Significant Quote:
"I said to my uncle Fred on his brief visit this summer that we tend to live withing a grey egg and rarely break through the shell to see life as it is, and he said, 'No we don't, we just think we're within the egg but we're outside of it. We feel safer in there." (154) I thought this quote was quite thought provoking. I'm not really sure which opinion I side with. David's view is that we choose to shield ourselves from the harsh realities of life by enclosing ourselves in this so-called "shell". Fred's view is that we like to believe we're in this "shell" but the realities are taking place right before our eyes. We simply choose not to acknowledge them. I can't decide on whether or not we choose to live in a world where there are no harsh realities or if we simply choose to ignore that they have an impact. These ideas are very similar, but somehow I think they aren't actually the same idea. I have a feeling they are two different views that distinguish between people who are ignorant and people who are sheltered. I find that people are more ignorant than sheltered. You see it everyday. Terrible events occur and there is a portion of our society who will choose to let it go unacknowledged. They know it's there, but they decide to not let it affect their own personal lives. In conclusion, I suppose I agree more with Fred's view on life.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Returning to Earth-Week 5, Post A
Vocab:
-Intravenous (146): Of, pertaining to, employed in, or administered by injection into a vein.
-Hubris (148): Excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.
Figurative Language:
"At one time I found this inconceivable because men love to think of themselves as the singular dog on the block despite the presence of others." (151) This statement represents a metaphor describing David's old reaction to Polly showing interest in other men.
"I said to my uncle Fred on his brief visit this summer that we tend to live withing a grey egg and rarely break through the shell to see life as it is..."(154) This statement is an example of symbolism in which the grey egg represents our natural avoidance of harsh reality.
"Fred and a raven in a fir tree were staring at each other as if the bird had hypnotized the man." (154) This statement represents a similie describing the strong connection felt between Fred and a raven in the woods.
Quote:
"I reminded myself that my persistent life question, "How do we live with what we know?" didn't cover everything and that I might humorously add, "How do we live with what we don't know?" (155) This quote gave me great insight into the kind of person David is. He seems to be a very intellectual and deep-thinking being. His observations on life are quite thought provoking. After reading this passage I was forced to read it several more times in order to fully understand what he was saying. It appears that Donald's recent death has caused David to see life in a whole new light. He previously viewed life a scientific journey, however I think Donald's death has allowed David to see life in a more spiritual way. He used to think he knew everything (possibly too much) about life and that used to scare him. Now, he questions whether he is truly the beacon of all knowledge and is afraid of the things in life he doesn't know. The things that very well may sneak up on him.
Theme:
The theme that seems to take place in this passage is re-examination. A death is a very powerful experience, when it's not your own. David seems to be re-examining many aspects he thought to be true about life before Donald's death.
-Intravenous (146): Of, pertaining to, employed in, or administered by injection into a vein.
-Hubris (148): Excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.
Figurative Language:
"At one time I found this inconceivable because men love to think of themselves as the singular dog on the block despite the presence of others." (151) This statement represents a metaphor describing David's old reaction to Polly showing interest in other men.
"I said to my uncle Fred on his brief visit this summer that we tend to live withing a grey egg and rarely break through the shell to see life as it is..."(154) This statement is an example of symbolism in which the grey egg represents our natural avoidance of harsh reality.
"Fred and a raven in a fir tree were staring at each other as if the bird had hypnotized the man." (154) This statement represents a similie describing the strong connection felt between Fred and a raven in the woods.
Quote:
"I reminded myself that my persistent life question, "How do we live with what we know?" didn't cover everything and that I might humorously add, "How do we live with what we don't know?" (155) This quote gave me great insight into the kind of person David is. He seems to be a very intellectual and deep-thinking being. His observations on life are quite thought provoking. After reading this passage I was forced to read it several more times in order to fully understand what he was saying. It appears that Donald's recent death has caused David to see life in a whole new light. He previously viewed life a scientific journey, however I think Donald's death has allowed David to see life in a more spiritual way. He used to think he knew everything (possibly too much) about life and that used to scare him. Now, he questions whether he is truly the beacon of all knowledge and is afraid of the things in life he doesn't know. The things that very well may sneak up on him.
Theme:
The theme that seems to take place in this passage is re-examination. A death is a very powerful experience, when it's not your own. David seems to be re-examining many aspects he thought to be true about life before Donald's death.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Returning to Earth-Week 4, Post B
I am caught slightly off guard by Donald's decision to die. I knew there was talk of suicide, but honestly I didn't believe it would ever become a reality. I was reading about Clare and K's relationship and then all of the sudden K is preparing to leave for a trip to Canada where Donald would like to die and be buried. I can't even imagine to turmoil the family must be experiencing. It is extremely brave of Donald's family to allow him this decision and let him go.I know I would have severe difficulty letting a family member die voluntarily. Cynthia, Donald's wife, is not joining him on this trip so I just realized that the last couple sentences I just read would be the last moments they would spend together. That realization gives me knots in my stomach. The concept of death seems so foreign as a teenager. I obviously know that people die and that no one lives forever, but the idea that someone could say "I would like to die now" and then pass on is unreal to me. Don't get me wrong, I understand that suicide is a very real thing, but I guess I never thought about it so deeply before I read this novel. I'm sure Donald understands what he's putting his family through, however, this disease truly eats away at your body. It is excrusiating to experience and is truly a horrible disease. Living his life must be becoming more and more impossible each day for Donald. As much as I hate to see him go, I can understand why he is making this important decision.
Returning to Earth-Week 4, Post A
Vocab:
-Neural (115): Of or pertaining to a nerve or the nervous system.
-Rivulets (116): A small brook or stream; a streamlet.
Figurative Language:
"I held her but it was like I wasn't there" (114) This quote represents a similie describing the severe hurt Clare was feeling when K refused to help her bring a child into this world.
"'I was as big as a cow at your campsite.'" (115) This statement also represents a similie describing what Clare had imagined herself to look in her dream of when she was pregnant.
"When Cynthia left there was nearly interminable silence as if we three were willingly lost in our universe." (121) This statement represents a simile describing the first step David, K and Donald would take on their journey. They are going to Canada so Donald can be buried on the grounds of natice tribe. Donald has decided he would like to die and he has requested to be buried there.
Quote:
"I dropped Clare off adn drove over to my mother's and hung the tent and sleeping bag over the clothesline. Mom came out the back door and we walked down the street to the old Coast Guard station to watch the huge white-capped waves slamming against the breakwall. We've always loved storms and made this walk even in the dead of winter to watch a norther..." (117) I found this passage significant because it is the first time as far as I'm concerned that K has reffered to his mother as "Mom" or any other variation of that. Throughout the story, he continually called her by her first name, Polly, so this passage caught me off guard. Also, K never seemed particularly close with his mother so reading about them watching storms together was another unexpected element. It's as if they both have become so accustomed to watching storms together that the storm K is referring to in this passage didn't even need an explanation for them to observe it together. There doesn't appear to be any dialogue between K and Polly, just an understanding that they will both watch the storm. I have reason to believe this because K doesn't return to his parents house very often.
Theme:
The theme that seems to be present in this portion of the novel is sacrifice. Everyone in the family is making grave sacrifices for Donald. The biggest being allowing him to die as he has decided where he is going to die and where he would like to be buried.
-Neural (115): Of or pertaining to a nerve or the nervous system.
-Rivulets (116): A small brook or stream; a streamlet.
Figurative Language:
"I held her but it was like I wasn't there" (114) This quote represents a similie describing the severe hurt Clare was feeling when K refused to help her bring a child into this world.
"'I was as big as a cow at your campsite.'" (115) This statement also represents a similie describing what Clare had imagined herself to look in her dream of when she was pregnant.
"When Cynthia left there was nearly interminable silence as if we three were willingly lost in our universe." (121) This statement represents a simile describing the first step David, K and Donald would take on their journey. They are going to Canada so Donald can be buried on the grounds of natice tribe. Donald has decided he would like to die and he has requested to be buried there.
Quote:
"I dropped Clare off adn drove over to my mother's and hung the tent and sleeping bag over the clothesline. Mom came out the back door and we walked down the street to the old Coast Guard station to watch the huge white-capped waves slamming against the breakwall. We've always loved storms and made this walk even in the dead of winter to watch a norther..." (117) I found this passage significant because it is the first time as far as I'm concerned that K has reffered to his mother as "Mom" or any other variation of that. Throughout the story, he continually called her by her first name, Polly, so this passage caught me off guard. Also, K never seemed particularly close with his mother so reading about them watching storms together was another unexpected element. It's as if they both have become so accustomed to watching storms together that the storm K is referring to in this passage didn't even need an explanation for them to observe it together. There doesn't appear to be any dialogue between K and Polly, just an understanding that they will both watch the storm. I have reason to believe this because K doesn't return to his parents house very often.
Theme:
The theme that seems to be present in this portion of the novel is sacrifice. Everyone in the family is making grave sacrifices for Donald. The biggest being allowing him to die as he has decided where he is going to die and where he would like to be buried.
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