"But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided."
1. Discuss the story's final lines. What is the "issue" that is "decided"?
I think the issue is that both parents want the child. Obviously, the couple's relationship has gone downhill. The wife yelling at the husband, "I'm glad you're leaving" gives off the impression that the husband did something wrong. He could have cheated or been abusive. However, the fact that the husband wants to baby makes me think that he did care about the family. The way these parents are handling the situation shows how immature they are. It's understandable that they both want their kid; however, they aren't taking into account that they are physically hurting this baby by pulling the baby in two directions. I think the issue decided is who got the baby. It sounded to me like the baby was being physically torn apart and so no one got the baby. I don't think it really matters if the baby was physically hurt or not. I think the author is trying to show how these two parents going their separate ways is going to affect the rest of this baby's life.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
You're Ugly, Too
"Then he went up and bought a round of drinks for everyone but her. She got her coat, went home, and shot a gun through her head." page 369
4. Find an instance in the story when Zoe speaks sarcastically, then find another instance when she speaks ironically. How do they differ?
I think irony and sarcasm differ in that irony is more funny and intelligent while sarcastic is more rude. Zoe talks about one time when her student asked "what is your perfume?" and Zoe replied, "room freshener". Also, when Evan says that Zoe is just jealous because she isn't married yet, Zoe says, "Oh, my God...I forgot to get married." Zoe is saying these things because she thinks they are funny. These are examples of irony because Zoe isn't intentionally trying to hurt someone's feelings. An example of sarcasm is when Zoe tells the story about the woman killing herself because her love interest was being cruel to her and then calls it a "love story". This story was more sarcastic because Zoe didn't want to talk about love because she hadn't been in any good relationships. She wanted to get Earl off her back about love and move on to a different topic.
4. Find an instance in the story when Zoe speaks sarcastically, then find another instance when she speaks ironically. How do they differ?
I think irony and sarcasm differ in that irony is more funny and intelligent while sarcastic is more rude. Zoe talks about one time when her student asked "what is your perfume?" and Zoe replied, "room freshener". Also, when Evan says that Zoe is just jealous because she isn't married yet, Zoe says, "Oh, my God...I forgot to get married." Zoe is saying these things because she thinks they are funny. These are examples of irony because Zoe isn't intentionally trying to hurt someone's feelings. An example of sarcasm is when Zoe tells the story about the woman killing herself because her love interest was being cruel to her and then calls it a "love story". This story was more sarcastic because Zoe didn't want to talk about love because she hadn't been in any good relationships. She wanted to get Earl off her back about love and move on to a different topic.
The Drunkard
"My brave little man!" she said with her eyes shining. "It was God did it you were there. You were his guardian angel." page 351
This story contains a lot of irony. The young boy gets drunk and the father takes him home. It is expected that the boy will be punished for his actions. However, instead of being angry at the boy, the mother is happy and praises him. This is ironic because a young boy getting drunk is not usually something to be grateful and happy about. Nevertheless, the mother was excited because the boy getting drunk meant that the father wasn't drunk. The mother did not want the father to be drunk because he would then refuse to go to work and make a fool of himself. Another ironic piece of the story happened on the way home. The father was so embarrassed of the way his son was acting. The boy was singing and yelling at strangers. The irony is that the father was embarrassed about something he has done quite a lot. He saw being drunk differently when it was his son instead of him.
This story contains a lot of irony. The young boy gets drunk and the father takes him home. It is expected that the boy will be punished for his actions. However, instead of being angry at the boy, the mother is happy and praises him. This is ironic because a young boy getting drunk is not usually something to be grateful and happy about. Nevertheless, the mother was excited because the boy getting drunk meant that the father wasn't drunk. The mother did not want the father to be drunk because he would then refuse to go to work and make a fool of himself. Another ironic piece of the story happened on the way home. The father was so embarrassed of the way his son was acting. The boy was singing and yelling at strangers. The irony is that the father was embarrassed about something he has done quite a lot. He saw being drunk differently when it was his son instead of him.
The Lottery
"Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones." page 271
1. What is a "lottery"? How does the title lead you to expect something very different from what the story presents?
A lottery is a chance in which a person could win or lose. Winning a lottery usually has a positive connotation because it means a lot of money is won. Reading the title of the story makes it look like a prize is going to be won. The entire village comes to the lottery and everyone takes it seriously. It is ironic that the winner of the lottery actually loses their life. However, after reading the ending, the things that happen earlier in the story begin to make sense. The boys made a pile of stones in order to prepare for the stoning. Mr. Adams mentioning that some villages had stopped doing the lottery showed that people were apprehensive about continuing it, meaning winning the lottery wasn't a good thing. Tessie complaining when her husband "won" the lottery also foreshadowed that something bad happened to the winner of the lottery.
1. What is a "lottery"? How does the title lead you to expect something very different from what the story presents?
A lottery is a chance in which a person could win or lose. Winning a lottery usually has a positive connotation because it means a lot of money is won. Reading the title of the story makes it look like a prize is going to be won. The entire village comes to the lottery and everyone takes it seriously. It is ironic that the winner of the lottery actually loses their life. However, after reading the ending, the things that happen earlier in the story begin to make sense. The boys made a pile of stones in order to prepare for the stoning. Mr. Adams mentioning that some villages had stopped doing the lottery showed that people were apprehensive about continuing it, meaning winning the lottery wasn't a good thing. Tessie complaining when her husband "won" the lottery also foreshadowed that something bad happened to the winner of the lottery.
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