my personal philosophy

I think that my personal philosophy affects how I read a novel because I am expecting the characters and the author to believe the same things that I do. While reading I can almost expect what will happen based on what has already hapened in the book and comparing it to what I will do. This is why The Stranger is somewhat difficult to read because the main character has no morals and this way it's hard to understand because he hardly relates to me at all.

nine questions

1. Word Choice
Why does Camus use simple words to tell a deep story?

2. Sentences
Why does Camus use short sentences then out of nowhere some out with a big sentence?

3. Images
Why dies Camus use the image of the sun. why does everyone use the symbol of the sun?

4. Symbol
What is Camus trying to portray using the sun?

5. Figures of speech
Why doesn't Camus create more metaphors?

6. Rhetorical devices
Why does camus make the main character seem like he doesn't care about anything?

7. patterns
Why does camus keep bringing up the sun and the heat?

8. narrators
why does Camus use a first person narrator?

9. Structure
Why does Camus use this pace to tell the story?

Tracking the sun and another image in "The Stranger"

Information is coming soon =)

Tanism

1. The world is ultimately good, if this wasn't the case, noone would ever get along.

2. Everything happens for a reason and past experiences and decisions lead to following ones.

3. knowledge is the core of our existence

4. interaction with surroundings determines who your will become

5. biological factors combined with outside influences interact to create behavior

6. one does not control their destiny, everything is laid out for them from the beginning.

7. There is no superior devine being controlling the lives of humans.

8. We are born with only instinctual senses but over time develop senses that mak us more civilized.

Stranger Journal #1

One translation seems to portray more emotion for the death of the guys mother. One of the translations stated that it didn't even feel like his mother had even died. it seems to be like it's not that big of a deal and that it happens all the time. it also stated "Usual vigil beside the body" which is worded like it an everyday occurrence. Other than that I didn;t really find much difference beside different wording and some things that were left out, but of course, with translation, that's bound to happen.

book structure

the book is structured so that the beginning and end connect and brings the reader around full circle. it gives a sence of completion and relaxation because it goes back to the familiar porch setting. the book was also written in a way that Janie is looking back in the past and so at the end, you can tell she is back to reality and it gives a strong sense of closure.

"Their Eyes Were Watching God"

Hurston mentions this quote when the hurricane rips through the everglades. At that time everyone is looking to god to see what he will do next and shy he did it to begin with. This can also be seen as a theme throughout the book too. Everyone lives their lives with God in mind and they rely on him to make their lives better. They all look up to Him, praying that everything will fall into place and that he will take care of everything.

Mrs. Turner

Mrs Turner and her husband have a very poor relationship. they are very distant and seem to not like each other the way a normal married couple should. She sets herself up for failure and sets her standards so high that she thinks that everyone will fail her and that noone will be good enough for her. she has a very bitter attitude and by having her in the book shows how good tea cake and janie's relationship is.

Janie's Change

Janie becomes a lot more independent. She starts thinking for herself rather than listen to what others have to say. she pretty much just follows her gut instinct. Also she isn't controlled by her grandmother's wishes and other people's wishes that she cares about such as Jody. Her development is her own thoughts and beliefs are all part of her change and her overall growth of becoming her own person.

Janie's Motivation

Janie's motivation is her want to live life and experience everything that she wasn't able to in the past. All her life she had been controlled by somebody else and she decided that she can't just let time fly and just sit back and watch her life just be wasted. With Tea Cake's help she can now finally live her life without any restrictions.

Imitating Zora Neale Hurston

So Maximillion began to think about time. Time, that almighty being possessing all with unlimited power controling everything through the unknown. The majestic being who resided in his hidden palace, observing with boundless potential. What reason does Time have to act, when noone can stand against his almighty power? He hovers in his holy safehaven, watching the world. Stalks carefully and quietly at all times, working his magic unknowingly to all. He ignites his bindful might, and it frights the world. Maximillion was at the mercy of time's power. His mother, drawing to an end, should not have to face this passage alone. many have offered help, but help has been turned down. Her time is here and only by God's intentions shall she return. He believed that she would be saved, but the family and doctored begged to differ. and as stated, the next morning as the sun rose, grim faces gathered on the porch bearing freshly cut tulips and roses. Individuals who would not regularly cared for the passing woman showed their grief and support. Just waiting for that inevitable moment. Grief, that dark unknown being, had cast a shadow over them all.

That's realy depressing...

Lit Terms 1-5

Literary Device 1:
Page: 27
Type: Imagery
Quote: "It was a cityfied, stylish dressed man with his hat set at an angle that didn't belong in these parts. His coat was over his arm, but he didn't need it to represent his clothes. The shirt with the silk sleeveholders was dazzling enough for the world."
Why: Zora Neale Hurston used this imagery to describe and paint a vivid picture of the man. By the way he was described and the way he dressed, he is clearly wealthy. It also helps us understand why Janie is so attracted to him.

Literary Device 2:
Page: 30
Type: Situational Irony
Quote: "'S'posin' Ah wuz to run off and leave yuh sometime.'"
Why: Janie says this to kind of test out the water and see what Logan would do if she were to run off. Logan may think it's a hypothetical question but Janie is really planning on leaving him without him being aware of it at the time.

Literary Device 3:
Page: 31
Type: Metaphor
Quote: "The sun from ambush was threatening the world with red daggers"
Why: This quote compares the sun's rays to daggers, the sun's rays often seen as red when rising or setting and the daggers represents the intensity of the light and how it would be a shock to step into it suddenly as if it were an ambush.

Literary Device 4:
Page: 32
Type: Epiphany
Quote: "What was she losing so much time for? A feeling of sudden newness and change came over her."
Why: The mood shift by the character also changes the mood of the entire story itself. Janie realizes that time could not be wasted and that if she want to get anywhere she would have to take initiative and that she would have to pursue her goals, they won't just come to her.

Literary Device 5:
Page: 32
Type: Simile
Quote: "The morning road air was like a new dress."
Why: This quote compares the freshness of the morning air to the feeling that one may get from trying on new clothing for the first time. It also represents Janie's feeling of freshness about her new start at life.

Their Eyes Were Watching God Journal Entries (1-2)

2/4/09

Journal Entry #1
The dialect used in the story and the narration are extremely different. The dialect in the story portrays the uneducated side of the black population which has become the common belief, using a lot of slang and other factors that give the character their "personality" (which was actually very hard to read for the first couple of pages). The narration on the other hand is written in a way that is easily read by a person who is not used to such strong dialect and is written in the way most of us are familiar with when it comes to novels. With the story dialect, you can get a sense of emotion and see specific characteristics of individuals that can't be achieved by writing in the style of the narration. On the other hand, some information (such as background information) should be left to the kind of text that can be simply understood.

Journal Entry #2
The setting, no doubt, influence the ideas and personalities of these characters. We can see right from the beginning that gossip plays a big role in the community and that they all seem to be very close. Most of chapter 1-3 focused on Janie's grandmother's story about all the hardships that she faced growing up (slavery, rape, running away etc) and because of all that she went through, she wants to be sure that Janie is safe in a place that is prone to violence toward blacks during the time period. Nanny also tries to marry Janie away to Logan Killicks in an attempt to keep her safe, even though Janie is against it which shows to what extent Nanny is willing to go to get peace of mind knowing that her granddaughter is "safe".