Friday, December 16, Reading Log #7, Topic Choice #5 - Gate Depth and Complexity Icons + Content Imperatives
The gate icon, patterns, can be shown in the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens since there are reoccuring events and schedules that Oliver goes through in the book. In Chapter 2, it notes, "With this view, they contracted with the water-works to lay on an unlimited supply of water; and with a corn-factor to supply periodically small quantities of oatmeal; and issued three meals of thin gruel a day, with an onion twice a week, and half a roll of Sundays." This shows how there is a schedule and pattern that Oliver follows and goes in detail to how little food Oliver and the other orphans recieve. This supports how the book states that they dont recieve full meals and are usually hungry all the time. Another quote can be found in chapter 3, where it states, "As for society, he was carried every other day into the hall where the boys dined, and there sociably flogged as a public warning and example. And so for from being denied the advantages of religious consolation, he was kicked into the same apartment every evening at prayer-time, and there permitted to listen to, and console" This explains yet another schedule that Oliver has to go through after he is taken away and seperated from all the other orphans showing that patterns are shown throughout the book.
Friday, December 16, Reading Log #6, Topic Choice #4 - Literary Elements and Devices
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens uses setting throughout the story to further help the reader imagine the book and it's storyline. One example of this can be seen in chapter 3, when it says "Oliver remained a close prisoner in the dark and solitary room to which he had been consigned by the wisdom and mercy of the board." This explains how the room feels which also representing how Oliver felt as well. He feels very isolated and alone due to him being punished for his friends forcing him to rebel in front of authority. Another representation of imagery can be found in chapter 2 when it states, "The room in which the boys were fed, was a large stone hall, with a copper at one end: out of which the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or two women, ladled the gruel at mealtimes." The author described the dining hall to illustrate an image for the reader since right after that, he gets in trouble and Oliver walks in line to get his meal. The author also describes who serves the food because that is something that has to do with the even that happens afterwards.
Friday, December 2, Reading Log #5, Topic Choice #1 - Characters
In the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens there are many elaborate characters that make up the introduction and context of it. Oliver, the main character of the story, is a fragile and emotional child. According to chapter 2, it explains, "Oliver Twist's ninth birthday found him a pale thin child, somewhat diminutive in stature, and decidely small in circumference." This gives the reader details about him, forming imagery and sculpting imagination. Additionally, it also states in chapter 2, " It was no very difficult matter for the boy to call tears into his eyes. Hunger and recent ill-usage are great assistants if you want to cry; and Oliver cried very naturally indeed." This exclaims how he is sensitive in a way since all his life he never really knew who his family was or where he came from, and with him being moved to a new orphanage home and getting rid of his only friends really impacts his emotional state. It also says how he is usually hungry which means that he might not be taken care of properly and is treated poorly by others. Oliver Twist is a young, sensitive boy who feels lonely most of the time and is uncared for by the people around him due to his background and condition.
Monday, October 24, Reading Log #4, Topic Choice #3 - Plot
One of the most interesting scenes in the book titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, is the part when Harry chooses his wand while shopping for school supplies. This scene takes place at Ollivanders wand store, while Hangrid and Harry shop for school supplies at the market. This scene is important because it is known that not all wands are the same and it's what makes every wizard special, therefore, this is a big moment for Harry. This moment causes a few troubles since it takes many tries for Mr. Ollivander to find a wand that fits Harry. As soon as he enters the room and meets Harry, Mr. Ollivander states, "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." (64). This excerpt from the text shows that Mr. Ollivander is a person with great memory and remembers just about every wand a customer buys. This scene in the book takes place in the rising action. Once Harry does find a wand fit for him, he finds out a piece of information when Mr. Ollivander notes, "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather -- just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother why, its brother gave you that scar." This quote explains that Harry's enemy had the same ingredient in his wand as Harry. Harry reacts to this in a sort of frightened way, not too sure how too feel. I predict that somehow, Harry's choice in his wand, with the coincidence that occurred, will contribute to his success in becoming a wizard.
Monday, October 24, Reading Log #3, Topic Choice #3 - Plot
An important scene in the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone is when Hagrid visits Harry Potter and the Dursley's in the house on the rock in the middle of the ocean. A large storm had been going on and the clock was counting down to Harry's eleventh birthday in the home on the large rock in the middle of the ocean. This scene is important because this is when an important character, Hagrid is introduced and tells Harry about his family background as a wizard. This scene creates complications with Mr. Dursley as he sees Harry going to Hogwarts as something absurd and crazy. This type of tone is showed when Mr. Dursley yells, "I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL To TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" (45). This quote shows how Mr. Dursley is a stubborn person who will not lose an argument without fighting back. Hagrid negatively reacts to this and casts a spell on Dudley, Mr. Dursley's son. This scene takes place in the rising action of the book as the story goes on. Soon after Hagrid sets a spell on Dudley, Hagrid exclaims, "Be grateful if yeh didn't mention that ter anyone at Hogwarts," he said. "I'm -- er -- not supposed ter do magic, strictly speakin'." This hows how Hagrid is a rule-breaker and doesn't like to be limited with options. I predict that this even will ensure that Mr. Dursley will give more respect towards the superstitious world.
Thursday, September 22, Reading Log #2, Topic Choice #1 - Characters
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, the main character, Harry Potter, is a thin, and seemingly fragile boy who is careful in his surroundings. He is the main character in the story who is cared for by his Aunt and Uncle Dersley, who are very strict about what he can and cannot do. The Dursley's son, Dudley Dersley is a bigger, more violent boy. He is said to physically hurt Potter along with his "gang" in the text, "Everybody knew that Dudley's gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old clothes and broken glasses, and nobody liked to disagree with Dudley's gang." (Ch. 2). Another excerpt ties into this when the book states, "He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose." (Ch. 2) This shows that Dudley does like to physically abuse Harry for "fun" or "as a hobby due to the fact that his gang dislikes him and that Dudley has punched him multiple times. Uncle, or Vernon Dersley, is an easily agitated, strict man with his idea that anything unrealistic such as dreams or magic is frivolous and irrelevant. He also does not like questions and him and his wife punish Potter for just about anything, even when it's not his fault. An example of this is comes from Ch. 2, "Next morning, however, he had gotten up to find his hair exactly as it had been before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off He had been given a week in his cupboard for this, even though he had tried to explain that he couldn't explain how it had grown back so quickly." This quote explains that even though Harry can't explain some things, he is still always placed as the victim.
(book change due to lack of interest in previous book and due to lexile range recommendations)
(book change due to lack of interest in previous book and due to lexile range recommendations)
Monday, September 19, Reading Log #1, Topic Choice #1 - Characters
The main characters of the book Cress, are Cress, Cinder, Carswell Thorne, and Wolf. Cress, is an skilled hacker and observer, according to the text "Finding the coordinates of the Rampion had been one of the greatest challenges of Cress's hacking career." (25). This explains that she is indeed experienced with computer programming and hacking since the quote uses the word "career" which means she does this for a living. Cress is the person mostly focused on in the book and as a child, she was banned from her own people, the Luna's, and was sent out to live in space on a satellite. She is not on the Luna's "side" for the upcoming war against the Earthen's (people on Earth) and helps rebels stay disguised on Earth and hides their spacecrafts. Cinder however, is a cyborg that was modified by the emperor of the Luna's and is wanted by both the Earthen's and the Luna's. Carswell Thorne is a criminal who always had good "reasons" for his actions. Wolf is a determined, kind, yet hardcore guy, this is shown on pg. 32, "When he was happy and flirtatious and, at times, adorably awkward, it was easy to forget that there was another side to him. ". This shows that even though Wolf can be be fun to hang out with and be nice, he still has a dark, violent side of him that comes out at certain times unexpectedly. So far all these characters are static, considering the book is only beginning, but later on they hopefully will have character growth and learn from their own decisions.