6. Why are there so many books, movies, documentaries, etc. about the Holocaust? Why do we keep retelling this story?
I think that there are so many books, movies, documentaries, and etc. about the Holocaust because the Holocaust was a time where many people died, most of them innocently. The Holocaust was a time during history, and during the World War, and history is very significant to us. This is the reason why we learn about history during Social Studies class, Writing class, Reading class, and so on and so forth. Many youths of this generation seem to think that history isn't related to them at all, and history is something that is "in the past" and we should only think about the present and the future. Some people think that history doesn't have to do with any of us, and we can't learn anything about history. I strongly disagree with this, and I would have many arguments, facts, and more to prove this. I think that history is something that everyone should know about, and everyone should learn from. There is so much of history that can apply to our lives, and there are so many things that we are able to gain from by learning about the Holocaust. Not only the Holocaust, but many other events and certain people. I think that many books, movies, and documentaries have been let out because the Holocaust was a time in history in which we should learn from, and a time where many people died, and we should be thinking about these people. Though many of the Jews hadn't done anything terribly wrong, they were accused of being themselves. This really could have killed their identity, and more Jews could have felt like they were worthless. We should all remember this time of history and remember the hardships that Jews and other victims endured. I think that the story of the Holocaust should be retold again and again by books, movies, documentaries, etc. so that more people will be able to remember this time of history and not forget what happened to those victims of the Holocaust. Everyone, including Koreans, Germans, and Jews can all learn from the Holocaust. There can't be nothing to be learned from this time of history.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Question 9
5f.) Describe how the Hanukkah celebration in Scene 5 is interrupted. What does Peter do to make matters worse?
In scene 5, the people of the Secret Annex was having the Jewish celebration, the Hanukkah. After Anne finished singing the Hanukkah song on page 406, Mr. Frank announced that he was going to blow out the candle. As he was about to blow out the candle, there was a loud crash of something falling below the Secret Annex. Everyone was terrified, and they all froze in horror (pg. 406). I think that they all froze in horror because they thought that it was the Green Police, or the Nazis, and were afraid of getting caught. After this disturbing noise, everyone took off their shoes so that they wouldn't make any noise. Their next job was to turn off all the lights so that their lights wouldn't be visible from anywhere outside the Annex. Mr. Frank turned off a light that was near him, then he motioned to Peter to turn off the center lamp. However, as Peter tried to reach the lamp, he realized that he was too short, and so he went to get a chair, and just as he was about to touch the lamp, he lost his balance, and the chair slipped out from underneath him. He fell at this moment and the lampshade with him. Peter made the situation worse by not being able to do this task quietly, because if they made any noise, the mysterious person(s) could discover the Secret Annex along with everyone else. If that person(s) who was inside the building were the Green Police, then they could have easily found them and taken them, however, later we find out that the person that had come in was a theif.
Theme: No matter what circumstances you are in, you must be brave to do the right thing, and not betray your values.
In scene 5, the people of the Secret Annex was having the Jewish celebration, the Hanukkah. After Anne finished singing the Hanukkah song on page 406, Mr. Frank announced that he was going to blow out the candle. As he was about to blow out the candle, there was a loud crash of something falling below the Secret Annex. Everyone was terrified, and they all froze in horror (pg. 406). I think that they all froze in horror because they thought that it was the Green Police, or the Nazis, and were afraid of getting caught. After this disturbing noise, everyone took off their shoes so that they wouldn't make any noise. Their next job was to turn off all the lights so that their lights wouldn't be visible from anywhere outside the Annex. Mr. Frank turned off a light that was near him, then he motioned to Peter to turn off the center lamp. However, as Peter tried to reach the lamp, he realized that he was too short, and so he went to get a chair, and just as he was about to touch the lamp, he lost his balance, and the chair slipped out from underneath him. He fell at this moment and the lampshade with him. Peter made the situation worse by not being able to do this task quietly, because if they made any noise, the mysterious person(s) could discover the Secret Annex along with everyone else. If that person(s) who was inside the building were the Green Police, then they could have easily found them and taken them, however, later we find out that the person that had come in was a theif.
Theme: No matter what circumstances you are in, you must be brave to do the right thing, and not betray your values.
Question 8
5e.) How do the events following Anne's nightmare reveal tensions between Anne and two other members of the household?
When Anne had a nightmare in the middle of the night, she has a dream about how the Green Police, or the Nazis come for her and are taking her away. Since she is terrified in her sleep, she starts screaming and screaming. This wakes almost everyone in the Secret Annex, and though Mr. Dussel is excessively annoyed by this waking him, Mrs. Frank is the first to come to Anne. On page 398, Mrs. Frank tries to console her and comfort her, "Would you like some water? Was it a very bad dream? Perhaps if you told me..." However, Anne replies, "I'd rather not talk about it." This probably hurts Mrs. Frank a little bit, but when Mrs. Frank offers to stay with Anne until she falls asleep, Anne does not want her to stay, "I'd rather you didn't." Then, when Mrs. Frank tries to kiss her, Anne doesn't allow her to, and tries to avoid it. Instead, Anne asks her mother to get Mr. Frank. This hurts Mrs. Frank even deeper, but Mrs. Frank still goes to get her husband. Mrs. Frank tells Mr. Frank to go to Anne, but Mr. Frank thinks that Mrs. Frank should still stay with Anne, but Mrs. Frank keeps urging him to talk to her. I think that at this point, Mrs. Frank is really doing this out of love for Anne. Margot tries to comfort Mrs. Frank, but Mrs. Frank can't help crying. She thinks that Anne doesn't want her mother in her life, and wants to shut her out. Mrs. Frank thinks that Anne loves her father more than her mother. Instead of telling her mother about her dream, she tells her father, and this makes Mrs. Frank feel terrible. There could be some sort of tension between Mrs. Frank and Mr. Frank, because Mrs. Frank thinks that Anne loves her father more than her mother. I know exactly how Mrs. Frank feels, and I know exactly how Anne feels also. My sister used to side with either my mother or my father, and the other sometimes felt left out. I hated it when there was this kind of problem at home, because I would feel horrible, and probably all the others, too. There was this one time when my dad wasn't in the best mood, and he started critisizing my sister and I. At that point, we hated him. We wanted him to go away. Even my mother felt like it wasn't the right thing to do for him. At that time, I only thought about my feelings. However, when I look back at that time, I can't imagine how my dad could have felt. I can't imagine all of my family members hating me and wanting me to leave. I think that Mrs. Frank felt just horrible. Anne should have been more sensitive to her mother's feelings.
Theme: No matter what condition you are in, and how you feel, you should always think about other people's feelings too, and not only worry about yourself but others around you as well.
When Anne had a nightmare in the middle of the night, she has a dream about how the Green Police, or the Nazis come for her and are taking her away. Since she is terrified in her sleep, she starts screaming and screaming. This wakes almost everyone in the Secret Annex, and though Mr. Dussel is excessively annoyed by this waking him, Mrs. Frank is the first to come to Anne. On page 398, Mrs. Frank tries to console her and comfort her, "Would you like some water? Was it a very bad dream? Perhaps if you told me..." However, Anne replies, "I'd rather not talk about it." This probably hurts Mrs. Frank a little bit, but when Mrs. Frank offers to stay with Anne until she falls asleep, Anne does not want her to stay, "I'd rather you didn't." Then, when Mrs. Frank tries to kiss her, Anne doesn't allow her to, and tries to avoid it. Instead, Anne asks her mother to get Mr. Frank. This hurts Mrs. Frank even deeper, but Mrs. Frank still goes to get her husband. Mrs. Frank tells Mr. Frank to go to Anne, but Mr. Frank thinks that Mrs. Frank should still stay with Anne, but Mrs. Frank keeps urging him to talk to her. I think that at this point, Mrs. Frank is really doing this out of love for Anne. Margot tries to comfort Mrs. Frank, but Mrs. Frank can't help crying. She thinks that Anne doesn't want her mother in her life, and wants to shut her out. Mrs. Frank thinks that Anne loves her father more than her mother. Instead of telling her mother about her dream, she tells her father, and this makes Mrs. Frank feel terrible. There could be some sort of tension between Mrs. Frank and Mr. Frank, because Mrs. Frank thinks that Anne loves her father more than her mother. I know exactly how Mrs. Frank feels, and I know exactly how Anne feels also. My sister used to side with either my mother or my father, and the other sometimes felt left out. I hated it when there was this kind of problem at home, because I would feel horrible, and probably all the others, too. There was this one time when my dad wasn't in the best mood, and he started critisizing my sister and I. At that point, we hated him. We wanted him to go away. Even my mother felt like it wasn't the right thing to do for him. At that time, I only thought about my feelings. However, when I look back at that time, I can't imagine how my dad could have felt. I can't imagine all of my family members hating me and wanting me to leave. I think that Mrs. Frank felt just horrible. Anne should have been more sensitive to her mother's feelings.
Theme: No matter what condition you are in, and how you feel, you should always think about other people's feelings too, and not only worry about yourself but others around you as well.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Question 7
5a. "But always remember this, Anneke. There are no walls, there are no bolts, no locks that anyone can put on your mind." Explain what you think this statment means. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
I think that this statement means that the walls, bolts, and locks are barriers, such as the German Nazis, the whole situation of the Holocaust, and the World War 1 that they were going through. I think that Mr. Frank meant that none of these things can block Anne from having a clear conscience, and a mind of her own. I think that Mr. Frank wanted to tell Anne this before any bolts, locks or walls would block her mind. I agree with the meaning of this statment, however, the statement itself might not always be true. Barriers could block Anne's mind, and this is not impossible, though a strong, ignorant girl like Anne would probably not concern her very much. I think that Mr. Frank meant that nothing could block Anne from blocking out things that Anne valued, like her family. I also think that Mr. Frank wanted Anne to know that although they weren't able to be free outside the Secret Annex, and even in the Secret Annex there were rules and regulations that they all had to follow, Mr. Frank wanted her to know that even during this war, Anne's mind could always be free and she could think whatever she wanted to, without any rules, boundaries, or limitations on how far and how limited she wanted to think i her mind. I think Mr. Frank primarily wanted her to know that nothing could separate the relationships she had, especially with her family and her love for them.
Theme: No matter what harsh and difficult conditions you are in, nothing can separate your closeset relationships and values.
I think that this statement means that the walls, bolts, and locks are barriers, such as the German Nazis, the whole situation of the Holocaust, and the World War 1 that they were going through. I think that Mr. Frank meant that none of these things can block Anne from having a clear conscience, and a mind of her own. I think that Mr. Frank wanted to tell Anne this before any bolts, locks or walls would block her mind. I agree with the meaning of this statment, however, the statement itself might not always be true. Barriers could block Anne's mind, and this is not impossible, though a strong, ignorant girl like Anne would probably not concern her very much. I think that Mr. Frank meant that nothing could block Anne from blocking out things that Anne valued, like her family. I also think that Mr. Frank wanted Anne to know that although they weren't able to be free outside the Secret Annex, and even in the Secret Annex there were rules and regulations that they all had to follow, Mr. Frank wanted her to know that even during this war, Anne's mind could always be free and she could think whatever she wanted to, without any rules, boundaries, or limitations on how far and how limited she wanted to think i her mind. I think Mr. Frank primarily wanted her to know that nothing could separate the relationships she had, especially with her family and her love for them.
Theme: No matter what harsh and difficult conditions you are in, nothing can separate your closeset relationships and values.
Question 6
5c. Do Anne and Peter seem to have typical teenage attitudes toward their families?
Yes, overall, I do think that Anne and Peter seem to have typical teenage attitudes toward their families, especially their mothers. Anne says that she "loathes", or hates, it when her mother approaches her like a little child. Peter seems to have the same thought. Peter sometimes answers his mother by saying, "Please, mother" and we can tell that Peter feels like he is being treated like a little child by his mother especially. In page 375, Mrs. Frank is shocked when Anne removes a pair of panties. However, Anne feels less "unabashed." Also, in page 376, Mrs. Vaan Dann says "You'll be alright, Peter?" You're not afraid?" This makes Peter feel like his mother is treating him as if he is only 5 years old. He answers, "(embarrassed) Please, mother." In page 381, Anne writes in her diary, "She insists on treating me like a baby, which I loathe." This indicates that Anne doesn't like her mother treating her like a baby, and this is a typical teenage attitude toward one's parents. Additionally, in page 382, it shows that ANne and Mrs. Frank both havwe very different thoughts, probably because they are at a different age difference. Mrs. Frank says, "Anne, dear, I think you shouldn't play like that with Peter. It's not dignified." Anne replies, "Who cares if it's dignified? I don't want to be dignified." Though this response doesn't imply that Mrs. Frank is treating Anne like a baby, but this implies that Anne is acting like a typical teengager toward her mother. Also, not long after this, on page 383, Mrs. Van Daan says, "Now is that any way to talk to your little girlfriend?" Embarrassed once more, Peter replies, "Mother...For heaven's sake...will you please stop saying that?" However, instead of stopping, Mrs. Van Daan continues to embarrass Peter, "Look at him blush! Look at him!" Peter once again asks his mother to stop, "Please! I'm not...anyway...let me alone, will you?" He is embarrassed at his mother, and I understand him completely. However, this is a typical teenager's attitude. This is shown again in page 385, with Peter saying, "Mother, for heaven's sake." Mrs. Van Daan then replies, "Oh, I embarrass you, do I? Well, I just hope the girl you marry has as good..." All these context clues indicate that both Anne and Peter seem to have typical teenage attitudes toward their families, and parents in particular.
Theme: No matter how others act toward you, and you feel like you're in the worst possible condition, still love your family members and remember to keep your values.
Yes, overall, I do think that Anne and Peter seem to have typical teenage attitudes toward their families, especially their mothers. Anne says that she "loathes", or hates, it when her mother approaches her like a little child. Peter seems to have the same thought. Peter sometimes answers his mother by saying, "Please, mother" and we can tell that Peter feels like he is being treated like a little child by his mother especially. In page 375, Mrs. Frank is shocked when Anne removes a pair of panties. However, Anne feels less "unabashed." Also, in page 376, Mrs. Vaan Dann says "You'll be alright, Peter?" You're not afraid?" This makes Peter feel like his mother is treating him as if he is only 5 years old. He answers, "(embarrassed) Please, mother." In page 381, Anne writes in her diary, "She insists on treating me like a baby, which I loathe." This indicates that Anne doesn't like her mother treating her like a baby, and this is a typical teenage attitude toward one's parents. Additionally, in page 382, it shows that ANne and Mrs. Frank both havwe very different thoughts, probably because they are at a different age difference. Mrs. Frank says, "Anne, dear, I think you shouldn't play like that with Peter. It's not dignified." Anne replies, "Who cares if it's dignified? I don't want to be dignified." Though this response doesn't imply that Mrs. Frank is treating Anne like a baby, but this implies that Anne is acting like a typical teengager toward her mother. Also, not long after this, on page 383, Mrs. Van Daan says, "Now is that any way to talk to your little girlfriend?" Embarrassed once more, Peter replies, "Mother...For heaven's sake...will you please stop saying that?" However, instead of stopping, Mrs. Van Daan continues to embarrass Peter, "Look at him blush! Look at him!" Peter once again asks his mother to stop, "Please! I'm not...anyway...let me alone, will you?" He is embarrassed at his mother, and I understand him completely. However, this is a typical teenager's attitude. This is shown again in page 385, with Peter saying, "Mother, for heaven's sake." Mrs. Van Daan then replies, "Oh, I embarrass you, do I? Well, I just hope the girl you marry has as good..." All these context clues indicate that both Anne and Peter seem to have typical teenage attitudes toward their families, and parents in particular.
Theme: No matter how others act toward you, and you feel like you're in the worst possible condition, still love your family members and remember to keep your values.
Question 5
5b. What do you think would be the hardest part of life in the Secret Annex: the fear of discovery, the need to keep silent for hours at a time, the sharing of cramped quarters with strangers, or some other aspect? Explain.
I think that the hardest part of life in the Secret Annex would be the fear of discovery. This would be the greatest fear for me if I was one of the people living in the Annex, and I think that this was the greatest fear for the members living in the Annex, too. I think this because after settling into the Secret Annex, there are many times where they all hear some noise outside like marching soldiers or cars, and in the play it states that they drop everything they are doing, and all freeze in fear of getting caught in the Secret Annex. After the noise silently dies out, they sigh with relief and continue doing whatever they were doing. The reason of keeping silent for hours at a time is because they are afraid that they will be discovered in the Secret Annex. Also, the reason of sharing cramped quarters with strangers is because of fear of getting caught in the Secret Annex. Almost any other aspect of the hardest part of life in the Secret Annex will all be related and will go back to the fear of being discovered.
Theme: No matter what harsh and difficult conditions you are in, you must always keep your values and love your family unconditionally.
I think that the hardest part of life in the Secret Annex would be the fear of discovery. This would be the greatest fear for me if I was one of the people living in the Annex, and I think that this was the greatest fear for the members living in the Annex, too. I think this because after settling into the Secret Annex, there are many times where they all hear some noise outside like marching soldiers or cars, and in the play it states that they drop everything they are doing, and all freeze in fear of getting caught in the Secret Annex. After the noise silently dies out, they sigh with relief and continue doing whatever they were doing. The reason of keeping silent for hours at a time is because they are afraid that they will be discovered in the Secret Annex. Also, the reason of sharing cramped quarters with strangers is because of fear of getting caught in the Secret Annex. Almost any other aspect of the hardest part of life in the Secret Annex will all be related and will go back to the fear of being discovered.
Theme: No matter what harsh and difficult conditions you are in, you must always keep your values and love your family unconditionally.
Question 4
4a. Why does Mr. Frank break down when he sees the glove?
I think that Mr. Frank broke down when he saw the glove because probably the white glove belonged to Mrs. Frank, his wife. I think that he really loved her and he really cared about her, despite all the arguments and hardships that they went through during the holocaust. I think that Mr. Frank broke down and cried because during the holocaust, Mrs. Frank had died, and because of the German Nazis, Mrs. Frank had been carried away to concentration camps along with Anne and Margot, their two daughters. I think that the glove symbolized his wife mostly, but also it could have symbolized the Holocaust and the pain and suffering during that era. Mr. Frank really missed his family and he really wanted them back, though all of the family members had died during the Holocaust. Later in the plot, I think that what will happen is when Mrs. Frank, Margot, and Anne all are carried away to concentration camps, Mrs. Frank either forgot her glove or couldn't bring it, and this is why the white glove was left in the compartment.
Theme: No matter what harsh and difficult conditions you are in, you must always keep your values and love your family unconditionally.
I think that Mr. Frank broke down when he saw the glove because probably the white glove belonged to Mrs. Frank, his wife. I think that he really loved her and he really cared about her, despite all the arguments and hardships that they went through during the holocaust. I think that Mr. Frank broke down and cried because during the holocaust, Mrs. Frank had died, and because of the German Nazis, Mrs. Frank had been carried away to concentration camps along with Anne and Margot, their two daughters. I think that the glove symbolized his wife mostly, but also it could have symbolized the Holocaust and the pain and suffering during that era. Mr. Frank really missed his family and he really wanted them back, though all of the family members had died during the Holocaust. Later in the plot, I think that what will happen is when Mrs. Frank, Margot, and Anne all are carried away to concentration camps, Mrs. Frank either forgot her glove or couldn't bring it, and this is why the white glove was left in the compartment.
Theme: No matter what harsh and difficult conditions you are in, you must always keep your values and love your family unconditionally.
Question 3
3. What do you think is the theme of the play, Anne Frank?
From what I know, I think that the theme of the play of Anne Frank is that no matter what conditions you are in, you must always keep your values and love your family unconditionally. A connection I can make from this is that this theme for now is very similar to the theme in Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang.
From what I know, I think that the theme of the play of Anne Frank is that no matter what conditions you are in, you must always keep your values and love your family unconditionally. A connection I can make from this is that this theme for now is very similar to the theme in Red Scarf Girl by Ji Li Jiang.
Question 2
2. What is prejudice? Where in the world have you seen prejudice? What are the effects of prejudice?
Prejudice is judging someone or something before you actually really know that person or thing, and discriminating that person/thing because of judging beforehand. I think that the word "prejudice" is made up of the prefix "pre" and "judice" kind of sounds like "judge" and it is similar. "Pre" means before, so it means before-judging. I have seen prejudice in my own life, in other people's lives, occasions, events, and so on. I think that prejudice is seen in everyday life. I have been prejudice sometimes, or more truthfully, a lot. I am the sort of person that judges a person by his or her looks before I actually get to know that person in their real being. For example, when I first came to this school, I looked at each person in my class and thought to myself, "He looks really smart." or "She dresses really well" or "He's so ugly" or "She's so pretty." As I think these comments to myself, I start to act like I already know that person, when all the while that person could be someone TOTALLY different inside. Because of judging people before I get to know that person, I miss special and precious relationships that I could actually keep, and instead throw them away. This could lead to a huge issue, because some people that I meet, I hang out with that person because he/she is popular or have similar characteristics as me. Sometimes, these people can actually turn out to be really awesome friends, but a lot of the time it turns out that that person is actually awful inside. This is a life lesson to learn : Being prejudice can enable you to miss out on perfect opportunities to meet people and get to know them. I've seen prejudice in other people's lives. Sometimes I overhear gossip, or am part of one, and I hear things that are prejudice about usually a person. Sometimes it feels "good" to talk about someone behind their backs, but really inside, I'm the one hurting. There are so many effects to prejudice. Like I said before, being prejudice can make you miss out on a lot, and secondly, it can hurt other people, and sometimes it can even hurt you, even if you are the one being prejudice. I've seen prejudice in international schools, where there are differnet nationalities and different people. Prejudice usually leads to harmful words, and undeserving treatment.
Prejudice is judging someone or something before you actually really know that person or thing, and discriminating that person/thing because of judging beforehand. I think that the word "prejudice" is made up of the prefix "pre" and "judice" kind of sounds like "judge" and it is similar. "Pre" means before, so it means before-judging. I have seen prejudice in my own life, in other people's lives, occasions, events, and so on. I think that prejudice is seen in everyday life. I have been prejudice sometimes, or more truthfully, a lot. I am the sort of person that judges a person by his or her looks before I actually get to know that person in their real being. For example, when I first came to this school, I looked at each person in my class and thought to myself, "He looks really smart." or "She dresses really well" or "He's so ugly" or "She's so pretty." As I think these comments to myself, I start to act like I already know that person, when all the while that person could be someone TOTALLY different inside. Because of judging people before I get to know that person, I miss special and precious relationships that I could actually keep, and instead throw them away. This could lead to a huge issue, because some people that I meet, I hang out with that person because he/she is popular or have similar characteristics as me. Sometimes, these people can actually turn out to be really awesome friends, but a lot of the time it turns out that that person is actually awful inside. This is a life lesson to learn : Being prejudice can enable you to miss out on perfect opportunities to meet people and get to know them. I've seen prejudice in other people's lives. Sometimes I overhear gossip, or am part of one, and I hear things that are prejudice about usually a person. Sometimes it feels "good" to talk about someone behind their backs, but really inside, I'm the one hurting. There are so many effects to prejudice. Like I said before, being prejudice can make you miss out on a lot, and secondly, it can hurt other people, and sometimes it can even hurt you, even if you are the one being prejudice. I've seen prejudice in international schools, where there are differnet nationalities and different people. Prejudice usually leads to harmful words, and undeserving treatment.
Question 1
1. What do you know already about the Holocaust?
I know that during the Holocaust, many people died during World War 2. I also know that the Holocaust had something to do with the German Nazis. I don't know the specific facts, but I do know that Jewish people were involved in the Holocaust. Keywords that I know that are from the Holocaust are: persecution, concentration camps, Jehovah's witnesses, Soviets. Anne Frank's diary was about the Holocaust, and how Anne Frank, her family and other Jewish people had to go into hiding.
I know that during the Holocaust, many people died during World War 2. I also know that the Holocaust had something to do with the German Nazis. I don't know the specific facts, but I do know that Jewish people were involved in the Holocaust. Keywords that I know that are from the Holocaust are: persecution, concentration camps, Jehovah's witnesses, Soviets. Anne Frank's diary was about the Holocaust, and how Anne Frank, her family and other Jewish people had to go into hiding.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Plot - Red Scarf Girl
The exposition is described with the setting, situation/climate, and characters. The setting in this book is Shanghai, China. The scenes mostly take place at her house, her neighborhood, and her school. There is one change in setting throughout the whole story. This is when Ji-Li has to go to the rice harvest in the countryside. The situation/climate in this book is the Cultural Revolution. The whole story is about the Cultural Revolution and how the main character struggled through this. The main character and narrator in this story is Ji-Li Jiang, and most of it is about her family members: her grandmother, parents, siblings. Some of her 'friends' are included as an important feature in this book. Three main events that happen during the story is when 1) Ji-Li enters Xin-Zha Junior High School. 2) The Red Guards invade Ji-Li's house in passing for the first time and take their belongings that may be involved in the fourolds. 3) Identification of Ji-Li's family's problem of a different political background. The protagonist (Ji-Li Jiang) v.s. the antagonist (brainwashing of the Cultural Revolution) leads to the conflict. The climax has two parts: external conflict and internal conflict. The climax of the external conflict is when the Red Guards invade Ji-Li's house the second time in search of the letter. The climax of the internal conflict is when Ji-Li goes to the police department to change her name and to break her identity from her family background, but actually ends up not making that decision and refusing. The start of the falling action is when Ji-Li's family ends up looked down on, and Ji-Li ends up worrying about each member of her family, and blaming herself that she hadn't hid the letter well enough. Concludingly, her mom is classified as a landlord's wife and is humiliated even more so. The resolution is when the Cultural Revolution ends, Chairman Mao loses power, and Ji-Li realizes that her family was the most vital and significant detail during the time of the Cultural Revolution and her life. Though the ending of the book isn't a "happily ever after," the real "happily ever after" ending of the story takes place after the Cultural Revolution ends in Ji-Li Jiang's life.
Theme - Red Scarf Girl
In the story of the "Red Scarf Girl," the title indicates that Ji-Li was a girl who followed Chairman Mao because she was brainwashed. The red scarf signifies the communist party in China and how it got hold of her life. The red scarf is tied to Ji-Li and she is to it. This shows suffocation because of her family background. She is stifled in her own thoughts. Ji-Li Jiang later realizes that her family was really important: more than anything else. She was the kind of girl who thought her life was perfect, and was prideful. However, she later realizes that becoming a Red Guard and being a follower of Chairman Mao was meaningless. An important statement made in the story is: "Heaven and earth are great, but greater still is the kindness of the Communist Party; father and mother are dear, but dearer still is Chairman Mao." pg. 1. This quote is actually written and acknowledged by Ji-Li, but later in the last chapter and the epilogue, it reveals to the audience that Ji-Li was actually writing the whole story against this quote. In this book, the theme is directly stated in page 263. The theme is very long, so this is the theme in our own words that my literary circle came up with: Ji-Li Jiang's "Red Scarf Girl" about the Cultural Revolution, the theme reveals that in whatever circumstances, we should always have the courage to show compassion to our values. Also, another theme related to the previous one is this: We should always know and keep to our values, no matter the situation and whatever the cost may be. I think that this book reveals a precious theme in which everyone should know about.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Setting - Red Scarf Girl
In the setting of "Red Scarf Girl," the main character is Jiang Ji-Li. She is around 11~13 years old when the Cultural Revolution takes place in 1966. She lives in China, Shanghai, and she is part of a pretty well-off family, so they live in a relatively pleasant neighborhood. She attends a public school close to her home : Xin Er Primary. This setting is the main setting in this book. The only time that the setting changes place is when Ji Li has to go to the countryside to work for Chairman Mao. This is the time of her life which she has to go through so much physical suffering. This book is based on the setting of the Cultural Revolution. Without a setting for this book, I wouldn't be reading it.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Characterization - Red Scarf Girl
"Red Scarf Girl" tells the story of a girl called Jiang Ji-Li and basically, she lives a perfect life in Shanghai. . In the beginning, she is a girl who is very bright, smart, respected by her classmates, has a loving and caring family, and her family is a pretty wealthy family, too. She practically lives an almost perfect life. She has everything she wants. Her physical characteristics in this story seems like she is an attractive girl - her picture on the cover looks like it. Her character seems very personal, independent, and generous. Although she is born from a wealthy family, she doesn't seem so spoilt. I think that this is because of her parents' discipline. Her personality seems very cheerful and bright. However, there are some parts of the story in which she brags and she is very selfconcious about herself. She is the top student in her class, she has all the love and respect from her classmates. She can get almost anything she wants. She even gets picked to join the Central Liberation Army Arts Academy. She is able to excel and is always expected to succeed. Her future seems ideal. And she never doubted what she was told: "Heaven and earth are great, but greater is the kindness of the Communist Party; father and mother are dear, but dearer still is Chairman Mao." Chairman Mao is her hero. She vowed to herself she would do anything for him. At least, she kept that vow until the Cultural Revolution began in 1966.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
"Secret"
Deep down inside, everyone has secrets. It's either a sin that you haven't told anyone, or it's just some secret that you have that you don't want anyone to know about. Well, this is a story about me when I was in Home-School Co-op in Mongolia. Basically, this place was a building and there were around 40 students here, most of them MKs in Mongolia, and they were being schooled by their parents or a private teacher. Anyway, there was this one girl that wasn't the best of my friends. Her name was Helen. Actually, I didn't like her at all. During this time, I had some bad habits that I had which I shouldn't have had. One day, I wanted to play a prank on someone, and the first person that came to my mind was Helen. Perfect, I thought. I got a sheet of paper and wrote some nasty things in it with nasty words. I signed the note with another name. I know I shouldn't have done this, and I seriously regret it. Anyway, I took the piece of paper and put it on her desk, so that she would be able to see it right when she sat down. Well, the next day, the principal of the school called everyone to a meeting. This did not happen often at all. The next thing I knew was that he was announcing to everyone that Helen had gotten a note with some bad content in it. My first thought to this was "Helen is such a tattle tale" but the second thought that came to my mind was "Gosh. I did that." My face got a little hot, but still, I stayed calm. I stayed quiet. In fact, I stayed quiet with this secret for a long, long time. No one knew about this, and I felt extremely ashamed. However, now I don't feel bad about it. I know that I have been forgiven.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
My story of COURAGE
COURAGE. COURAGE. COURAGE?
Two years ago..there was a girl. Her name was Caroline Lee. She was shy, unconfident, self-concious. Until..There was a moment of her 13 years of life that changed her. She raised her hand in class. Sounds strange? Well. Not many people might believe this, but she used to be REALLY quiet. She didn't talk at the dinner table with her family very much, she wasn't involved in class discussions. She was a seriously different person. Some of the time she tried to fake courage. Actually, a lot of the times she still fakes courage. Some may have thought that she was some sort of really brave person that did things no one else would do. But deep down inside, she was scared. So scared she would hide behind herself. Still..everyone has fears, right? But you know what? None of you people were probably as cowardly as she was. Anyway, two years ago, she came to a school called TCIS. Before all this, she was a homeschooled student almost her whole life. Being a new student, she was SO scared. In classes, she would sit in a corner and be silent. But gradually, after seeing how things worked in a real school classroom, she started to listen to teachers, and paying some attention. However, still, she didn't, or couldn't, answer any of the questions that teachers asked. In one of her classes, there was one certain student. This student inspired her. This student seemed to have a great personality. This student was funny. This student was so friendly. This student seemed so happy. This student had courage. One day, a teacher asked a question. No one else knew the answer apart from Caroline. She finally got the courage to speak up in class. She raised her hand. After doing this, it seemed like a tiny burden rolled off her back. But it still felt so good. As you can imagine, this girl changed. She changed into a girl that had so much more courage. And that girl is me.
Today, I heard that my grandmother has cancer. Currently, she's in the hospital. My mom had to fly from China to see her. When I heard this, I had some mixed feelings. I felt deprived, bitter, angry, heartbroken. I couldn't believe this happened to my grandmother. In other words, I wanted to blame it on God. Why did He let this happen to her? Why couldn't it have been someone else's grandmother? But I wasn't going to cry about this. I felt anger and hatred. I thought to myself, why be such a coward and cry about this?? This isn't your fault. Have some bravery. Have some courage. Save your tears for worse things. I had these thoughts for a while, when I just suddenly broke out in tears. My heart felt so full of things. It needed to be emptied out. As I cried, I asked Him to forgive me. And I knew He did. And what I realized was that though someone that I love has to go through so much pain, God has a reason behind all this. It could be that He wants to take her away. But I don't think that's the reason. I think He wants to get her attention. What I want to get across with this is that sometimes courage doesn't mean not to cry. It doesn't mean that you should stop your tears. But what it could mean is that when you really need to cry, the best thing to do is cry.
Two years ago..there was a girl. Her name was Caroline Lee. She was shy, unconfident, self-concious. Until..There was a moment of her 13 years of life that changed her. She raised her hand in class. Sounds strange? Well. Not many people might believe this, but she used to be REALLY quiet. She didn't talk at the dinner table with her family very much, she wasn't involved in class discussions. She was a seriously different person. Some of the time she tried to fake courage. Actually, a lot of the times she still fakes courage. Some may have thought that she was some sort of really brave person that did things no one else would do. But deep down inside, she was scared. So scared she would hide behind herself. Still..everyone has fears, right? But you know what? None of you people were probably as cowardly as she was. Anyway, two years ago, she came to a school called TCIS. Before all this, she was a homeschooled student almost her whole life. Being a new student, she was SO scared. In classes, she would sit in a corner and be silent. But gradually, after seeing how things worked in a real school classroom, she started to listen to teachers, and paying some attention. However, still, she didn't, or couldn't, answer any of the questions that teachers asked. In one of her classes, there was one certain student. This student inspired her. This student seemed to have a great personality. This student was funny. This student was so friendly. This student seemed so happy. This student had courage. One day, a teacher asked a question. No one else knew the answer apart from Caroline. She finally got the courage to speak up in class. She raised her hand. After doing this, it seemed like a tiny burden rolled off her back. But it still felt so good. As you can imagine, this girl changed. She changed into a girl that had so much more courage. And that girl is me.
Today, I heard that my grandmother has cancer. Currently, she's in the hospital. My mom had to fly from China to see her. When I heard this, I had some mixed feelings. I felt deprived, bitter, angry, heartbroken. I couldn't believe this happened to my grandmother. In other words, I wanted to blame it on God. Why did He let this happen to her? Why couldn't it have been someone else's grandmother? But I wasn't going to cry about this. I felt anger and hatred. I thought to myself, why be such a coward and cry about this?? This isn't your fault. Have some bravery. Have some courage. Save your tears for worse things. I had these thoughts for a while, when I just suddenly broke out in tears. My heart felt so full of things. It needed to be emptied out. As I cried, I asked Him to forgive me. And I knew He did. And what I realized was that though someone that I love has to go through so much pain, God has a reason behind all this. It could be that He wants to take her away. But I don't think that's the reason. I think He wants to get her attention. What I want to get across with this is that sometimes courage doesn't mean not to cry. It doesn't mean that you should stop your tears. But what it could mean is that when you really need to cry, the best thing to do is cry.
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