Ideas for further research

Ideas for further research

If there was one thing I enjoyed studying in this class was the real vs. Secondary World.  I find this subject very intriguing.  I believe someone could write a paper on all the metaphors and symbols authors with style writing use to convey their messages to the reader. It would be similar to piecing together a puzzle.  Overwhelming at first, but once completed you would discover a brilliant masterpiece.  To be specific, I would write about Harry Potter.  Although we did not get to discuss it much in class because of the time allowed, I feel much more deeper research can be done with this book. I am encouraged to read deeper unto these type books after taking this class.

Blog 16:Coraline: Rhetorical Reflection, Notable Moment,and Analysis

The only associatation I had with Coraline before reading this book was seeing the commercial for the movie.  I remember when it came out because it struck me as an odd looking movie.  It was in 3D and Coraline appeared quite strange.  I did not want to see the movie, but now that I have read the book I would like to watch it.  It seems that every movie made after a book is different in ways.  I would like to see how the movie director portrayed the book.  The book can be classified as a dark fantasy book.  I typically do not like these type books, but I enjoyed this one.  It seemed to have a meaning behind it that the author, Neil Gaiman, is trying to portray to the readers.  I believe he is telling the reader to be thankful for what you have.

While reading Coraline the scene where she meets the cat in her other world for the first time struck me as my notable moment.  Unlike in the real world this cat could talk. “There was something irritatingly self-centered about the cat, Coraline decided.  As if it were, in its opinion, the only thing in any world or place that could possibly be of any importance.  Half of her wanted to be very rude to it; the other half of her wanted to be polite and deferential.  The polite half won.”

I liked the cat because it seemed to be the only character that really cared about her in the other world.  The other mother and other father appeared to in the beginning of the book, but when Coraline discovers the truth about her other parents they are awful creatures.  The cat also reminded me of the phoenix from The Phoenix and the Carpet.  Both are willing to help, but both are also very cocky.  It is interesting that a cat can actually be found in normal life, but can talk in the other world.  I have a cat and my cat acts exactly like this!  Now she can’t talk, but you must be polite to her or she will run off.  My cat appears to have a cocky air about her as well.

The other world and other family Coraline found seemed nice at first, but they quickly changed.  Coraline was bored with her normal life and was desperate for some sort of entertainment.  Although she wished for these things in the end it was not what she wanted after all.  Through the journey Coraline and the reader learns that you should be careful for what you wish for and to appreciate what you have.  Coraline wanted nothing more in the other world to find her parents and get her old life back.  Once Coraline and her parents returned home and were released from the other mother, things seemed different between them.  There was a realization by both her parents and Coraline that both need to change their ways because no one is really happy.

Blog 15: Lemony Snickett: Rhetorical Reflection, Notable Moment, and Analysis

The Bad Beginning is the first book of many in the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.  When I first saw this book on our reading list I thought I didn’t have any previous experience with this book.  However, after we watched the movie in class, I remembered that I had seen the movie a very long time ago.  I remember the movie annoyed me when I watched it as a child.  I thought it was pitiful that these poor children keep having bad things happen to them, and that they are incapable of changing their luck.  I remember thinking this movie is weird and creepy.  I did not know it was based on a series of books.  The back cover basically tells the reader this is not going to be a fairy tale where everything is a happy ending.  I had two responses to this.  One, I was annoyed once again and two, I couldn’t help but laugh.  It appeared to me that Lemoney Snicket had a different sense of humor that I might enjoy and did throughout the book.

My favorite lines in this story come from chapter three.  The children have just arrived at Count Olaf’s house and aren’t happy.  They are forced to all share one filthy bedroom, even though the Count’s house was huge, and are treated like slaves.  They have left their normal life and arriving in an abnormal world that is completely different than before.  At this point Klaus has had enough.

“I hate it here, Violet! I hate this house! I hate our room!  I hate having to do all these chores, and I hate Count Olaf!

“I hate it too,’ Violet said, and Klaus looked at his older sister with relief.  Sometimes, just saying that you hate something, and having someone agree with you, can make you feel better about a terrible situation.  “I hate everything about our lives right now, Klaus,” she said, “but we have to keep our chin up.”  This was an expression the children’s father had used and it meant “try to stay cheerful.”

I particularly like this one scene because it shows a recurring emotion throughout the book.  The children are clearly upset, fed up, and full of anger.  However, they always find a way to smother their feelings.  By just thinking “we have to keep our chin up” they are almost whipping the sadness off and normalizing it.  I do not think this is the typical response a child would have if they were in this situation.  If it were me I would have had a nervous breakdown by this point! Throughout the book the children deal with the death of their parents and their horrible luck but are able to detach themselves from sadness and emotion.

 Lemony Snicket’s style of writing contains a grotesque element.  Everything is blown up and over the top it makes it unbelievable.  Such as when Violet was forced to marry Count Olaf, that would never happen in real life!  This is a similar recurring element found in James in the Giant Peach and Coraline.  I liked this book better than the other two just mentioned because of the narrator’s voice.  It tends to poke through and give the audience a comic relief or explanation to what the children are feeling.

Blog 12B-The City of Ember Analysis

The City of Ember was the last dystopia book we read for the semester.  Compared to the others, I liked this one the best.  There was more action and adventure that forced the reader to use their imagination, such as with the pieces of torn up directions.  They were similar to a riddle because random letters and words were gone, but it could be considered more a mystery because of the methodical element of directions to escape.  This aspect of the book kept my attention. 

The two main characters in this book, Lina and Doon, are curious children.  Doon trades Lina for her job in the pipe works and gives her his job of being a messenger.   Doon does this because he wants to explore and find out more about the generator that’s supplying the city with lights. He suspects that things in the city are running low.  Lina wants to be a messenger because she is full of energy.  She loves running and talking to people.  Lina also fears that the lights will eventually go out because she learns things about the city that most people don’t through her work and at home.

Although this dystophia book has many similarities to the other two that we have read, where the people live in a controlled society and their jobs are assigned, not chosen, the biggest difference to me is that one thing is certain, The City of Ember will end.  Supplies are running low and the lights keep turning off.  Without Lina and Doon’s bravery and problem solving skills the entire community would have perished. 

12A: The City of Ember: Notable Moment

My notable moment for the City of Ember comes from chapter 7: A message full of holes.  Lina has just found the directions out of ember, however she does not yet realize what she contains.  She returns home to discover her sister chewing on some of it while tearing up other parts.  Lina quickly recovers what she can from Poppy and hides it from her grandma.  After laying out all the pieces she can fit together, even though some of the words are missing, she is able to tell it is directions for something.

“Her heart began knocking at her chest like a fist at a door.  She had found something.  She had found something strange and important: instructions for something.  But for what? And how terrible that Poppy had found it first and ruined it!”

“It occurred to Lina that this might be what her grandmother had been talking about for so long.  Perhaps this was the thing that was lost.”

This passage intrigues me because it leaves the reader with dispense.  Neither the reader or Lina can understand the letter but both experience the sense of a mystery and the exciting feelings that come along with it.  It is a clue that Lina must figure out and the author is inviting, and encouraging the reader without the reader even really realizing how they are being pulled in.  The reader almost feels that they are present in the story trying to unsolve the riddle that feels more like a mystery.  This type of suspense kept me flipping from page to page from here on out.  I was unable to put the book down because of the author-reader connection.

13:James and the Giant Peach: Rhetorical Reflectiong, Notable Moment, and Analysis

James and the Giant Peach is a story of rags to richs.  Personally I am drawn to the idea presented of an orphan that seems nothing can go right for and is constantly presented with bad luck, however their luck always turns around.  I am intrigued of the idea of this in this book because not only does Dahl choose to play on this idea he blows everything up and twists it. 

My favorite example of Dahl’ work comes in chapter three.  At this point James’s parents have been killed by a rhinoceros, he has been  forced to live with his evil aunts who isolate him from other children, and they make him work like a slave.  Everything in life has caught up with James in this moment.  He suddenly breaks down crying and runs away from his aunts despite their threats. I can’t help but feel pity for James.

 Dahl writes, “It was at this point that the first of all rather peculiar thing that led to so many other much more peculiar things, happened to him.”… “James stared into the bad, and sure enough there was a faint rustling sound coming up from inside it, and then he noticed that all the thousands of little green things were slowly, very very slowly stirring about and moving over each other as though they were alive.

“There’s more power and magic in those things in there than in all the rest of the world put together,” the old man said softly.

 I love how he is grabbing the readers attention, and giving them hope that James will finally catch a break! This is a clear example of foreshadowing the changes that are to come, and how James luck will change.  Dahl’s view on communicating morality throughout the book could be question though.  The reader can’t help but be happy when James’s evil anuts are ran over by the giant peach!  Everyone knows that could not happen, but you are entertained by the idea that bad people die.  He is not trying to teach you anything real about the world.   This is a completely different aspect than we have talked about in any other children’s literature book.

The only expierence I have with this Roald Dahl is from watching the movies based on his books, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Personally, I hated the movies as a kid.  I thought they were weird and obserd.  Now that I have read James and the Giant Peach I can see some of the humor Dahl is trying to communicate that I was blind to before.  This does surprise me though because children seem to pick up on humor more than adults.  I suppose I now realize how ridiculous and over blown the stories are therefore I am more open to it.

11B-The Giver and Amond the Hidden: Analysis

Among theHidden and The Giver are both classified as dystopia books.  While both books take place in a toliterian society and live under a population control law, I preferred reading Among the Hidden because love exists.  If I were a teacher trying to open my student’s imagination to a new community, completely opposite than any one on earth now, this would be the book I would choose.

I preferred the attitude and mindset in Among the Hidden of the people, versus The Giver.  The families seemed to actually love their children.  Luke’s parents did everything they could to keep him and protect him.  Despite knowing that they were committing a crime by having a third child they kept and loved him anyway. In The Giver all citizens take pills to control and eliminate their sexual desires and children are assigned to each family unit instead of created by the parents like in Among the Hidden.  I feel if this were to somehow accidently happen in The Giver the third child would be released with no question about it.  At one point in the story of The Giver  Jonas’ mother is asked if she loves her child.  She says love is too strong of a word.  She does not even know how to love.  Luke’s parents, on the other hand, loved him enough to let him leave when he was offered a new identity. They realized he would never be fully happy.   Even though they knew they would never see him again, Luke’s father assures Luke’s mother that this is the only way he will ever a life.  I feel this aspect makes the book feel more real compared to The Giver.   The reader would get the sense that maybe this could happen. 

Although both books deal with complex issues that young child may not fully understand, I feel Among the Hidden is a better dystopia book.  I feel that I would read the next book in The Shadow Children series, unlike the next book in Lois Lowry’s series.  

11A-Among the Hidden Notable Moment

“I didn’t come here to harp at you.  This is dangerous, and no one should go unwillingly.  I was too hard on you the other day.  I just wanted to say-you’ve been a good friend.  I’ll miss you.”  “But you’ll be back,” Luke said.  “Tomorrow-or the next day-after the rally.  I’ll be over to visit.  If your rally works, I’ll be walking in the front door.”  “We can hope,” Jen said softly.

When I read this segment of the book in Among the Hidden I knew this would be my notable moment. It is the night before the rally.  I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did because it seems similar to The Giver.  Once I got into this book I couldn’t lay it down, unlike The Giver that I had to force myself to even pick it up.  In this story two children, Jen and Luke, share a common bond, they are both shadow children. Their friendship is what touched my heart and kept my attention. I can’t help but get the feeling in this passage that Jen knew something bad was going to happen at the rally.  Even though before this moment she has never showed any sign of it. 

She warns Luke by saying, “This is dangerous and no one should go unwillingly.”  She also appears to be telling her friend good bye forever, not just until she gets back.  To me the words, “We can hope”, express an amount of uncertainty.  I think Jen knew she was going to die.  This breaks my heart, but what courage Jen possessed!  This entire segment is foreshadowing the murders that will happen at the rally.

10C Mrs. Frisby: Analysis

In the beginning of this book, I thought it was just going to be a sweet story of a mother trying to save her child’s life.  How wrong I was!  Don’t get me wrong Mrs. Frisby is an amazing mother, but darker issues arose.  The longer I read the book the more evident the issues that O’Brien is communicating came out.  I now view animal testing and technology in a completely different light.

 I used to think animal testing was okay.  I was afraid of using a product if it hadn’t been tested on anything before, but now I wonder if the animals they tested had a weird side affect like the Rats of NIMH.  What if rats tested in real life did develop intelligence?  I am from the country.  I frequently see some big rats running around our barn.  If those rats that I’ve seen back home could learn to read and speak, how different our farm would be!  I also felt sorry for the rats.  They were kidnapped and taken from their families.  It reminded me of jail because they were separated into different groups, locked in cages, and “the diet was same for all.”  They were constantly watched and had no freedom.  I do not think animal testing and the use of technology is such a good idea after reading this book.

10B-Mrs. Frisby: Notable Moment

My notable moment for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMP comes from the end of the chapter Mr. Fitzgibbon’s Plow.  Mrs. Frisby has just talked to the shrew about moving day and when the farmer would begin to plow the land.  She is worrying about her son Timothy when suddenly she remembers something her husband would say: “All doors are hard to unlock until you have the key.”

I like this quote because it is saying keep trying, don’t give up, and anything is possible.  I feel bad for Mrs. Frisby that she is left alone to raise their children because Mr. Frisby was killed.  However, at least she has the memories of advice he would give her.  It is almost like he is speaking to her even though he is dead.  When Mrs. Frisby remembers what her husband would say it gives her motivation.  She realizes she must keep trying even though the task seems impossible.  I believe these memories need to stay alive within Mrs. Frisby because they are a source of strength.  I think we should all remember the advice loved ones give us because that is who you can trust.

10A-Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMP: Anticipating

I am looking forward to reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMP.  Although I have never read it, I have heard great things about it.  Everyone I have spoken with has said it has some deeper issues within the book.  I am looking forward to seeing what they mean by this.  I see on the front that it won the John Newberry Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.  I believe this will be an interesting and fun book to read.  Robert O’ Brien’s style of writing seems to flow and keep the reader engaged.  This seems to be a family book.  Family is an important part of my life therefore, I like the idea a story of a family of mice trying to survive with the help of their neighbors, the rats.  Overall, I am excited to this light hearted read.

Blog Post 8 Analysis of Rowling

While reading Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire the themes of friendship and sticking up for what you believe in keep arising.  Throughout the book I believe J.K. Rowling is communicating these values and how important they are in one’s life.  It teaches the reader the value of friendship, and to give in to the evil forces around you. 

In the beginning Harry and Hermione are invited to the World Cup of Quidditch by the Weasley’s, and are invited to stay with them the rest of the summer until the children return back to Hogwarts.  To some this may not seem like that big of a deal.  However, the action of inviting someone in your home and taking them to an event of their lifetime shows a strong act of friendship.  The Weasley family was more than courteous to Harry and Hermione.  They even practically treated him as their own children, worrying about them and caring about them.  Such as, when the World Cup was over for the night and everyone had returned to their tents. When the death eaters caused ciaos and scared everyone to run away Harry, Ron, and Hermione were separated from everyone.  Together the three of them run into Draco Malfoy.  Draco proceeds to call Hermione a Mudblood.  Harry and Ron immediately defend Hermione telling Malfoy to “watch his mouth!”  This shows the love and friendship they have for one another.  By telling Draco to watch his mouth they were standing up for what they believe in, “Everybody present knew that ‘Mudblood’ was a very offensive term for a witch or wizard of Muggle parentage.”  Soon after their encounter with Draco Malfoy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are almost stunned by a spell cast by the magic of ministry.  The children simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Luckily, Mr. Weasley was among the men searching for the death eaters.  Of course, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were accused of committing the crime.   Mr. Weasley stopped the Minister of Magic from even having a thought that they would do something so evil.  He defends all three of them.  This is shows the love Mr. Weasley has for his son and his son’s friends. 

Hermione sticks up for what she believes in throughout the book by defending the house elves.  She says, “You know house elves get a very raw deal!  It’s slavery is what it is! That Mr. Crouch made her go up to the top of the stadium, and she was terrified, and he’s got her bewitched so she can’t even run when they start trampling tents!  Why doesn’t anyone do something about it?” Hermione recognizes that someone is not being treated as they should be.  She goes against everyone around her by creating S.P.E.W., and she doesn’t care if people make fun of her for it.  She is showing love and friendship to a crowd that is usually treated like crap.

Harry and Cedric also share a bond of friendship.  They are the two competitors from Hogwarts.  Naturally you would think they despise each other because they are from the same school.  However, Harry warns Cedric of the dragons in the first task.  Harry learned this information from Hagrid.  By Hagrid showing Harry the dragons and Harry warning Cedric this shows how these characters care for one another.  Because Harry warned Cedric of the first task in the Triwizard Tournament, Cedric helps Harry out in the second task.  He tells Harry that he must open the egg underwater to hear the clue.  It pays off being a friend to someone.  Do unto others as you would have others do onto you is what JK Rowling is communicating here. 

During the second task Harry is faced with the option of winning the tournament or helping another friend in danger.  Even though Harry was suppose to bring one person up from the bottom of the lake he sees that Fleur Delacour is not coming to get her sister.  Harry says, “But she’s my friend too.”  The merpeople surround Ron and the young girl.  Harry threatens them with his wand and they scatter.  Harry is showing what it means to be a friend.  He is risking his own life to save to others and will not let anything stop him. 

The power of friendship is connected all throughout this book.  Without one another, all of these children would not be the same.  Each character is becoming a better person by being a friend, and standing up for what they believe in.  These are lessons they learn throughout the book and that are taught to the reader.

7B-The Goblet of Fire: Notable Moment

My notable moment from Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire comes from chapter thirty three; the death eaters.  Lord Voldemort has just returned in his human state form and called his death eaters to him.  They are gathered in the graveyard where Tom Riddle’s father is buried, and Cedric Diggory has just been killed by the dark lord.  Harry Potter and Cedric arrived here by touching the triwizard tournament trophy that was a portkey.  Voldemort is speaking to his death eaters and explaining why he has called them there, how he is alive, and why Harry Potter is present.

Voldemort says, “You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him.  His mother died in the attempt to save him-and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen….I could not touch the boy.”  I think it is amazing what JK Rowling is communicating here.  To me, she is saying love conquers all.  Here is the pure definition of evil, Lord Voldemort, that can destroy anything he wishes, but he cannot conquer the power of love.  Harry’s mother loved him so much that she sacrificed her own life trying to protect him, and because of that Harry will always have something that Lord Voldemort is incapable of receiving. 

I have read this book three times now and every time I come to this passage tears come to my eyes.  In my opinion, the world is an evil place, ready to take everything they can away from you.  However, love can never be taken away.  If only the world could see the power that love holds instead of hate or evilness it would be a better place.  I truly believe love conquers all. 

7A-Anticipating Rowling & The Goblet of Fire

I am really looking forward to reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  I am not ashamed to say that as a child I was a Harry Potter fanatic.  I was the kid standing in line at Barnes and Noble the day the books were released.  I love these books.  I do not believe there is a better children’s series in the world that teaches children valuable lessons while making it interesting.  I learned more from these books than my parents could ever teach me about good over coming evil, doing the right thing, and standing up for what you believe in. 

I feel J.K. Rowling’s use of symbolism in this book is amazing.  Everything in this book represents something else.  Her use of combining a fantasy world with the real world at the same time is astonishing.  Her writing style is intriguing.  It will have me buried in this book where I can not put it down until I am finished. 

I recently watched an interview on Oprah with J.K. Rowling.  I highly recommend it to anyone curious about her life and how Harry Potter was created.  She was so very poor, and her mother passed away right before the first book, The Sorcer’s Stone, was released.   This woman has truly overcome a lot and stands as inspiration to me to follow my dreams, despite life’s obstacles. 

6B-The Magician's Nephew: Notable Moment

While reading The Magician’s Nephew a passage during The Bell and the Hammer chapter most caught my attention as a notable moment for this book.  During this time Polly and Digory have came into the world of Charn.  They have just awoken Queen Jadis and broken her spell.

I find it interesting that Queen Jadis only acknowledges Digory.  It is obvious that the Queen did this intentionally when Polly says, “We’ve come from another world; by magic.” The queen goes on to say, “Is this true?’  Still looking at Digory and not giving Polly even a glance.”  I believe this is because Queen Jadis refers to herself as a woman of great power, and does not respect common type girls such as Polly.  Even though they are both female the queen is being sexist and favoring Digory because he is a male.

I believe Lewis was aware of this when he was writing the book.  During this time period of the 20^th century women, especially young girls, weren’t a part of society.  Their opinion did not matter.  I judge this is a portrayal of Lewis’ society that he lived in that unconsciously came out in his writing.  Although I do not agree with degrading females I think it fits the time period appropriately. 

Blog 6A-Anticipating C.S. Lewis and The Magician's Nephew

I read the entire series of The Chronicles of Narnia when I was around twelve years old. I enjoyed The Magician’s Nephew because it was a story of discovering a fantasy land full of adventure, but they could still return home to their normal lives.  The curious children discovering a hidden passage way inside their house always interested me.  I guess it’s the aspect of exploring that I loved doing as a child.   My grandparent’s house was a huge old home that had a study or library. Somehow I always felt that if a secret passage way was to be found it was going to be at my grandparent’s house.  I was always pulling out books trying to find a secret door.  I was never as lucky as Polly for I never found one. 

However, when I read the series The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first book.  I am interested to see how the change of order made by the publishers affects my feelings towards this book.  Will it make this book more interesting?  Will it change how Narnia was found and what happened?   

 “This is a story about something that happened long ago when your grandfather was a child.” The first line of the book, gives me the impression that this will be a historical story.  Growing up I enjoyed hearing stories from when my grandfather was a child because it was a different time then.  As I skim through the middle of the book I am noticing that the narrator is very descriptive.  This will help me imagine what is going on.  The narrator also seems to intrude such as Nesbit did in The Phoenix and the Carpet.  I believe I will like this because I enjoyed how Nesbit did it.  I feel it draws the reader closer into the story because they are learning something important that can be used in life.  Overall I am looking forward to re-reading this book.

5B-The Phoenix and the Carpet: Notable Moment

For my notable moment from The Phoenix and the Carpet, I selected a scene from Chapter 6: Doing Good.  Particularly on page 153 after the children have arrived in France.  The children have just discovered a family’s hidden treasure after wishing to do a good deed on the carpet, and have gone to find the owners of the castle where the treasure is hidden.  They came upon a shabby house, and went in to discover it was the residents of that house family’s castle.  The family was in desperate need of a hidden treasure because they were broke. 

I like this entire chapter because the children are doing something good for once, but are still having an adventure.  This appeals to my expectations for reading any children’s literature during this class.  However, what striks me as the most interesting is when the phoenix says, “Why are you so sad at Christmas-time?” The narrator goes on to say, “The children looked at it with one gasp of horror and surprise, for the youngest of them knew that it is far from manners to notice that strangers have been crying, and much worse to ask them the reason of their tears.  And, of course, the lady began to cry again, very much indeed, after calling the Pheonix a bird without a heart; and she could not find her handkerchief, so Anthea offered hers, which was still very damp and no use at all.”  It is interesting to me that the narrator is teaching manners to the reader.  In my opinion, most children learn their manners from their parents.  However, if their parents are not around during their early child hood years when these lessons are taught, the children learn from their environment.  I think it is a brilliant idea that Nesbit is doing.  She is not only giving the reader entertainment, but also teaching the reader a social skill needed in life.

 This is helpful to all types of readers though because everyone could use a little reinforcement and reminder every now and then of what is appropriate behavior and what is not.  I like that the narrator communicates messages similar to this passage throughout the book. 

Blog 4C-Analysis Redwall

After reading Redwall it is interesting to me how the character of Matthias compares to the character of Bilbo from the Hobbit.  Both characters are problematic heroes, a theme pronounced in both books.  They seam to be real people with real problems, just like humans.  We humans are not super-heroes given special powers such as, Superman.  Neither is Bilbo or Matthias.  They both show that anyone can become a hero; they just have to do the right thing and try hard. 

In Matthias’ case he is just an ordinary mouse until he is put in the right situation at the right time to become a hero.  However, it is his choice to do the right thing and step up to the plate.   The author shows this when Matthias hears Martin, the great warrior, speaking to him.  The easy way out would have been to run away and ignore it.  Instead, he consulted with other Redwall mice.  Mathias wants to be a hero, and he wants to fight.  I believe he differs from Bilbo in this way because Bilbo grew into becoming a hero.  Matthias was born ready for the day he could become a warrior. 

Matthias also shows his heroism when Father Abbot sends him to take food to a nearby family.  Matthias sees the rats coming, and rushes back to the Abbey to warn everyone.  Although Father Abbot doesn’t want to fight because he believes the Abbey is not like that anymore, Matthias is ready.  When the rats arrive and Father Abbot lets them inside to talk everyone could have been seriously hurt or killed if it wouldn’t have been for Matthias.   He gets rid of the rats before anything bad can happen.  By doing this Matthias is showing bravery, a characteristic of being a hero.  Mathias is saving others lives similar to Bilbo when he saves the dwarves lives from the spiders.  .

When Clooney captures another mouse’s family that lived outside the Abbey, Matthias courageously tries to save their family.   With the help of a Basil Stag Hare, the rabbit, they are able to free the mice family.  This is another example of Matthias doing the right thing and being a hero. This reminds me of in The Hobbit when Bilbo saves the dwarves from the elves before they were killed.  There are many more examples of Matthias showing that he is the hero throughout the book.

I believe this theme of the problematic hero keeps arising in fantasy children’s literature because it is an aspect that we all dream of, especially as a child.  We can relate to a person that isn’t perfect because we as human beings aren’t perfect.  While we might want to do the right thing and become the hero it is a matter of if we are able to make the right decision and try hard.  I believe this is an important message that Brian Jacques is trying to communicate throughout his novel. 

Blog 5A-Anticipating The Pheonix and the Carpet

I have never heard of The Pheonix and The Carpet.  However, I am excited to read this book.  The cover looks very appealing.  It reminds me of Aladdin, the Disney movies.  I read the introduction about Edith Nesbit in our book, and I find her an interesting woman.  I feel as I can relate to her because she was a “mischievous, tomboyish child who grew into an unconventional adult.”  She stood for things as a woman that were socially inappropriate at the time.  I admire that.  Also, the last sentence in the introduction catches my attention and makes me excited to read the book.  “One of her most admired abilities as a writer is the combination – often with more than a pinch of humor – of a real-life situation with elements of magical fantasy.”  This seems to be the type of book I was most anticipating on reading this semester while taking English 360.

Blog 4B: Notable Moment

While reading Redwall, the character of Abbot attracted my attention.  On page 15 Abbot says, “ Listen to what I say, Matthis.  You have been like a son to me, ever since you first came to our gates as an orphaned woodland mouse, begging to be taken in.   Come, sit by me and I will try to explain to you what our Order is all about.”  Abbot seems to play the role as a father figure and a guidance counselor.  In many fantasy books I have noticed there is a character similar to him.  For instance in The Hobbit,  Gandolf was full of knowledge.  He protected the dwarves when he could, and guided them with the best of his ability. In the Harry Potter series, Dumbledore is similar to the character of Abbot.  Dumbledore is the only person Harry can always rely on for advice, and Dumbledore takes him in similar to Abbot and Matthias.  Dumbledore is Harry’s father figure, as Abbot is Matthias’ father figure.  Without the role of the older and wiser man, it would not make these books as interesting.  This ties into children literature because I believe the author is trying to connect to the reader.  The author is assuming that children will relate to the situation of accepting advice from a father figure.  Growing up I questioned my father, and he always gave me advice.  There is something special about the character of Abbot.  I am interested to see if he makes it through the story without passing away.   

Blog 4A Anticipating Redwall

I have never heard of Redwall, or heard anything about it.  I was always told not to judge a book by its cover, but I can't help the negative feelings that arise when I look at it.  On the cover, a mouse is holding a sword and a shield.  I hate mice!  He looks like Robin Hood.  I am hoping this story will not be extreme fantasy, but I am expecting it to be.  When I say extreme fantasy I am meaning in no way could this story ever have been real. 

Blog 3C-Tolkein & The Hobbit: Analysis

After reading The Hobbit, the character of Bilbo most catches my attention of how Tolkein transformed him into a new person throughout the book. In the beginning Bilbo appears to be somewhat of a jerk to the dwarves, Gandolf, and everyone else he comes in contact with. However, by the end of the book Bilbo has obviously changed and is the hero. If Bilbo had stayed as the same person he was at the beginning of the book, I would not have found this book as interesting as it was. I believe that Bilbo serves as a good reminder to all of us that kindness, friendship, and loyalty are always more appealing to those around us than being rude, timid, and untrustworthy. Bilbo also ties into the theme of fantasy that anyone can become a hero, as long as they do the right thing and work hard.


In the beginning Bilbo is rude to Gandolf. He repeatidly tells him “good morning” hoping to get rid of him. Bilbo has no interest in the adventure Gandolf presents him. Even though Gandolf trusts him with such great and heavy responsibility, Bilbo is still lacking the self esteem and interest to go on such an adventure. When the dwarves arrive at his door step, Bilbo does not enjoy hosting them. Just because you are unaware of such a large party of guests coming does not exempt you from common curtsey. However, Bilbo’s attitude towards Gandolf and the dwarves changes as the story progresses.

Bilbo begins to feel the responsibility of taking care of the dwarves, especially after Gandolf leaves. This first occurs in the chapter of “Flies and Spiders.” Bilbo saves the dwarves from the spiders showing a large amount of courage that I was unaware Bilbo had in him. “Bilbo saw that the moment had come when he must do something.”(p.143) Bilbo sang songs to confuse the spiders of where he was, and he freed each dwarf by himself. Tolkein is beginning to tap into theme of becoming a hero as Bilbo’s character is faced with danger time after time. Even though Bilbo would have much rather been in his warm hole drinking hot tea, he choose to help out his friends and save their lives.

Again in the story Bilbo shows true heroism when the elves capture Thorin and the rest of the dwarves. During the “Barrels Out of Bond” chapter Bilbo creates and carries out a master plan to free the dwarves by stuffing them each into barrels and setting them free through a trap door. Although Bilbo wears the ring he received in the goblin’s cave that makes him invisible, he still shows bravery by his actions. Bilbo says, “No time now! You just follow me! We must all keep together and not risk getting separated. All of us must escape or none, and this is our last chance. If this is found out, goodness knows where the king will put you next, with chains on your hands and feet too, I expect. Don’t argue, there’s a good fellow!”(p. 161) By showing the elves his loyalty and commitment in helping them he is becoming a hero.

Tolkin shows the reader through the character of Biblo the possibiltiy of anyone becoming a hero, even if they seem completely unfit and unable. 

Tolkein & The Hobbit: Notable Moment

While reading The Hobbit my notable moment would have to be in the chapter of “Over Hill and Under Hill.” In the beginning of this chapter there are many instances that foreshadow the danger that will come that draws my interest. “He knew that something unexpected might happen, and he hardly dared to hope that they would pass without fearful adventure over those great tall mountains with lonely peaks and valleys. They did not.” (p. 53) During this time Bilbo, Gandalf, the dwarves, and the ponies were crossing over a mountain pass seeking shelter from a thunderstorm. To me this is a sign of foreshadowing bad news. Thunderstorms aren’t comforting, and frankly they scare me to death.


The group decided to stay in a cave that would protect them and keep them from danger. Gandolf showed concern about this cave by saying, “Have you thoroughly explored it? Who knew that caves up in the mountains were seldom unoccupied.” (p. 54) He is hinting that there could be something dangerous in there. Bilbo also did not trust the cave because he did not sleep very well. “For, somehow, he could not go to sleep for a long while; and when he did sleep, he had very nasty dreams. He dreamed that a crack in the wall at the back of the cave got bigger and bigger, and opened wider and wider, and he was very afraid but could not call out or do anything but lie and look. Then he dreamed that the floor of the cave was giving way, and he was slipping-beginning to fall down, down, goodness knows where to.” (p. 55) Both Gandolf’s and Biblo’s feelings of discomfort and horror are portrayed by Tolken that gave me an uneasy feeling that foreshadow the danger coming. I was reading as fast as I could because all of these detailed situations kept my interest.

The climax in this scene was when Bilbo’s horrific dream sort of came true. “A crack had opened at the back of the cave, and was already a wide passage. He was just in time to see the last ponies’ tails disappearing into it. Of course he gave a very loud yell, as loud a yell as a hobbit can give, which is surprising for their size. Out jumped the goblins, big goblins, great ugly-looking goblins, lots of goblins, before you could say rocks and blocks.” (p. 56) My imagination immediatly came to life, and I was on the edge of my seat.

To me all of these instances tell me that maybe one should trust their gut feeling, and pay attention to the details. A valuable lesson we could all use.

Blog 3A-Tolkein & The Hobbit: Preconceived notions

I have mixed feelings about reading this book.  I first attempted to read it in Junior High, but I did not finish it.  At the time I thought it was stupid and boring.  A few years later in High School I read the book a second time because the new Lord of The Rings movies were coming out.  I remember thinking the book was pretty entertaining, but after watching the Lord of The Rings movies I did not understand how the Hobbit fit into the big picture.  I had not read the Lord of The Rings novels before I watched the movies though.  Now that I have read the Lord of The Rings novels, I am hoping that I will have a better understanding of how the Hobbit is the precurser to the other novels.  My aunt is an English teacher, and this is one of her favorite books to teach.  I am looking forward to re-reading this book.

Blog 2 "Resistance"

I am excited to read fantasy.  My favorite books to this day are the Harry Potter series.  I enjoy adventure and using my imagination.  Fantasy literature provides a way of escaping the real world. I feel if one can learn to open their mind they will be very entertained, and perhaps learn something new with fantasy literature.  Important themes to me are good overcoming evil, love conquering all, and friendship.  When I read children's literature, fantasy to be specific, those are the things that come to mind.

Blog 1

1.What associations do you have with reading? Do you have any personal history that makes reading seem more or less pleasurable?
I enjoy reading.  It provides an escape.


2.Why do you read?
Reading provides entertainment, teaches me new ideas, and opens my mind.
3.What has been your best experience in a literature course? (high school or college)
I enjoyed my high school literature class.  We did many projects.  My favorite was over Frankenstein.

4.What has been your worst experience in a literature course? (high school or college)
In the Spring Semester I took an English class at Texas A&M.  It was 19th Century American Lit.  My professor made it miserable.
5.What college-level literature courses have you taken in the English department?
19th Centrury American Literature, 20th Century American Literature, Civil War-to Present American Literature

6.Compared to other literature courses you have taken, what do you expect will be the level of difficulty of this course? Why?
I believe this class will be just as hard as any English class at Texas A&M because they are all hard in their own way.  I believe this class has the potential to be interesting though.

7.What themes do you look for when you read literature for adults?
Adventure, good overcoming evil
8.What are your favorite books written for adults?
Steven King novels

9.How do you determine whether a book you have read is good?
Whether I have learned something new, it kept my attention, and the morale of the story.

10.Do you think it is a good idea to study children’s literature?
Yes

11.Why do you think scholars study children’s literature?
I think they study children's literature to see what is being taught to children in thier society. 

12.When you think of “children’s literature,” what comes to mind?
Fantasy, Adventure, Innocence
13.What do you look for when you search for a children’s book?
A book that has adventure, that can keep my attention, and that I will learn an important life lesson from.

14.Why would you look for children’s books? What do you do with children’s books?
I would look for children's books to read them.  They are enjoyable easy reading.

15.What children’s books do you most admire?
Harry Potter Series.

16.What were your favorite children’s books as a child?
Charolette's Web, The Little Women, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Little House on the Prarie Series, and Harry Potter.

17.In what contexts did you read children’s books as a child?
I read in school and out of school for pleasure.

18.Are there certain themes that interest you in children’s books?
Adventure, good overcoming evil

19.Are there certain types of books that you think children shouldn’t read?
Murder books.

20.How do you judge whether a children’s book is good?
If it keeps my attention, if I learn something new, and if it has a good ending

21.What do you think of when you think of fantasy?
Imagination, dreams
22.Do you like fantasy literature? Why or why not?
Yes, it is an escape from the real world.

23.Explain your reaction when you learned that this course would focus on fantasy.
I was excited.  I enjoy reading fantasy literature.

24.Rank the following from most to least valuable:

◦Nonfiction #3

◦Poetry #8

◦Historical Fiction #4

◦Romance#6

◦Fantasy Fiction #2

◦Science Fiction #7

◦Horror #9

◦Mystery#5

◦Adventure #1

25.Explain your choice for #1 and #9 in your rankings above.
I choose Adventure for the most valuable because every child dreams of adventure.  I choose Fantasy fiction as my second choice because everyone needs to be able to use their imagination.  I choose Non Fiction as number three because non fiction books are interesting and you will learn something new.  I choose Historical Fiction as number four because it is important to know your history inorder to improve the future.  I choose Mystery as number five because mystery books will keep your attention.  I choose Romance as number six because everyone loves a good love story.  I choose Science Fiction for number seven because these are the books that you learn myths such as the locnest monster.  I choose Poetry as number eight because I do not find it that intersting or helpful, unless it is Dr. Suess.  Last I choose Horror as number nine because I can't read a horror book without having nightmares for weeks.