Breakfast at Tiffany's (Truman Capote)
For this novel I have chosen the sixth assignment: Watch a
movie and read the novel and compare.
First I want to mention why I have chosen this assignment.
When I saw this book on the book list, I immediately thought
about the song Breakfast At Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something.
So I searched the book on google, but the first five results were
about the movie. At IMDb, the movie had 4 out of 5 stars and a
score of 7.7 out of 10. So I thought this had to be a good movie
and a good book. But When I finished the book and I finished
the movie, I mentioned there were some crucial differences.
Besides some small things, I think there are a few great
differences between the book and the movie. I think the movie
is slightly romanticized and there is more action added. You
could say that the movie is adapted to the requirements of a
Hollywood movie.
I think one of the main differences is the narrator. The
narrator in the book remains anonymous. Holly calls the person
always Fred, but we do not know his real name. We also do not
know much about "Fred" except that he is homosexual.
In the movie, we do know who is the narrator, in
contrast to the book. The film's narrator is Paul Varjak (played
by George Peppard). Holly is the neighbor of Paul. Every now
and then Holly visits paul via the fire escape. In the movie, Paul
is heterosexual and he is in love with Holly. I noticed that there
were more pieces left out about homosexuality and the taboo
around sex. Maybe that has something to do with the
temperament in the sixties. Sex was something you could not
talk about and homosexuality was not really accepted. In an interview, Truman Capote said
he would have preferred Marilyn Monroe to play the role as Holly, but the director has not
listened to Capote. Back in the sixties, Marilyn Monroe was considered the sex symbol. If
Monroe would get the role of Holly, then the movie would break the taboo, which the Director
tried to avoid, for example by picking out the homosexuality.
Also, the time in which the story takes place changed. The book is set in the forties,
while the movie is set in the sixties, for example, there is much more smoke in the movie,
whereas in the book it was less brought forward.
The end of the book does not match the end of the film too. In the film, you have a
so-called happy ending: Paul and Holly come together. At the end of the book, Holly went on
a trip to South America and the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, after I had read the book and watched the movie, I found out that the song
wasn’t from the movie (But I still think it is a great song).
Lord of the Flies ( William Golding )
For this novel I have chosen the first assignment; Find 3
passages that you find relevant. Explain why + focus on the
language the author has used.
Context
This passage is at the very beginning of the book, on page 6 in Chapter 1 (The Sound Of
The Shell) to be exact. In the five previous pages is told how the (so far two) boys ended up
on the island. During a war Ralph, 'Piggy' (and the other still unknown boys) were evacuated
with an ‘airplane’ (called the scar). The plane crashed on the island and only the children
survived. The only two adults (the pilot and the man with the megaphone) didn’t survive the
crash.
Why this passage?
I think this passage shows the role of piggy in the group well. Piggy is way too thick and he
has asthma. Because of this, he can not make a contribution to the group and thereby he
becomes the laughingstock soon. Actually, that's not entirely fair. Further on the book, you'll
find out that piggy actually is pretty smart. Indirectly, the group was brought together by him.
For example, Piggy was the first to see the shell and he let Ralph diving it up. When Piggy
learned Ralph how to blow on the shell, the other boys appeared. He also provides a sort of
hierarchy, for example, by choosing a leader. He also came up with an idea to keep order in
the meetings. He proposed to only let the person speak who holds the shell. Despite all
these clever proposals and decision, most boys don’t appreciate him. Later on, Piggy is
accepted. The boys found out that that they can make fire with the glasses of piggy. But
eventually, this did not help piggy when Jack kills him by throwing a big stone.
Language
I believe that the language used in this passage is an accurate representation of the
language used in the book. The writer does not use extremely difficult words or sentences.
This makes sense because it’s about children between 6 and 12 years. So the author
adapted the language to them. For example, Piggy is not a name that adults would give to
each other. Words like 'She-aa-ow!', 'Whizzoh!' and 'auntie' could be used in this age group,
but not by adults.
Notable is that there are many conversations in the book. The writer makes great use
of quotation marks in direct talks between two or more people. This passage is a good
example of this. In the first part of the passage is largely the conversation between Piggy
and Ralph.
Completely contradictory with the short sentences from the conversations, there are
also very long sentences. Things are often described in detail, which is also the case here.
For example: ‘The top of this was covered with a thin layer of soil and coarse grass and
shaded with young palm trees. There was not enough soil for them to grow to any height and
when they reached perhaps twenty feet they fell and dried, forming a criss-cross pattern of
trunks, very convenient to sit on.’ After only two sentences you know exactly what the setting
is. Large parts of the book are interspersed with short sentences from conversations and
then long descriptions (for example of the environment).
Context
As mentioned earlier, the book is about 30 boys aged between 6 and 12 years who
have been evacuated from war. The rest of the story is about how the boys set up a new
society and about what decisions they make. This passage is from page 74 in chapter 4
(Painted Faces and Long Hair). Jack and Ralph are the people that are central to this
passage. Ralph is the protagonist in the story. In the book is Ralph designated as the leader
of the group. Ralph wants nothing more than to be rescued from the island. There is also a
choir on the island. Jack is the leader of the choir. Because the members of the choir already
are a group, they form a group of hunters. Their task is to catch a pig, so the boys will have
enough food for some days.
At this point in the book, there are two storylines. In one part Ralph thinks he sees
smoke, which would mean that there is a ship. If there really is a ship it can pick up the boys
from the island which would mean that they are free again. At the very beginning of the
book, the boys climb the mountain and decide to make a fire. If ever a ship or an airplane
comes along they would be able to draw the attention and might be rescued. It was the duty
of the hunters to keep the fire burning.
In the other story, Jack is making a plan to catch a pig. The hunters have already
done several attempts to catch a pig, but they still did not succeed. Jack thinks that the
animals can see him, so he wants to find a way to camouflage themselves. He makes masks
and rubs his face with charcoal.
Why this passage?
I think this is an important point in the book. It is the first time that hunters manage to catch a
pig. But meanwhile they didn’t pay attention to the fire, what might have been the reason that
the boys aren’t saved yet. After this passage is a violent discussion between Jack and
Ralph. As a leader, Ralph believes it is important that the fire now always stay on. Jack does
agree with this statement, but he does not agree with Ralph as a leader of the group. Jack
wants to be the leader himself so he wants an election. Jack has not enough votes to
become the new leader, but the feud between Jack and Ralph continues during the book.
You can see this passage as a turning point in the novel. I think this is the starting point of
jack becoming mad.
Language
The language in this passage is much like the language in the first passage. The language is
adapted to little children. In this passage there are less detailed sentences about the setting,but more about expressions. Without seeing or hearing the conversation you can still
imagine how the conversation took place. Every movement and tone is described in this
passage. For example: ‘Ralph flung back his hair. One arm pointed at the empty horizon. His
voice was loud and savage, and stuck them into silence.’ These kind of sentences are very
detailed. That makes it easy to imagine, but it makes the story also a bit slow.
In this passage you can also see that the writer makes little use of metaphors or
comparisons. In this passage, for example, there is only one comparison: "lifelike a long
satisfying drink.". I think that is because of the age group. Little boys don’t often use
metaphors, so the writer does not either.
Context
This passage is on page 222 in chapter 12. The tension between Ralph and Jack ended in a
fight in chapter eleven. Just before this passage, Ralph ran away and he is chased by the
hunters. Ralph was hiding in the jungle to shelter. However, Jack has set the jungle on fire
and forces Ralph to get out of his hiding place. After a night in the hiding place Ralph has to
find a new hiding place, so he decides to run. During his run, Ralph was remarked by the
hunters, who attempted to hit him with their spears. They failed, but the hunters were still on
Ralph’s heels and haunted him. After a while, Ralph reached the edge of the Jungle and
runs on the beach.
Just before this passage, you can read that Ralph collapsed exhausted on the sand. He
expected the hunters to kill him, but instead he heard a strange voice. It wasn’t a voice from
one of the hunters, but it was the voice of the Navy officer. In this passage you can read the
first conversation between Ralph en the officer. Hereafter you can read the last pages of the
book, in which they probably go back with the officer.
Why this passage?
I think this is a really important passage in the book. This passage is almost at the end of the
book and shows the outcome of the novel. As previously told the story is about the boys who
try to set up a society. Eventually they fail to create a new society and it all ends in a war.
The ironic thing about this is that the boys had fled because of a war, and now they created
one themselves.
Language
Again, in this passage long descriptive sentences are alternated with short conversations.
The passage starts again with a description of the setting followed by a conversation that
takes place there. Reading these kinds of passages is almost like watching a movie. The
setting is described in so much detail, for example: ‘It was a white-topped cap, and above
the green shade of the peak was a crown, an anchor, gold foliage. He saw shite drill,
epaulettes, a revolver, a row of gilt buttons down the front of a uniform.’ You can immediately
imagine what the uniform looks like without actually seeing it.
The language is again adapted to children. Even the language of the Navy officer!
For example "Are there any adults–any grownups with you?" and "Fun and games".
Sense and Sensibility ( Jane Austen )
For this novel I have chosen the eighth assignment: Discuss
how the writer’s personal background is relevant to the novel
you studied. (and research the context of the novel, the time it
was written.)
The author
First a little information about the writer of the novel. The writer
of the book is Jane Austen.
Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 in Hampshire in
England. She was the sixth child in a family of eight children.
Her father was William George Austen and her mother was
Cassandra. Both came from noble families. Jane had six brothers and one sister. There is
little written about the personal life of Jane, all information that is known comes from the
private letters between Jane and her sister Cassandra. But little remains of these letters,
because many letters were destroyed, probably because the sisters did not want other family
members would read the letters. Expected Jane wrote 3,000 letters in her life, but there are
only 160 usable.
In 1783 Jane and her sister went to school in Oxford. After only two years the sister
had to return to Hampshire as typhus had broken out. Back home, Jane learned a lot by
reading and she started writing early. She experimented with various literary currents, such
as poems and stories. She quickly began a novel, Elinor and Marianne (these names will
probably be familiar to you). The book was a collection of letters between the two sisters.
Later this book was completed and rewritten to Sense and Sensibility.
In 1801 the family moved to the (busy) city of Bath. Jane actually preferred the (quiet)
rural life in Hampshire. In this period Jane wrote very little, but she gained experience which
she later used in her novels. In 1805 the city life came to an end because her father died.
Due to lack of money Jane, her sister and her mother had to move away from Bath. It was
until 1809 when Jane really lived in a house again. She moved in with her brother Edward in
Hampshire.
In 1811 came the book where it is here all about: Sense and Sensibility. The book
was a great success. The book was initially anonymous and it was an arm and a leg for
Jane, because she had to pay for the printer herself. Shortly after its initial release came the
book Pride and Prejudice in 1813, Mansfield Park in 1814 and Emma in 1816.
In 1816, Jane began on a new book which she initially called The Brothers. However,
she never was able to finish the book, because she died in 1817. The book was later
published by her brother Edward, he called it Sanditon.
The time
The book was written late 18th century and early 19th century. According to historians, Great
Britain wat the most powerful country in the world at this time. This was due to the industrial
revolution which led to the flourishing of the English economy.
By far the most used means of transport was the coach, because the car was not
invented until the end of 19th century.
From 1792 to 1815 war was a hot topic. Great Britain and other countries in central
Europe had a war with France and Napoleon.
In 1807 the British Parliament decided to ban the slave trade. Great Britain was one
of the first countries that made this decision. Despite the prohibition of slave trading, slavery
continued. It was not until 1833 that slavery was abolished. The rights of men and women
were also not equal. Women were not legally entitled to receive or own property. A fairly did
not have the right to receive or to own property. For example, a woman had no right to
receive an inheritance, if a person has passed away, the whole possession was divided
among the men.
Similarities
Now that we know a bit more about the author and the time in which she lived, we see many
similarities with the book. The story from the book probably plays at the same time as the
book was written, namely late 18th and early 19th century. For example, driving in carriages,
as described above, were very popular in England at this time. The inequality between men
and women also emerges early in the book. When Mr. Dashwood dies, the entire inheritance
goes to his son (John Dashwood) and remain Mrs. Dashwood, Elinor, Marianne and
Margaret with almost nothing behind. This also happened to Jane herself. As described
above, the entire inheritance went to the sons in the Austen's family when Mr. Austen's died.
Mrs. Austens, Jane and Cassandra were left with nothing behind. Even the consequences of
the small income are similar. Mrs. Dashwood and the daughters struggle to find a suitable
house with their small capacity, the same thing goes for Jane who ended up in their own
house after four years.
Another agreement is one of the themes: the relationship between the sisters. As
previously told, Jane had a very close bond with her sister Cassandra Elizabeth. In the novel
the relationship between the sisters Elinor and Marianne is very prominent too.
The Things They Carried ( Tim O’Brien )
For this novel I have chosen the seventh assignment: Promote
one work you read. Give plenty of reasons why you’d
recommend this book.
The book is a really impressive story. For me, that is one of the
most important reasons.
I think it is important to first know a bit more about the
writer. Tim O'Brien was born in 1946 in the United States. He
grew up in Minnesota and he studied political science. Shortly
after O'Brien graduated, he was summoned by the U.S. Army.
Personally O'Brien was very much against the war. During this a
time he was volunteer for Eugene McCarthy, a politician who
openly expressed his opinion against the war. In an interview he
said that he was considering fleeing to Canada, so he did not have to go to Vietnam. But in
1968 he was sent to the Vietnam war.
The things they carried is the third war book of O'Brien. The book itself is fiction, but
the book is very realistic. While reading I sometimes was wondering if it was fiction or
nonfiction, because it is so realistic. O'Brien himself is the main character and the used place
are real cities in Vietnam. I think the realism makes the book quite impressive. O'Brien has
brought his own experiences and stories back into the book. Other war books focus often on
the broad outlines of the war, but The Things They Carried is more about the little things
(both literally and figuratively). For example, he literally tells on page 2 what soldiers carry
around: “ can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, etc.” This kind of
sentences allows you to get a clear image of a soldier in the war and let you almost feel like
you’re there yourself. It shows that war is a hell most of the time like you probably already
thought, but the book also shows how they managed to enjoy their free time.
I think it is important that the book is not just about the time during the war. The book
shows you the life of a soldier before, during and after the war. It tells you about the burdens
that war puts on people when they get drafted, when they have to fight and when they get
home after the war.
One of the most impressive passages to me is the decision to go home or to stay in
Vietnam. The passage shows that the person is traumatized by the war. He would like to go
home, but he does not want to be seen as a pussy! The only way two get back home is by
an injury. There are to ways to get injured: on the battlefield or by doing it yourself. The
easiest way is to do it yourself, but then you will be seen as a pussy. I think O’Brien shows
the war inside of a soldier really well.
Overall I think The Things They Carried is really worth reading! It may not be a real
novel or a real memoir, but instead you’ll find realistic short stories. And it may not is about
the battlefield or about shooting, but it really shows the life before, during and after the war
seen in first person.
First of all I want to mention why I have chosen this book. Last
summer I went on vacation to Scotland. We made a road trip
through the Highlands and along the coastline. We were near
the island Skye as well and in a local bookshop I saw this book.
At that moment I didn't knew this book was on the booklist. Later
on, when I got home, I found To the lighthouse on the booklist
and I was very excited to read this book.
For this novel I have chosen the second assignment: Find two
reviews and relate it to your own opinion. The reviews should be
from renowned newspapers/ magazines.
I have to admit that when I started the book and I had read a few pages, I was not sure if I
wanted to read this book. I found it hard to understand what exactly was told. There are 110
pages In the first part of the book (The Window), but the story is only about a few hours up to
1 day. Luckily the second part (Time Passes) went a lot quicker and was easier to follow.
However, the last part (The Lighthouse) went a lot slower again. After having read the book,
I agreed with the first review. I was shocked too after having read the first page (and perhaps
the first chapters as well). You constantly expect something is about to happen, but then it
does not happen. That means that you constantly have to pay attention to the book and it
requires a lot of concentration. At a certain point, I realized I’d been reading too quickly and
I actually wasn’t sure what character was who and what the relationship was to each other.
At those points I had to go back and do a little bit of detective work to figure out who was the
son of who, etc.
I found this quote in the second review (from The New York Times):
“ The truth is that this final portion of the book strikes a minor note, not an intentional minor
note which might still in the artistic sense be major, but a meaningless minor note which
conveys the feeling that one has not quite arrived somewhere, that the story which opens
brilliantly and carries on through a magnificent interlude ends with too little force and
expressiveness .” I do totally agree with this quote. It is almost like an anti-climax. The book
just ends when Mr. Ramsay, James and the other reached the lighthouse and when Lily
finished the canvas.
In the end, I’m not really sure if I liked to book or not. First of all, I didn’t like the language,
because I really had to focus on reading the book and still it was hard to read. Maybe the
book is not so much about the plot and more about themes like time, marriage and gender.
For this assignment I have read a lot of reviews, and in almost all the author has read the
book a second time. Most of the authors liked the book even more the second time, so
maybe I will read the book another time in the (near) future and like it too.
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