I think we briefly mentioned how Hemingway started out as a journalist and this article explains how his writing was adapted from this. My favorite part of this article was the 3rd paragraph where the writer says, "every word counts" with Hemingway and how his sentences are so simple, yet loaded with emotion.
Link
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Creativity Lessons
In here there's a comparison between Steve Jobs and Charles Dickens minds. Just thought it was interesting.
In here there's a comparison between Steve Jobs and Charles Dickens minds. Just thought it was interesting.
Hemingway's Life To Characters
Although we didn't read The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway, I still think that this blog post on Yahoo shows an interesting point of comparing Hemingway's Life to the characters of the story. It is defiantly worth reading.
Link
Link
Monday, September 24, 2012
Hemingway and Bullfighting Explained
http://roundtable.menloschool.org/issue5/Hurlbut/2_Hurlbut_MS_Roundtable5_Winter_2010.pdf
Here Hemingway's infatuation with bullfighting is explained in detail. It discusses his views of bullfighting and its symbolism in his stories and novels
Here Hemingway's infatuation with bullfighting is explained in detail. It discusses his views of bullfighting and its symbolism in his stories and novels
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Hemingway interview NY Time
August 11th 1940 Hemingway interview for the NY Times that happened while he was writing his longest novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" which was published that same year (1940)
Here is the link INTERVIEW and here is an excerpt on him talking about war. Its interesting how he thinks that the difficulty of of the decision is more important than the acutal choice...
He talked of his own job as a commander. He said that in his army regulations the first sentence was the seemingly meaningless one that roughly translated into "the first duty of the commander is to make decisions."
"It seems simple when you read it. You think, 'What is decision? Each day I decide what color shoes to wear, what to eat.' But decision, when the life or death of hundreds of men depend on your decision, that is much else. In Spain I was assigned, as you know, to hold a position. My cowardice told me to draw in my left flank so that if I failed I would be near the French border and the lives of thousands would be saved if we lost. My judgment said perhaps that is right but perhaps it would be better to turn my right flank, though if we lost we would be cut off from safety. That is a decision that hurts all through your body; you cannot sleep, you ache. There is nothing more difficult in life."
"Which flank did you turn?"
"My right flank. But that is not important. The decision is important."
"Do you suppose all commanders feel that way? Did Napoleon?"
"Napoleon was a victor. When you are a victor, what can hurt you? But when you must fight a long defensive action with no chance of winning, only of holding the enemy off, then with every decision you are in hell," said Duran.
"You ache with wanting--but what you want cannot quite be reached. It is like my sitting in this chair wanting to rip that necktie from your neck. I reach, I almost seize it. It is just beyond my hand. Always in war there are possibilities plain to be seen, but materials are lacking, the men fail, a mistake is made somewhere along the line--and frustration eats your stomach."
Here is the link INTERVIEW and here is an excerpt on him talking about war. Its interesting how he thinks that the difficulty of of the decision is more important than the acutal choice...
He talked of his own job as a commander. He said that in his army regulations the first sentence was the seemingly meaningless one that roughly translated into "the first duty of the commander is to make decisions."
"It seems simple when you read it. You think, 'What is decision? Each day I decide what color shoes to wear, what to eat.' But decision, when the life or death of hundreds of men depend on your decision, that is much else. In Spain I was assigned, as you know, to hold a position. My cowardice told me to draw in my left flank so that if I failed I would be near the French border and the lives of thousands would be saved if we lost. My judgment said perhaps that is right but perhaps it would be better to turn my right flank, though if we lost we would be cut off from safety. That is a decision that hurts all through your body; you cannot sleep, you ache. There is nothing more difficult in life."
"Which flank did you turn?"
"My right flank. But that is not important. The decision is important."
"Do you suppose all commanders feel that way? Did Napoleon?"
"Napoleon was a victor. When you are a victor, what can hurt you? But when you must fight a long defensive action with no chance of winning, only of holding the enemy off, then with every decision you are in hell," said Duran.
"You ache with wanting--but what you want cannot quite be reached. It is like my sitting in this chair wanting to rip that necktie from your neck. I reach, I almost seize it. It is just beyond my hand. Always in war there are possibilities plain to be seen, but materials are lacking, the men fail, a mistake is made somewhere along the line--and frustration eats your stomach."
Hemingway quotes relevant to In Our Time
I found Hemingway quotes and these few really describe his take on war and battling (very important in In Our Time)
- In modern war... you will die like a dog for no good reason.
-There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter
-Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime
-Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter's honor.
Here is one about death AND relationships
-There is no lonelier man in death, except the suicide, than that man who has lived many years with a good wife and then outlived her. If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it
- In modern war... you will die like a dog for no good reason.
-There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter
-Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime
-Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter's honor.
Here is one about death AND relationships
-There is no lonelier man in death, except the suicide, than that man who has lived many years with a good wife and then outlived her. If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Contrasting Hemingway and Dickens
I found this while searching for other blogs about Hemingway and Dickens and I wished I had found it earlier; like back when we first got into Hemingway and Dickens. I think it hits most of the points we talked about and I found interesting to read because we came up with almost all the same ideas!
Link
Link
Poking Fun at Papa
Taken from: McSweeney's
HEMINGWAY OR
MY MOTHER’S EMAIL?
BY JEN GIRDISH
- - - -
1. The sun came out. It was warm and pleasant.
2. We had a couple of beautiful days this week. Tuesday was one of them.
3. We went out for breakfast because we had nothing to eat for breakfast.
4. I figured the butter would be good for him.
5. I imagine that you are still sleeping at this moment safe in your own bed.
6. Things went smoothly and we saw a lot of beautiful scenery.
7. Then there was the bad weather.
8. You said that you would understand if I declined, but I am trusting that you do understand, and I thank you for your understanding.
Mom: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
2. We had a couple of beautiful days this week. Tuesday was one of them.
3. We went out for breakfast because we had nothing to eat for breakfast.
4. I figured the butter would be good for him.
5. I imagine that you are still sleeping at this moment safe in your own bed.
6. Things went smoothly and we saw a lot of beautiful scenery.
7. Then there was the bad weather.
8. You said that you would understand if I declined, but I am trusting that you do understand, and I thank you for your understanding.
- -
Hemingway: 1, 4, 7Mom: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
Monday, September 17, 2012
Male-Female Interactions In "In Our Time"
While I was reading the chapters assigned over the weekend, what really popped out at me was the continuous lack of a great male-female relationship.
We see very early on that the male-male relationships are great, for example in "Three Day-Blow" Nick and Bill have a very open conversation about the struggles Nick has in his relationship with Marjorie. We never see a conversation like this one through out IOT during a male-female relationship. The lack of a male-female relationship through out Hemingway's short story collection became even in more so in the final two chapters we read over the weekend.
In "Mr. And Mrs. Elliot" we do see maybe a start of something with Hubert and Cornelia, but shortly began to falter. "Mrs. Elliot became much brighter after her girl friend came" (87). The relastionship soon faltered to the point where Hubert had taken his own room, and Cornelia and her "girl friend" slept together. Hemingway even noted at the end of the story "In the evening....Elliot drank white wine and Mr. Elliot and the girl friend made conversation and they were all quite happy." Again a lack of male-female interaction.
In "Cat In The Rain" the lack of a positive male-female relationship. The relationship between George in his wife is very discrete, and not very loving. The wife goes on a rant about how she wants to stop looking like a boy, how she "want(s) to pull my hair back tight and smooth" and George replies with a discrete "Yeah?" She continues on this rant, but George is non-loving, pays no attention to it and dismisses it off like it is nothing with a "Oh, shut up and go read something."
The lack of a male-female relationship continues in the chapters we read this weekend, and was taken up a degree in my opinion. I do not know exactly what Hemingway is trying to show with the lack of this relationship, maybe the struggle a solider has with coming home from war, where he was with men all the time, and adapting to the relationship he has to sustain with a female?
We see very early on that the male-male relationships are great, for example in "Three Day-Blow" Nick and Bill have a very open conversation about the struggles Nick has in his relationship with Marjorie. We never see a conversation like this one through out IOT during a male-female relationship. The lack of a male-female relationship through out Hemingway's short story collection became even in more so in the final two chapters we read over the weekend.
In "Mr. And Mrs. Elliot" we do see maybe a start of something with Hubert and Cornelia, but shortly began to falter. "Mrs. Elliot became much brighter after her girl friend came" (87). The relastionship soon faltered to the point where Hubert had taken his own room, and Cornelia and her "girl friend" slept together. Hemingway even noted at the end of the story "In the evening....Elliot drank white wine and Mr. Elliot and the girl friend made conversation and they were all quite happy." Again a lack of male-female interaction.
In "Cat In The Rain" the lack of a positive male-female relationship. The relationship between George in his wife is very discrete, and not very loving. The wife goes on a rant about how she wants to stop looking like a boy, how she "want(s) to pull my hair back tight and smooth" and George replies with a discrete "Yeah?" She continues on this rant, but George is non-loving, pays no attention to it and dismisses it off like it is nothing with a "Oh, shut up and go read something."
The lack of a male-female relationship continues in the chapters we read this weekend, and was taken up a degree in my opinion. I do not know exactly what Hemingway is trying to show with the lack of this relationship, maybe the struggle a solider has with coming home from war, where he was with men all the time, and adapting to the relationship he has to sustain with a female?
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Comparisons: Hemingway and Dickens
http://classic-literature.findthedata.org/compare/8-51/Great-Expectations-vs-A-Farewell-to-Arms
A comparison between Great Expectations and A Farewell to Arms (which I know we aren't reading right now) that also shows general differences between the authors.
A comparison between Great Expectations and A Farewell to Arms (which I know we aren't reading right now) that also shows general differences between the authors.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
The actual first installment of Great Ex
Feel like you're back in the 19th century... Great Expectations: The first installment in All the Year Round
Conversation Between Hemingway and Dickens
I found this "conversation" between Hemingway and Dickens and thought that it was interesting and shows some similarities and differences in the styles of the writers.
Conversation
Conversation
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The Wire Was Really a 19th Century Serial Novel
Has anyone else seen The Wire? I think it's one of the best shows ever written. It was an HBO drama that aired from 2002-2008. Here's the Wikipedia overview of the show:
"Each season of The Wire focuses on a different facet of the city of Baltimore. In chronological order they are: the illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government and bureaucracy, the school system, and the print news media. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who are little known for their other roles. Simon has said that despite its presentation as a crime drama, the show is "really about the American city, and about how we live together. It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals. Whether one is a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution they are committed to."
Anyway, here's a great (parody) essay that envisions The Wire as a 19th century serial novel. Check out the illustrations and text...very Dickensian.
"When It's Not Your Turn"
"Each season of The Wire focuses on a different facet of the city of Baltimore. In chronological order they are: the illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government and bureaucracy, the school system, and the print news media. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who are little known for their other roles. Simon has said that despite its presentation as a crime drama, the show is "really about the American city, and about how we live together. It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals. Whether one is a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution they are committed to."
Anyway, here's a great (parody) essay that envisions The Wire as a 19th century serial novel. Check out the illustrations and text...very Dickensian.
"When It's Not Your Turn"
Monday, September 10, 2012
TV Series Connection
I also agree with you about the HBO series being a very valid connection between the two books we are reading. Although there are not many examples of books that come out in chapters like Dickens did, I believe that TV series like breaking bad, boardwalk empire, and parks and recreation are the closest thing to what Dickens did. -Jack
In Our Time: Connections
"The End of Something"
- "The Doctor and the Doctor's Wife": These two stories are similar in that they both have a lovey-dovey wife (or basically wife to be) who seems to be in big contrast to the somewhat angry men of the story.
- "On the Quai at Smyrna": These two stories are similar because they contain a story within the story in which the main character is remembering something that happened a while back .
- "The Three-Day Blow": The action of breaking up with Marge in "The End of Something" affects the overall tone of this story because it happens shortly after and reveals Nick's true emotions towards their separation.
- "Indian Camp": These two stories differ in that in the "End of Something", we see a more adult, mature side of Nick while in this story, he is still very childish and immature. However it can be said that Indian Camp was some sort of a turning point in his life.
- Chapter III: These two are similar in a more symbolic way in that in "The End of Something", Nick ends it with Marge at a very vulnerable time in their relationship (when she truly loved him), and in this short story, the narrator speaks of shooting a man while he only has one leg over the wall, which would be a very vulnerable time.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Connections from In Our Time
1) The Doctor and the Doctor's Wife connects with On the Quai at Smyrna and Chapter III because both of these stories are about characters experiencing and trying to communicate with a language barrier. (Turkish/Ojibway)
2) Between the Doctor and the Doctor's Wife and Indian Camp we really looked at the role of Nick's father. In both of these stories it shows Nick's father doing his job, and doing it well. (helps give birth/helps man with pnemonia) Second, Nick's father is portrayed as being out of control.
3) In the Doctor and the Doctor's Wife and the End of Something, we looked at the role of women, and how it is not a positive one. We thought this because Nick breaks up with his girlfriend, and how Nick's father didn't really treat his wife well.
~Rachel, Willie, Alayna
2) Between the Doctor and the Doctor's Wife and Indian Camp we really looked at the role of Nick's father. In both of these stories it shows Nick's father doing his job, and doing it well. (helps give birth/helps man with pnemonia) Second, Nick's father is portrayed as being out of control.
3) In the Doctor and the Doctor's Wife and the End of Something, we looked at the role of women, and how it is not a positive one. We thought this because Nick breaks up with his girlfriend, and how Nick's father didn't really treat his wife well.
~Rachel, Willie, Alayna
Screening of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Today Jessica and I went to the screening of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Cinestudio at Trinity. I love being able to see the movie of a book that I have read and especially one that I enjoyed. A lot of characters looked different than what I had envisioned. The actor playing Christopher Boone did an exceptional job. As I was watching him, I was thinking about how hard it must have been and how long it must have took to really understand the autistic character he was playing. He really did a good job with the body movements, body language, and facial expressions. Also when seeing this story as a show it was a little more humerous in the way that some of the lines were portrayed.
Wish you all could have seen it.
Wish you all could have seen it.
Making Connections with In Our Time
Here are the connections from our group.
- Chapter 1 connected to Chapter 2 because of the theme of war and possibly the setting is the same
- Chapter 1 is connected to "Three-Day Blow" because of the theme of drinking/drunkards
- Chapter 2 is connected with "On the Quai at Smyrna" because of the setting and possibly the presence of Greeks, or same war?
- Chapter 2 is connected with Chapter 4 because of the reoccurring theme of war and violence.
- Chapter 2 is connected with Chapter 3 because of the theme of war and violence
- Chapter 3 is connected with Chapter 3, 4 because of the theme of war and violence.
- Chapter 3 is also connected with "Indian Camp" because of the presence of birth and death
- Chapter 4 is connected with "Indian Camp" because of again the presence of birth and death
- Chapter 4 is connected with 2, 3 because of war and violence
Making connections: "In Our Time"
The connections that Elijah, Jessica, and I made with "In Our Time" are the following:
1. Hemingway starts each chapter with a description. An example of this is in the beginning of the chapter "The End Of Something". Hemingway describes Horton's Bay.
2. In "The Three Day Blow" Bill gives Nick some harsh advice about marriage. The manner of which he gives that advice is similar to the way that Nick's father gives him advice about delivering babies in "Indian Camp"
3. Lastly, at the end of "The Three Day Blow" Nick thinks in a nieve manner about things similar to the way that he thinks in "Indian Camp" about living forever.
1. Hemingway starts each chapter with a description. An example of this is in the beginning of the chapter "The End Of Something". Hemingway describes Horton's Bay.
2. In "The Three Day Blow" Bill gives Nick some harsh advice about marriage. The manner of which he gives that advice is similar to the way that Nick's father gives him advice about delivering babies in "Indian Camp"
3. Lastly, at the end of "The Three Day Blow" Nick thinks in a nieve manner about things similar to the way that he thinks in "Indian Camp" about living forever.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Series
Sudoku in the newspaper is a good example because every week they have the new problem but also the answers from the pervious week so the readers want to see the answers from the problem they've completed and then they end up doing the new problem and do the whole thing over again the next week.
(PS funny video in next post because i cant figure out how to imbed it)
(PS funny video in next post because i cant figure out how to imbed it)
Serial Format: Book Series
A series of books like the Hunger Games or Harry Potter shows serial format because it is a continuing story line. Instead of having parts of one book there are multiple books, so its more like larger parts of a long storyline, like TV shows, or a movie series. Dickens has a long book that he separated into sections and he put out another section like every week, so people would have to wait for the next part of the story. That is the same with book series. When people read the first book of a series when it first comes out they will have to wait until the next book to find out what happens next in the story.
Serial Format: HBO original series.
Most shows on Tv today, especially series on HBO are in serial form. Shows like the Entourage, True Blood, Hardknocks or Game of Thrones end each week with a twist or preview of the next episode. It usually leaves the person watching the show wanting to know more, and keeps them thinking about it until the next installment. This is similar to the way Dickens ends the first chapter of GE. Dickens leaves the reader anxious to know what's going to happen to Pip.
Serial Format: Magazines and Newspapers
Both newspapers and magazines are good real-life examples of the serial format. Newspapers come out every day or every week, and are something that people look forward to. They are also ways to provide people with information that they need (weather, local news, etc.) and entertainment (crossword puzzles, sports results, etc.). Magazines come out every week or month and are also ways for people to get information such as "Time", the news magazine. There are many different kinds of magazines: cooking, home, fashion, gossip. These are both great examples of the usage of installments to keep people reading and subscribing.
Serial Format: Pretty Little Liars
The show Pretty Little Liars is a show that uses serial format really well. At the end of each episode it shows a short sneak peek of next weeks episode and leaves the audience with a cliff hanger every time. They also continue to throw in new spins to the original plot that has allowed the show to go on for so many seasons and have it still be successful. This demonstrates perfect use of serial format (considering you'd think a mystery show originally based upon only one murder wouldn't go on for four seasons without viewers getting bored).
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