Hydra-trouble that cannot be overcome by a single effort because of its many aspects or its persistent and pervasive quality; "we may be facing a hydra that defies any easy solution"
Bourgeois- conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class; "a bourgeois mentality"
I found the following to be a wonderful example of imagery:
"With regal grandeur, Hope paraded in and plunged herself into the chair by the sliding doors, throwing her two long legs over its arm. The skin on her calves was the color of taffy. It contrasted dramatically with the hem of her bleached jeans. She wore white sneakers without socks. Instead of shoelaces, she'd threaded a satin ribbon through the grommets" (162).
This passage defiantly painted a picture in my mind of what Hope looked like at that moment.
I also thought this was a good simile:
"A slender wrist grew from the man's white collar, sprouting five tapered female fingers like the hydra Alice had once seen under a microscope in science class" (154).
And I found this to be a good example of irony:
" 'I'm glad to hear that, Duncan,' said Odette, removing her own photographs from the easel, one by one, and sliding them back into her zippered portfolio. 'Because I think you've got a chance to win first prize' " (158).
I found this to be a good example of irony because Alice wasn't even supposed to be at this art university in the first place, she was told it was just a summer camp. Or maybe she was supposed to be there. Maybe Aunt Esme knew exactly what the university was.
"Alice stood stiffly while the small, soft thumb-so different from the tough skin that belonged to J.D.-ran over her mouth, slicking it with lip gloss. She'd felt she'd entered a huge pinball machine. Helpless, she could only roll along the tracks, responding to the pushes and the pulls, the bells and the thwacks. Alice didn't know how to stop the mechanism. Hope was the paddle. Alice was the ball" (167).
I think the significance of this quote is a tad obvious. Alice is being used by Hope. Hope is taking advantage of the fact that Alice looks much older than she really is. But Alice is used to this, which is even worse. It's sad.
I have been seeing a theme of self worth emerging from the book. Alice used to think her collages were nothing special, but she is now realizing that she could have the potential to be a wonderful artist.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Post B
My favorite part of this book so far is the entire chapter called The Swinger's Grin. During The Swinger's Grin, Alice decides to go adventure in the forest just to clear her mind and such. She climbs a big tree and talks about how the university looks so different from the height she is at. She then sees JD on the ground below and he joins her in the tree. I love this chapter because it really shows they have some kind of deep connection that can't exactly be explained quite yet. One quote I found kind of interesting:
"It's, uh, a game. See. Here's how it goes. It goes: on the one hand, and on the other. On the other hand of course, Alice, you could stay. You could take a toke of my smoke. Which isn't a wise course, not at all. But it may well be the more interesting one. For me, that is Alice. For me. I'm generally concerned primarily with myself, you see. But I do think about my fellow human beings. From time to time" (121).
I really just like the way JD's mind works, to be honest. Alice is given this decision to stay or leave. If she left, JD says he would never bother her again. But if she stayed, JD says to Alice he will never leave her side. He will always be there for her. He may get annoying, but she may learn to love him. I don't know why but i just really liked the thought of that. Alice of course chose to stay. If i were in Alice's shoes I would defiantly be a little bit frightened by JD because he's so up front about everything. Alice is only twelve and shes already met a man that drives her crazy. It's a good crazy, though. The author maybe went through a similar childhood? I am thoroughly enjoying this book so far.
"It's, uh, a game. See. Here's how it goes. It goes: on the one hand, and on the other. On the other hand of course, Alice, you could stay. You could take a toke of my smoke. Which isn't a wise course, not at all. But it may well be the more interesting one. For me, that is Alice. For me. I'm generally concerned primarily with myself, you see. But I do think about my fellow human beings. From time to time" (121).
I really just like the way JD's mind works, to be honest. Alice is given this decision to stay or leave. If she left, JD says he would never bother her again. But if she stayed, JD says to Alice he will never leave her side. He will always be there for her. He may get annoying, but she may learn to love him. I don't know why but i just really liked the thought of that. Alice of course chose to stay. If i were in Alice's shoes I would defiantly be a little bit frightened by JD because he's so up front about everything. Alice is only twelve and shes already met a man that drives her crazy. It's a good crazy, though. The author maybe went through a similar childhood? I am thoroughly enjoying this book so far.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Post A
Magnanimously- Courageously noble in mind and heart.
Benevolent- Characterized by or suggestive of doing good.
" 'Did I hurt you?' Alice asked. ' Not yet, kid, but keep trying. You can, Alice. And you will."
I think this is an example of foreshadowing. JD and Alice will most likely have some sort of fling in the future, and she may end up hurting him. I am sure this is also a symbol showing that JD has been hurt before.
"Through the leaves, JD's face appeared. His head was turned upward and she saw only his mouth. The thin, liver-colored lips were pulled back over the shining white teeth. He was grinning. The rest of his face emerged, tan against the green."
I think this is a wonderful example of imagery. It really painted a picture in my mind of what JD looked like at the moment Alice saw him.
"Up in the oak, the Little Studio appeared to be made by children out of Lincoln Logs."
This would be an example of a simile. Alice is comparing the university to a structure made of Lincoln Logs.
"Alice sat beside him. He put his arm around her. It hung around the back of her neck like a weight. But it felt so sturdy, also, and reassuring. She couldn't help but feel glad that such a person existed, a man who would catch her when she fell from trees, a man who wore rings with skulls and nymphs on them, a man who talked of fantastic things. He'd relinquished Alice's shoulder and had started crawling through the weeds. He picked up a shining object-the ring. But instead of letting Alice have it, he put it inside the pocket of his jeans" (133).
This quote talks more about how Alice sees JD as different than most people. She sees him as kind of a "beauty", someone different from everyone else. Magical, maybe. The thing with the ring is also very significant. JD talks about how many women have tried to pull the nymph from his finger, but no one has succeeded yet. He says the one to succeed is the one he is meant to be with. So even though the book may be leading us to believe Alice and JD are going to be together, maybe they won't be. Or maybe the ring has no significance at all, and its just there to confuse us. Hmm..
One theme I see in this book is a theme of independence. Alice is learning to live her life on her own, she is really deciding her destiny, making all her own decisions and such.
Benevolent- Characterized by or suggestive of doing good.
" 'Did I hurt you?' Alice asked. ' Not yet, kid, but keep trying. You can, Alice. And you will."
I think this is an example of foreshadowing. JD and Alice will most likely have some sort of fling in the future, and she may end up hurting him. I am sure this is also a symbol showing that JD has been hurt before.
"Through the leaves, JD's face appeared. His head was turned upward and she saw only his mouth. The thin, liver-colored lips were pulled back over the shining white teeth. He was grinning. The rest of his face emerged, tan against the green."
I think this is a wonderful example of imagery. It really painted a picture in my mind of what JD looked like at the moment Alice saw him.
"Up in the oak, the Little Studio appeared to be made by children out of Lincoln Logs."
This would be an example of a simile. Alice is comparing the university to a structure made of Lincoln Logs.
"Alice sat beside him. He put his arm around her. It hung around the back of her neck like a weight. But it felt so sturdy, also, and reassuring. She couldn't help but feel glad that such a person existed, a man who would catch her when she fell from trees, a man who wore rings with skulls and nymphs on them, a man who talked of fantastic things. He'd relinquished Alice's shoulder and had started crawling through the weeds. He picked up a shining object-the ring. But instead of letting Alice have it, he put it inside the pocket of his jeans" (133).
This quote talks more about how Alice sees JD as different than most people. She sees him as kind of a "beauty", someone different from everyone else. Magical, maybe. The thing with the ring is also very significant. JD talks about how many women have tried to pull the nymph from his finger, but no one has succeeded yet. He says the one to succeed is the one he is meant to be with. So even though the book may be leading us to believe Alice and JD are going to be together, maybe they won't be. Or maybe the ring has no significance at all, and its just there to confuse us. Hmm..
One theme I see in this book is a theme of independence. Alice is learning to live her life on her own, she is really deciding her destiny, making all her own decisions and such.
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