Reading Critically 9/28/11

When reading an essay critically the author suggests that the reader follow certain steps.
The Title- The reader should identify the title and establish what the title says about the piece as a whole.
The Author- It would be beneficial to the reader to who the author is in an attempt to understand any bias the author may write under or how they will write.
Medium of Publication- Knowing where a work was published is helpful in knowing who the content of the essay is directed towards. Understanding who is the intended audiance gives the reader a window into what the article is about.
Time of Publication- The content of an essay is better understood when the reader knows the time period the work was written in. The legitimacy and bias of an article can be intepreted when the reader has knowledge about the overall climate the work was published in.
First Reading- The first time an essay is read it is advised that the reader have a pencil on hand to circle words that are unclear. A topical analysis is best for the first read; the reader should begin to examine the essay on a more in depth level after having an understanding of what the work is about.

"Eleanor Rigby" Dubstep vs. Beatles

1. I like the Beatles version best. the sound was very naturall. I really like classical music and the string influence appealed to that part of my musical taste. I felt like my sould was able to move along with the music.
2. I think the Beatles version is more pleasing to listen to. based on the idea of mastery, the Beatles have one up on the dubstep version. The sound of the Beatle's song flows much better with the feeling of the song and the lyrics than the dubstep.

Sign Language 9/9/11

1. Take notice of the things that normally be missed.
2. 1)He says his friend is planning a hijinx, but doesn't connect it with his retiring.
    2)The signs: people seem to ignore them but they often contain useful information.
    3) The music is playing in the background but it blends in until He realizes his friends did plan       something for him; at which time the music becomes audible.
3. The setting. If the weather was better, observing the smaller joys in life would not seem as difficult, or even necessary.

Shooting an Elephant

Shooting an Elephant SOAPSTone

Josh Day

9/7/11

4^th Hour English

Subject

The subject of George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant is the author’s account of killing an elephant while working as an English police officer in Burma circa 1920 and how this is an example of the coexistence of good and evil in a being or institution. The existing conflict between what is good and evil is present in the elephant as well as the British rule over Burma (1920s) and is illustrated through an ongoing metaphor of imperialism representing the elephant. Orwell starts out by discussing imperialism and how he sides with the Indians but because of his profession must remain an active worker of English imperialism. This idea is paralleled with his views towards the elephant. He understands that the elephant has caused extensive harm to the Burmese citizens but at the same time it had settled down when Orwell reaches it, causing him to question whether or not killing the creature is still necessary.

Occasion

The time of George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant is circa 1920s. The 1920s is illustrated by the evident lack in technology that forces people to use elephants as workers. Various other references to things such as huts give the impression that advances in things such as living have yet to infiltrate Burma.

The place of George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant is Burma. Burma is illustrated by the direct telling that the essay is taking place in Burma and referring the people as Burmese.  

Audience

George Orwell’s specific audience for Shooting an Elephant is people who support imperialist societies and forms of government. The author’s target audience is exhibited by his focusing on imperialism in the beginning of the essay and then his metaphor with the elephant.

The author’s general audience for the essay is the English population that is at all familiar with imperialism. The author’s general audience is expressed by his overall view of imperialism accompanied with personal experiences.

Purpose

George Orwell’s purpose in Shooting an Elephant is to persuade people to realize that imperialism degrades society and is bad. The evils of imperialism are illustrated by Orwell killing the elephant so as to keep him from looking like a fool, and because he was in a position of power he was free to do so. The purpose is further revealed by the graphic detail in which the death of the elephant was described, making Orwell appear to be the monster.

Speaker

George Orwell, established novelist, believes imperialism is bad. This value is illustrated by the degradation of Orwell’s own conscience as he was faced with the pressure of appearing foolish or killing what had become a harmless animal. He did not want to look like a fool in front of his lesser thans that his imperialist job gave him place over. Orwell included his ideas about imperialism because it helped to strengthen his argument that was already influenced by his beliefs.

Tone

George Orwell exhibits a sympathetic and remorseful attitude about the killing of the elephant and imperialism in Shooting an Elephant. These attitudes are expressed with phrases such as “I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors” and “It seemed dreadful to see the great beast Lying there, powerless to move and yet powerless to die, and not even to be able to finish him.” We can see that he has sympathy towards the Burmese because of their oppression and feels remorseful about killing the elephant as he goes into great detail about its death and how unbearable it was to be witness to. This established tone serves to further Orwell's feelings about imperialism. The imperialistic pressures he felt resulted in his brutal killing of the elephant.

Norman Rockwell's "The Runaway"

The 1950s were a time of great change for America. The economy was booming, the government was strong, and life was good. Slowly though, the social climate began to evolve as the youth of the nation began to distance themselves for the values and ideals of past generations. At first glance this shift is not blatantly evident with idealistic portrayals of 1950s life in popular culture such as Leave It to Beaver and The Andy Griffith Show exhibiting youth marching right alongside their parents and grandparents. This gap of generations is apparent with other mediums of culture, such as painting of everyday life; most notably those of Norman Rockwell. [insert thesis *that I forgot to write down*]

"Across the Universe" the Beatle

1)

• words fly like rain
• broken light dancing
• shining love.

2) I am confident that the images in the sogn are symbols, but due to my lack of understand about the song and my inadequate interpretation skills I do not know that they are symbols for. The song writer included them in the song for a reason, but I am no sure what they are to represent.

3) The American flag is a symbol that I encounter on a daily basis which I know to be a symbol. the flag symbolizes America's strenght and liberty. The strong colors themselves stand to remind us of America's history as a small group of colonies (red) and the transformation in a nation of 50 states connected in freedom (stars in blue).