowardly, as is everyone. He keeps secrets from Tris because he is afraid of what might happen if he tells her, but so does Tris. When Tris goes against Tobias to save the data from the Erudite, she is being cowardly, but courageous as well because again she is risking her life for the safety of others.
     All of the battles-physical or emotional-throughout the book help to develop the themes throughout the book and it's events. Society in this case is just torn. Half, or the loyalists are helping and supporting Tris's and everyone's choices and the other half-or the traitors- are totally against getting a new government system and getting rid of the faction system. In this case, the author believes humans are flawed. Humans make good and bad choices, no matter the size. In this book many of theses decisions made are courageous, helping s develop the theme of courage.

The Father and His Daughter

   It was a beautiful sunny California morning. Everything was just how I remembered it- My bright pink bed sheets from the eighth grade, My trophies from soccer all lined up by date, collecting dust, my shoes and clothes I hadn’t taken with me perfectly hung and lined up. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this room- ever since leaving for college, I thought I would never want to come back, but after graduating, I’d felt more homesick than ever before.

  

I heard the door open, and my father called “I’m Home!” I hadn’t heard his voice sound like that since the day I graduated high school- He was really excited. I walked down the stairs to see my father and mother having what looked like a two-person party. “What’s all the fuss about?” I yelled over all their hooting and hollering. “We just won the lottery!” My little brother exclaimed. “Are you serious? No you're so joking!” I said as I joined their party. I was happy- the kind of happy you get when you buy a new pair of shoes and want to show them off to everyone, the kind of happy you are when you get a new puppy, all that times a million.

-The Next Day-

I looked in the mirror. I looked for a while focusing on very little detail-My hair was lighter brown, because of the California sun, my eyes were a hazel shade, specked with green around the edge, my freckles stood out against my lightly tanned skin, my lips a light pink. I hadn’t really looked at myself in a while, I was happy with my appearance. I took a look at my clothes. Plain and bland. I wore a white t-shirt with a small soccer applique in the top left corner with my name stitched underneath. My jeans were ratty, considering I’d had them since senior year- all my clothes were from senior year. I think It was time for a little...shopping.

“Father, with all this new money, do you think I could possibly go get some new clothing?” I asked him softly.

“Let me talk to your mother.” He said. A few minutes later he handed me some money and said “Don't spend it all in one place!” as I rushed out the door.

  

I was so excited for all of the new clothing I had bought- I’d spent 700 dollars on practically a whole new wardrobe. I loved everything and couldn't wait to show it all off the next time I go out.

   The next day, I wore my new dress and boots. The dress was a light floral pattern and the boots were dark brown with a small buckle on the outside.  

I sat down on my bed, noticing how my bed was so creaky, and old. The paint was chipping at the edges, the springs were so creaky, the mattress had plenty of water damage from a previous flood, it was bad. I took a look around my room. I had noticed the same chipping and wearing on my desk and dresser. I felt like I was unsatisfied, so I went to find my father, hoping he would give me more money to buy some new furniture-I mean we had won the lottery, right?

“Dad! Dad!” I called. My voice echoed through the house.

“In here!” he called. I followed his voice and found him sitting at the island on one of the swivel stools in his robe and slippers drinking a mug of coffee reading the newspaper.

“Dad,” i said, putting my puppy dog eyes on, “ I love everything I bought, but the furniture in my room is so old, I mean I’ve had it since I was in the eighth grade, do you think I could get new furniture that will suit me?” I asked, hoping for a response that would make me happy.

“Let me talk to your mother” He replied. A few moments later, He came back and said “Mom said go ahead and order some new furniture.” I smiled, gave him a hug and ran to my computer to search for new furniture.

    -A few Days Later--

  I had ordered all my furniture, and I was almost finished setting everything up, I just had to put the last screw into the shelf. I absolutely loved my room and how it was set up. I thought to myself ‘I am 23 years old, I need a space with more privacy, more space for myself and all the things I wanted.’  My Furniture was amazing, but I was still unsatisfied. I wanted more, more, more. I went through the house as I called for my father. I found him in the living room reading the newspaper.

“Father, I love all my new furniture, but do you possibly think I could get my own living space? I am a grown woman, I need my own space.” I said hoping for an answer that would make me happy.

He replied with “let me talk to your mother.” and dismissed me.

I waited upstairs, until my door creaked open. I looked up from my laptop-it was my father “Dear, mother has a perfect space for you, her friend just moved out and they are willing to help you move in.” He smiled.

“Really?” I said smiling ear to ear. He nodded and left the room. I couldn’t wait.

-A month Later-

   I was all moved in to my studio apartment and I loved it. My phone lit up and began to vibrate- My father was calling.

“Hello Dad!” I chimed into the speaker

“Daughter, I have to talk to you. With all of these bills on your apartment, our house, the cars, and trying to keep up with three kids, is extremely tight with money I know we have won the lottery in all, but that money is gone, and you were being greedy with it, not thinking of us and our needs. I am sorry, but you need to give up your luxuries and come back to us. We need the money back. We are in terrible debt.” He said truthfully into the phone. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe this.

-A few days Later-

   I was back to my same room, same sheets, same old clothes. I had barely anything left. I was so sad, and I began to realize how greedy I was, and I was sorry, although I do miss all the luxuries I had. I realized that being greedy and selfish never ends up well.

   

Response to "The Pearl"

 In John Steinbeck's Novella, The Pearl, the teaching is that being selfish will not do you any good. In the story, Kino finds a 'pearl of the world' and he thinks having found this was a blessing. Juana thinks this too, until bad things begin to happen to their family. First, Kino is attacked by anonymous people, in their attempt to get the pearl. This is stated by the author when he explains that "Juana heard the little rush, the grunting struggle, the blow. She froze with terror for a moment, and then her lips drew back from her teeth like a cat's lips. She set Coyotito down on the ground. She seized a stone from the fireplace and rushed outside, but it was over by then. Kino lay on the ground, struggling to rise, and there was no one near him. Only the shadows and the strike and rush of waves and the hiss of distance. But the evil was all about, hidden behind the brush fence, crouched beside the house in the shadow, hovering in the air." Kino's house was burned down by envious townspeople. This is stated by the author when he explains "He saw a little glow ahead of him, and then without interval a tall flame leaped up in the dark with a crackling roar, and a tall edifice of fire lighted the pathway. Kino broke into a run; it was his brush house, he knew. And he knew that these houses could burn down in a very few moments" Kino kills his second attacker, which means they have to leave town and when they leave town trackers follow them. The aauthour says that "Kino moved sluggishly, arms and legs stirred like those of a crushed bug, and a thick muttering came from his mouth. Now, in an instant, Juana knew that the old life was gone forever. A dead man in the path and Kino's knife, dark-bladed beside him, convinced her." and when they leave town, " When the trackers are hot on Kino and Juana's trail, they shoot Coyotito -their first born child- and Coyotito dies. All of these things that have happened are all a result of Kino's selfishness in not giving up the Pearl, like Juana said to.   

Constructed Response To Reading

In the stories “A Dark Brown Dog” by Stephen Crane and “The Day I Got Lost” by Isaac Bashevis Singer, there are few similarities. The tones are different, the point of view is different, the general idea is different- everything. Lets begin with A dark Brown Dog. In “A Dark Brown Dog, The point of view is third person omniscient. The narrator is outside of the story, but is able to tell every characters thoughts and ideas. A line in the story of when it the point of view is clear is this: “He looked so comical on his back, and holding his paws peculiarly, that the child was greatly amused and gave him little taps repeatedly, to keep him so.” (pg. 79). The narrator says he or she to tell the characters apart, and we can also use theses words to identify the point of view, which is third person omniscient.  

                The tone if this story is dark humor. We know this because the author uses words with connotations that don’t match the situation or setting. On example of this is when he states that “He came home and held carnival with the cooking utensils, the furniture and his wife.” (page 84) and he uses the word carnival, that has a positive connotation, in a negative situation, which adds humor to the story. The dark tone comes from all the sad parts in the story- when the child beats the dog, when the family beats the dog, the abusive family in general. Also, when the father throws the dog out of the window, resulting in the sad death of the dog. The point of view brings me into the story more, and helps me understand what is going on and why things are happening. We can know why the father is abusive, or why he is angry because of the third person omniscient point of view. The tone of this story makes me sad that the family is so abusive, but it helps me realize that things weren't so easy back then, being poor and all.

                In “The Day I Got Lost” by Isaac Bashevis Singer, the point of view is first person. We know this because the author uses ‘I’ , and Is the main character in the story. “As I stood in the street wondering what to do, it began to rain. "Where's my umbrella?" I said to myself. And I knew the answer at once. I'd left it - somewhere.” (pg. 75) In this quote the author uses ‘I’ plenty enough times for us to know that this text’s point of view is first person. The tone of this text is confused and humorous.  The main character is confused and forgetful about everything and everything that’s happening around him. One example of this is when he forgets his address when he needs to get home to his birthday party because all of his friends are waiting. He can remember a bunch of his friends phone numbers, but not his own, which I think is crazy. The point of view in this story makes us think a bit about other peoples thoughts and ideas on the situation, but it helps us get a better understanding of professor Shlemiel’s thoughts and understandings. The tone makes me happy, but a little confused because he is a professor, but he is so forgetful.

                As you can see, there are not that many similarities through out either of these texts. They are complete opposites almost. A Dark Brown Dog is very dark and incorporates dark humor, and The Day I got lost is light, and incorporates appropriate humor. Although sometimes you may not recognize humor when it’s there, it might be humorous to others, as I have learned through reading these texts. Always keep an open mind about humor.

                

Reading Response

In the article “Hijacked Jets Destroy Twin Towers and Hit Pentagon” by Serge Schemann, the basic structure of the text is expository and in chronological order. Schemann chose this structure because he is writing an article telling us about the events that took place on 9/11 and he is helping us understand why these people did these terrible things and the effect & reactions of people around the world. The structure of this text connects to the authors purpose because of the following reasons. He wanted to tell us about the cause and effect of 9/11, which connects to the chronologically structured text. The tone of this article is very bitter and cold, but also very tragic and frightened.  Schemann says “Hijackers reamed jetliners into each of the New York’s World Trade Center towers yesterday, toppling both in a hellish storm of ash, glass, smoke and leaping victims, while a third jetliner crashed into the pentagon in Virginia.” (first paragraph of article on page 33) which shows us the main events of 9/11 that were so tragic. Schemann also gives us an example of the frightened tone when he states “ ‘These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat, but they have failed,’ a somber president told the nation in an address from the Oval Office shortly after 8:30 p.m.” ( Third paragraph on page 36).

In the poem “The Names” by Billy Collins, the basic structure is a poem. The organization is that the last names of 25 of the 9/11 victims are in alphabetical order.  Collins chose this so that in a way he could recognize all of the 9/11 victims by placing the last names in alphabetical order, which meant he was able to name all of them, without doing that, if that makes sense. The structure of ABC naming relates to the purpose because the purpose is to remember all of the 9/11 heroes and victims as well as bringing back the horrid memories of these terrible attacks. The tone of the text is mournful. Collins is expressing the mournful tone when he says “Heavy with dew like the eyes of tears,” (Page 43).

In the poem “We Breathed You In” by Patti Tana, the text is structured as a poem. Tana chose the text structure as a poem, because people can interpret this in different ways, but they are all connected. The purpose of writing this was to remember 9/11 and the victims. The tone that this poem gives off is very sad and mournful. Tana expresses this sad tone when she says “the day you burned, you fell you flew, through new york air, in clouds of smoke, the clouds we feared...” (page 46). Tana also expresses a mournful tone when she writes “my body your body, my hand your hand, take heart dear ones, we breathe you in.” (page 46).