How many times have you seen birds flying south for the winter? They do not read somewhere or use some computer to know that they must fly to survive. In Jack London's "To Build a Fire" we see how that man is sometimes foolish. The man, who is walking in seventy-five degrees below zero weather, lets his learned behavior override his instinct.
He died because he listened to what he has learned rather than his instincts. London's theme is that no matter how intelligent society becomes, we as a species should never discard our basic instincts. In the beginning of the tale we see that the man realizes it is cold, but only sees this as a fact and not a danger. The man spit on the ground to test how cold it was. His test taught him that it was colder than he had first thought, but he never thought that it was really that serious. "That there should be anything more to it than that was a thought that never entered his head". To many times modern man plods along oblivious to the reality that lies one moment or misstep away. The man sees that he is feeling the effects of the cold more and more as he goes along, but he pushes on.
Several times he comments that the cold is making his hands and feet numbed, and frostbite is killing his cheeks. He thinks "What were frosted cheeks? A bit painful, that was all. . ." Again he chose to ignore an instinct that would have saved him. The dog, on the other hand, although guided by his learned behavior still retains his instincts. The dog follows the man throughout his ill faded journey, but after the man perishes he relies upon his instincts to survive. This is witnessed in the last paragraph by the statement "Then it turned and trotted up the trail in the direction of the camp it knew, where there were other food providers and fire providers".
The theme of London's "To Build a Fire" is how we should all take heed to modern knowledge and learned behavior has its benefits, but our primal instincts should never have ignored. The man in the story had lots of knowledge but neglected to pay attention to his "sixth sense." The dog on the other hand, followed as long as he could but then let his instincts carry him to safety. We can never have enough knowledge to replace the survival skill that nature has provided us.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
What would you do if you lived in a town where the lottery was not about money? The short story “The Lottery” is a story about how things are not always what they seem to be. For example, when thinking of a lottery, death does not come to mind but a grand prize like a new car or lots of money. In this short story the author, Shirley Jackson, uses irony to support the theme of things not always turning out to be what they first seem to be.
When reading the title, “The lottery” the thought of lots of money or a really grand prize comes to mind. After reading the story, the lottery really turns out to be a game of death and not luxury. This irony supports the theme since the lottery really did not turn out to be so grand as the readers expected it to be but one of the worst nightmares of the village residents.
All of the villagers are really scared of because they no it is not for money,it is for their lives.Another bit of irony in the story is that no resident of the little village wants to win the lottery. It could be inferred that no villager wants to win the lottery when said “‘you didn’t give him time enough to take any paper that he wanted. I saw you. It isn’t fair’” In these sentences, Tessie is saying that it wasn’t fair that they got the paper with the black spot on it indicating that they are the winners of the lottery. This is ironic that the townspeople don’t want to win a game that we would think of as grand prizes. This helps to support the theme since winning the lottery usually means winning grand prizes, but in this lottery, winning the lottery means losing your life.
Seeing that it means losing your life none of them want to win. In this short story, The Lottery, we learn that things are not always what they seem to be. For example when a lottery comes to mind, a grand prize is what is usually in store for the winner, but in this lottery, the winner wins the privilege to lose his or her life. Shirley Jackson uses irony to support the theme of things not always turning out to be what they first seem to be.
When reading the title, “The lottery” the thought of lots of money or a really grand prize comes to mind. After reading the story, the lottery really turns out to be a game of death and not luxury. This irony supports the theme since the lottery really did not turn out to be so grand as the readers expected it to be but one of the worst nightmares of the village residents.
All of the villagers are really scared of because they no it is not for money,it is for their lives.Another bit of irony in the story is that no resident of the little village wants to win the lottery. It could be inferred that no villager wants to win the lottery when said “‘you didn’t give him time enough to take any paper that he wanted. I saw you. It isn’t fair’” In these sentences, Tessie is saying that it wasn’t fair that they got the paper with the black spot on it indicating that they are the winners of the lottery. This is ironic that the townspeople don’t want to win a game that we would think of as grand prizes. This helps to support the theme since winning the lottery usually means winning grand prizes, but in this lottery, winning the lottery means losing your life.
Seeing that it means losing your life none of them want to win. In this short story, The Lottery, we learn that things are not always what they seem to be. For example when a lottery comes to mind, a grand prize is what is usually in store for the winner, but in this lottery, the winner wins the privilege to lose his or her life. Shirley Jackson uses irony to support the theme of things not always turning out to be what they first seem to be.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Alaska Drilling
Should the United States start drilling for oil and take away a wonderful place? This question has been discussed for years and probably years to come. The problem is if they were to drill there it would take a long time and take away a beautiful place. It would take a long time and there may not even be any oil there. They could just be wasting their time trying to find oil when there isn’t even any there.
They should not drill there because it would not only take away the beautiful area but just think of all the natural disasters that could happen. There is a possibility of many people losing their lives. Some people may want to be a worker drilling for oil but I just think it would be too hard to recover if something did go wrong.
For many years we have imported oil from other countries. So why should we stop now? It could end up causing big disasters and costing more money than it does to import it. Even though it may end up good I think eventually something has to go wrong. After seeing all the things that could happen to Alaska I think that we should not drill for oil.
They should not drill there because it would not only take away the beautiful area but just think of all the natural disasters that could happen. There is a possibility of many people losing their lives. Some people may want to be a worker drilling for oil but I just think it would be too hard to recover if something did go wrong.
For many years we have imported oil from other countries. So why should we stop now? It could end up causing big disasters and costing more money than it does to import it. Even though it may end up good I think eventually something has to go wrong. After seeing all the things that could happen to Alaska I think that we should not drill for oil.
Monday, February 21, 2011
U.S.E.
United States of Europe
In Europe there are many different countries instead of states like the United States, but should they change it? In the book The United States of Europe by T.R. Reid it was discussed. That is a question that many people have been asking for many years. The problem with that is if that were to change, it would take a long time and a lot of work for both the people with normal jobs and the people with the government jobs.
The governors should not change the countries because not only would it take a long time the government would have to change all the currencies and all the languages. I know some people may want to change but what language would they change it to and same for money. Also the people that don’t speak the language that they decide on might not want to change their ways or their culture. Everyone would have to go back to school or teach at the school and I know that doesn’t sound too bad but its hard work for some.
Even though it would be hard for picking languages and money just think how hard it would be for the federal personal. They would have to all agree on one type of government and looking at how many different types they have that could take years. Once they do that they would still have to elect a “president or a leader” depending on what government they decide. Finally they would have to take a census of all the “states” (Now if that doesn’t sound like hard work to you there is something wrong).
For many years the countries of Europe have fought. So why should they stop now? It could end up causing an even bigger fight between these countries. Even though it may end up good, in the long run it is just a recipe for disaster. After seeing all the effects that could happen by changing Europe to the United States of Europe the governors should not change their countries into states.
In Europe there are many different countries instead of states like the United States, but should they change it? In the book The United States of Europe by T.R. Reid it was discussed. That is a question that many people have been asking for many years. The problem with that is if that were to change, it would take a long time and a lot of work for both the people with normal jobs and the people with the government jobs.
The governors should not change the countries because not only would it take a long time the government would have to change all the currencies and all the languages. I know some people may want to change but what language would they change it to and same for money. Also the people that don’t speak the language that they decide on might not want to change their ways or their culture. Everyone would have to go back to school or teach at the school and I know that doesn’t sound too bad but its hard work for some.
Even though it would be hard for picking languages and money just think how hard it would be for the federal personal. They would have to all agree on one type of government and looking at how many different types they have that could take years. Once they do that they would still have to elect a “president or a leader” depending on what government they decide. Finally they would have to take a census of all the “states” (Now if that doesn’t sound like hard work to you there is something wrong).
For many years the countries of Europe have fought. So why should they stop now? It could end up causing an even bigger fight between these countries. Even though it may end up good, in the long run it is just a recipe for disaster. After seeing all the effects that could happen by changing Europe to the United States of Europe the governors should not change their countries into states.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Chain Story
Author's note: This story was made by a collaboration of my class and then I edited it.
Why did you fall in the pool Johnny, why? When you fell in I thought it was going to be the best time but know two weeks later I want to cry. So to take my mind of this I decided to go to Wal-Mart. At Wal-Mart I thought I saw you in the food isle. As I started to come closer you fell to the ground. I thought you were going to cry but then I looked and you were gone. I thought "how Is this possible". Then I saw a hand in the ground. It looked like you were trying to get up but you couldn’t. You were simply to fat to get back up. No you looked angry and upset. You said you were going to be a loser and everyone will make fun of you, but no one was watching or they didn’t see you. It finally hit me, you were a ghost. I guess you were trying to make me feel better. What I'm trying say is, well thank you and have fun in heaven. Well I guess you might not have gone there so well have fun wherever you are.
Why did you fall in the pool Johnny, why? When you fell in I thought it was going to be the best time but know two weeks later I want to cry. So to take my mind of this I decided to go to Wal-Mart. At Wal-Mart I thought I saw you in the food isle. As I started to come closer you fell to the ground. I thought you were going to cry but then I looked and you were gone. I thought "how Is this possible". Then I saw a hand in the ground. It looked like you were trying to get up but you couldn’t. You were simply to fat to get back up. No you looked angry and upset. You said you were going to be a loser and everyone will make fun of you, but no one was watching or they didn’t see you. It finally hit me, you were a ghost. I guess you were trying to make me feel better. What I'm trying say is, well thank you and have fun in heaven. Well I guess you might not have gone there so well have fun wherever you are.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Food
When i hear the word food i think of all the different types. Sweet food, sour food, spicy food. I like how people don't just make food they extend it to the limits. People make gigantic food and then have shows of people trying to finish them. Sometimes they even create things out of it like actual moving cars. Overall the best part of food is getting to try all of it. There are some foods that i do not like but I do not want to sit here and name them all.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sledding
Imagine you're racing down the hill on a slippery sled and whoa uh oh going out of control crash. Wow was that ever fun. So what was i saying oh yea, just imagine how fun it would be. Today we are supposed to get a lot of snow and a lot of people hope we are going to get a snow day. If we do i am going to go sledding on this hill in my neighborhood. I love sledding because you get a rush going down the hill. I hope it snows a lot so i can go sledding.
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