Darkness can Light the way

Darkness can Light the way

Charlie Muller                                                                                        ELA   

10/25/14 806

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                               

In the article Darkness too Visible, written by Megan Cox Gurdon and published for The Wall Street Journal, Gurdon begins by describing an anecdote of a woman and her endeavor of finding a novel for her daughter that she deems “appropriate”.  Throughout the article, Gurdon expresses her thoughts of how dark, and filled with profanity Young Adult Literature has become, compared to 40 years ago. The author wants the reader to feel revolted by the content of Young Adult Literature. In addition the author wants the reader to think that reading young adult literature with explicit content , directly affects teenagers, by normalizing and convincing  teenagers to cut themselves, do drugs, have sex at an early age, or even to go so far as to commit suicide. The author is generally trying to say that she thinks Young Adult Literature is a bad influence on teenagers because it has many “dark” topics.

Throughout the article, Gurdon used “loaded words”, or  words that are powerful. For example, Gurdon  constantly repeated the word “dark” to paint a picture of her opinion on what YA literature has become. The author used this example of imagery to make the reader feel that YA literature has become very bleak. As Gurdon put it, “...kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things in novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 to 18.” She also used a narrative to convey her opinion, “Amy Freeman, a 46-year-old mother of three, stood recently in the young-adult section of her local Barnes & Noble, in Bethesda, Md., feeling thwarted and disheartened. She had popped into the bookstore to pick up a welcome-home gift for her 13-year-old, who had been away. Hundreds of lurid and dramatic covers stood on the racks before her, and there was, she felt, "nothing, not a thing, that I could imagine giving my daughter. It was all vampires and suicide and self-mutilation, this dark, dark stuff." She left the store empty-handed.” Gurdon shows the perspective of an adult, someone who is likely to agree with Gurdon’s opinion. Yet, Gurdon didn’t show or quote the opinion of a teenager or young adult. A perspective that is very important in the wider debate of censorship in young adult literature. The fact that Gurdon didn’t include this group’s voice, shows me that Gurdon isn’t interested in the opinions of others.

All young adult literature should be uncensored. As young adults, we are mature enough to make our own decisions about what we are comfortable reading. If a parent doesn’t want their child reading a certain book, then of course that is their decision as the caretakers. However, parents shouldn’t be able to decide for someone else’s child, that a book is out of place for them. After reading this article I realized that when there is a conflict on a topic as large as this, there can be a lot of biases, on both sides of the argument. An author might only include perspectives that support their opinion. Or when there is a counterclaim an author might make fun of the opposing argument as Gurdon has. All in all, I realized that literature, especially of the young adult genre helps readers to identify with characters. If someone can feel connected, then they know that they can survive what they’re going through.

The Downsides of Being a Wallflower

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!

The Downsides of Being A Wallflower

Charlie Muller                                                                                                     806     

10/19/14

Wallflower- a person who has no one to dance with or who feels shy, awkward, or excluded at a party.

In the novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Steven Chbosky, Charlie the protagonist is starting his freshman year at high school. At first he has trouble making friends, (besides his English teacher), but, eventually he meets Sam and Patrick who became his lifelong friends. At first his friends call him a “wallflower”. But, Charlie experiences many new things with Sam and Patrick such as drugs, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, sex, and love in this riveting coming of age novel and he isn’t a wallflower.Throughout the novel Charlie is portrayed as a very loving person, but he sacrifices too much for the people that he loves.

First, Charlie’s compassion is shown through his willingness to sacrifice his happiness for others’ happiness. For instance, “I realized that through out the course of the evening , I wasn’t happy about Craig and Sam breaking up. Not at all. I never once thought that it would mean Sam might start liking me. All I cared about was the fact that Sam got really hurt. I guess I realized at that moment that I really did love her. Because there was nothing to gain, and that didn’t matter” (p.179).  Sam found out that her boyfriend, Craig, was cheating on her, and they broke up. Sam was very angry and felt very powerless and humiliated. In this moment Craig and Craig’s friend, Peter were fighting about how Craig should have told Sam that he was cheating on her. Patrick and Charlie helped break up the fight between Peter and Craig. Charlie was observing everything happening but also, he helped. Often Charlie zones out when something happens that makes life seem like it’s not real. But in this moment, he chose to help and not just watch the fight happen. It is significant that Charlie is not just watching this happen because in other moments Charlie has just watched things happen. Namely, when Charlie’s sister’s boyfriend hit her, he just stood and watched in shock. I really think this shows how much Charlie had developed and changed.This quote has a very sympathetic feeling and tone to it, and when I read this quote, I felt very sympathetic to Charlie because he doesn’t feel like he should be able to love Sam in the way he wants to. This shows that Charlie is very kind person and he really cares about how his friends feel. A strong distinction, when Charlie was “busy” worrying and sympathizing with Sam, he wasn’t thinking about what he wanted; to be with Sam. Sam eventually tells Charlie that she did indeed want to be with him in this moment. Charlie could’ve been with the girl he truly loved, but instead he was occupied being altruistic.

In addition, Charlie’s benevolence is demonstrated through his ability and willingness to help others.  Specifically, when Charlie’s sister tells him she is pregnant he drives her to an abortion clinic. “When I thought that[Charlie was thinking about a memory of when Charlie and his sister talked about where babies come from, then he started to cry, Charlie and his sister were very innocent in the moment of this memory, and now they are experiencing very scary things together], I started to cry. But I couldn't let anyone see me because if they did, they might call our parents. And I couldn’t let that happen because my sister was counting on me”(p. 118)  Charlie brings his sister to an abortion clinic because her boyfriend got her pregnant. Within this quote a very ashamed mood or tone is represented, because Charlie would feel very guilty if someone saw him crying. This quote makes me feel very sad because there is no one there to support or comfort Charlie. This quote demonstrates how benign and kind Charlie is. Yet, while Charlie helped and comforted his sister there was no one there to comfort Charlie when he wept.

One important message in this novel, being altruistic is a valuable trait to have. It suggests that being loving and kind; helping others when they need a hand; and putting others before yourself; are very selfless things to do. These small acts of kindness really do benefit others. This teaches readers that being a good friend and having a willingness to help others are traits that are important, especially for adolescent readers, as the novel’s intended audience is teenagers. I myself am becoming a teenager and right now, as an eighth grader, I am in the process of deciding which high school I want to go to. Some of my friends who are interested in music want to go to the Laguardia High School, but I am more intrigued by academic and humanities oriented schools. I want to be at a high school with my friends, but at the same time I also want to go to a high school that I like. This process of picking a high school is very similar to Charlie’s situation in Chbosky's novel. The book teaches that you must take care of yourself and think of what you want.

No Man's Land by S.T Underdahl Reading Response #1 2014 806

               In the story, "No Man's Land" by S.T. Underdahl, the main character, Dov lives with his mother and father. His father works a lot so he doesn't see him very often. Dov is emo; he wears skinny jeans and vintage band shirts, he also has long hair so he can feel like he can "escape" his troubles by "hiding" behind his hair. Dov's father sometimes forgets about Dov. But, his brother Brian is the perfect son; he starred on the football team in high school, he also was elected homecoming "king" and "most popular guy" in high school. He joined the National Guard to pay for college and was deployed in Afghanistan.
           Dov really cares about his family this is shown many times throughout the novel. For example, on page 31, ""Pick her up at work?" I echo numbly, trying to force my mind to translate the meaningless words. "So, its not...Brian's all right?"". Dov was worried that there would be news about Brian, that he was hurt or had been killed. This shows that Brian wants to know if his brother is okay. Another example, on page 44, ""Listen," I order, my voice strong and calm. "No one called so he's fine."" Dov tries to calm his mother down by doing what his brother would have done. He wants everyone in his family to be, "ok". So far the relationship between Dov and his father hasn't really developed yet but we do know that they're not as "close" as Brian is with his father.

Compare and Contrast Author's Craft Poetry Essay

Charlie Muller                                                                                     707     3/27/14

“We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” by Emily Dickinson and “Acquainted With the Night” by Robert Frost are both poems that show depression through author’s craft. In “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” we learn that depression isn’t always that bad when you have hope. In Frost’s poem we are shown the loneliness of depression when love and a helping hand are not offered. The structure of the poems, imagery, and point of view all show the tone of depression. The tone of depression is shown differently throughout these two poems because of the authors’ craft.

In both poems structure is used to show the tone of depression. In Dickinson’s poem five stanzas help to move us through time. From “...When light is put away-” referring to sunset, to “...Adjusts itself to Midnight-” making us think of the time it takes to get used to our situation or face it. Dashes in the poem make you pause in the middle of a sentence. This gives us the feeling that life is unsteady during depression. In Frost’s poem there is a lot of structure. It is orderly and specific; there are rhyme schemes, which create a feeling of repetition.  Because this poem is so structured it makes us think that the idea of depression is routine for the speaker; it is usual. But, Dickinson’s poem is free verse, which makes us feel that this depression is new to the speaker; it is not usual. This shows that structure can express tone.

In both poems, point of view demonstrates the attitude and the feelings of the speaker. In Dickinson’s poem, the “we” point of view is making us feel included; we are all in this together. “We” stands for humanity. This expresses that we are not alone. This attitude indicates that people can find hope even when things seem difficult. In Frost’s poem, we see the “I” voice being used to describe the depression of the speaker. The poem is talking about the speaker, who is alone in feeling blue. For example, the poem states, “I have been one acquainted with the night.” This shows that the speaker is unaccompanied. It also says “one” showing that the speaker is by itself.  The two poems are very different in this way.

In both poems, imagery is used to suggest the feelings of the speaker. In Dickinson’s poem there are many symbols of hope. The metaphor of sadness as being in the dark, groping and sometimes stumbling and making mistakes makes us think of searching to find our way through the dark. “The newness of night” tells us that darkness, or depression, is new in the speaker’s life, and not routine. In the end, the stanza “Darkness alters - / Or something in the sight/Adjusts itself to Midnight - / And Life steps almost straight” gives us hope that there is a way out of the darkness. In Frost’s poem, the images of light and dark contrast happiness and sadness. When it says, “I have outwalked the furthest city light,” it means he has left behind the last moment of happiness and feels like he can never be happy again. Another instance, the author uses the imagery of night, which is another metaphor for depression and unhappiness for the speaker, because it says “...acquainted with” this shows that the speaker has experienced this “night” or depression.

In summary, in “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark,” we learn that people who are depressed should have hope that they will get better and that people should know they’re not alone. In “Acquainted with the Night” we are shown that some people who are depressed really feel alone and need others to love them. These poems contrast feeling a part of something bigger and feeling abandoned in the world throughout depression. These poets teach us that we always need to feel that we are loved and we belong.

Compare and Contrast Poetry Essay

“Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden and “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke are both poems that show the relationship between a working class father and his child. In, “Those Winter Sundays”  the father’s love isn’t appreciated , he shows his love by taking care of his son but not being warm and affectionate. In, “My Papa’s Waltz” we see a routine, cheerful evening of a family and the dance of a father and son. These two poems both show the different relationships of a father and his child.

In, “Those Winter Sundays”  by Robert Hayden, it shows a working class father, “...from labor in the weekday weather” this poem is from the perspective of the child. “Sundays too my father got up early / and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold.” Even on days where the father didn’t work he got up early and “... made banked fires blaze. ... No one ever thanked him.” The father was never appreciated. His love went unnoticed. “Speaking indifferently to him, who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well.” The father did all these things: supporting his family and working late to buy a pair of shoes for his son . “What did I know, What did I know / of love’s austere and lonely office?” This shows that love can be tough; love can appear in many different ways. In the line “... fearing the chronic angers of that house.” This shows that the father has anger and rage. The boy didn’t know of love’s sternness or discipline or of “... lonely offices” meaning of the acts unappreciated by others: the polishing of the shoes, the building of a fire and working late. The speaker looks back on this moment in regret, realizing that his father loved him and cared for him.

The poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke shows a typical evening of a regular working class family. A blue-collar father who came home from a hard day at work and had a drink. “The whiskey on your breath / could make a small boy dizzy.” It shows the father with his son, dancing and waltzing through the house. “... We romped until the pans / slid from the kitchen shelf.” The father and son dance through the kitchen. The mother is upset that the pans could fall. “My mother’s countenance / could not unfrown itself.” This shows a moment of happiness for the father and son. This father, in this poem, shows his love when he is home playing with his young son: waltzing through the kitchen, worrying the mother that pots and pans will break. They are having fun. But, the father works hard and late. “... with a palm caked hard by dirt.” In this poem the relationship of the child and father is very different than the one in “Those Winter Sundays.” It is a happy relationship. “Then waltzed me off to bed / still clinging to your shirt.” This shows that the son wants to keep playing and doesn’t want to go to bed.

In summary, these two poems. “Those winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden and “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke are poems that show different and similar bonds of a father and his child. In “Those Winter Sundays” the relationship between father and son is bittersweet. In “My Papa’s Waltz” the relationship between father and son is a fun and enjoyable one. This is important because it shows that people love differently. Love can be in all sorts of shapes and sizes. It is still love. This is also important because it shows the fact that relationships of fathers and sons can be different. In “Those Winter Sundays” we learn that when we are young, we may not understand the complexities of love. Sometimes it takes age and experience to understand. “My Papa’s Waltz” teaches us that families can be very different.

Malala Yousafazi Article Upfront Magazine

A young girl from a region of Pakistan called Swat Valley where girls aren't allowed to shool. She had been going to school and defying education laws with her father. But, one day the Taliban came to her school and shot her. She was hospitalized in Birmingham, England.
Malala Yousafazi has changed the world. She has shown the world that everyone should have the opportunity to go to school and get a good education, whether you're a boy or a girl. She spoke out for educational rights for all women and girls around the world at a U.N speech. She has impacted girls all around the world. For example, In Pakistan girls protest by going to school. They hold up pictures of Malala. She received the International Children's peace Prize. She has also won the Nobel Peace prize. She has also recently written a book called "I am Malala"

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

In the book, "The Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin, the protagonist Ged is very brave because he isn't afraid of the Shadow and wasn't afraid of Lord Benderesk and Lady Serret.

Ged isn't afraid of the Shadow. For example, he summoned the shadow to him because he thought that he was ready to face his fears and defeat the shadow, before he was running from the shadow, this shows that Ged has developed. He failed and the shadow escaped from him, but then he faced him again and almost destroyed him. This shows that Ged is confident.brave, and determined.

 Ged was not afraid of Lady Serret and Lord Benderesk when they tried to attack him and trick him. ged is smart and perseveres through conflicts.