I. Munro's short story,The Jack Randa Hotel, holds many secrets. One significant secret is the fact that Gail pretends to be Ms. Thornebe in the letters she writes to a man named Will. This is a secret until revealed to Will about the truth.(PG.188)
II. Another secret in this short story is Gail's landlord is aware that Ms. Thornebe, had died, therefore she was aware that Gail was lying. Tension between these two builds as the landlord holds this secret.
III.These secrets did not effect me from understanding the short story, but as in almost all the other novels and short stories read in class, such as Blackbird, there is an open ending, and curious readers want to know what happens next. In the end of this short novel I am curious as to whether Will returns to her letters, or if he feels the way Gail does.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
BA#4 The Jack Randa Hotel
I. There are many secrets being kept in this story. Gail who is also known as Mrs Massie, leave Will the man she's been writing, a letter that she sends him in a significant box. The letter tells Will that its up to him to find her. This leaves you wondering wether or not he actually will track her down, and what will happen.
II. This is similar in many ways to Blackbird. It leaves the story with multiple possibilities. It is also similar to the relationship between the main characters of Blackbird. I feel this way because in both stories the characters have feelings for one another but are almost ashamed to admit it.
III. This story i felt was very odd. It leaves you open with a lot of ideas on what could happen. I feel as though Monro is very good at leaving the reader hanging in a lot of work.
II. This is similar in many ways to Blackbird. It leaves the story with multiple possibilities. It is also similar to the relationship between the main characters of Blackbird. I feel this way because in both stories the characters have feelings for one another but are almost ashamed to admit it.
III. This story i felt was very odd. It leaves you open with a lot of ideas on what could happen. I feel as though Monro is very good at leaving the reader hanging in a lot of work.
ba#5- munro's 'the albanian virgin'
1) 'the albanian virgin' has been the short story with the most substance of munro's thus far. There are a few secrets in this story, but the most intriguing one is that of the connection between Charlotte and Lottar. I think it to be more of a 'second-guess,' but the fact that Munro never specifies leaves it open to question. I first thought the connection to be when on page 85 Claire becomes the narrator and talks of Charlotte, which Lottar ("was what they made of it{her name} pg 81) is told by Charlotte. From there are a few connections between stories.
2) This secret reminds me of the story "Carried Away," merely because from the end of the story, through the next whole reading, I was confused about whatever happened to Jack, and the character whom Louisa sees at the end. It is a case of identity, where the characters are telling stories which could or could not be about themselves. In the case of "the Albanian Virgin," I trluy think that Lottar is Charlotte, and am about 90% believing that Gurdji is the Fransican priest. I am not so clear on that, as there is much less evidence of the priest vs gurdji as lottar vs charlotte (which are uncanny similarities).
3) This unknowing is definitely essential to the narrative, as it allows us to relate the two main, women, characters, Charlotte and Claire. Believing that Charlotte is telling Claire the life of her younghood is comforting to us, the reader, as we get to know Claire(and Charlotte). We are opened to similarities (being all alone for a period of life) and similar circumstances (not having any men {whether publicly or personally forced} upon you) and similiar endings (being the unknown {where did Charlotte and Ghurdji disappear to? for what reason, really, has nelson come to see claire? who was met by "him"--past or present?}). The connection between the two women characters is essential to the reading of this story, as you see their soul connection across different times, different cultures, and different circumstances.
2) This secret reminds me of the story "Carried Away," merely because from the end of the story, through the next whole reading, I was confused about whatever happened to Jack, and the character whom Louisa sees at the end. It is a case of identity, where the characters are telling stories which could or could not be about themselves. In the case of "the Albanian Virgin," I trluy think that Lottar is Charlotte, and am about 90% believing that Gurdji is the Fransican priest. I am not so clear on that, as there is much less evidence of the priest vs gurdji as lottar vs charlotte (which are uncanny similarities).
3) This unknowing is definitely essential to the narrative, as it allows us to relate the two main, women, characters, Charlotte and Claire. Believing that Charlotte is telling Claire the life of her younghood is comforting to us, the reader, as we get to know Claire(and Charlotte). We are opened to similarities (being all alone for a period of life) and similar circumstances (not having any men {whether publicly or personally forced} upon you) and similiar endings (being the unknown {where did Charlotte and Ghurdji disappear to? for what reason, really, has nelson come to see claire? who was met by "him"--past or present?}). The connection between the two women characters is essential to the reading of this story, as you see their soul connection across different times, different cultures, and different circumstances.
BA # 5 The Albanian Virgin
1. The secret is that Charlotte is Lottar, this secret is kept from the reader until the end of the novel when the reader has enough information to figure out the story. " Iheard this story in the old St. Joseph's Hospital in Victoria from Charlotte, who was a sort of friend... (page 85)".
2. This secret is like the secret in The Road because both secrets are known by one character, the father in the road and Charlotte in Albanian Virgin, but the reader is left to make their own judgments. In both cases the son and Sylvia know more than the reader but not by much, and they do not tell the reader everything they know. The last line of Virgin states that she (charlotte) called him (the Franciscan) and he was waiting on the dock. In The Road the last few lines hint of a lingering possible future. In both cases the reader is not given explicit directions on what to think.
3. It vitally important to understand that Lottar and Charlotte are the same person. This is vital because otherwise the story doesn't make a lot of sense. The two narratives are intertwined so that if they don't have something connecting them other than the fact that Charlotte is telling him the story line falls apart. More than that Charlotte and the Franciscan were a love story, and throughout their history they came together and fell apart, it would fit the story if they were to come together again after being apart.
2. This secret is like the secret in The Road because both secrets are known by one character, the father in the road and Charlotte in Albanian Virgin, but the reader is left to make their own judgments. In both cases the son and Sylvia know more than the reader but not by much, and they do not tell the reader everything they know. The last line of Virgin states that she (charlotte) called him (the Franciscan) and he was waiting on the dock. In The Road the last few lines hint of a lingering possible future. In both cases the reader is not given explicit directions on what to think.
3. It vitally important to understand that Lottar and Charlotte are the same person. This is vital because otherwise the story doesn't make a lot of sense. The two narratives are intertwined so that if they don't have something connecting them other than the fact that Charlotte is telling him the story line falls apart. More than that Charlotte and the Franciscan were a love story, and throughout their history they came together and fell apart, it would fit the story if they were to come together again after being apart.
BA#4 Munro's The Jack Randa Hotel
1. One secret that is kept from Will is that it is actually Gail who is writting to him pretending to be Ms. Thornaby. Will has no idea that he is actually writting to hsi old girlfriend and not some elderly lady he looked up in the phonebook. Gail holds this secret from him. You realize that this secret is being held on page 173 after the letter to Will has been written. The narrator says "Gail writes this on an old portable typewritter..." (Munro 173).
2. This also reminded me of the story we read earlier called Carried Away when Louisa writes letters back and forth to Jack and how they don't really know who each other is when they meet in person. "'I always meant to speak to you'"(Munro 46). This is an example of Jack and Louisa talking when they meet. Of course this differs from The Jack Randa Hotel because Gail leaves before she even gets to meet with Will in person. "Hurry. Hurry. Her rent is paid. She must leave a note for the manager. She must take the money out of the bank, get herself to the airport, find a flight"(Munro 188). Thsi is an example of Gail leaving before meeting Will in person.
3. Understanding this secret is important to understanding the story because it is what the story is mainly about. Gail had gone to Australia to reconnect with her ex lover and gets scared so sge writes to him pretending to be another woman and when he wants to see her she gets scared and leaves. If we did not understand what she was doing by writting to him then the story would take on a completly different meaning.
2. This also reminded me of the story we read earlier called Carried Away when Louisa writes letters back and forth to Jack and how they don't really know who each other is when they meet in person. "'I always meant to speak to you'"(Munro 46). This is an example of Jack and Louisa talking when they meet. Of course this differs from The Jack Randa Hotel because Gail leaves before she even gets to meet with Will in person. "Hurry. Hurry. Her rent is paid. She must leave a note for the manager. She must take the money out of the bank, get herself to the airport, find a flight"(Munro 188). Thsi is an example of Gail leaving before meeting Will in person.
3. Understanding this secret is important to understanding the story because it is what the story is mainly about. Gail had gone to Australia to reconnect with her ex lover and gets scared so sge writes to him pretending to be another woman and when he wants to see her she gets scared and leaves. If we did not understand what she was doing by writting to him then the story would take on a completly different meaning.
BA #4 Monro's "The Jack Randa Hotel"
1. There are a few secrets that are in this short story. Two are kept by Gail (or Ms. Thornebe) herself (having an alias as Mrs. Massie to her landlord/renter person...because she is writing to Will, and her identity is unknown to him ... she knows that the real Thornebe died) and one is kept by Monro herself, ending the story on a cliff hanger. She leaves you wondering whether or not Will will chase after her. Much of the story is from Ms Thornebe's perspective and her point of view, not Will's, so it is hard to predict where the story may go if there were to be a part two.
2. These secrets mirror other things that we have read in class. It is open ended like The Blackbird and involves letters like in Carried Away. The constant building and suspense of the writing letters comes to a crashing halt when Will figures out that it is Gail. He confronts her on this (pg 188), but Gail leaves him the option to follow her back or not.
3.I think that Monro's focus was on how open ended the story is left, because you can certainly tell that the emotion that is there is strong, yet so is the uncertainty of whether or not Will will follow. I feel that if the other secrets were not in the short story, then the ending would not have as much meaning as it does. She builds it up for the reader to want Will to chase after Gail, but theres always a possibility of unrequited love.
2. These secrets mirror other things that we have read in class. It is open ended like The Blackbird and involves letters like in Carried Away. The constant building and suspense of the writing letters comes to a crashing halt when Will figures out that it is Gail. He confronts her on this (pg 188), but Gail leaves him the option to follow her back or not.
3.I think that Monro's focus was on how open ended the story is left, because you can certainly tell that the emotion that is there is strong, yet so is the uncertainty of whether or not Will will follow. I feel that if the other secrets were not in the short story, then the ending would not have as much meaning as it does. She builds it up for the reader to want Will to chase after Gail, but theres always a possibility of unrequited love.
BA#5: Alice Munro's "The Albanian Virgin"
1) I think the secret in this short story is if Charolette and Lottar are the same person. This secret is held by the author and is kept from the readers. Both Lottar and Charlotte disappear at the end of their stories and are both helped by a man who can end up being the same man. The priest who helps Lottar healed her when she was hurt and had a wooden cross that again appears around Charolette's husband, Gjurdhi, neck which is a clue that they may be the same person.
2) Another secret that is in the same story is what ended up happenings to both Lottar and Charlotte. The author leaves the reader to wonder what ended up happening to them. This secret relates to the first secret because if you knew if they were the same person then you would know what happened to Lottar. Charlotte disappeared from the hospital with Gjurdhi and the author never tells you where she went. While Charlotte was in the hospital she started to tell Claire the story of the Albanian virgin which makes the reader think she may be telling her own life story.
3) I think that understanding the secret isn't neccessary to understanding the narrative. This story has two narratives put together and the secret would let the reader connect them easier.
2) Another secret that is in the same story is what ended up happenings to both Lottar and Charlotte. The author leaves the reader to wonder what ended up happening to them. This secret relates to the first secret because if you knew if they were the same person then you would know what happened to Lottar. Charlotte disappeared from the hospital with Gjurdhi and the author never tells you where she went. While Charlotte was in the hospital she started to tell Claire the story of the Albanian virgin which makes the reader think she may be telling her own life story.
3) I think that understanding the secret isn't neccessary to understanding the narrative. This story has two narratives put together and the secret would let the reader connect them easier.
BA#4 Alice Munro's The Jack Randal Hotel
1. One secret that is being kept is that Gail is really Ms. Thornebe and is writing to Will. This is kept throughout most of the story and is what causes Will to go to the hotel that Gail is staying at to see her. The secret is told to the reader and is only kept from other characters, mainly Will, in the novel. We realize that a secret is being held on page 171 when we see that the letter Will had written says "Return to Sender, Died Sept. 13th". We see that she has died and learn that Gail is going to take her identity so she can write to Will.
2. This secret reminds me of the the short story Carried Away where Louisa was writing letters to her secret lover. It is the same basic idea that both women have lovers who don't know, or can't know their true identity. Louisa has never really met the man she writes to and Gail can't let Will know that it is her writing. Both women are struggling to form relationships from letters.
3. This secret is very important to understanding the story because it is Gail's reason for leaving and returning home. She leaves home to find Will and ends up writing him letters. When he finds out it's her she returns home so she doesn't have to face him. If the reader did not understand this secret, they would not understand the novel.
2. This secret reminds me of the the short story Carried Away where Louisa was writing letters to her secret lover. It is the same basic idea that both women have lovers who don't know, or can't know their true identity. Louisa has never really met the man she writes to and Gail can't let Will know that it is her writing. Both women are struggling to form relationships from letters.
3. This secret is very important to understanding the story because it is Gail's reason for leaving and returning home. She leaves home to find Will and ends up writing him letters. When he finds out it's her she returns home so she doesn't have to face him. If the reader did not understand this secret, they would not understand the novel.
Alice Munro's The Albanian Virgin
1) The secret which has intrigued me the most and was hinted at in several places throughout the story was the secret regarding whether or not Charlotte and Lottar/ The Fransican and Gjurdhi the are the same person. I felt like The Fransiscan seemed to appear to be more similar to Gjurdhi; the most glaring example seemed to me to be the crucifix which both wore.
2) This secret can be viewed in step with the ambiguity at the end of the story regarding what happened to Charlotte after she was removed from the hospital at the end of the story. For if these pairs turned out to be the same people, this would be the second time that she was rescued by the same man from people imposing a fate upon her. In the first case, she was to be sold and married; in this case, her fate was being decided by the doctors.
3) I feel as though this secret is very important to the narrative. I feel this because this is a secret the entire story hinges on, the entire story changes meaning if it turns out one way or the other. If she is Lottar then many parallels can be drawn to her past life and current, but if she is not the characters must be looked at in a completely different way.
2) This secret can be viewed in step with the ambiguity at the end of the story regarding what happened to Charlotte after she was removed from the hospital at the end of the story. For if these pairs turned out to be the same people, this would be the second time that she was rescued by the same man from people imposing a fate upon her. In the first case, she was to be sold and married; in this case, her fate was being decided by the doctors.
3) I feel as though this secret is very important to the narrative. I feel this because this is a secret the entire story hinges on, the entire story changes meaning if it turns out one way or the other. If she is Lottar then many parallels can be drawn to her past life and current, but if she is not the characters must be looked at in a completely different way.
BA#4 Alice Munro's "The Jack Randa Hotel"
I. A secret that is withheld from the reader, by the author, is at the very end of this short story. The author leaves the reader not knowing whether or not Gail and Will ever come together again. This is evident in the last line of the narrative. Gail writes Will a letter and sends it to him in a box she bought in the airport in Australia. The letter reads, "Now it's up to you to follow me" (189).
II. This secret is similar to that of the feelings in the relationship between Una and Ray in Blackbird. Una and Ray are both afraid to share their true feelings toward one another because of the possible rejection or the many other things that could go wrong. I think that the relationship between Gail and Will is similar in that after their divorce, their having feelings for each other would not be strange but is something that would be scary to admit, especially considering he left her for a much younger woman and moved to Australia.
III. I do not believe understanding this secret is significant to the understanding of the narrative because it is about love, and love is not always comprehensive. Their relationship throughout the story is somewhat secretive in that she speaks to him as someone else in their letters. We are not sure of his true reaction to this aside from that he knows it is her. This is when she flees back to Canada and writes him the letter. I think that it is important to understand that this ending is very open to the reader to determine because it is about something that may be reconcilable or it may not. It is the readers opinion of the relationship between Will and Gail that will finish the narrative, in my opinion. I think that Will does go after her...or maybe that's just the romantic ending I love to read.
II. This secret is similar to that of the feelings in the relationship between Una and Ray in Blackbird. Una and Ray are both afraid to share their true feelings toward one another because of the possible rejection or the many other things that could go wrong. I think that the relationship between Gail and Will is similar in that after their divorce, their having feelings for each other would not be strange but is something that would be scary to admit, especially considering he left her for a much younger woman and moved to Australia.
III. I do not believe understanding this secret is significant to the understanding of the narrative because it is about love, and love is not always comprehensive. Their relationship throughout the story is somewhat secretive in that she speaks to him as someone else in their letters. We are not sure of his true reaction to this aside from that he knows it is her. This is when she flees back to Canada and writes him the letter. I think that it is important to understand that this ending is very open to the reader to determine because it is about something that may be reconcilable or it may not. It is the readers opinion of the relationship between Will and Gail that will finish the narrative, in my opinion. I think that Will does go after her...or maybe that's just the romantic ending I love to read.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
BA #3 Harrower's Blackbird
I would say that the most controversial secret in this play is whether or not we can believe anything that Ray has to say to Una. We can't be certain if he actually to his girlfriend any of what happened, or for that matter, if he has ever had sex with any other 12 year old girls. It's all left open for us to think what we wish, purposely.
Along with not being able to trust any of what ray says, I don't think Una's word should be taken as fact without giving what she says any thought. For instance when she says that she has a good job, a few friends, and an ex-boyfriend, that she loves and wishes she was still with, we don't know for sure. Ray makes a valid point about her friends letting her think about what happened every second. If they were friends of any kind they would help her get passed what happened and certainly not let her go see him.
I don't think it's crucial to understand what the truth behind the secret really is to understand the story. To me the main point of the story, like the actors from the play said, is the love for Ray that Una has never gotten over and she finds Ray to reveal that to him. Although she's older in age, she has never matured that's why she can't find anyone that she truly loves and can stay with.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
BA#3 Harrorers Blackbird
1. the whole story ofthe blackbird consist of ray pushinf una away. She comes there to explain her feelings that she's been holding back for years. To her it's important to let her feelings known so she can move on. Yet Ray is completly disturbed by this confertation and the whole time he is begging her to leave and giving her answers to her questions that make it seems that he dosent care. As time goes by and the conversation is ongoing , Ray worms up and starts talking to her in a nicer way. all the way to the point where he kisses her. It seems that Ray secret is that he never got over Una because he has a weak spot for her, or he wouldnt have kissed her if he was so disgusted by her. Also he kept leaving and if he really didnt care he would of showed it to her by not returning.
2.the story explains that una has a significant other of which dosent know about ray. I feel that if he did know he would know that Una still has a weak spot for Ray. The secret that Una is keeping from her significant other is the same as the secret Ray is keeping from Una.
3.I believe that the secret of Ray still having feelings for Una is inportant to understand the narration. the author cleary gives a perception of Ray being angry that Una came to confront him , hes pasing back and forth and telling her to leave. Why couldnt he be calm and let her say her piece and leave or be angry and leave completly and go back to work. So this secrets explains why ray is angry and very emotional in this story.
2.the story explains that una has a significant other of which dosent know about ray. I feel that if he did know he would know that Una still has a weak spot for Ray. The secret that Una is keeping from her significant other is the same as the secret Ray is keeping from Una.
3.I believe that the secret of Ray still having feelings for Una is inportant to understand the narration. the author cleary gives a perception of Ray being angry that Una came to confront him , hes pasing back and forth and telling her to leave. Why couldnt he be calm and let her say her piece and leave or be angry and leave completly and go back to work. So this secrets explains why ray is angry and very emotional in this story.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
BA #3 Blackbird
1.) First the reader doesn't know if anyone is really telling the truth. Ray and Una both confess to having sex when she was 12 and he was 40, but they make it seem like it was love "never desired anyone that age again(49)". I've read that the type of person who commits this type of crime NEVER does it just once. I believe Ray is keeping a secret from the readers and from Una.
2.) This secret is like The Road because the reader is left to make judgments based on the information given. Ray mentions that he read about people who sexually abuse minors and he said they never do it just once. The girl who walks in at the end is 12, exactly 12, the exact age that Una was, way to much of a coincidence. In The Road the reader doesn't know what the disaster was, but we know there was explosions and that it took time for people to die off so in both cases the reader has to infer.
3.) Understanding this secret is important because at the end the reader doesn't know what happens next, does Una follow Ray out to confront his significant other? Does she go away relieved of her emotional burden? Is Ray's urge to abuse children revived by seeing her and now he goes on a child abuse rampage? If the reader knows exactly what Ray has been doing in the years since Una they can make better judgments.
2.) This secret is like The Road because the reader is left to make judgments based on the information given. Ray mentions that he read about people who sexually abuse minors and he said they never do it just once. The girl who walks in at the end is 12, exactly 12, the exact age that Una was, way to much of a coincidence. In The Road the reader doesn't know what the disaster was, but we know there was explosions and that it took time for people to die off so in both cases the reader has to infer.
3.) Understanding this secret is important because at the end the reader doesn't know what happens next, does Una follow Ray out to confront his significant other? Does she go away relieved of her emotional burden? Is Ray's urge to abuse children revived by seeing her and now he goes on a child abuse rampage? If the reader knows exactly what Ray has been doing in the years since Una they can make better judgments.
BA#3 Harrower's Blackbird
I. For fifteen years Una thought that Ray simply used her and left her for herself in the hotel room that night. He left after they had sex telling her he'd be back, but he never came back for her. Ray kept this to himself all of this time, keeping it from everyone, until now when he was explaining it to Una, because, as he said, "The lawyer said it sounded better if I had left you there because it showed I knew the seriousness the awfulness of what I had done. That I ran from you. Never to to return. Because of what it would sound like to a jury be made to sound like That I was going back for for more." (p 65). He kept it from everyone to protect himself, but it tore him apart inside.
II. This secret is similar to Una's secret that she keeps from her significant other about her past relationship with Ray. She does not tell him for her own benefit because she does not think that other people will treat her like a normal person with a past like hers. She says on page 76 "I've never told him. I didn't want to. I liked him too much. " She did not want to tell him because she felt it would ruin their relationship and she really like him just as Ray kept his secret to protect himself. Both individuals keep their secrets to protect themselves from being hurt by another, Una would be hurt by her boyfriend (she thinks) in that he would not want to be with her and Ray would be hurt by the judicial system because if he said he were going back for her they would think, as he stated, that he was going back for more, which would result in a much greater punishment. for him.
III. I think understanding that Ray was truly going to go back for Una after he had time to get cigarettes and think about things because it showed that he truly cared for her and that he was not using her for sex and did not kidnap her against her will. It shows that they had a relationship of some sort. It helps you better understand the play, but I think that it also makes it that much more difficult to accept because it is something that I find very strange - a 41-year-old man having an intimate relationship with a 12-year-old girl and not putting an end to it even when he knew he should have.
II. This secret is similar to Una's secret that she keeps from her significant other about her past relationship with Ray. She does not tell him for her own benefit because she does not think that other people will treat her like a normal person with a past like hers. She says on page 76 "I've never told him. I didn't want to. I liked him too much. " She did not want to tell him because she felt it would ruin their relationship and she really like him just as Ray kept his secret to protect himself. Both individuals keep their secrets to protect themselves from being hurt by another, Una would be hurt by her boyfriend (she thinks) in that he would not want to be with her and Ray would be hurt by the judicial system because if he said he were going back for her they would think, as he stated, that he was going back for more, which would result in a much greater punishment. for him.
III. I think understanding that Ray was truly going to go back for Una after he had time to get cigarettes and think about things because it showed that he truly cared for her and that he was not using her for sex and did not kidnap her against her will. It shows that they had a relationship of some sort. It helps you better understand the play, but I think that it also makes it that much more difficult to accept because it is something that I find very strange - a 41-year-old man having an intimate relationship with a 12-year-old girl and not putting an end to it even when he knew he should have.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
BA #2 Cormac McCarthy's The Road
I: At the end of The Road, McCarthy still leaves us hanging. He does not ever answer many secrets from the beginning of the book and just leaves us with more questions to secrets at the end of the book. The biggest secret at the end of the novel is whether the family that decides to take care of the boy are good people or cannibals. This relates to the question of whether the boy will soon find civilization now, be eaten, or maybe lose the "fire" and give in to cannibalism himself.
II: The secret of whether this family is good or cannibals also relates to the secret of who may have been following the boy and his papa the whole time throughout the novel. During the novel Papa did not trust anyone for they may be cannibals and whenever he heard people trailing behind him and the boy would be sure to leave sight. The boy and Papa never found out who was following them exactly because Papa thought they were cannibals but it could have been this "good" family that has now taken in the boy.
III: I believe these secrets are significant to understanding the narrative because they may give away many of the answers to the secrets. Answers to the secrets would help the reader significantly understand the ending better of whether the boy lives happily ever after or not. Some may also argue that the secrets are not significant to understanding the narrative, for McCarthy wants to leave as much as possible for you to figure out and imagine. He wants you to be in the boy and Papa's shoes and know just as much as them. If McCarthy ended up giving away any answers at the end then that would ruin his trend of secrets through the whole book.
II: The secret of whether this family is good or cannibals also relates to the secret of who may have been following the boy and his papa the whole time throughout the novel. During the novel Papa did not trust anyone for they may be cannibals and whenever he heard people trailing behind him and the boy would be sure to leave sight. The boy and Papa never found out who was following them exactly because Papa thought they were cannibals but it could have been this "good" family that has now taken in the boy.
III: I believe these secrets are significant to understanding the narrative because they may give away many of the answers to the secrets. Answers to the secrets would help the reader significantly understand the ending better of whether the boy lives happily ever after or not. Some may also argue that the secrets are not significant to understanding the narrative, for McCarthy wants to leave as much as possible for you to figure out and imagine. He wants you to be in the boy and Papa's shoes and know just as much as them. If McCarthy ended up giving away any answers at the end then that would ruin his trend of secrets through the whole book.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
BA #2 Cormac McCarthy'sThe Road
I:A secret which the reader of Cormac McCarthy's The Road wonders at the end of the novel is whether or not the "family" who suggest that the boy goes with them are really "good guys" or are actually cannibals feigning civility.
II:This secret can be looked at in the same light as the secret regarding what other humans, if there are many other humans, are doing the days after the disaster. We see this "family" at the end of the novel and one wonders if they are wandering people like the boy and deceased "Papa," or if they are living with other people either in a cannibal commune or some outpost of civilized humanity.
III: This secret may not be pivotal to the narration of the story, but very little outside of the events which directly effect the boy and the man are completely necessary. One of the author's goals of this novel seems to leave as much up to the reader's imagination as possible, so observed in that light, this secret is very important to the novel because it continues the trend of the author letting the reader know little or allowing the reader to assume almost nothing.
BA #2 McCarthy's The Road
I. McCarthy continues to give small details throughout the rest of the novel. At the very end, I was not sure what the future held for the boy and "papa". The boy and papa's destination was left in the hands of a complete strangers, in this "dark"society full of people living savage like lifestyles. It makes me wonder whether these strangers were trustworthy. I came to question as to what will happen next, but the book was at it's end. I never really was sure if the future of these two main characters would be in good hands or not.
II. Not only am I curious as to the boy and "papa's" future, but I wonder what is held for the future of their society. In this society, as the main characters struggle to survive, so do the people living similar lifestyles around them. What would happen with the people left, after almost everyone has taken part in being cannables(PG.127)? Or I wonder whether the environment changes, and everyone becomes suddenly stable.
III. The two secrets I had used in the first couple of questions, leaves a similar conclusion as I left in blog #1. These two secrets do not hold me back from understading the general storyline of the novel, but I am left curious. The novel ends, with loose ends, leaving many possiblities as to what could happen next. This book could definetly have a sequel, in which there is so many more details that can be unravelled.
II. Not only am I curious as to the boy and "papa's" future, but I wonder what is held for the future of their society. In this society, as the main characters struggle to survive, so do the people living similar lifestyles around them. What would happen with the people left, after almost everyone has taken part in being cannables(PG.127)? Or I wonder whether the environment changes, and everyone becomes suddenly stable.
III. The two secrets I had used in the first couple of questions, leaves a similar conclusion as I left in blog #1. These two secrets do not hold me back from understading the general storyline of the novel, but I am left curious. The novel ends, with loose ends, leaving many possiblities as to what could happen next. This book could definetly have a sequel, in which there is so many more details that can be unravelled.
BA#2 Cormac McCarthy"s The Road
Just to let you know, i accidentally posted an empty blog here is my real one
I. At the end of the novel, McCarthy leaves us with a good amount of unfinished business. We never find out who the people are that the boy goes with, we don't know what happens to the fathers body when they leave, we don't know where they go or if they even get there. It also seemed that the people had been tracking the boy and papas progress.
II. This is just like the secrets established in the beginning of the novel, when you dont know what happend, you dont know where they are, you dont know if "papa" is the boys father or just some guy who is taking care of him. Both secrets i am discussing leave the reader in the dark not knowing to much about anything going on in the book at all.
III. In my opinion i don't believe that the secret is that big of a deal to the novel because its the end, if McCarthy had wanted us to know what happened he would have either told us or left us a sufficient amount of evidence to let us draw our own conclusions on the ending.
I. At the end of the novel, McCarthy leaves us with a good amount of unfinished business. We never find out who the people are that the boy goes with, we don't know what happens to the fathers body when they leave, we don't know where they go or if they even get there. It also seemed that the people had been tracking the boy and papas progress.
II. This is just like the secrets established in the beginning of the novel, when you dont know what happend, you dont know where they are, you dont know if "papa" is the boys father or just some guy who is taking care of him. Both secrets i am discussing leave the reader in the dark not knowing to much about anything going on in the book at all.
III. In my opinion i don't believe that the secret is that big of a deal to the novel because its the end, if McCarthy had wanted us to know what happened he would have either told us or left us a sufficient amount of evidence to let us draw our own conclusions on the ending.
BA #2 McCarthy's The Road
In the book there are many secrets that are never told to us. We do not know what happen in the disaster and we do not know what happened to the boy at the end. We do not know if the father is later eaten by other people once every leaves him. We also do not know if the entire world survives this catastrophe. We never find out what really happens to the world. Is this a disaster that happens to the U. S. only or did it happen world wide? Was it a meteor or an earthquake or bombs? Could it be a series of bad events? We will never know and that is kind of disappointing. At the end of the book the boy leaves with these people who we are lead to believe are 'good'. We are lead to think that because the man covers papa with the blankets like he said he was going to. Also, the man said to the boy to keep the gun. The mom also hugs and holds the boy as if he was her own, weather or not she was checking him out to eat later or not we will never know. This women could have really loved the boy also. Did they ever make it out of the chaos that they are in and find civilization? I hope everything works out for them and they are able to find some stability somewhere and can settle down again, but who knows.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
BA # 2 McCarthy's The Road
I. I feel that one of the biggest secrets in McCarthy’s “The Road” is what happens to the little boy after he joins the man and his family, after the boy's father passes. McCarthy leaves the reader with “In the deep glens where they lived, all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery.” (Page 287).
II. In McCarthy’s “The Road,” the author ends the novel abruptly, leaving out certain significant details, such as in part I. Alice Munro, author of “Open Secrets” seems to do the same. One secret that remains in my mind is whether Jim Frarey was really trying to impersonate Jack Agnew when he ran into Louisa. "How is Grace? How is your daughter? Lillian?" (Page 46) Louisa asked Jim, who she thought to be Jack. He answered all of the questions almost implying that he was impersonating Jack. Though I wonder if, coincidentally, Jim Frarey had a similar life to Jack. The author never informs the reader what happened with Jim and Lousia never really knows as well.
III. I feel as though the secret discussed in part I is very significant to understanding the narrative because the author (the narrator) wanted to keep the reader wondering what would come next, throughout the entire text. It is only appropriate to end the novel in such a state. The reader is meant to question whether the boy survived or not, and to develop his or her own conclusions.
II. In McCarthy’s “The Road,” the author ends the novel abruptly, leaving out certain significant details, such as in part I. Alice Munro, author of “Open Secrets” seems to do the same. One secret that remains in my mind is whether Jim Frarey was really trying to impersonate Jack Agnew when he ran into Louisa. "How is Grace? How is your daughter? Lillian?" (Page 46) Louisa asked Jim, who she thought to be Jack. He answered all of the questions almost implying that he was impersonating Jack. Though I wonder if, coincidentally, Jim Frarey had a similar life to Jack. The author never informs the reader what happened with Jim and Lousia never really knows as well.
III. I feel as though the secret discussed in part I is very significant to understanding the narrative because the author (the narrator) wanted to keep the reader wondering what would come next, throughout the entire text. It is only appropriate to end the novel in such a state. The reader is meant to question whether the boy survived or not, and to develop his or her own conclusions.
BA#2 Munro's Open Secrets
In Alice Munro's short story Open Secrets the reader and the characters unaware about what happened to Heather Bell on the trip in the woods with Miss Johnstone. It seems that not even the author knows what happened to Heather all that is told is how they were going on a hike, Heather asked to return to their camping site to collect something, then catch up with the group. However, after she leaves the group on the trail she is never seen again and there is no report of her death. You are aware of this secret on the second page of the story where it says, "It was about twenty-four hours since Heather Bell had disappeared..." After that you want to know how she disappeared, if they found her, where she was found, or why she never returned.
This secret is similar to The Road where the boy leaves with a new group of people. The reader is unsure what happens to the boy, if he survives, if they are good people, or if the world became a better place? Both Open Secrets and The Road leave you never being able to answer those questions. The characters in the stories are also not able to answer these questions. In Open Secrets it seems that people never knew exactly what happened, they only have their assumptions. Same with The Road the father will not know what has become of his son even the son is un-aware of what his future will bring.
To understand the secrets is not a necessity for the reader. The secrets are what force you to keep reading and wanting to know more. However, the reader would appreciate to know what happened. I know I am wondering if Heather was killed, ran away, or is still living. Also in The Road I would like to know if the boy survives or if the people he went off with were truly, "carrying the fire."
This secret is similar to The Road where the boy leaves with a new group of people. The reader is unsure what happens to the boy, if he survives, if they are good people, or if the world became a better place? Both Open Secrets and The Road leave you never being able to answer those questions. The characters in the stories are also not able to answer these questions. In Open Secrets it seems that people never knew exactly what happened, they only have their assumptions. Same with The Road the father will not know what has become of his son even the son is un-aware of what his future will bring.
To understand the secrets is not a necessity for the reader. The secrets are what force you to keep reading and wanting to know more. However, the reader would appreciate to know what happened. I know I am wondering if Heather was killed, ran away, or is still living. Also in The Road I would like to know if the boy survives or if the people he went off with were truly, "carrying the fire."
BA #2 McCarthy's The Road
The secret being held from the readers by the author is at the end of the book when the father dies and the little boy went off with the family. The book ends without telling us what ever happened to the little boy and if he ended up with the good people or the bad people. The boy says to the man "How do i know if your the good guys or not?" The man then states, "You dont. You'll have to take a shot." We do not know if the boy ended up survivng or if the people ended up eating him. There are clues that suggest that the people he is with now are not bad people. The man kept his word to the little boy by covering a blanket over the boys father. The man also had an oppurtunity to eat the man after he died which he did not do.
This secret is similar to the other secret from The Road (not knowing what happened in the disaster) in the sence that the author is hiding something from us in both circumstances. We are left in the end of the book not knowing what happened to the child and not knowing what caused the disaster.
I do not think the secret is significant but it does leave the readers with a lot of questions the book never told us. The secret is open to interpretation. There are clues that lead us to believe certain things but we never know for sure what really happened.
This secret is similar to the other secret from The Road (not knowing what happened in the disaster) in the sence that the author is hiding something from us in both circumstances. We are left in the end of the book not knowing what happened to the child and not knowing what caused the disaster.
I do not think the secret is significant but it does leave the readers with a lot of questions the book never told us. The secret is open to interpretation. There are clues that lead us to believe certain things but we never know for sure what really happened.
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