English Assignment 10/30/10

The land parallels the Kumalo family. "These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. ... The grass is rich and matted, you cannot see the soil." This is at the beginning of the book. At the begining, life for the Kumalo family is happy, and they only have the responsibilities of day to day life. About halfway through the book, these hills are not rich and full of grass. The grass is dead and the soil shows through. The soil is dry and barren and the cattle are dying. At this point, the Kumalos's life has changed drastically. Their son is in jail and is going to be hung. They are devastated. Closer to the end of the book, their is a big rainstorm that comes. This means that a big change, for the better is coming. The Kumalo's, at this point, are starting to rebuild their lives. They have started to get a better life for themselves and the rest of the community.

English Assignment 10/30/10

Pick one character who does not have a name. Look back to all the times they are mentioned. What is the effect of using this character? Why do you think Alan Paton did not give them a name? Do you think this was a good decision on his part? Why or why not?

I picked the man who helps Kumalo when he enters the city, but then he robs Kumalo. The effect of using this character is that it can relate to anyone. Anyone could try to help you, but do they have other reasons to help you besides just to help. Alan Paton did not give them a name because it is more general, and it lets the reader think back on their own life experiences. Yes, I do think this was a good decision. I think this was a good decision because it gives it more meanng and more of an ability to inner reflect on it. If he had given the man a name, it would not have been personal.

English Assignment 10/11/10

Why does the author have two different books/perspectives?
I think that the author has two different perspectives to show how a situation can affect people. The author shows the differences in how Kumalo's family is taking this vs. how Jarvais's family is taking this. The author also shows how the situation is the same and the families are going through some of the same things. The author shows that either side of the situation can be the bad one to be on.

English 10/4/10

Links:

The Holocaust Museum
http://www.ushmm.org/

The Religious Oppression in China
http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htm

English Assignment 10/3/10

"eleven miles", "long journey", "Johannesburg", "Alexandra", "white man", "no buses", "huh", "For he had Tomlinson's brains, and your brother's voice, and Dubula's heart,...", "Have no doubt it is fear now...", "sullen", "boy", "Tixo", "Bible", "priest", "boycott", "courts", "helping with their cars", "old", "women", "cripples", "All roads lead to Johannesburg.", "room to let", "shilling", "house", "house is full", "sorry", "five years", "Orlando", "Dubula", "houses", "Have you a house for me yet?", "There is no house yet.", "bewilders me", "committee", "too much", "not much", "Let us go tonight...", "sacks", "poles", "iron", "digging and hammering", "child", "husband", "wife", "land by the railway lines", "rain", "Shanty Town", "Shanty Town is up overnight", "squatters", "Quietly my child,... your mother is by you.", "The child coughs badly, her brow is hotter than fire.", "...have mercy upon us.", "winter", "what will we do in the rain and winter?", "That is my husband standing by the house."

"Quietly my child, your mother is by you."
People tend to be loud when they are fearful. A mother is a sign of comfort and safety. Here the author is saying to not me afraid because there is hope and comfort on the way.

"Have no doubt it is fear now..."
This is saying that people are afraid. Some because of what is going on around them and others because of what they have done in life and what will happen to their eaternal soul.