Homework Assignment due by 3rd class

Example of the Next Assignment 

Note: I've underlined the theme. That's the idea, experience, or issue being explored by the novelist. I've also used boldface for the transitions. Can you do the same when you post?

 

In the novel Oleander Girl, acclaimed Indian writer Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni eloquently* explores the feelings of loss and pleasure that come with entering into a different culture. For instance, when her eighteen-year-old heroine Korobi Roy runs out of money in the city of New York, the girl, at first, has no idea what do to. Then, by chance, she discovers she can cut her waist-length hair in order to earn enough money to stay in the U.S. and search for her long-lost father. The thought of cutting her hair, however, horrifies her. At home in Kolkata, her hair symbolizes her family’s belief in tradition. It is also prized and admired by her fiancé. Thus, cutting it seems like a huge loss.

 

          Yet, after Korobi cuts her hair, she is amazed by her own appearance. She feels glamorous and free and capable of deciding her own future, even if it means breaking with tradition. Although she knows her family may not approve when she returns to Kolkata, she believes that she has asserted her independence in a way that was right. Besides, she knows she can grow her hair to her waist again if she chooses.

 

          In yet another instance of the same theme, Korobi is somewhat embarrassed at putting on an expensive business suit to go to an important meeting. She is used to wearing the traditional dress of females back home, a shirt called the kurta combined with loose trousers. But when her friend encourages her to wear a designer suit to the meeting, the girl is surprised by how easy it is to wear the clothes of another culture, without changing who she is inside those clothes. As a result, some of her fears about change begin to diminish.*

 

*Eloquently: revealing a talent for using language skillfully

*diminish: decrease, lessen

 

 

 

In Cynthia Kadohata’s Novel kira-kira, the theme that despite living a hard a life and being under prejudice, Japanese people who resided in America kept thinking and yearning for wonderful dreams and future is explored in subtle ways.

 

For instance, at the very beginning of the novel, Lynn had a fascinating imagination that that she and Katie would be rich someday and buy their parents seven houses, but first they would buy a house for two sisters. As a matter of fact, their parents had already begun saving money under the refrigerator for the house. The two kids realized that by sacrificing their treats, their family could reach a step closer to their new house. In addition, their parents worked intensively regardless of day and night. Their mother didn’t care if she couldn’t use bathroom during work or if her fingers were so stiff that she couldn’t move them when she got home. When a woman would like to initiate union campaign, she was scared that the supporters would get them all fired. She was very willing to pay the price of their house by enduring unsatisfactory circumstances. And eventually, as a result, after they got loans from bank, moving into a new sky-blue house came into reality. Even so, their mother felt like a “better” house and living with a “better” neighborhood.

 

Another example would be Mrs. Muramoto and her husband, who worked with Katie and Lynn’s father at the hatchery. Both of whom lived in the same apartment in which Katie’s family used to be. Mrs. Muramoto’s husband had a low and clear voice, and he liked to sit alone in the kitchen reading the newspaper out loud as if he were a newsman. Maybe being a newsman is one of his dreams. Consequently, Mrs. Muramoto loved watching news so much and said that if her husband were white, he could work as a newsman on TV. 

This is absolutely fabulous, Silver!  You nailed it ( i.e. performed to perfection).

 

 

Let me know if you want me to work on a few things, a very few, that would make it sound, in only a few places, more like a native speaker, and I can send those suggestions to you via e-mail.

 

But really, I am dumbstruck by how perfectly you fulfilled this assignment. It's a typical academic assignment that requires what's called  "arguing from the text," and I have known American students to struggle with it at first, because they are more used to writing from personal experience. You, however, had no such difficulties. Terrific work!!  I am deeply impressed.  LMF

Thank you, Laraine. I would really like to see your suggestions! Please email me a copy. 

My pleasure. I will get it to you either today or tomorrow.  Laraine

Theme: Dream

In kira-kira, the theme of dream is explored in subtle way. The novel shows us every character’s dream, including the dream of Katie to be a zoologist, of their parents to buy their own house and also her sister’s college dream and uncle’s entrepreneurial dream.

 

For instance, Katie’s parents were dream of their own house in America. Actually, it was not easy for a Japanese family at that time. They made a big decision to immigrate from Lowa to Georgia in order to buy their own house. Her father worked in a local hatchery and her mom worked in a poultry processing plant. They used to start working at dawn but knock off too late. In addition, Katie’s mother had cleanliness, but when their family first moved Georgia, she had started out working in a dirty area of the plant, and her work was to handled the blood and guts and feather and so on.

 

So for their dream house she could bear all of it, they can accept this kind of low status work which the locals disdain, and also the ignorance and prejudice from the natives. Because they knew that is their dream. Maybe it would be a piece of cake for an American family, but it would be hard for a Japanese American family. So if they really want to make it they can do nothing but work hard. So actually, I’m talking about the Japanese American, as outsiders, how they struggle to achieve the American dream. Dream is a powerful thing, although it leads us to a road which is full of thorns, we’ll feel happy when we chase our dream. And when it comes true, we’ll be ecstatic. Just like when Katie’s parents finally buy their dream house everyone is over the moon, and Lynn who gets a serious illness is so happy that she feels much better than before. Because chasing our own dream is a real happiness.

 

Ewan, I like the way you pull into the discussion  of the book the idea of the American dream, which, certainly, at that time was all about having one's own home, and that dream did, indeed, animate the entire life of Katie's family.

 

My favorite line is "Dream is a powerful thing," which is lovely.  I also think you effectively illustrate just how powerful  a dream can be by describing the way Katie's parents were willing to work themselves to the bone to achieve their dream of owning a home.

 

Your word choice is also very apt in several places. "Entrepreneurial" is the perfect word to describe Uncle Katsuhisa's dreams, and I really like your use of image-bearing verbs as in "for their dream house, she could bear all of it" and "they can accept this kind of low-status work which the locals disdain." I don't think you can find a better word than "disdain" in that last clause.

 

You use idioms like "over the moon" exactly right. Idioms are tricky. I'm impressed.

 

If you want a more formal and academic analysis, let me know, and I'll send it via e-mail. Nice work. LMF

Hi Laraine
Acually, the last page is not mine. It is Louis'. Here is my essay.

In the novel Kira-Kira, the influence that elder kids had had on younger ones is explored in subtle ways.

Firstly, I think the consciousness of caring about others is one of the most important things that small kids can get from bigger ones. For instance, at the very beginning of the book, when Katie was grabbed by a dog in a danger situation, Lynn pulled at the dog's tail and shouted at Katie to run. Because of Lynn was always caring about Katie and rescued her without regard for herself, Katie went back with a milk bottle-considered as a weapon-and threw at the dog in order to save Lynn's life. Although the bottle missed the dog and broke on the street, it still attracted the dog to lap up the milk instead of doing harm on Lynn. Without any words, Katie understood people should help and care about who they love even sometime they may make sacrifice by Lynn's behavior.

We can also make sense of the point from the details that the narrator wrote on the following chapter, when Lynn fell ill and Katie started to take care of Sam. By the time Lynn was stayed in bed weakly, Katie sneaked in and asked what Lynn wanted for help, just like Lynn used to do to her. She checked to see if Sam's forehead felt either too hot or too cold as well, which showed that she had learned how to take care of kids and performed like an elder sister. So maybe Sam will also get this when he grows up.

Yet, when Katie and Sam are playing cards, Katie let Sam win two games to cheer him up; Katie did not mind taking a bath in Sam's old water; Lynn used to help Katie do the dishes, and now Katie did not manage her room though, she did much about taking care of Sam. These are all evidence of what Katie had learned from Lynn-her elder sister. This always happened without saying anything. Katie just copied what the Lynn did, and gradually she became the big kid and learn the good character from Lynn-care about people you loved, especially small ones.

On the other hand, the interest or preference that elder kids have will also affect the small children in a way. For example, when Katie first met Silly, she said she wanted to study animal in Africa. Actually she didn't even know what would she do and how could she achieve her goal, but Lynn said she should do that, she would do that then.

Another part I can think about is that when Lynn started to change, Katie still costumed to do things that Lynn used to do, like dancing with special step. At that time, the interesting thing was, Sam was seem to like that to. So the habits which Lynn had gave to Katie began to influence Sam!

All in all, if we read the book carefully enough, we can surly notice that elder kids has great influence on younger ones. But one thing I have to mention is that I only argued about the positive influences, may be there are some negative effect as well. Every one has their own answer.

 

@Ewan, Apologies to you as well for confusing you and Lewis.  I have to make notecards where I match up the American and Chinese names.

 

This is a first rate piece of work, and I am impressed by the clarity of your writing. There is no way that anyone reading this sentence would ever think English wasn't your first language:"I think the consciousness of caring about others is one of the most important things that small kids can get from bigger one." And that's just one example of many such sentences that sound like a native speaker wrote them.

 

I hadn't thought much about the theme you mention but the specific evidence you supply certainly convinced me. I particularly liked the graceful way you move from discussing Katie and Lynn to discussing how Sam gets into the mix. And again, reading the description, I marvel at how clearly and gracefully you write in English.

 

There are a few more formal comments I could make, and I will via e-mail if you wish.

 

And lastly, my apologies again for my confusion of the names. LMF