1. How does this title refer to two groups of ‘settlers’? Who are they?
The two groups are the ones who are foreign and arriving now such as the great-grandfather and the early settlers who have branded the new arrivals.
2. How is the first line of the poem successful at being ‘forceful’ regarding the Great-Grandfather’s presence in Australia?
It shows his position in the socio-economical status within the two settling classes, him being an outsider in the early settlers guild.
3. What action are the ‘early settlers’ doing that gives them equally a strong presence?
They are branding the new arrivals with very derogatory terms such as 'devil' and 'terrorist'. This shows there dominance and there ability to make people feel uneasy about there lifestyle.
4. How is the intention of the Great-Grandfather juxtaposed to the beliefs of the ‘early settlers’?
He juxtaposes the early settlers because he is branding them as well by calling them 'bastards' but by saying it in his own language shows him as an outsider standing up by hypocritical means.
5. What action does the Great-Grandfather do that ties him both to the ‘early settlers’ and to his own culture?
The great grandfathers brands others in much the same way the early settlers do, with derogatory terms such in the way the great grandfather brands 'bastard' upon someone which ties in with the early settlers branding people with 'foreign devil' and 'potential terrorist'. By the great grandfather branding in his own language he ties back in with his culture and his way of life
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Chapter 13
1. How does the initial paragraph frame Bruno's state of mind?
The initial paragraph frames Brunos state of mind as that he is beginning to like and adjust to his new life away from Berlin, and that schmuel has made up for the loss of his old friends.
2. What does the question Bruno asks Maria show about his development?
Bruno asks Maria about Pavel and if he really did use to be a doctor or is he a waiter for the family. By asking this it shows that bruno is seeing people from a different perspective to the people around him, the nazis, and his sense of exploration is allowing him to seek the truth allowing him to see the 'big picture'.
3. What is important about Maria's reaction to Bruno's question?
It is important to the story because for the first time gives another point of view of family and also shows more juxtaposition within the story (i.e. Kotler and Maria) and another division of the family.
4. Why does Bruno want to tell Shmuel about Pavel? What does this highlight about Bruno's understanding of what is going on?
Bruno wants to tell Shmuel about Pavel because he wants to know if schmuel and his family were the same, if they had lives before they've become workers or 'farmers'.
5. What do the boys argue about? Who does Bruno defend? Who is right/wrong? Why?
Shmuel and Bruno begin to argue about the soldiers and whether or not they are good or bad. Bruno does think that some soldiers are bad, but also good because he thinks his father is good. Shmuel however thinks that all the soldiers are bad. I believe that they both are right because they would be some good soldiers that Shmuel may have not meet (not assigned to deal with the jews) but there is undoubtedly bad soldiers. Also, the point of view is heavily based upon there nationality as well for example, a proud Nazi thinks they are good and that the Holocaust is good as opposed to a jews point of view.
6. Shmuel says 'You don't know what it's like here.' and Bruno reacts by saying 'You don't have any sisters, do you?' He says this to avoid an answer to Shmuel. What does this show about Bruno's understanding of what is happening?
Bruno is beginning to understand the darkness behind the fence and wants to hold on to the innocence he has but it is beginning to fade. This also shows that he is getting more information, a key aspect which is hid for most Germans to conceal the darkness of the camps. He also doesn't want to get involved with his father and his work because he also suspects his dad is involved.
7. What connection do the boys have regarding Lt. Kotler?
The boys connections to Lt. Kotler is that both believe that he is a bully and a mean person. They are also frightened of him a and that he is a generally bad man.
8. What has changed in the the way Bruno sees Pavel?
Bruno begins to notice Pavel as a person and everything he does around the house such as waitering for the family, rather a 'slave'. He also, rather than looking past him and never notice him, begins to notice everything he does in detail. He also begins to view Pavel over a week to week basis.
9. What important words are used to describe the way the father eats and addresses Bruno? What makes them important? How do they relate to the scene and the father as a character?
Bruno's father's way of eating is described as 'attacking a leg of lamb' which shows the way in which he approaches factors in his life. Not only did he 'attack' his food but he also pointed with a knife and shrugged his shoulders which are both considered in-polite. This shows the authority of Bruno's father and that he is has no rules within there household.
10. We learn Lt. Kotler's first name - 'Kurt'. What is it about the sounds in his full name that are important?
'Kurt Kotler' By giving the name 'Kurt' to Lt. Kotler it adds upon the metaphor of him being the perfect Nazi German as he already has blonde hair, blue eyes and now has a alliterate name.
11. What do we learn about Kotler's father? What is Bruno's father's reaction/suggestion regarding Kotler's father leaving Germany for Switzerland?
We learn a very important fact about Kotler which is that his father is a teacher who moved out of Germany to Switzerland in 1938. Bruno's father's reaction is that he feels insulted and that Kotler's father would leave Germany and even during a time of her uprising.
12. What happens to break the tension at the dinner table? What does Kotler do and what are everyone's reactions? What does Bruno decide regarding disagreeing with anyone anymore after seeing what happens to Kotler? What does this relate to historically in regards to the Nazis?'
A wine bottle is dropped by Pavel which breaks the tension at the table. Most of the wine is spilt over Kotler and he gets very angry and beats him up which causes Gretel to go white and Bruno to start to cry. Bruno then decides that he not disagree with anyone or complain to anyone anymore. He does this because he thinks that he would get yelled at like Pavel by Kotler or similar and decides better keep his mouth shut. This historically relates to the Nazis and there contempt with power over the Jews and that even other Germans fear powerful military based Nazis.
The initial paragraph frames Brunos state of mind as that he is beginning to like and adjust to his new life away from Berlin, and that schmuel has made up for the loss of his old friends.
2. What does the question Bruno asks Maria show about his development?
Bruno asks Maria about Pavel and if he really did use to be a doctor or is he a waiter for the family. By asking this it shows that bruno is seeing people from a different perspective to the people around him, the nazis, and his sense of exploration is allowing him to seek the truth allowing him to see the 'big picture'.
3. What is important about Maria's reaction to Bruno's question?
It is important to the story because for the first time gives another point of view of family and also shows more juxtaposition within the story (i.e. Kotler and Maria) and another division of the family.
4. Why does Bruno want to tell Shmuel about Pavel? What does this highlight about Bruno's understanding of what is going on?
Bruno wants to tell Shmuel about Pavel because he wants to know if schmuel and his family were the same, if they had lives before they've become workers or 'farmers'.
5. What do the boys argue about? Who does Bruno defend? Who is right/wrong? Why?
Shmuel and Bruno begin to argue about the soldiers and whether or not they are good or bad. Bruno does think that some soldiers are bad, but also good because he thinks his father is good. Shmuel however thinks that all the soldiers are bad. I believe that they both are right because they would be some good soldiers that Shmuel may have not meet (not assigned to deal with the jews) but there is undoubtedly bad soldiers. Also, the point of view is heavily based upon there nationality as well for example, a proud Nazi thinks they are good and that the Holocaust is good as opposed to a jews point of view.
6. Shmuel says 'You don't know what it's like here.' and Bruno reacts by saying 'You don't have any sisters, do you?' He says this to avoid an answer to Shmuel. What does this show about Bruno's understanding of what is happening?
Bruno is beginning to understand the darkness behind the fence and wants to hold on to the innocence he has but it is beginning to fade. This also shows that he is getting more information, a key aspect which is hid for most Germans to conceal the darkness of the camps. He also doesn't want to get involved with his father and his work because he also suspects his dad is involved.
7. What connection do the boys have regarding Lt. Kotler?
The boys connections to Lt. Kotler is that both believe that he is a bully and a mean person. They are also frightened of him a and that he is a generally bad man.
8. What has changed in the the way Bruno sees Pavel?
Bruno begins to notice Pavel as a person and everything he does around the house such as waitering for the family, rather a 'slave'. He also, rather than looking past him and never notice him, begins to notice everything he does in detail. He also begins to view Pavel over a week to week basis.
9. What important words are used to describe the way the father eats and addresses Bruno? What makes them important? How do they relate to the scene and the father as a character?
Bruno's father's way of eating is described as 'attacking a leg of lamb' which shows the way in which he approaches factors in his life. Not only did he 'attack' his food but he also pointed with a knife and shrugged his shoulders which are both considered in-polite. This shows the authority of Bruno's father and that he is has no rules within there household.
10. We learn Lt. Kotler's first name - 'Kurt'. What is it about the sounds in his full name that are important?
'Kurt Kotler' By giving the name 'Kurt' to Lt. Kotler it adds upon the metaphor of him being the perfect Nazi German as he already has blonde hair, blue eyes and now has a alliterate name.
11. What do we learn about Kotler's father? What is Bruno's father's reaction/suggestion regarding Kotler's father leaving Germany for Switzerland?
We learn a very important fact about Kotler which is that his father is a teacher who moved out of Germany to Switzerland in 1938. Bruno's father's reaction is that he feels insulted and that Kotler's father would leave Germany and even during a time of her uprising.
12. What happens to break the tension at the dinner table? What does Kotler do and what are everyone's reactions? What does Bruno decide regarding disagreeing with anyone anymore after seeing what happens to Kotler? What does this relate to historically in regards to the Nazis?'
A wine bottle is dropped by Pavel which breaks the tension at the table. Most of the wine is spilt over Kotler and he gets very angry and beats him up which causes Gretel to go white and Bruno to start to cry. Bruno then decides that he not disagree with anyone or complain to anyone anymore. He does this because he thinks that he would get yelled at like Pavel by Kotler or similar and decides better keep his mouth shut. This historically relates to the Nazis and there contempt with power over the Jews and that even other Germans fear powerful military based Nazis.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Relative Advantages of Learning my Language by Amy Choi
1. The author opens the story with an anecdote. What is the anecdote and what effect does it have on the reader?
An anecdote is a story within a story which adds meaning and information to the original story. It can resolve any complications or confussions that the reader may have from the story.
2. What is the author’s view of the Chinese language in the 2nd paragraph?
The author thinks it's useless in a country that speaks english as they speak English all day, and watch television in English
3. What is symbolic about the house that the Grandfather mistakes for his own? What does it say about the assimilation of his family into Australian culture? What does it say about his understanding of Australian culture? What is ironic about the inhabitants of this house?
The grandfather mistakes the house for being his which symbolises the similarity and uniformity of living standards within Australian culture. It also shows that all migrants are treated the same way seen through the Chinese background of the main family and the Pakistani background of the other family. It is ironic that they are both of asian descendant and that they have similar living standards i.e. the same, or similar looking house.
4. What does the death of her grandfather inspire the author to do?
The death of the authors grandfather encourages and motivates her to get to know people more and to learn about there culture through the fact that she is trying to learn chinese.
5. Why is she motivated to know Chinese? What is it she wants to ensure she is able to, regretting that she couldn’t do it with her grandfather?
She is motivated to learn Chinese because she wants to be able to talk to an elderly relative next time they see them to learn about their life, which she wasn't able to do with her grandfather and regrets.
An anecdote is a story within a story which adds meaning and information to the original story. It can resolve any complications or confussions that the reader may have from the story.
2. What is the author’s view of the Chinese language in the 2nd paragraph?
The author thinks it's useless in a country that speaks english as they speak English all day, and watch television in English
3. What is symbolic about the house that the Grandfather mistakes for his own? What does it say about the assimilation of his family into Australian culture? What does it say about his understanding of Australian culture? What is ironic about the inhabitants of this house?
The grandfather mistakes the house for being his which symbolises the similarity and uniformity of living standards within Australian culture. It also shows that all migrants are treated the same way seen through the Chinese background of the main family and the Pakistani background of the other family. It is ironic that they are both of asian descendant and that they have similar living standards i.e. the same, or similar looking house.
4. What does the death of her grandfather inspire the author to do?
The death of the authors grandfather encourages and motivates her to get to know people more and to learn about there culture through the fact that she is trying to learn chinese.
5. Why is she motivated to know Chinese? What is it she wants to ensure she is able to, regretting that she couldn’t do it with her grandfather?
She is motivated to learn Chinese because she wants to be able to talk to an elderly relative next time they see them to learn about their life, which she wasn't able to do with her grandfather and regrets.
Conversations with my Parents by Oanh Thi Tran
1. What is ironic about the way the author and the father become close? What has to happen to the father?
It is ironic because the became closer over an event that is seen as being terrible, and pretty much over the fathers pain and suffering
2. How would you characterise the conversation that the author has with her parents?
They could be characterized as brief and maybe even awkward to some extent
3. What is it that worries the author most about these conversations?
The author worries about how she never tells their parents that they love them.
4. There is a gap between the author’s need to express feelings common in western countries and her family’s lack of desire to express their feelings verbally. How does the family still express their feelings for their child, just not verbally?
The family expresses their feelings through trying to show the author how to live their life, and trying to make them feel needed.
It is ironic because the became closer over an event that is seen as being terrible, and pretty much over the fathers pain and suffering
2. How would you characterise the conversation that the author has with her parents?
They could be characterized as brief and maybe even awkward to some extent
3. What is it that worries the author most about these conversations?
The author worries about how she never tells their parents that they love them.
4. There is a gap between the author’s need to express feelings common in western countries and her family’s lack of desire to express their feelings verbally. How does the family still express their feelings for their child, just not verbally?
The family expresses their feelings through trying to show the author how to live their life, and trying to make them feel needed.
Teenage Dreamers by Phillip Tang
1. What are the first two sentences of the story and how do they create a tension in the story?
They create tension as they talk about a 'sixth sense' witch allow you tell when somebody is going to die. This creates the basis and tension within the story because it sets-up the thought that someone is going to die within the story.
2. What has happened to the author’s father as a result of his wife’s death?
The authors father looked for someone who they could care for like he did his wife, and he developed a fear of death
3. How does the description of the father removing his hands from his face as ‘unmasked’ related to the seriousness of his following statement?
it shows by describing that he removed his hands from his face by 'unmasking' them that he is showing his full emotion which he rarely does.
4. Consider how the father lives his life and conducts himself and the other people in the theatre for the film the author and his father are watching. How does this relate to the title of the story?
The father lives his life and conducts himself much like a 'teenage dreamer'. This is seen through his passion for an actor/musician who is popular at the time. He also begins to cry like teenagers (the other people in the theater) when confronted with a idol in pain. He also gets very emotional when he doesn't get what he wants, shown through the author saying 'no' to going to Honk Kong to go to a predict funeral.
My First Kiss by Lian Low
1. How does the author describe Malaysia in regards to showing affection?
She's says that people in Malaysia don't tend to show affection to each other in public. She states that she has never seen two people kissing, maybe meaning that it isn't something that is done in Malaysia to show public affection towards two people
She's says that people in Malaysia don't tend to show affection to each other in public. She states that she has never seen two people kissing, maybe meaning that it isn't something that is done in Malaysia to show public affection towards two people
2. What happens to the author when she hits puberty?
When the author hits puberty she finds that her ideal of being a tomboy was starting to come to an end. She started to relise that she was a woman, and she started to move further apart from her male friends and liked to be by herself more.
When the author hits puberty she finds that her ideal of being a tomboy was starting to come to an end. She started to relise that she was a woman, and she started to move further apart from her male friends and liked to be by herself more.
3. What is the author’s experience at school when she first arrives to Melbourne?
The author experianced a sense of almost "pack mantality" where the people of different races didn't seem to mix, only asains like her approached her mostly and she was put into lower classes or higher classes judge on where she had come from
The author experianced a sense of almost "pack mantality" where the people of different races didn't seem to mix, only asains like her approached her mostly and she was put into lower classes or higher classes judge on where she had come from
4. What is it that made the author feel that she wasn’t Australian even though she spoke English fluently?
She felt like she wasn't apart of the culture and that she never will be because of her origins and her family.
She felt like she wasn't apart of the culture and that she never will be because of her origins and her family.
5. What else was it about the author that further alienated her from her peers?
She felt like because she was a tomboy in some kind that she wouldn't fit in with all the other girls around her.
She felt like because she was a tomboy in some kind that she wouldn't fit in with all the other girls around her.
6. What does the use of description like ‘crash hot’ do to the audience’s perception of the author?
It showing how she is still a young author and she is trying to describe how it's happening.
It showing how she is still a young author and she is trying to describe how it's happening.
7. What opportunity does university give the author? What is it about university which would allow her to express herself more freely?
University gives the author the oppertunity to learn and interact with people who share the same interests as her, and she'll be able to express herself more freely because of the people that she will encounter
University gives the author the oppertunity to learn and interact with people who share the same interests as her, and she'll be able to express herself more freely because of the people that she will encounter
8. What role does creativity play for the author? Why do you think that creativity would be so important to her?
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Pigs from Home
1. How does the author start this story which is in direct contrast to the title of the story? What effect does this have on the reader and their expectations of the story?
The author begins the story by stating different positives about pigs and there presence in the world. It is a contrast to the title because it states pigs in situation that are away from home. It than goes on to tell the negatives about pigs and illustrates to the reader that pigs would make horrible house animals.
2. What core Vietnamese value is instilled in the author?
The core Vietnamese value that is instilled in the author is that 'any good Vietnamese family was a self-sustaining one'.
3. What is humorous about the mother’s ‘flair for natural medicine’ in regards to her personality?
It is humorous that the mother has a flair for natural medicine because she is a hypochondriac and is very pedantic and always thinking she is unhealthy and has an unhealthy obsession with her house.
4. How does the description of the killing of pigeons continue the style utilised in the introduction of the story?
It is humorous that the mother has a flair for natural medicine because she is a hypochondriac and is very pedantic and always thinking she is unhealthy and has an unhealthy obsession with her house.
5. What is the author’s opinion of pigs? Give two quotes to support your conclusion.
The authors opinion of pigs is that they are unimportant and only used for food 'no pig has ever been a friend of mine' and that she thinks they are greedy.
6. In the paragraph on pgs 53-54, give two examples of alliteration employed by the author.
'blowing raspberries on the bellies of babies' and 'feeding frenzy'
7. On pg 54 what simile is used to describe pigs? How does this simile work for the situation it is used?
A pig is like an ocean is the simile used and it works because you can't turn you back on the ocean or you will get dumped by the wave and can't turn your back on a pig because it will bite you.
8. What simile does the author use to describe her mother sunning herself? How does this relate to the core focus of the story?
'She suns herself by standing in the drive way and slowly rotating like a rotisserie chicken'. This relates to the core focus of the story which is killing animals for food.
9. What does the author describe as ‘the divide between the old world and the new’? What do you think is meant by this statement?
She began to see the harshness of killing animals for food and what happens in order to save money and not waste food.
10. What is the author’s reaction to the slaughter of the pig at night? What statement does the author make about the neighbours which displays the way he feels about the whole experience? What is important about including this statement?
The author feels shocked by the slaughtering and the brutality of the task and the blood spurting out of its neck. 'I thought about our neighbours, the girls who caught the school bus with us, and wondered if hey had heard all the commotion'. This is important because the author believes that the situation was down wrongly and to harsh as well as the fact that the author didn't want anyone else to be involved in the murder.
11. Why don’t the parents have pigs anymore? How does this relate to the description of the burial of the last pig they owned?
The parents don't have pigs anymore because they have a neighbour who is a pig farmer. This relates to the final description because the pig is killed by a snake and was buried and the people wouldn't want other pigs to die and not for them to be able to eat them.
12. How would you characterise the description of the mother’s treatment of the pig’s blood? Is it appetising?
I would describe it as a lot of effort for a very unappealing, unappetising add in to dishes.
13. What is ironic about the way the author has a popular Vietnamese dish? What is it about the way the author describes the experience of having pigs that makes it ironic?
It is ironic that the dish is made of beef which is the only animal that wasn't on the farm. It is also ironic that the worst situation of the pigs that the author experienced which was the blood is something that the author carries on with and enjoys.
14. How does this story relate to the title Pigs from Home?
The author eats soup with pig's blood which reminds him of the cooking done by his mother back at his home.
15. Why do you think this story is in the Battlers section of the book?
I believe it is in the battlers section of the book because it shows a situation where they have trouble and battle certain situations such as the slaughtering of the pig by the neighbours.
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