Change from Language to Literature

Literature is the collective body of literary productions, embracing the entire results of knowledge and fancy preserved in writing

This week’s we have been working with literary texts:

-The leopard

-Notable American Woman

We made a quick over view of the texts and, mainly we talk about the new part of our IB program.

Boo Radley’s Diary

Entry 1

Today I could spot from the window Bob Ewell staring at the finches house, I think he is affected because of the trial thing, Atticus shouldn’t have accept to defend Tom, he is only going to make everything worse.

I’m going to start watching the kids wile Atticus is in court, saw nothing happens to them. All this court thing is making town eager, and now everybody is dependent on the resolution. Everyone passing trough is talking on their ideal resolution. I hope that justice will be made and that Tom Robinson could be save from this terrible undeserved death.

 Entry 2

Nathal has told me every new he has from the  trial going on today, poor Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white girl, she’s name is Mayella. This is nothing but madness, the trial is nothing but danger to those kids.

That Bob Ewell is a dangerous person. That monster, something tells me he is evil; I can’t explain what tells me that, but I know by heart he is. He would harm anyone he can’s, he is a poison snake seeking revenge. His revenge is nothing but imaginary, the Finch family hasn’t done any harm to him, but he can’t understand it.

Entry 3

I knew it, I always knew it, I predicted he was nothing but danger, attacking those little kids at the bushes. Today I have save does little kids from that monster. He tried to harm them while nobody was there to defend them.

 Scout wasn’t harmed but Jem has a broken arm. Doctor Reynolds came and said that he will be alright, and that he will recover very quickly. Now everything is all right, I have saved them from danger. Bob lays dead now with a knife in his stomach. He will never harm anyone else and the kids are now save.

Chapters 15, 16, 17: Analysis Questions

Ch. 15

1. What is the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus' comment about it?

They were a group of extreme racist how wanted to kill the black community. They were totally the opposite of Atticus ideals, how was an extreme tolerant person.

2. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why?

He decides to stay and don’t follow others from his father. He made this because he realizes that the group of people in front of him was going to damage his father and he didn’t want this to happen.

3. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life?

Scout by she’s innocence starts a conversation with Mr. Cunningham about his son, by this action he realizes that this is a bad action and disband the group.  

Ch. 16

4. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond and what is your opinion of him?

He is a good person how was affected by the evil of Maycomb, that make him hide his own personality by disguising as an alcoholic.

5. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he correct in doing so?

He let them enter to the black people’s bench, where they coul watch the trial and their father.

Analysis Questions of chapters 12, 13 and 14

Ch. 12

1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase Church. What does Scout learn about how black people live?

 

Scout learns that black people were poorer than white people, she was surprised that they didn’t know how to read, and that they didn’t have money to buy song books. She realizes that the black community was friendlier with other raises than the white community.

2. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church.

Calpurnia changes her way of speaking with black people because she says that they don’t want to hear someone correcting their accent.

Ch. 13

3. Aunt Alexandra thinks Scout is "dull" (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? 

She thinks this because Scout is different from other ladies and that she plays with man (Jem and Dill). This isn’t right because she is very intelligent, for example, she knows how to read and write, while none of her friends know.

4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Macomb's social life?

She became vice-president of a social group in Maycomb, were she socialized with other “ladies”.

5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family, in contrast to Atticus' visions. Who's right, do you think? Why?

Aunt Alexandra thought that family was an issue of huge importance, and that one should be proud of it. In contrast Atticus thought that values were more important than family. This can be seen when he is supposed to complain against Scout behavior, (she isn’t a lady).

Ch. 14. 

6. Comment on Atticus' definition of rape. How suitable is this definition as an answer to Scout?

Atticus gave a very formal and complex definition of rape to Scout, I think that this was a very suitable definition for Scout, because she will know why was the trial going on, and this will make her understand better the world.

Personal Recount - Written task

"Mixing with strangers"

Write about your experiences of meeting people whose way of life was different from your own - perhaps people from another country, or ethnic group, or people whose first language is not the same as yours. Connect your ideas to those present in Chapter 12 (Min. 100 words)

At New Zeeland we could interact with persons with other native language, and we could realize about the differences between our lives (Chileans) and their way of life (New Zeeland people).

They had a very similar life to ours and the type of language was very similar to ours, though we had a more formal language because we didn’t know their slang. In terms of difference between the language they use with us, and the one they use with their friends, wasn’t different at all (except for the slang).

Other difference was, obviously, the cultural one. New Zeeland culture is very different to Chilean culture. 

Contex of Production and Reception

gender advertising

It’s a fact that woman and men communicate differently, that why there are differences in gender for advertising.

That why this week we were studing the gender in advertisement. We had to make an activity  in groups of 3. We had to built two different gender adds' (one for man, and the other for women).

My group was conformed by Mr. Oporto and Mr. Barriga. We made an Energy drink, for women, by using pink and gender slogan. We also made a type of hammer, which was for man.

To Kill a Mockingbird essay

The other day we started with the writing of the essay of To Kill a Mockingbird. This is our first test of this book; although it is only from part one. My thesis statement was that:

“Life of the author is reflected in the setting, helping us understand the central ideas of the book.”

My first argument was that the discrimination and racist events at the 1960, motivated Harper Lee in his book.

My second argument was that the economic depression at 1960 also conditioned Harpers central ideas of the book.

My last argument was that the small town life of the author is the base of the novel it self.

TKM Part 1 Analysis

1. What is the reason for the author's choice of a young narrator?

The author chooses a young narrator for the book because it shows the story in a very innocent way

2. How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during  part 1 of the book?

First Jem and Scout thought that Boo Radley was evil, but throughout the story, they realize that he is kind and good.

3. Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What role does this advice play in sympathy and compassion? 

One of the times when Jem walk’s in else’s shoes is when he destroys the flowers of Ms. Dubose and Atticus makes him read a book to Ms. Dubose every day. First he thinks she is disgusting and ugly but then he realizes that she is good heart women. suffering from addiction to morphine and she is annoying because of fighting for recovering by not using it.

4. How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent? 

He make a pretty good job, by teaching his kids a lot of lessons, but he should have encourage Scout to spend more time with girls than with boys.

5. Discuss race issues in part 1 of the book.

Although the racist ideas of the book are more develop at the second part of the book, there is some racism. One could be when Jem and Scout enter Boo Radley’s house, and the owner things that a “negro” tried to steal the house (“negro”= thief).

6. From your reading of part 1, What does To Kill a Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks?" Do you see those sort of distinctions today? 

There are some racial distinctions now days, but most of people are very tolerant about difference of races, opinion and sex.

7. Who is your favorite character from part 1 and why? 

From part one I prefer Atticus because he represents the constant goodness of people, and helps people to become better person.

Chapter 1 Analysis Questions

1-. What do you learn in this chapter about Maycomb, atticus Finch and his family?

Maycomb was a small and old town where nothing interesting happens. In this town days seemed to be longer than 24 hours and people moved really slow.

Atticus works at the courthouse, his last two clients where the last two people hanged in town. He was very accommodated, and was descendent of English people.

2-.Describe Calpurnia as Scout describes her in chapter 1.

Calpurnia was the cooker of the family, but Scout hated her. They always fight in “epic” battles were Calpurnia always won because Atticus supported her.

3-.What does Dill dare Jem to do?

He dares Jem to touch the Boo Radley’s fence. Jem accept and win the dare.

4-.The town’s people of Maycomb have some fears and superstitions about the Radley place. Describe these fears and superstitions.

People thought that in the Radley place was a ghost that terrorizes people at night. People found the ghost guilty of series of morbid nocturnal events.

5-.How important is bravery to Jem?

To Jem bravery is very important because he is the big brother of Scout, and he must show that he is capable of protecting her.

6-.What do you notice about the narrative voice and viewpoint of the story?

The story is narrated by Scout, an innocent little girl that sees world in a childish way.

The Help Questions

1-. In your one words, write what was meant by “separate but equal.” How did people in Jackson Mississippi- including the ladies of the Junior League in “The Help”- try to apply this principle?

The setting of this movie is in the 1960's where a huge racial atmosphere was going. The phrase separated but equal, put into practice is inefficient because it only achieves segregation and racicism of colored people. One example could be when Hilly Hoolbrook builts an outside bath room for her maid, tring to separate black people from white. 

2-.Do a simple research about Jim Crow Laws. Identify what outcomes-forced upon domestic workers –were presented in “The Help”.

The Jim Crow laws were laws in United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de racial segregation in all public facilities, with, starting in 1890, a "separate but equal" status for African Americans. The separation in practice led to conditions that tended to be inferior to those provided for white Americans, systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages. 

In the movie, black people where taken as things or animals, that where inferior than white people, "My Evelyn?.” This quote refers to maids as things and not as human beings.

3-. Explore the themes in “The Help” and develop your ideas by continuing the following sentence:

“The maids in The Help took a risk by telling their stories. Even though they knew they could be shot to death in their front yards, they went ahead with the project. If people are not willing to take risk, solution to problems is impossible.

Voicethread

As I was sick for almost two days, I couldn’t make the voicethread activity, that’s why I’m uploading it right now: LINK