School began as usual at 7.30.
I'm half asleep, my homework half-done.
My shower's cold; my oatmeal's dry.
I'm cursing as usual.
I'm walking to school; it's pouring.
My zipper's stuck; my left sneaker squeaks.
My water bottle drops; it leaks
I slip on the school steps; I trip in the hall
I'm cursing as usual.
I'm cursing in English and Chinese
I know I'm bilingual
I know I'm an intellectual
The classroom's hot
The teacher's a grouch
The students are snobs
and I'm a zealot
I will persevere
I will hold on
I will survive this hell hole
I will, I will, I will!
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Introduction to Figurative Language ( favourite poem)
Wilfred Owen
Dulce Et Decorum Est
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.
GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
1. How are the figurative language used in the poem? Give the specific word(s), explain what type of figurative language it is and why the poet chose to use this figurative language?
Ans: The poet started with "bent double, like old beggars under sacks" ( 1). It is a simile of troops on a march. The poet wanted to paint a very powerful picture of the discomfort and lack of dignity experienced by the soldiers. "Men marched asleep" (5): a virtual impossibility, the metaphor represents the complete exhaustion endured by the soldiers. The "incurable sores on innocent tongues" (24) is also a metaphor and it declares the absurdity and injustice of war.
2. Tell us why you like this poem in no less than 100 words.
Ans: I like this poem because it tells us about the sufferings of soldiers. From the injuries, both physically and mentally suffered in battle, to the exhaustion they suffered and to lack of dignity they suffered. The poem is to revoke the idea of "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori", which means that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. The phrase is a line from the Roman lyrical poet Horace's Odes. The poem serves as a deterrent to young men, who were told lies about the glory and chivalry of war and to persuade them not to join in a war.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Animal Farm Chapters 8-10
Life for the Pigs:
The pigs live in farmhouse
Napoleon is waited on
The pigs sleep on beds
The pigs can drink alcohol
The pigs do not actually work
The pigs only give directions,then exploits the other animals to work for them
The pigs have more rations
Life for other animals:
They receive lesser food
They work longer hours
They are terrorised by Napoleon
They wait on Napoleon
They work for Napoleon as he pleases for an empty philosophy
PERSONAL RESPONSE
What is your reaction to the novel’s ending? For example, do you find it uplifting,depressing, cynical? Explain.
Ans: I find it depressing, yet there is a tinch of hope. Life on the farm is the same as during Jones' time and the animals are brutally exploited. However, they have seen through Napoleon's facade and someday they might find the courage to fight back.
ANALYZING LITERATURE
Q1) What dealings does Napoleon have with Frederick and Pilkington? How does the battle over the windmill affect the animals? What events from Soviet history is Orwell highlighting?
Ans: Napoleon trades with Frederick and Pilkington. They made life harder for the animals because they have to rebuild the windmill in an even shorter time than before. Orwell is highlighting the invasion of Russia by Germany during World War II.
Q2) What happens to Boxer and how do the other animals learn of his fate? How do they come to a final conclusion about these events?
Ans: He was sent to the knackers. The animals learnt about it when Benjamin told them the van used to send Boxer to the "hospital" was actually a van used by the knackers. Squealer told them that the van was used by the knackers originally, but it was bought over by the hospital, who forgot to repaint it. Squealer also said that Boxer was given the best medical care
Q3) What changes are made to the Fifth and Sixth Commandments? How is the entire list of Commandments ultimately refashioned? What point is Orwell making about the role of communication in Soviet society?
Ans: No animal shall kill any other animal was changed to no animal shall kill any other animal without reason and no animal shall drink alcohol was changed to no animals shall drink alcohol to excess.
Q4) In Chapter 10 the pigs begin to walk on two legs. In your opinion is this evolution a sign of progress? Explain.
Ans: No, I do not think that it is a sign of progress. Instead of progress, it is a regression as this shows that the pigs are turning human, which means that life on the farm is the same as Jones' time.
Q5) Some critics believe that, at the end of the book, Orwell suggests that the pigs and human political leaders are interchangeable. Do you think most government rulers are interchangeable? How might power change those who have it? Explain.
Ans: I think that most of them are interchangeable. No political leader is indispensable as if they lose their popularity, chances are that they will be forced to step down.
The pigs live in farmhouse
Napoleon is waited on
The pigs sleep on beds
The pigs can drink alcohol
The pigs do not actually work
The pigs only give directions,then exploits the other animals to work for them
The pigs have more rations
Life for other animals:
They receive lesser food
They work longer hours
They are terrorised by Napoleon
They wait on Napoleon
They work for Napoleon as he pleases for an empty philosophy
PERSONAL RESPONSE
What is your reaction to the novel’s ending? For example, do you find it uplifting,depressing, cynical? Explain.
Ans: I find it depressing, yet there is a tinch of hope. Life on the farm is the same as during Jones' time and the animals are brutally exploited. However, they have seen through Napoleon's facade and someday they might find the courage to fight back.
ANALYZING LITERATURE
Q1) What dealings does Napoleon have with Frederick and Pilkington? How does the battle over the windmill affect the animals? What events from Soviet history is Orwell highlighting?
Ans: Napoleon trades with Frederick and Pilkington. They made life harder for the animals because they have to rebuild the windmill in an even shorter time than before. Orwell is highlighting the invasion of Russia by Germany during World War II.
Q2) What happens to Boxer and how do the other animals learn of his fate? How do they come to a final conclusion about these events?
Ans: He was sent to the knackers. The animals learnt about it when Benjamin told them the van used to send Boxer to the "hospital" was actually a van used by the knackers. Squealer told them that the van was used by the knackers originally, but it was bought over by the hospital, who forgot to repaint it. Squealer also said that Boxer was given the best medical care
Q3) What changes are made to the Fifth and Sixth Commandments? How is the entire list of Commandments ultimately refashioned? What point is Orwell making about the role of communication in Soviet society?
Ans: No animal shall kill any other animal was changed to no animal shall kill any other animal without reason and no animal shall drink alcohol was changed to no animals shall drink alcohol to excess.
Q4) In Chapter 10 the pigs begin to walk on two legs. In your opinion is this evolution a sign of progress? Explain.
Ans: No, I do not think that it is a sign of progress. Instead of progress, it is a regression as this shows that the pigs are turning human, which means that life on the farm is the same as Jones' time.
Q5) Some critics believe that, at the end of the book, Orwell suggests that the pigs and human political leaders are interchangeable. Do you think most government rulers are interchangeable? How might power change those who have it? Explain.
Ans: I think that most of them are interchangeable. No political leader is indispensable as if they lose their popularity, chances are that they will be forced to step down.
Animals Farm Chapters 5-7
The Words:
In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs presided over by himself.
What they really mean:
Napoleon is going to make all the decisions from now on.
The Words:
I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrade, leadership is a pleasure!
What they really mean:
Napoleon wants to maintain that he is sacrificing for the better of the animals.
The Words:
This work is strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.
What they really mean:
All animals must work on Sundays.
The Words:
From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with neighbouring farms: not, of course, for any commercial purpose, but simply in order to obtain materials which were urgently necessary
What they really mean:
Napoleon is engaging in trade with humans for his own profit.
The Words:
It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm should have a quiet place to work in
What they really mean:
The pigs get to live in the farmhouse.
The Words:
It was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals
What they really mean:
The pigs' workload will be lesser than the other animals
The Words:
Beasts of England has been abolished
What they really mean:
There will be no more rebellion on the farm and no more freedom, which means Napoleon will be the absolute ruler of the farm.
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Q1) What was your reaction to Snowball's expulsion from Animal Farm?
Ans: I feel that Snowball's expulsion of Animal Farm was predicted. Napoleon had the support of nine dogs, which he trained since their birth. This already shows that Napoleon was planning to overthrow Snowball long before.
ANALYZING LITERATURE
Q1) What happens to Snowball during the meeting about the windmill? What events in Soviet history does this scene represent?
Ans: He was chased out by Napoleon's nine dogs. It represents the power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky, and the expulsion of Trotsky.
Q2) Identify three ways that Napoleon tries to solidify his leadership on the farm. How does the process of decision-making on the farm change under Napoleon's leadership?
Ans: He chased Snowball out of the farm to consolidate his power, uses Squealer to brainwash the other animals and has his nine fierce dogs to get rid of opposition.
Q3) Why do the executions take place? What message do these events send to the animals about their role in a future society?
Ans: It is to teach the rest of the animals not to rebel against Napoleon. It tells the animals that any opposition to Napoleon will be brutally crushed.
Q4)How does Orwell compare Animal Farm under Napoleon's leadership, to its exploited state under Farmer Jones' rule? What attitude about totalitarian government do you think Orwell conveys?
Ans: Orwell shows that under Napoleon's leadership, the animals on the farm are still hungry and exploited as in Jones' time. He conveys the message that a totalitarian government will not be able to sustain itself.
Q5) Do you think it's fair that those who are more educated or more skilled - like the pigs in Animal Farm - have more influence in decision-making? Consider how decisions are made in your community, state, or in the nation.
Ans: I do not think it is fair because every one should have a say. In Singapore, citizens are also given the right to choose, but the power rests on the government.
In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs presided over by himself.
What they really mean:
Napoleon is going to make all the decisions from now on.
The Words:
I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrade, leadership is a pleasure!
What they really mean:
Napoleon wants to maintain that he is sacrificing for the better of the animals.
The Words:
This work is strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.
What they really mean:
All animals must work on Sundays.
The Words:
From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with neighbouring farms: not, of course, for any commercial purpose, but simply in order to obtain materials which were urgently necessary
What they really mean:
Napoleon is engaging in trade with humans for his own profit.
The Words:
It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm should have a quiet place to work in
What they really mean:
The pigs get to live in the farmhouse.
The Words:
It was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals
What they really mean:
The pigs' workload will be lesser than the other animals
The Words:
Beasts of England has been abolished
What they really mean:
There will be no more rebellion on the farm and no more freedom, which means Napoleon will be the absolute ruler of the farm.
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Q1) What was your reaction to Snowball's expulsion from Animal Farm?
Ans: I feel that Snowball's expulsion of Animal Farm was predicted. Napoleon had the support of nine dogs, which he trained since their birth. This already shows that Napoleon was planning to overthrow Snowball long before.
ANALYZING LITERATURE
Q1) What happens to Snowball during the meeting about the windmill? What events in Soviet history does this scene represent?
Ans: He was chased out by Napoleon's nine dogs. It represents the power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky, and the expulsion of Trotsky.
Q2) Identify three ways that Napoleon tries to solidify his leadership on the farm. How does the process of decision-making on the farm change under Napoleon's leadership?
Ans: He chased Snowball out of the farm to consolidate his power, uses Squealer to brainwash the other animals and has his nine fierce dogs to get rid of opposition.
Q3) Why do the executions take place? What message do these events send to the animals about their role in a future society?
Ans: It is to teach the rest of the animals not to rebel against Napoleon. It tells the animals that any opposition to Napoleon will be brutally crushed.
Q4)How does Orwell compare Animal Farm under Napoleon's leadership, to its exploited state under Farmer Jones' rule? What attitude about totalitarian government do you think Orwell conveys?
Ans: Orwell shows that under Napoleon's leadership, the animals on the farm are still hungry and exploited as in Jones' time. He conveys the message that a totalitarian government will not be able to sustain itself.
Q5) Do you think it's fair that those who are more educated or more skilled - like the pigs in Animal Farm - have more influence in decision-making? Consider how decisions are made in your community, state, or in the nation.
Ans: I do not think it is fair because every one should have a say. In Singapore, citizens are also given the right to choose, but the power rests on the government.
Animal Farm Chapters 1-4
Old Major - Gets the revolution started; inspires real hope for change
Napoleon - Expels Snowball out of the farm; and a despot
Snowball - Tries to increase the standard of living among the animals, but is corrupted.
Squealer - Helps Napoleon convince animals that Napoleon is always right
Boxer - Self-sacrificing, but dim
Mollie - Lazy and vain
Moses - Dependent on the ruling class--whether Mr. Jones or the pigs; a clever talker
Benjamin - Clever but is cynical
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Q1) What is your reaction to the animals' complaints and goals?
Ans: I think that the animals were right in starting the rebellion. However, I do not think that the rebellion will last long and it will be ineffective as the pigs were dominant even before the rebellion.
Q2) Do you sympathize with the animals' complaints and goals? Why and why not?
Ans: Yes, I sympathize with the animals' complaints and goals. Jones ill-treated the animals and took all their fruits of labour, while he did nothing except terrorise the animals.
ANALYZING LITERATURE
Q1) Describe how the Rebellion takes place. How does the animals' behavior during the Rebellion suggest both human and animal characteristics?
Ans: The animals cooperated and chased Mr Jones out of the farm. At the beginning, the pigs already started to be more privilliged than the other animals because they could drink milk and eat apples, and they were the only ones that voiced opinions during meetings.
Q2) How do the pigs gain the rights to the cow's milk? Why do the other animals allow this to occur? What does this event suggest about the power hierarchy on the farm?
Ans: They convinced the animals that the cow's milk was essential to the well-being of the pigs, who did all the brainwork of the farm. The other animals allowed this to occur because they feared Jones might return if the pigs were unwell. This shows that pigs held the greatest power on the farm and that they used this to their advantage.
Q3) How does the original vision of Animalism become the slogan "Four legs bad, two legs good"? In your opinion, do the animals want rules with simple language? What kind of language do the pigs use?
Ans: Originally, the vision of Animalism were on the seven commandments but the animals did not know how to read and write, so the slogan was created to allow all animals on the farm to understand. The pigs used English.
Q4) What technique does Orwell use to cast doubt on the likelihood of a successful revolution?
Ans: He portrayed many characters that were sceptical of the revolution being able to be successfully completed.
Q5) Characterize Snowball as a leader. Do you think his reaction to the stable-boy's death is the appropriate reaction to have during a revolution?
Ans: I feel that he is ruthless. I think that Snowball's reaction is not approriate during a revolution, because violence will solve nothing.
Napoleon - Expels Snowball out of the farm; and a despot
Snowball - Tries to increase the standard of living among the animals, but is corrupted.
Squealer - Helps Napoleon convince animals that Napoleon is always right
Boxer - Self-sacrificing, but dim
Mollie - Lazy and vain
Moses - Dependent on the ruling class--whether Mr. Jones or the pigs; a clever talker
Benjamin - Clever but is cynical
PERSONAL RESPONSE
Q1) What is your reaction to the animals' complaints and goals?
Ans: I think that the animals were right in starting the rebellion. However, I do not think that the rebellion will last long and it will be ineffective as the pigs were dominant even before the rebellion.
Q2) Do you sympathize with the animals' complaints and goals? Why and why not?
Ans: Yes, I sympathize with the animals' complaints and goals. Jones ill-treated the animals and took all their fruits of labour, while he did nothing except terrorise the animals.
ANALYZING LITERATURE
Q1) Describe how the Rebellion takes place. How does the animals' behavior during the Rebellion suggest both human and animal characteristics?
Ans: The animals cooperated and chased Mr Jones out of the farm. At the beginning, the pigs already started to be more privilliged than the other animals because they could drink milk and eat apples, and they were the only ones that voiced opinions during meetings.
Q2) How do the pigs gain the rights to the cow's milk? Why do the other animals allow this to occur? What does this event suggest about the power hierarchy on the farm?
Ans: They convinced the animals that the cow's milk was essential to the well-being of the pigs, who did all the brainwork of the farm. The other animals allowed this to occur because they feared Jones might return if the pigs were unwell. This shows that pigs held the greatest power on the farm and that they used this to their advantage.
Q3) How does the original vision of Animalism become the slogan "Four legs bad, two legs good"? In your opinion, do the animals want rules with simple language? What kind of language do the pigs use?
Ans: Originally, the vision of Animalism were on the seven commandments but the animals did not know how to read and write, so the slogan was created to allow all animals on the farm to understand. The pigs used English.
Q4) What technique does Orwell use to cast doubt on the likelihood of a successful revolution?
Ans: He portrayed many characters that were sceptical of the revolution being able to be successfully completed.
Q5) Characterize Snowball as a leader. Do you think his reaction to the stable-boy's death is the appropriate reaction to have during a revolution?
Ans: I feel that he is ruthless. I think that Snowball's reaction is not approriate during a revolution, because violence will solve nothing.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Gulliver's travel-- why is it a satire?
Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift's best seller, appeared on 28 October 1726. Purporting to be an autobiographical account of Gulliver's ‘Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World’, contemporaries interpreted Swift's work as a political allegory on the administration of Sir Robert Walpole. Gulliver's travel is a satire in many ways.
In order to convey this satire, Gulliver is taken on four adventures, driven by fate, a restless spirit, and the pen of Swift. Gulliver's first journey takes him to the Land of Lilliput, where he finds himself a giant among six inch tall beings. His next journey brings him to Brobdingnag, where his situation is reversed: now he is the midget in a land of giants. His third journey leads him to Laputa, the floating island, inhabited by strange (although similarly sized) beings who derive their whole culture from music and mathematics. Gulliver's fourth and final journey places him in the land of the Houyhnhnm, a society of intelligent, reasoning horses. As Swift leads Gulliver on these four fantastical journeys, Gulliver's perceptions of himself and the people and things around him change, giving Swift ample opportunity to inject into the story both irony and satire of the England of his day and of the human condition.
Swift ties his satire closely with Gulliver's perceptions and adventures. In Gulliver's first adventure, he begins on a ship that runs aground on a submerged rock. He swims to land, and when he awakens, he finds himself tied down to the ground, and surrounded by tiny people, the Lilliputians. Irony is present from the start in the simultaneous recreation of Gulliver as giant and prisoner.Gulliver eventually learns their language, and arranges a contract with them for his freedom. However, he is bound by this agreement to protect Lilliput from invasion by the people of Blefuscu. The Lilliputians relate to him the following story: In Lilliput, years ago, people once broke eggs on the big end. However, the present king's grandfather once cut himself breaking the egg in this manner, so the King at the time, the father of the present king's grandfather, issued an edict that all were to break the eggs on the small end. Some of the people resisted, and they found refuge in Blefuscu, and "for six and thirty moons past" the two sides have been at war. Of course, to Gulliver, such an argument would be completely ridiculous, for he could hardly distinguish the difference in the ends of their eggs. For Swift, Lilliput is analogous to England, and Blefuscu to France. With this event of the story Swift satirizes the needless bickering and fighting between the two nations.
As Swift's story of Gulliver unfolds, the satire begins to take a much more general focus: humanity as a whole. Gulliver manages to escape the land of miniature, and after a brief stay in England, returns to the sea. Again, he finds himself in a strange land, but this time, he is the small one, with everything around him many times the normal size. Unlike the Lilliputians, however, he is alone in this world. When he encounters the first natives, he fears for his life, "for as human creatures are observed to be more savage in proportion to their bulk". This is but one of the many attacks on humanity that Swift's satire will perform. While in Lilliput Gulliver had been treated with respect, largely due to his size; here in this land of giants, Brobdingnag, he is treated as a curiosity, forced to perform shows for public amusement, until the royalty of this nation learn of his presence. During the time Gulliver spends at this court, he relates much of the situation of Europe to the king, who listens with much eagerness. Gulliver tells us:
I would hide the frailties and deformities of my political
mother, and place her virtues and beauties in the most
advantageous light. This was my sincere endeavor in those
many discourses I had with that mighty monarch, although it
unfortunately failed of success.
However well he tried to speak of England, he did not manage to tell only "her virtues." Instead, much of what he so faithfully speaks to the King is actually the vice and immorality to be found in England
It is during Gulliver's fourth journey that Swift's satire reaches its pinnacle, where "Swift put his most biting, hard lines, that speak against not only the government, but human nature itself". In this journey, Gulliver comes to the land of the Houyhnhnms, which are creatures that look like horses but have the ability to reason. Also in this land are the Yahoos, of which Gulliver could only say that "Upon the whole, I never beheld in all my travels so disagreeable an animal, nor one against which I naturally conceived so strong an antipathy". With great irony, Swift brings Gulliver into contact with a Yahoo once again. "My horror and astonishment are not to be described, when I observed in this abdominal animal a perfect human figure". Indeed, Gulliver finds that the only difference between himself and the Yahoo to be the Yahoo's lack of cleanliness and clothes; otherwise, a Yahoo would be indistinguishably human. With this line, Swift's satire achieves its goal, and shows that the flaws of humanity are overwhelming, and let to continue, result in a total degradation of the human. As such, this is a satire of human beings on how humans have to correct their behaviour.
In order to convey this satire, Gulliver is taken on four adventures, driven by fate, a restless spirit, and the pen of Swift. Gulliver's first journey takes him to the Land of Lilliput, where he finds himself a giant among six inch tall beings. His next journey brings him to Brobdingnag, where his situation is reversed: now he is the midget in a land of giants. His third journey leads him to Laputa, the floating island, inhabited by strange (although similarly sized) beings who derive their whole culture from music and mathematics. Gulliver's fourth and final journey places him in the land of the Houyhnhnm, a society of intelligent, reasoning horses. As Swift leads Gulliver on these four fantastical journeys, Gulliver's perceptions of himself and the people and things around him change, giving Swift ample opportunity to inject into the story both irony and satire of the England of his day and of the human condition.
Swift ties his satire closely with Gulliver's perceptions and adventures. In Gulliver's first adventure, he begins on a ship that runs aground on a submerged rock. He swims to land, and when he awakens, he finds himself tied down to the ground, and surrounded by tiny people, the Lilliputians. Irony is present from the start in the simultaneous recreation of Gulliver as giant and prisoner.Gulliver eventually learns their language, and arranges a contract with them for his freedom. However, he is bound by this agreement to protect Lilliput from invasion by the people of Blefuscu. The Lilliputians relate to him the following story: In Lilliput, years ago, people once broke eggs on the big end. However, the present king's grandfather once cut himself breaking the egg in this manner, so the King at the time, the father of the present king's grandfather, issued an edict that all were to break the eggs on the small end. Some of the people resisted, and they found refuge in Blefuscu, and "for six and thirty moons past" the two sides have been at war. Of course, to Gulliver, such an argument would be completely ridiculous, for he could hardly distinguish the difference in the ends of their eggs. For Swift, Lilliput is analogous to England, and Blefuscu to France. With this event of the story Swift satirizes the needless bickering and fighting between the two nations.
As Swift's story of Gulliver unfolds, the satire begins to take a much more general focus: humanity as a whole. Gulliver manages to escape the land of miniature, and after a brief stay in England, returns to the sea. Again, he finds himself in a strange land, but this time, he is the small one, with everything around him many times the normal size. Unlike the Lilliputians, however, he is alone in this world. When he encounters the first natives, he fears for his life, "for as human creatures are observed to be more savage in proportion to their bulk". This is but one of the many attacks on humanity that Swift's satire will perform. While in Lilliput Gulliver had been treated with respect, largely due to his size; here in this land of giants, Brobdingnag, he is treated as a curiosity, forced to perform shows for public amusement, until the royalty of this nation learn of his presence. During the time Gulliver spends at this court, he relates much of the situation of Europe to the king, who listens with much eagerness. Gulliver tells us:
I would hide the frailties and deformities of my political
mother, and place her virtues and beauties in the most
advantageous light. This was my sincere endeavor in those
many discourses I had with that mighty monarch, although it
unfortunately failed of success.
However well he tried to speak of England, he did not manage to tell only "her virtues." Instead, much of what he so faithfully speaks to the King is actually the vice and immorality to be found in England
It is during Gulliver's fourth journey that Swift's satire reaches its pinnacle, where "Swift put his most biting, hard lines, that speak against not only the government, but human nature itself". In this journey, Gulliver comes to the land of the Houyhnhnms, which are creatures that look like horses but have the ability to reason. Also in this land are the Yahoos, of which Gulliver could only say that "Upon the whole, I never beheld in all my travels so disagreeable an animal, nor one against which I naturally conceived so strong an antipathy". With great irony, Swift brings Gulliver into contact with a Yahoo once again. "My horror and astonishment are not to be described, when I observed in this abdominal animal a perfect human figure". Indeed, Gulliver finds that the only difference between himself and the Yahoo to be the Yahoo's lack of cleanliness and clothes; otherwise, a Yahoo would be indistinguishably human. With this line, Swift's satire achieves its goal, and shows that the flaws of humanity are overwhelming, and let to continue, result in a total degradation of the human. As such, this is a satire of human beings on how humans have to correct their behaviour.
Alice in Wonderland
No longer a wide-eyed child, Alice Kingsleigh (a pitch-perfect Mia Wasikowska) is now an easily distracted 19-year-old who seems hopelessly out of sync with her muted Victorian surroundings.
Dodging a garden-party marriage proposal from the dorky son of a lord and lady, Alice instead opts to take off after a pocket watch-clutching rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen), and the 3D glasse work their magic. Although she doesn't realize it, Alice has been down this particular rabbit hole before, when she was a much younger, more spirited girl.
But before she's able to get back in touch with her "muchness," she'll bond with a mercury-poisoned Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp, in another blissfully out-there tragicomic performance) and butt heads with the tyrannical Iracebeth.
Dodging a garden-party marriage proposal from the dorky son of a lord and lady, Alice instead opts to take off after a pocket watch-clutching rabbit (voiced by Michael Sheen), and the 3D glasse work their magic. Although she doesn't realize it, Alice has been down this particular rabbit hole before, when she was a much younger, more spirited girl.
But before she's able to get back in touch with her "muchness," she'll bond with a mercury-poisoned Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp, in another blissfully out-there tragicomic performance) and butt heads with the tyrannical Iracebeth.
Whether they were required to spend quality time in front of a greenscreen or were totally CGI creations, all the usual suspects, from the rotund Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas times two) to the disembodied Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) to the fearsome Jabberwocky (the great Christopher Lee), are present and brilliantly accounted for in collaboration with special effects master Ken Ralston.
Ultimately, it's the visual landscape that makes Alice's newest adventure so wondrous, as technology has finally been able to catch up with Burton's endlessly fertile imagination.
Also taking their cues from John Tenniel's original illustrations, Robert Stromberg's fanciful production design and costume designer Colleen Atwood's ever-inspired wardrobe selection help make it quite the trippy trip. This story emphasises on life values such as taking charge of your life and not being manipulated by others, and of course, facing the problems in the real-world instead of running away from them. This movie is definitely worth a watch
Monday, 3 May 2010
Amish People
The Amish are members of a conservative Christian group in North America known as the Old Order Amish Mennonite Church. The Amish originated in 1693 – 97 as followers of the Mennonite elder Jakob Ammann in Switzerland, Alsace, and Germany. He taught that lying was grounds for excommunication, that clothing should be uniform and beards untrimmed, and that the state church should be avoided. Migration to North America and assimilation eliminated the Amish in Europe. They settled in Pennsylvania in the 18th century. After 1850 they split into "Old Order" and "New Order". Old Order Amish now live in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas. Adults are baptized and admitted to formal church membership at age 17 to 20. Services are in Pennsylvania Dutch (a German dialect) and some English. Though similar in theology to Mennonites, Amish wear modest, old-fashioned clothing and generally reject modern technology, including automobiles and telephones.
Philosophy
The ultimate purpose in their life is to serve Christ and live a simple and austere life. They believe that Christ is the Lord of the church and so he is their leader and the bible is their government; the Bible is taken literally. The Amish have no churches, meeting halls, agencies, or groups because they think the loyalty to the group will interfere with their loyalty to Christ. Therefore, services and meetings are held in their homes. Each district has one bishop, two to four preachers, and one elder. If more than 75 people are in the district,they will divide and create a new district, since they meet in each other’s homes. The only way they will accept a new gadget or technology into their society is if it keeps their lives simple and does not hinder their family-stressed lives. After the 8th grade, Amish believe children do not need any additional formal education so they work on the family’s farm or business until they are married. When married, the couple adds onto the home of the daughter’s and lives there.
Education
The Amish do not educate their children past the eighth grade, believing that the basic knowledge offered up to that point is sufficient to prepare one for the Amish lifestyle. Almost no Amish go to high school, much less to college. In many communities, the Amish operate their own schools, which are typically one-room schoolhouses with teachers (young unmarried women) from the Amish community. These schools provide education in many crafts, and are therefore eligible as vocational education, fulfilling the nationwide requirement of education through the 10th grade or its equivalent. There are Amish children who go to non-Amish public schools, even schools that are far away and that include a very small Amish population. For instance, there have been some Amish children who have attended Leesburg Elementary School in Leesburg, Indiana (about 12 miles (19 km) from Nappanee, Indiana), because their families lived on the edge of the school district. In the past, there have been major conflicts between the Amish and outsiders over these matters of local schooling. But for the most part, they have been resolved, and the educational authorities allow the Amish to educate their children in their own ways. Sometimes, there are conflicts between the state-mandated minimum age for discontinuing schooling, and the younger age of children who have completed the eighth grade. This is often handled by having the children repeat the eighth grade until they are old enough to leave school. In the past, when comparing standardized test scores of Amish students, the Amish have performed above the national average for rural public school pupils in spelling, word usage, and arithmetic. They performed below the national average, however, in vocabulary.
Work
With an average of seven or eight children per Amish family, each member plays a part in the family's economic survival. On a farm, an individual's work and responsibilities directly affect the family. Each person is less an individual and more a member of the family, with responsibilities that contribute. A "paycheck" comes daily in the form of food, clothing, shelter and affection.
Chores are fairly clearly divided by gender role in the Amish home. Men usually work on the farm, with women helping from time to time, if needed. Men are also mainly in charge of financial matters, while women do the cooking, washing, cleaning, etc. Children grow up identifying with the parent of their gender. Boys tag along behind their father, and girls stay indoors to help their mother. There are, of course, many exceptions to this, but men are to be the head of the household.
While farming was not an integral tenet of Anabaptism, agriculture has always been a major part of the Amish lifestyle. Believing that practical knowledge, hard work and long hours are the "technological marvels" that make farm life fruitful, the Amish practice impressive levels of thrift and self-sufficiency, which they believe are mandated by the Bible. Farming is not merely a job or career; it is viewed as a way of life anchored in Scripture, blessed by God and handed down over the generations by Amish ancestors. It provides a seedbed for nurturing strong families in the values of hard work, frugality, responsibility, simplicity and family cooperation.
Horses are a trademark identity of the Amish and their farming, used to plow, cultivate and harvest crops. Tractors are commonly used on Amish farms, but only for power around the barn - to blow silage to the top of large silos, power feed grinders, spin ventilating fans and the like. They are not used for field work. Why the distinction? Over the decades since the invention of the tractor in the early 1920s, several versions were rejected for field use, most notably because of the fear that their self-propelled, mobile nature would surely lead to cars. Moreover, using horses in the fields helps to limit the size - and corresponding cost - of Amish farms, thereby promoting equality and protecting the small family farm. Horses also maintain a slower farming pace, preserving jobs that are the heartbeat of the Amish community.
Over time, additional farm equipment with independent powers sources (such as wagons, corn planters, plows and sprayers) was permitted on the fields to increase productivity, as long as it was adapted for horse-drawn use. Pulling such modern machinery with horses is a compromise that preserves the Amish tradition and identity while allowing just enough progress for farmers to remain competitive.
A large number of the Amish earn a living in non-farming occupations. This is because Horse-drawn equipment became increasingly scarce after 1940, as more American farmers began using tractors. Consequently, several Amish mechanics opened machine shops to refurbish horse-drawn implements, and welders and mechanics began producing parts to repair the equipment. Taking a major turn, they also began buying equipment designed for tractors and adapting it for use with horses. Thus, somewhat ironically, the Amish were nudged into business in order to preserve their horse farming in the face of a booming agriculture business enamored with tractors.
By the 1970s, making a living by farming was becoming more difficult. The increasing Amish population, coupled with decreasing farmland and higher prices, made getting started difficult or impossible for some. Others found the payments on the farm, building, loans, mortgages and interest a hardship. One alternative was to move to another area where farmland was available and cheaper. Others looked at ways to supplement their income by having a family member work out for others, sometimes on a carpentry crew, as a farmhand, or as a cleaning lady in homes of non-Amish. But of most concern to the Amish was the concern of known as the "lunch pail" problem - the possible necessity of having to work in a factory. They were concerned about work that involved going outside the family and community for economic survival, fearing it could drive a wedge into the family and cause disruption.
A good compromise between farming and factories came to be in the 70s and 80s - that of Amish manufacturing shops and cottage industries. During this period of explosive business growth, Amish entrepreneurs ventured into industry within the Amish community, then to non-Amish neighbors, then to tourists. Over the years, they have found that Amish industry has enriched community life. Work remains near the home, family members often work together, and financial resources are kept within the community. Moreover, Amish control eliminates Sunday sales, fringe benefits, adverse personnel policies and other influences that sometimes accompany factory employment.
There are Four types of Amish industries consume much of work that is done away from the farm:
1.Cottage industries located on farm or beside home: crafts, repair work, light manufacturing
2.Large shops: farm machinery, lawn furniture, storage sheds, etc.
3.Mobile carpentry and construction crews: contruct homes, install kitchens, build silos
4.Retail stores: sell hardware, appliances, clothing, furniture, quilts and crafts for the Amish community, non-Amish neighbors and tourists
Amish shops produce an amazing variety of products and services. Woodworking trades comprise the largest cluster of enterprises - furniture building, cabinet making and storage barn and gazebo construction, as well as more general woodworking activity. Smaller wood products, such as doghouses, birdhouses, cupolas, picnic tables, and lawn furniture also flow from Amish shops. The small storage sheds widely distributed in several states are another popular product of Amish carpentry shops.
Recreation
Amish children in particular enjoy playing many games. Rather than going away from the home to parks or movies, children enjoy activities in the house and around the farm. With animals and wide open spaces, the farm is an exciting, although sometimes dangerous, playground. Amish chidren find games everywhere---swinging a cow’s tail, chasing each other around the barn, climbing in the hay, pulling wagons, and imitating their parents. Children also get together at school and after church. Baseball is the most popular activity in the school yard. Many activities normally considered work are forms of recreation for the Amish adult. Quilting bees and frolics are an enjoyable mixture of work, socializing, and recreation.
Some Amish do travel, making trips to visit Amish in other states, but also sometimes to museums, the zoo, or places of interest. Members of one Lancaster family like to make a visit to the airport, simply to watch the planes taking off and landing. They rent a bus and driver for the trip. Some Amish enjoy an occasional trip to eat out, or a birthday party at a local restaurant.
The most popular leisure activity for the Amish seems to be visiting. This may include everyone from relatives and the sick to non-Amish friends. Staying home is not a dreaded experience of isolation for the Amish. It means being immersed in the chatter, work, and play of the extended family.
My reflection
I feel that the Amish way of living is very relaxing and peaceful. The Amish people have a very close-knit community and they have large, bonded families. Although they refuse the luxuries of technologies, they thrived through hard work and iron discipline. The Amish community is very discplined and there are very little cases of crime. This is because the Amish children are taught the correct values through their parents, who use discipline their children harshly. The Amish community is so bonded together that every person knows each of their counterparts very well. This is the kind of spirit that is lacking in us city dwellers nowadays. The Amish create a kind of utopia where everbody is equal and life is simple but peaceful.
However, there are also disadvantages with the Amish way of living. This is because the Amish are isolated from the rest of the world and refuse advanced technology, prefering to stick to the old ways. Therefore, more people would die of sickness because the Amish do not have advanced medical technolgy to save patients, who would not die if they were given the advanced medical care.
In conclusion, I feel that the Amsih way of living is better than urban living, to a certain extent. If there is a way to put technology and the Amish way of living, then it would create a utopia for us all.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Animal Farm
I have just seen the play Animal Farm last Friday at the National Library building and I enjoyed it tremendously.
Differences between the novel and the play
During the process of the play, I have noticed that there were many differences between the play and the novel written by George Orwell. Some of these differences are rather subtle.
Firstly, at the very beginning of the play, there was a dance by all the performers, which was not recorded in the book. Also, during the battle of the cowshed, Jones led a band of men to attack animal farm. However, in the play, Jones was alone and snowball was not injured when Jones fired his gun. In addition, the sheep were not included in the play and they did not chant"four legs good, two legs bad". Instead, we were the sheep as they asked us to chant "four legs good, two legs bad". Moreover, the battle of the windmill, where Fredrick attacks animal farm and destroys the windmill and is driven away in the end, is not portrayed.
Most memorable character
I think that the most memorable character is Mollie. This is because during the entire play, she is the most spoiled character and she almost threw temper tantrums. She is like a vain child. Mollie does not care about the rebellion and feels that life under Jones is fine. Also, Mollie is lazy and she always finds ways to shirk work. She feels that life with eating sugar and tying ribbons around her mane is the perfect world to live in. She does not mind being oppressed and being mistreated, as long as there is an endless supply of sugar and ribbons. I feel that her life was much harder after the rebellion than during Jone's time. Mollie is so addicted to the simple luxuries that she had under Mr. Jones (sugar and ribbons) that she can’t imagine making sacrifices for a social movement even if, in the long run, it’s supposed to be for her own good. Mollie represents a symbol for the bourgeois class in Russia, who were not outright unfaithful to the Bolsheviks, but who contributed very little to the revolution in the long run. Whereas many Russians were actually anti-Bolshevik and fought against them in the Russian Civil War, the bourgeois often were happy enough to nod along to the ideology so long as they didn’t have to make sacrifices in their own lifestyle. When they were asked to make sacrifices, many abandoned the cause and fled to the West.
Review
The play begins with a contemporary dance by all the performers, who are dressed as normal human beings, each with a different clothing that represent people from all walks of life. After the dance, they take off their clothes and this means that on the farm, the animals are the same as humans.
After a while, the animals rebel and drive Mr Jones, their previous owner and they took over the operation of the farm. Snowball and Napoleon, the two main leaders of Animal Farm, then begin to formulate Old Major's beliefs into a set of rules known as the Seven Commandments. Then, they explain it to the animals, in which they have to adhere to strictly. After that, the play depicts how the two leaders have differences in opinions and how Napoleon overthrows Snowball with the help of nine huge dogs to gain ultimate power in the Farm. After which, he becomes the tyrant of the farm.
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