QW: A person who left an impression on me...

Yesterday, me and my sister were walking to our home after delivering a present to little baby Jacob. We were heading up the stairs to the door of our apartment when we saw a hunched over elderly woman who was as shriveled up as a prune. She was holding a cane shakily in her right hand and she stopped to stare confusedly up at me and my sister. She hobbled over to the first floor apartment room with the number 104 on it and knocked impatiently on the door. When nobody replied she rang the doorbell and yelled, "IS THIS MY HOUSE?" And the freaked out young lady inside replied, "No. No, please. Please move along now."

And the woman frowned at me and my sister and asked us, "Is this my house?"

My sister looked at me for guidance. I shrugged half-heartedly. I had honestly never seen that woman ever before.I frowned and quickened my steps. After a few seconds she followed us and started to make her way towards the elevator door. I panicked. This woman was obviously confused and wacked. She had no idea which house she lived in, so was she planning on stopping at each floor to yell "IS THIS MY HOUSE?" I decided then and there no, she wouldn't be doing that when I was on the elevator. So when she yelled "WAIT!" as the door to the elevator began to slide slowly to a close, I pressed the "><" button to clang the door shut.

My sister stared up at me with her mouth wide open.

"Why-" She began to say. I cut her off with a twist of my head. "I'll explain later."

Although I tried very hard that day to get the image of that old woman out of my head, I found that I couldn't. The picture of her dumbfounded expression as the elevator doors began to close kept haunting me throughout the day. She was, a "deer caught in the headlights" as they say. Her child-like expression on her aged face was something I will never forget.

clue #5

1. Who is Effie waiting for?

I have read the story "About Effie" 3 times and I am still puzzled by what the author is saying. When I first read the story, I was convinced that Effie was just another crazy girl who was good at doing her job. But after thinking about it for a few moments, I began to think about the possibility of the existence of the man. If he was real, then how could he come on a cloud? And why would there be music? And plus, what was the whole big deal on lightning and thunder? When the part in the text came up about the man riding on a cloud, it reminded me of the short superhuman guy from the movie The Incredibles. It also reminded me of Jesus. But I soon discarded this idea after I realized that we as people don't exactly know how Jesus will return to earth. But when the part about there being music came into the text, I began to suspect that somehow the man was related to Jesus.

2. This story contains a lot of Christ imagery. Write down three seperate sentences from the story that might symbolize Jesus and explain why Timothy Findley might have written these into his story.

1) "Will he take you away?"

"Of course he will. That's why he's coming. That's why I'm waiting."

2)"On a cloud," she whispered. "A big black cloud. That's a rule."

3) Then she looked at me and all of a sudden I felt it. That it wasn't just some knight in shining armour she had in mind. Or some crazy man on a black cloud, either. No, sir. Whoever he was, he surely was coming. You could tell that just from the way she looked.

--> In the first example, it seems as if the "man" could even be death. Everybody is waiting for death whether they like it for not, and in a sense death does "take you away." On the other hand, when Jesus comes back, it says in the Bible that he will take his children with him to heaven, and we will have a place that is prepared for us in heaven.

-->In the second example, it states that the man will come on a cloud. I am not sure about this one but whenever people draw Jesus going up to heaven, they always draw him on a cloud (actually, I think this is somewhere in the Bible, at the end of one of the Gospels I think). I think this is some sort of key connection as well.

--> In the third example, it clearly shows that whoever is coming is clearly coming. So I don't think it is just some physical man. I believe it is something that she can't avoid, some sort of inevitable thing coming closer and closer.

3. Can non-Christian authors reveal truth about God's World?

I believe that yes anybody can reveal truth about God's World. God's World is the Earth that we live in and what others believe to be true is in line with the Christian faith. God's World has many different aspects to it and something as simple as a reference to a higher being having created the Universe still reveals truth about God. Revealing of truth doesn't always have to be direct; it can be indirect and still be true.

Mini Question

1. What is the theme of "About Effie"?

I'm not sure what the theme of "About Effie" is. If I had to make a theme statement I think it would have something to do about "the man" Effie is waiting for, and some idea from the scene where Effie is crying amidst the thunderstorm. A theme statement might be the following: Everybody is waiting for death and the acceptance of death can give you peace.

2. Find a verse from the Bible that relates to the theme of "About Effie" and include it in your written response.

Well, I'm still not exactly sure what the theme of "About Effie" is, but according to the answer in which I put in for question 1 (Mini Question) here is a verse.

Romans 6:23 (New International Version)

²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Maybe Effie wasn't ready to accept this fact yet? I'm not sure, but in the end of the story it seems to me that she has accepted the coming of the man, whomever he may turn out to be.

clue #3 (continued)

(im sorry i forgot to post this up ms. lillo!)

1. How can you figure out a theme in a short story? Describe the process.
-First, you should look at the title of a story. Why would the author choose this specific title? Try to find the main idea of the title.
-Second, consider the main character. What are the major conflicts that the character has to go through? Think about all of the conflicts, including internal and external. What struggles does the main character have to face that later on changes who they are?
-Third, find the climax of the story. What decision does the main character make that forces them to change as a result? Try to think of ways this relates to the original conflicts that hinder your main character. Is there a similarity between these two?
-Lastly, consider the resolution. How does the story come to a close? How has the character changed now that the conflics have been resolved?

2. What is the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" and how does this theme relate to your own life?
I am not sure what the theme of "The Utterly Perfect Murder" is. However, if I had to put it into a theme statement, I think it might be something like this.
Theme statement: Its best to leave the past in the past.
I think that this can be a universal theme as well. I can sit here and think of many occasions where I did something wrong to some one or I was wronged by some one else. However, I know that it doesn't help you to think about things you can't change. Its better to tell the person something then and there instead of keep your emotions inside yourself and never get them out. Thinking about something that happened a long time ago and being angry with something that happened or that you did won't change anything. If there's something you can't change, then why waste your time trying to do something futily? The best thing to do is to come to terms with yourself and either forget the past or try to learn from your experiences. I think this is something that Doug couldn't do. His negative emtions overpowered everything else that he had shared with his friend/bully.

3. How is a moral of a story different from a theme?
A moral of a story usually teaches something. It is like the daily lesson learned in a classroom. The whole story is created for the purpose of teaching the reader something they should or shouldn't do. The moral of the story is also usually simple and concise. It is usually direct to the reader and can be easily identified. The theme of a story however is different from a moral in many ways. While both the theme and the moral of a story send a message to the reader, the theme is broader than a moral. The theme is the central idea behind the story and it is the author's message about humanity to the reader. A story can have both a moral and a theme that is completely different. A story can also have a moral and a theme that are similiar in some aspects.

4. Read John 3:16. Is this a theme statement for God's story? How does this relate to the truth you might find in literature?
I personally don't think that John 3:16 is the theme statement for God's story...Wouldn't the theme of God's story be to have humanity love him and fulfill their purose on Earth and later on in Heaven in worshipping him? John 3:16 would be God's theme in how humanity can achieve eternal life...(I'm not sure but I think I need some help on this question)

clue #4

(i'm sorry i forgot to publish this ms. lillo!)

1. What specific clues can setting reveal about the theme of a short story?

Setting is one of the things that influences your character the most. An author also has complete cotrol over what is or what isn't in the setting of a story. The time, place, and background history that the story takes place in is completely munipulated by the author to serve their own purpose. Setting can tell you what type of conflict the main character will most likely be involved in. The time the story takes place influences the type of government and rules that the people of that story have to follow. For example, if the setting is 1800s in England, the character will have to be under the rule of the Queen or other Monarchy that is ruling at the time and will be subject to their rules. Setting can reveal to us how many of the conflicts the character faces will be historical, or simply a part of a bigger picture in a fantasy land.

2. How does an author drop clues about characters and how their actions lead you to the theme of the story?

Looking at what the main character's conflicts are, you can find a point in the story called the climax. The climax can be identified for its intense part in the story and because through it the character is forced to make a choice that without would change the story dramatically. After the main character makes this choice, they are changed for either good or for worse. Depending on how this choice affects the main character and why the character made this choice can be a huge clue to what the central message the author is trying to tell the reader.

3. What is the strongest setting you have ever encountered in your own life ( the place that has impacted you the most). Describe this place and ponder if God revealed anything about Himself or his truth in this place.

The strongest setting that I have encountered in my life would have to be either Mr. Gray's classroom, Ms. Secrest's classroom, or walking down the halls of Rice University with my friends Michael and Tito. This entire summer at Rice University was one of the most memorable moments in my life that I know I will never forget. The friendships that I have been able to make in just 2 months are incredible and I would give anything to see each of my friends one more time. I know that these friendships were only possible through God and him letting me be in Texas at the right time in my life. Mr. Gray was my 4th grade teacher, and Ms. Secrest was my 5th grade teacher. In their classrooms I learned a lot. In Mr. Gray's classroom I improved greatly academically but in Ms. Secrest's classroom I feel like I really opened my eyes as a Christian and to the whole concept of Christianity.

Mini Question

1. Who is a "character" in your life (a real-life person)) you admire? Why do you admire this person? (be specific and name the traits you admire).

I admire many people in my life. I admire Taylor Swift for her beautiful voice and her ability to become USA's most downloaded Country Song Artist Ever at the age of 16, and her stubborn persistence to pull herself up from a simple country girl to a star. I also admire Orlando Bloom for his excellent acting skills, and Robert Pattinson for his sheer will to keep going with his acting in Twilight even after the numerous anti-fan comments against him playing Edward in the Twilight Movies. I admire Stephenie Meyer for her ingenious idea on real-life vampires and for making characters like Edward, Jacob Black, and Bella come alive for millions of readers world-wide. But probably most of all, I admire my dad for growing out of poverty, discrimination, and hurt and becoming the confident and fun-loving man he is today.

"Two Kinds" Connections and paragraph reflection

1) This idea of how only obedient daughters can stay under a parent's roof is one my mother uses on me all the time. If I don't immediatley obey what my mother says, she automatically uses the "Get out of the house" card.

2) This entire story reminds me of the movie Hairspray. In that movie, the young girl has a talent that she yearns to show others to become famous. But it is her mother who tells her to stop daydreaming and concentrate on schoolwork and studying. In this story, it is the exact opposite. Jing-Mei's mother wants her to use her talent (any talent actually) to become famous, while Jing-Mei just wants to give up.

3) My mother also made me and my sister take piano lessons at a young age (for me when I was in pre-school). I think this is just an average way of Asian family thinking.

4)Sometimes I want my mother to yell at me so I can have an excuse to yell back at her too. I know its not a good way to think about things and to take things, but honestly sometimes I just need to yell and get all of my thoughts out.

5) Just like the main character in this story, sometimes I do something entirely different in my head and do a different action on the outiside. For example, when I am actually playing piano, I am picturing in side my head a scene that matches with the type of music that I am playing. I usually imagine myself twirling in through the scenes and dancing or singing along with the music.

6) Like Jing-Mei, I am always nervous and most of the time unprepared for most (if not all) piano recitals. However, unlike Jing-Mei I actually try my best during practice time to perform my ultimate best during the actual performance.

--> Paragraph Reflection

While reading the short story "Two Kinds" I felt like every two sentences I could either say the words "AHA! EXACTLY MY SITUATION!" or "Aww...poor Jing-Mei". Throughout this whole story, I knew that there were many confucianist ideas swirling around in the story. I could tell that this particular Chinese family was heavily influenced by Confucianist ways of living. An example of this is a) respect for others b) having to study to become important (well this is more of an asian idea..sigh..) c) Obedience to elders and respect to others above you whether that be in age or status. In the areas where similar asian ways of living popped up I felt like I was watching a movie of my family that was unfolding throughout the story. However, in the parts where Jing-Mei forcefully rebels and doesn't practice piano contradicted sharply with my own way of growing up. I obeyed my parents with little or no question. I feel like "Two Kinds" was a story that I connected very easily with.

Clue #3

Questions in the yellow box:
1)What is a literary theme? Provide an explanation and then 3 one-statement examples of a literary theme that receals truth about the universal human experience.
A literary theme is the central idea that the author tells the reader about the truth of humanity. You can identify the theme of a story by looking for clues in various places. Some example places are the title, in the main character's conflict, the climax, and the resolution. Three examples of theme are as follows:
1. Time heals all wounds (universal theme)
2. Love is a two edged sword; it can bring pain but also happiness.
3. A person who lives a good life will be rewarded in the end for their kindness.

2)What is the theme of your life, as you see it right now?
I don't feel as if there is any theme in my life right now. I don't know if its because I'm only 14 years old, or if its because I haven't been living my life around any particular idea. I've been trying to live my life around the idea of Christ these past few months however. Its harder than it looks though, and I don't feel as if this theme in my life is shining through very well in other areas of my life. In the next years of my life, I want to try and make a bigger point out of it. If I had to say what the theme of my life would be, I think it would be something close to time heals all wounds. This is one of the themes that I've always laughed at because they sounded so rediculously untrue. What I've found out though, is that time doesn't heal wounds, but as time passes the memories dull and are harder to remember. I've moved to 5 different schools since Kindergarten, and leaving behind friends was the most painful thing for me. Although part of me wishes I could remember all of their faces, another part of me is grateful that I don't remember them because I know the pain of missing them would be that much worse.

3) In your opinion, what is the theme of God's plan for this world?
I don't know if its my place to say anything about God's plan for the world. I personally trust that God's plan is perfect and good. I don't know what God's plan for the world is. I am not sure if God has chosen to reveil to this to any human at all, and I honestly don't have much grasp of how God thinks. He's not human, so what I think can't possibly be in accordance to what he thinks. I'm not sure but I think that God's purpose for making this world is to test us humans to see who is worthy in spending eternity with him. A simple theme statement might be the following : Everyone deserves a change to prove their worth. (I'm not sure my answer to this question is right..)

Clue #6 (Continued as Homework)

3) 3 verses where Jesus is used in a metaphor:
- 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
- The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.
- 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

4) What does this metaphor reveal about God's world and your undersatnding of it??
The three metaphors that I chose reveal that I honestly don't know much about God's world. My understanding can never be complete. I will never fully know what God is trying to say. I can only try and grab the basic essence of the truth behind it all. I know that when he says Jesus is the lamb of God that he is a sacrifice. I know this because that is what lambs were used for back in the bible times: blood sacrifice. I know that Jesus died on the cross and his blood was spilled to cover our sins the same way a lambs blood is spilled to cover our sins. The verse where Jesus is portrayed as the light shows us that Jesus is the true way to God, and that Satan and his followers don't understand him. Looking at this metaphor we can also know that in Jesus there is life. Looking at the last verse, we can know that although we think of Jesus in his human form, his true form is the Word. I don't know what exactly that form is but I know that it is something unhuman and more Godly.

Clue #6 (Class work)

1a) Similie: A comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as."

Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things NOT using the words "like" or "as."

1b) Authors use figurative language to make their writing more rich by weaving in figures of speech that paint an elaborate picture for the reader. Authors don't use figurative language randomly, but instead use them when saying things in a literal way don't give the reader as good of a picture as figurative language does. Figurative language is also used alot in poetry. In narratives or stories, figurative language is widely used to describe somebody or something. When describing normal every-day topics authors will commonly throw in a metaphor or similie or even personification to spice up the text. For example, the author might take a normal topic, such as toasting toast, and use a personification such as: "The toast jumped out of the toaster." This gives a better picture to the reader better than, "The toast came out of the toaster." Here is another example of an everyday topic given flair and beauty through figurative language. Take for instance, the topic of weather. Instead of "It was hot today" the author could say, "The sun beat mercilessly onto my back, breathing out its fiery wrath onto my raw flesh." Again, the sun is personified and given human traits.

2) 1. Kattie hissed, her furious eyes turning into slits showing only the tiniest bit of fiery red behind them. Her back arched and she flicked her tail back two and fro, her knife-like claws out and ready.
2. The clock rattled hysterically, its shrill sound of metal on metal echoing throughout the dorm halls in a high pitched wail of panic.
3. Her rail thin arms perched awkwardly onto her lap, her spidery pale fingers entertwined in obvious distress. He stared across at her, amused.
4. He grinned wolfishly to reveal a pair of perfect ultra-white teeth, almost blinding in the sputtering light. He was the predator, a wolf in the night, ready to feast on his prey.

QW: Personal Ad. *smirk*

Hey there. I'm MeeSoh and I'm a social butterfly. I love making new friends and have a never ending pool of energy and laughter! I am as addicted to music as I am to doing crazy stunts with my friends, and I play numerous instruments to perfection. I can play any song on the piano with mad skillZ (with a CAPITAL Z!) and create music so peaceful on my clarinet you'll think you're in an entirely different world. Julliard practically begged me to come attend their college this summer to share my musical knowledge, and one of the professor's there praised me for having the most beautiful voice he has ever, and i mean EVER, heard of. My ipod is like my right arm and I consider it my baby: always updating it with the best and most modern music available. You want that new album? Pshh don't look on itunes. Check my baby. Chances are, I'll have it and I'm willing to enlighten you with only the freshest and most amazing beats out there. I am also a volleyball beast and can spike you so fast and so hard you'll think you were hit by lightning. One smack and you're out of this world. Look on the court: Who's that tall girl with those long legs and a killer spike? Yes, ladies and gentleman, thats me. I also have as much sarcasmlack as Jacob B, and I'm actually convinced we're related. (If it turns our we're not, its okay. He will still forever be my fantasy brother...*sigh*...). Having a bad day? Talk to me and I promise I'll be the sunshine in your day with my ninja ability to say the right words to make you smile. One look into my perfectly shaped large chocolage-brown eyes and you'll be in knee deep.
Thanks!
--MeeSoh (Smile)

clue 1 part 2: BEAUTY AND READER RESPONSE--> Relationship with God's WORLD

1. In your own words, please summarize what Reader Response analysis is, and what steps are involved.
My definition of Reader Response Analysis: Reader Response is where the reader reads text and makes meaning from it based on their past experiences, emtions, feelings, and mood. They look at the text through their own unique lense of past experiences. Reader Response Analysis believes that text can't be read by the reader in an objective way.
Steps involved in Reader Response Analysis:
1) Reader reads the text.
2) As they read, they bring to the text their current: mood, feelings, emotions
3) As they continue reading, they consciously and unconciously make connections with the text based on their past experiences.
4) After they have finished reading a part of the text, the text means to them what their connections left in their mind.
*For reader response, it is impossible for the reader to read a certain piece of text without being actively involved inside their mind. Each person will get different meaning out of the text.

2. How can Reader Response open our eyes to more truth as we read?
Reader Response can open our eyes to the truth because in each story there is a theme. A theme is a message of truth that the author wants to convey to the reader. When we read and make connections to a certain aspect of the story, there's a big chance that we will end up connecting to the theme. (This is especially true in Universal Themes). Reader Response can also open our eyes because when we make personal meaning out the text, we can compare with what others connected to from the story and find overlapping truths about certain things that happen in alot of our lives. When we read a certain piece of text once by ourselves, what we connect to and pick up on as interesting won't necessarily be the same as what others connect to. So when you find the overlapping connections and similarities between you and another person who's read the same piece of text, you will be able to catch ideas that you didn't see before. Therefore, you will be able to see more truths using Reader Response. This is also especially true with the Bible. Psalm 27:4One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
In this verse above, reading it we can have many connections. We also think that God is beautiful in his perfect holiness and righteousness. So, the truth of the matter is that we may find God's beauty when we seek him in his temple throughout our entire life.

3. Why is it important for you to interact/connect with literature?
There are many reasons why it is important to interact/connect with literature. The main reason is so that you can experience the message of the author in the most interesting and captivating way. If you read a piece of text meant to cause a feeling of fear but you just skim read it like you would read a Science Textbook, you're not getting the message and/or the emotion the author is trying to convey. Then why read it at all if you're not going to experience it through Reader Response? You're wasting your precious time going through the motions when you were meant to go through the journey as first-hand as possible. If you don't connect with what you're reading, you honestly won't care about what the author is trying to say. You most likely won't remember what you've read, and you won't find any joy in what you're reading. However, if you're interacting with literature, its a different story altogether. When you are interacting, you will find yourself attatched to the characters and make personal connections to what you are reading along the way. You will have a better memory of what you read and actually make your reading worthwhile by understanding and appreciating the work the author put into the text to give you a journey through their piece of writing.

4. Reflect on a book or story you have read recently and what new truth about the world you learned from that narrative.

The story I've chosen isn't one I've read all that recently. Kate Chopin's book The Awakening was of major interest to me because I learned alot from it. In the Bible it clearly states that adultery is a major sin. However, in The Awakening, her point of view in finding true love after a reckless marriage is so heartfelt and purely passionatley that I can't help but sympathize with the latter. I learned that although something may seem easy to obey when we are young, when we grow up and have to actually face the same situation, the results may not be what we are anticipating right now. Even a fictional character was presented so honestly and realistically that I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, if I were in her situation I might do the same thing. It wasn't a quick thought or an easy one to admit, but when I truly connected to the main character all of her faults and wants came into the light. They didn't seem evil or wanting to commit a sin but just a reasonable want for true love. Maybe the theme and content of some parts of the book were a little bit too mature for me but I felt like I connected on some deeper level with the main character. The man she befriends is her closest companion so naturally she loves him and says yes when he proposes. But after an empty life with children she doesn't particularly hate but definetly doesn't enjoy taking care of, the perfect young man enters into her life only to dissapear in the end of the book "for her own good." To me, the heart of the woman who finally understands what it means to love and let go was beautiful.

Clue 1

Beauty and Reader Response

1. What is beauty?

I think that beauty is something pleasing to the eye because of its "awe" aspect. I'm not exactly sure there is a set definition for beauty because different things and ideas are beautiful to different people. I think it all depends on your perspective. Today however, our general outlook on beauty is influenced alot by the media. Usually something that is symmetrical is viewed as beautiful to humans. Objects (including humans) that contain the golden ratio are also considered beautiful. Most humans unconciously look at something that has a perfect golden ratio and judge it as beautiful. When somebody's face like a models is closer to the golden ratio, our judgement also grows to the more positive side. Since beauty is an idea and not something that you can touch or feel, I think most beautiful things has to stir something inside you. If you are inspired by something, then chances are that either the physical or an emotion that was inspired causes that object to seem beautiful to you in some way or another.


2. Find 2 bible verses about God's view of beauty and add them to the written responses for the questions on the left.
1)Psalm 27:4One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
2)Ezekiel 27:4Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection.