ENG (03/26/08) Post B
About the Riddle.
To the Author of the book. I was very surprised when I first faced the test. I never new that htere were other type of answer that were possible... and I never expected to hear from a boy character who is younger than me. I definitely think that he is a hero. There are two giants and two bridges. Just by asking what bridge would the other giant point to when they are asked that which one is the right bridge, you could easily which one is the right bridge without recognizing which one is the right troll. I love your book and I would like to read a lot of yours. ONe of the readers said tthat your writing flows... I really agree. Your writing sings like a bird, and it is very easy, but also very sweet to read.
I never read a book that is like this. Not fully Fantasy, or childhoold store. I don't even know where the story is going now. But it si definitely moving, touching, an dexciting story that one would never forget it as the best book of her life!!
About the character, I wwas very surprised. The child was half abused. Or tthoughted to be abused. He is clever but dumb... He knows that he is a bit young, or older than his age... and he knows that he loves to read and ridiculously, the books speak to him and he is able to understand them. How amazing. The fact that you described how book "Spole" was just crazy. I loved it! I have never read a fantasy that used this much of personification and similes and metaphors. This book is a poem, like the one that is full of those things.
I was very glad to read this book and I hope to meet another booko, (hopefully my next book) to be this good~!!
Tina Jung
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
ENG (03/26/08) Post A
ENG (03/26/08) Post A
2 Vocabs
gnawing (p.96)
–noun
1.the act of a person or thing that gnaws.
2.Usually, gnawings. persistent, dull pains; pangs: the gnawings of hunger.
cackled (p.105)
–verb (used without object)
1.to utter a shrill, broken sound or cry, as of a hen.
2.to laugh in a shrill, broken manner.
3.to chatter noisily; prattle. –verb (used with object)
4.to utter with cackles; express by cackling: They cackled their disapproval. –noun
5.the act or sound of cackling.
6.chatter; idle talk.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME cakelen; c. D kakelen, LG kakeln, Sw kackla]
3 Figurative Language
Symbolism
"Above their heads, just at the level of the forest's crown, David saw a black shape circling and thought that he heard a distant cawing."
"Damnation," hissed the Woodsman. (p.109)
-The raven symbolizes what is upcoming to Woodsman and David. Something bad will happen to them soon...
Imagery
"Embedded in its walls were almonds and fudge and candied fruits. Everything about it spoke of sweetness and indulgence." (p.104)
-Describing the house of the Hensel and Gratel.
Simile
"...and her teeth were worn and crooked like old gravestones." (p.105)
-Describing how old her teeth was.
Quote
"If I asked the other troll to point to the right bridge, which bridge would it choose?" (p.115)
Explanation
It shows how brave David is as a young boy. He is a clever, smart person... except that this is all in his dreams
Theme
Cleverness. What is it that David has? (that he has too much?)
2 Vocabs
gnawing (p.96)
–noun
1.the act of a person or thing that gnaws.
2.Usually, gnawings. persistent, dull pains; pangs: the gnawings of hunger.
cackled (p.105)
–verb (used without object)
1.to utter a shrill, broken sound or cry, as of a hen.
2.to laugh in a shrill, broken manner.
3.to chatter noisily; prattle. –verb (used with object)
4.to utter with cackles; express by cackling: They cackled their disapproval. –noun
5.the act or sound of cackling.
6.chatter; idle talk.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME cakelen; c. D kakelen, LG kakeln, Sw kackla]
3 Figurative Language
Symbolism
"Above their heads, just at the level of the forest's crown, David saw a black shape circling and thought that he heard a distant cawing."
"Damnation," hissed the Woodsman. (p.109)
-The raven symbolizes what is upcoming to Woodsman and David. Something bad will happen to them soon...
Imagery
"Embedded in its walls were almonds and fudge and candied fruits. Everything about it spoke of sweetness and indulgence." (p.104)
-Describing the house of the Hensel and Gratel.
Simile
"...and her teeth were worn and crooked like old gravestones." (p.105)
-Describing how old her teeth was.
Quote
"If I asked the other troll to point to the right bridge, which bridge would it choose?" (p.115)
Explanation
It shows how brave David is as a young boy. He is a clever, smart person... except that this is all in his dreams
Theme
Cleverness. What is it that David has? (that he has too much?)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
ENG (03/19/08) Post B
ENG (03/19/08) Post B
About the Book, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
I loved this book. The author John Connolly's imagination and creativeness used throughout this book is amazing. The descriptions are so emotional and also very physical that it makes the readers to think that they are actually standing by the characters, covered with the invisible blanket. It is also quite amazing though, that the protagonist is a young boy, and he is the one who is to create all of his imagination.
I wonder if this was the author's childhood, for most of the authors usually depict their childhood, which they enjoyed and never could ever forget. This book, reminded me of my childhood as well, which I think was full of adventures and secrets, makes me want to go back to the old days. The apartments, but back of the apartments, playing with friends at the dark, and treaure hunts, hiding letters and things, exploring the forest and hills back of the houses... all these things excites me even now.
The age of innocence. When it breaks you feel like you have opened your eyes from the age of darkenss. I strongly felt that way, when I started to talk more deeply about learning and social relationships with the outside world. May be I longer had time for myself to reflect back upon the freedom and amazement I had or never thought of making exploration of something. Well, I still want to go back to my childhood, experiencing a lot of things.
This is a very personal relationship that I make with this book. Something I share witht he character and the author. I have never met a book that had deeply touched me in a way to make me feel sympathy. I am glad to read this book, as well as to analyze it, and I definitely recommend this book to other friends who had not yet read this book.
About the Book, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
I loved this book. The author John Connolly's imagination and creativeness used throughout this book is amazing. The descriptions are so emotional and also very physical that it makes the readers to think that they are actually standing by the characters, covered with the invisible blanket. It is also quite amazing though, that the protagonist is a young boy, and he is the one who is to create all of his imagination.
I wonder if this was the author's childhood, for most of the authors usually depict their childhood, which they enjoyed and never could ever forget. This book, reminded me of my childhood as well, which I think was full of adventures and secrets, makes me want to go back to the old days. The apartments, but back of the apartments, playing with friends at the dark, and treaure hunts, hiding letters and things, exploring the forest and hills back of the houses... all these things excites me even now.
The age of innocence. When it breaks you feel like you have opened your eyes from the age of darkenss. I strongly felt that way, when I started to talk more deeply about learning and social relationships with the outside world. May be I longer had time for myself to reflect back upon the freedom and amazement I had or never thought of making exploration of something. Well, I still want to go back to my childhood, experiencing a lot of things.
This is a very personal relationship that I make with this book. Something I share witht he character and the author. I have never met a book that had deeply touched me in a way to make me feel sympathy. I am glad to read this book, as well as to analyze it, and I definitely recommend this book to other friends who had not yet read this book.
ENG (03/19/08) Post A
ENG (03/19/08) Post A
2 Vocabs
yelp (p.82)
–verb (used without object)
1.to give a quick, sharp, shrill cry, as a dog or fox.
2.to call or cry out sharply: The boy yelped in pain when the horse stepped on his foot. –verb (used with object)
3.to utter or express by or as if by yelping. –noun
4.quick, sharp bark or cry.
charred (0.85)
noun
–verb (used with object)
1.to burn or reduce to charcoal: The fire charred the paper.
2.to burn slightly; scorch: The flame charred the steak. –verb (used without object)
3.to become charred. –noun
4.a charred material or surface.
5.charcoal.
6.a superior carbon-rich fuel, a by-product of the conversion of coal into gaseous or liquid fuel.
muzzles (p.102)
n.
The forward, projecting part of the head of certain animals, such as dogs, including the mouth, nose, and jaws; the snout.
A leather or wire restraining appliance that, when fitted over an animal's snout, prevents biting and eating.
The forward, discharging end of the barrel of a firearm.
A restraint on free movement or expression: had a muzzle put on their high spirits.
3 Figurative Languages
Oxymoron
"to the back of the Woodsman's neck, anywhere but into those eyes that were both familiar and alien." (p.78)
description of the Woodsman's appearance.
Simile
"It stood like a man," (p.77)
comparing the wolf-man as if he was a man.
Imagery
"David's fingers and toes tingled. His nose began to run in the growing warmth, and he discarded the Woodsman's jacket." (p.85)
depicting how David felt, and did during he walked the forest with Woodsman
Quote
"Ig may look and smell sweet, but it hides it own poison yet."
Explanation
David refused the chocholate Woodsman gave, for he didn't want to eat what the foreigner offered. He is mature enough to think that he could defend and care for himself.
Theme
The world is full of secrets especially one has a greatful amount of imagination.
This I believe is true because all these figures are all David's creation. (well, actually the author's) and I am surprised at how deeper and longer this can be.
2 Vocabs
yelp (p.82)
–verb (used without object)
1.to give a quick, sharp, shrill cry, as a dog or fox.
2.to call or cry out sharply: The boy yelped in pain when the horse stepped on his foot. –verb (used with object)
3.to utter or express by or as if by yelping. –noun
4.quick, sharp bark or cry.
charred (0.85)
noun
–verb (used with object)
1.to burn or reduce to charcoal: The fire charred the paper.
2.to burn slightly; scorch: The flame charred the steak. –verb (used without object)
3.to become charred. –noun
4.a charred material or surface.
5.charcoal.
6.a superior carbon-rich fuel, a by-product of the conversion of coal into gaseous or liquid fuel.
muzzles (p.102)
n.
The forward, projecting part of the head of certain animals, such as dogs, including the mouth, nose, and jaws; the snout.
A leather or wire restraining appliance that, when fitted over an animal's snout, prevents biting and eating.
The forward, discharging end of the barrel of a firearm.
A restraint on free movement or expression: had a muzzle put on their high spirits.
3 Figurative Languages
Oxymoron
"to the back of the Woodsman's neck, anywhere but into those eyes that were both familiar and alien." (p.78)
description of the Woodsman's appearance.
Simile
"It stood like a man," (p.77)
comparing the wolf-man as if he was a man.
Imagery
"David's fingers and toes tingled. His nose began to run in the growing warmth, and he discarded the Woodsman's jacket." (p.85)
depicting how David felt, and did during he walked the forest with Woodsman
Quote
"Ig may look and smell sweet, but it hides it own poison yet."
Explanation
David refused the chocholate Woodsman gave, for he didn't want to eat what the foreigner offered. He is mature enough to think that he could defend and care for himself.
Theme
The world is full of secrets especially one has a greatful amount of imagination.
This I believe is true because all these figures are all David's creation. (well, actually the author's) and I am surprised at how deeper and longer this can be.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
ENG (03/12/08) Post B
ENG (03/12/08) Post B
Free Thoughts on the freedom of Child's imagination
I was thinking, what made David to make these characters in his world with his strong imgination. Would that be his mom's death? his father's infatuity? war? or all of these factors accounted for one? Creativeness? There are many guessses as in why, and the truth, that David became extremely lonely and started to create characters that acted as his friends.
Last time I mentioned child's imagination and creativeness. As an adult, like David's father and his another wife Rose, things might turn out more simpler than David feels. Poor david, becomes lonely especiallyh that he figures that he was no longer a child for his mother's. His mother is gone, while his dad forgets her and remarries with a new lady who gives a birth to his step brother, Georgie. Rose isn't a bad spiritied woman, at all, though that David wanted tsme space between the future and himself in order to make himself more mature and readied for being an adult. This trnasitional part was missing when it was revealed that David felt hurt and depressed that his father never thought twice about Daivd. Everything made David upset and tearful, making him to sepnd more time with his books and talking to his imaginary friend.s We do't know how much, and how long this journey would mean to him, but it is true that this is the only exit available for David.
Tina Jung
Free Thoughts on the freedom of Child's imagination
I was thinking, what made David to make these characters in his world with his strong imgination. Would that be his mom's death? his father's infatuity? war? or all of these factors accounted for one? Creativeness? There are many guessses as in why, and the truth, that David became extremely lonely and started to create characters that acted as his friends.
Last time I mentioned child's imagination and creativeness. As an adult, like David's father and his another wife Rose, things might turn out more simpler than David feels. Poor david, becomes lonely especiallyh that he figures that he was no longer a child for his mother's. His mother is gone, while his dad forgets her and remarries with a new lady who gives a birth to his step brother, Georgie. Rose isn't a bad spiritied woman, at all, though that David wanted tsme space between the future and himself in order to make himself more mature and readied for being an adult. This trnasitional part was missing when it was revealed that David felt hurt and depressed that his father never thought twice about Daivd. Everything made David upset and tearful, making him to sepnd more time with his books and talking to his imaginary friend.s We do't know how much, and how long this journey would mean to him, but it is true that this is the only exit available for David.
Tina Jung
ENG (03/12/08) Post A
ENG (03/12/08) Post A
2 vocab:
1. snarled (p.79)
v. intr.
To growl viciously while baring the teeth.
To speak angrily or threateningly.
2. hind (p.77)
adjective
situated in the rear or at the back; posterior: the hind legs of an animal.
3 figurative language:
1. simile (p.68)
"....themselves looked to David like the faces of sleeping children."
using the simile he uses like to describe to help depict the palnts.
2. imagery (p.69-70)
"He was big and tall, with broad shoulders and hsort, dark hair."
this imagery goes on for lines to describe the characteristics for the crook man that David starts to see.
3. metapohor (p.70)
"...abaonded to the fire after roasted meat had been stripped from its bones."
it adds on to the description to the imagery that David sees when he first meets the man with the ax.
Quote
"it's all right, old fellow... It will heal soon enough" (p.71)]
Explanation
It sounds as if he's talking to David for the healing of his emotional parts.
This line maybe shows some symbolism or foreshadowing for what would happen in the future.
Theme
The child and the war. How the war and the disputations screw up one child's life but it also affects the imagination and creativeness of him, which might havebeen affected both positively and negatively.
2 vocab:
1. snarled (p.79)
v. intr.
To growl viciously while baring the teeth.
To speak angrily or threateningly.
2. hind (p.77)
adjective
situated in the rear or at the back; posterior: the hind legs of an animal.
3 figurative language:
1. simile (p.68)
"....themselves looked to David like the faces of sleeping children."
using the simile he uses like to describe to help depict the palnts.
2. imagery (p.69-70)
"He was big and tall, with broad shoulders and hsort, dark hair."
this imagery goes on for lines to describe the characteristics for the crook man that David starts to see.
3. metapohor (p.70)
"...abaonded to the fire after roasted meat had been stripped from its bones."
it adds on to the description to the imagery that David sees when he first meets the man with the ax.
Quote
"it's all right, old fellow... It will heal soon enough" (p.71)]
Explanation
It sounds as if he's talking to David for the healing of his emotional parts.
This line maybe shows some symbolism or foreshadowing for what would happen in the future.
Theme
The child and the war. How the war and the disputations screw up one child's life but it also affects the imagination and creativeness of him, which might havebeen affected both positively and negatively.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
ENG (03/05/08) Post B
ENG (03/05/08) Post B
The Book of Lost Things
BY John Connolly
Post B
Dear David's father...
I was very depressed when you shouted at your son, David. Did you even hear what Rose had said? had done? I'm curious. I would like to point out that you are a very bad dad. In that afternoon when Rose and David had their worst fight, clearly you weren't there. David and Rose had this quarrel, verbally, then at last Rose hit David. With a slap at his cheeck David bursted into tears and went to his room. Rose asked for his forgiveness and said sorry but it was too late. David's heart and tears wore off already and there was no one who actually could understand him... After you came, the situation have gotten worse. I believe that you should've been more clever about dealing with your child. You abandoned the books and toys from him for a day. You know that he can't stand without having those. They became his life after his mother was gone. I hope that you know that...
I'm not sure what Rose had said, but I 'm clearly sure that it wasn't all the truth that she's spoken. I think you are a helpless father for David. He thinks of you as a hero... a secret code working hero who works solving secret codes against Germans... (during WWII) but you just disrupted that just by shouting and taking away things that you shouldn't have had.
Think wisely and put yourself into David's position. Maybe you don't know what it is like to be David. Try to understand what is in him.
Tina Jung
The Book of Lost Things
BY John Connolly
Post B
Dear David's father...
I was very depressed when you shouted at your son, David. Did you even hear what Rose had said? had done? I'm curious. I would like to point out that you are a very bad dad. In that afternoon when Rose and David had their worst fight, clearly you weren't there. David and Rose had this quarrel, verbally, then at last Rose hit David. With a slap at his cheeck David bursted into tears and went to his room. Rose asked for his forgiveness and said sorry but it was too late. David's heart and tears wore off already and there was no one who actually could understand him... After you came, the situation have gotten worse. I believe that you should've been more clever about dealing with your child. You abandoned the books and toys from him for a day. You know that he can't stand without having those. They became his life after his mother was gone. I hope that you know that...
I'm not sure what Rose had said, but I 'm clearly sure that it wasn't all the truth that she's spoken. I think you are a helpless father for David. He thinks of you as a hero... a secret code working hero who works solving secret codes against Germans... (during WWII) but you just disrupted that just by shouting and taking away things that you shouldn't have had.
Think wisely and put yourself into David's position. Maybe you don't know what it is like to be David. Try to understand what is in him.
Tina Jung
ENG (03/05/08) Post A
ENG (03/05/08) Post A
The Book of Lost Things
BY John Connolly
Post A
2 vacabulary words:
Tendril (p.62):
–noun Botany.
a threadlike, leafless organ of climbing plants, often growing in spiral form, which attaches itself to or twines round some other body, so as to support the plant.
Distend (p.66):
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.to expand by stretching, as something hollow or elastic: Habitual overeating had distended his stomach.
2.to spread in all directions; expand; swell: The sea distended about them.
3 examples of figurative langues
Simile: "He had grown so used to it that he had almost ceased to notice it, like birdsong or the wind in the trees, but now it was growing louder and louder." (p.60)
David describes how the feeling has ceased like the bird singing in the forest...
Irony: "It called to him in his mother's voice. It said: David, I am not dead. Come to me, and save me." (p.61)
Her mother IS dead. Then whose voice is he hearing?
Personification: "...the ones that contained the strange, dark fairy stories he loved so much. He sensed that they were waiting for an event to occur, although he could not tell what it might be." (p.61)
Obviously the books cannot speak, or expect anything to be happened. It comes from David's imagination.
Quotation
"David," it said, "they're taking me away. Don't let them take me from you. Please! Follow me, and bring me home. Follow me through the garden." (p.63)
Explanation
David still hears the sound from somewhere. From the things that he should not hear: like books, etc. This time, his mom is speaking... only problem is that she is dead already few years ago. He still can't let her go... and without anyone who understands him, he gets even more lonely.
Theme
Childhood. David keeps suffering from the death of her mother. Without anyone who listens to him, he gets very frustrated and tired to deal with all the emotions inside him... he feels weak but knows how to defend himself from those who want to harm him. Rose is one of them, and he likes to offend her as much as possible. In fact, he is one unfortunate soul who seeks for a savior in his life... never finds one, but he creates one for himself.
The Book of Lost Things
BY John Connolly
Post A
2 vacabulary words:
Tendril (p.62):
–noun Botany.
a threadlike, leafless organ of climbing plants, often growing in spiral form, which attaches itself to or twines round some other body, so as to support the plant.
Distend (p.66):
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
1.to expand by stretching, as something hollow or elastic: Habitual overeating had distended his stomach.
2.to spread in all directions; expand; swell: The sea distended about them.
3 examples of figurative langues
Simile: "He had grown so used to it that he had almost ceased to notice it, like birdsong or the wind in the trees, but now it was growing louder and louder." (p.60)
David describes how the feeling has ceased like the bird singing in the forest...
Irony: "It called to him in his mother's voice. It said: David, I am not dead. Come to me, and save me." (p.61)
Her mother IS dead. Then whose voice is he hearing?
Personification: "...the ones that contained the strange, dark fairy stories he loved so much. He sensed that they were waiting for an event to occur, although he could not tell what it might be." (p.61)
Obviously the books cannot speak, or expect anything to be happened. It comes from David's imagination.
Quotation
"David," it said, "they're taking me away. Don't let them take me from you. Please! Follow me, and bring me home. Follow me through the garden." (p.63)
Explanation
David still hears the sound from somewhere. From the things that he should not hear: like books, etc. This time, his mom is speaking... only problem is that she is dead already few years ago. He still can't let her go... and without anyone who understands him, he gets even more lonely.
Theme
Childhood. David keeps suffering from the death of her mother. Without anyone who listens to him, he gets very frustrated and tired to deal with all the emotions inside him... he feels weak but knows how to defend himself from those who want to harm him. Rose is one of them, and he likes to offend her as much as possible. In fact, he is one unfortunate soul who seeks for a savior in his life... never finds one, but he creates one for himself.
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