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January 26, 2006
Seasons and emotions
Foster (19-20)
After completing the readings, I was once again left speechless because of all that I don't know about literature. The most interesting thing for me was in chapter 20. This chapter dealt with the seasons of the year and how they actually have their own emotions and moods. It seems that when I look back on the books that I've read, this really proves true, but until now I never really noticed it. I enjoyed the part of the text in which Foster is talking about Henry James' characters.
"She's all spring and sunshine; he's all frosty stiffness. Names, you ask. Daisy Miller and Frederic Winterbourne. Really, it's too perfect. And obvious."
It's such a great tool for authors to give reader's a subconsious impression of their characters. Foster really sheds the light on hints that authors such as Shakespeare and Forster, and even song writer's like Simon and Garfunkel and Rod Stewart use to get across the emotion that they want you to feel.
Posted by AndrewLoNigro at 04:42 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 25, 2006
Turned around
Fitzgerald, Bernice Bobs Her Hair
"But a few minutes before she fell asleep a rebellious thought was churning drowsily in her brain--after all, it was she who had done it."
It is at this point in the story that I feel a reversal takes place. Bernice finally shows a gilmer of self-confidence. She realizes that Marjorie doesn't control her life. Yes she's helped with advice, but Bernice actually had to make the decision to follow through with her new lifestyle herself. She experiences a freedom that had been unkown to her previously.
I also enjoyed the end of the play. I feel that there is some irony in Bernice "scalping" her so called helpful cousin. It was infact Bernice who needed help finding self-confidence. But in the end, the work that Marjorie put into making Bernice what she thought a young woman should be like, turned on her and showed her that maybe being that kind of woman isn't too pleasant after all. It's very rewarding as a reader to see the protagonist punished in the end and Fitzgerald does an excellent job of bringing the her audience in to share this feeling with her.
Posted by AndrewLoNigro at 09:44 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 23, 2006
Reading between the lines
Foster (selections)
The reading was very interesting and really opened my eyes to the difference between reading material and anylizing material. What I find amazing from chapter 5 is how every story line is pretty much recycled material from somewhere else. I can really see the point that Foster is trying to make when he uses the Pocahontas or Sacajewea example. With this he proves that an author can make a reader picture a certain character a certain way.
"He's hoping that your mind will associate Sarkin Aung Wan consiously or unconsiously with Sacajawea, thereby not only creating her personality and impact but also establishing the nature and depth of Paul Berlin's need."
It seems that I've never stopped to actually think about where stories come from until now. When you think about it, one can only write about what they've experienced personally whether it be in his or her mind or in an actual physical experience.
Posted by AndrewLoNigro at 11:10 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack