Reading Log 7: A Good Man is Hard to Find

Hello there all! I hope that everybody had a good winter break and a happy new year! It's going to be a good semester of PATH, I can tell!

Well, this reading assignment was... interesting? I suppose that's a word to describe it. It didn't really get the entire meaning, I don't think. I read it a few times but still felt like I was missing something. It was a very different story--something that I feel like I would dream up, considering how random my dreams tend to be. I mean, a family just happens upon a serial killer after getting into a car accident? And the way that the people acted... it was a very strange story, and I can't imagine how Mrs. O'Conner managed to think this up!

Summery:
Well, I don't know how well I'll be able to complete this portion. From what I can tell, an old grandmother is going on vacation with her son, his wife, their three children, and a cat. She reminisces about how good life was in the olden days during their drive to a vacation destination. While driving, the family stops at a restaurant. The grandmother and the old man owner talk about how a good man is hard to find--everybody and everything seems to have something bad about them these days. The family takes back off onto the road. On the way to Florida, the grandmother remembers a house that was on the drive, and the children want to go see it because it has a secret passageway.

While they're going down a dirt road that leads to the house, the grandmother remembers that the house was not in Georgia (their current location) but in her home state of Tennessee. She upsets the cat, which in turn attacks her son and causes him to swerve off the road, getting into a wreck. The family emerge from the wreck, relatively unharmed but needing assistance.

In time, a car drives by and three men get out. The grandmother eventually recognizes the man as "The Misfit" an escaped convicted that is running from the law with his companions. The grandmother pleads for him to spare her life, and is forced to watch as her family is lead into the woods and killed by the Misfit's companions. The Misfit talks about how he never did anything but was sent to prison anyways. The grandmother convinces him that praying would lift the burdens and regrets from his heart, and then recognizes the man as... "her own child?" (Didn't get this part at all.) The Misfit kills her, and the story is left with an ambiguous ending.

Thoughts on the Reading:
Ahem... not the most easy story to read, and not the easiest to understand, either. I could appreciate the plot well enough--a family gets killed by your friendly neighborhood serial killer--but I constantly feel like I missed something important. I mean, I understand the questions given for reading homework all well and good, but I leave the story feeling unsatisfied. I don't know. Something to talk about on Wednesday, I suppose.

Questions and Discussion:
1. What is the role of chance or fate in the story?
Well, from what I understand, the most influential part of the story that fate had began when the grandmother happened to kick the cat out of the box. From there, it caused a car crash, and the vehicle just so happened to dump everybody out into a ditch and leave the mother injured. Then, three men just so happen to be wandering by. Then, the three men just so happen to be escaped convicts, and serial killers at that. And then it all goes downhill from there, what with all the murder and all. Fate seems to be the driving force of many of the actions--I can't imagine that any of the happenings in the reading was anything more than pure coincidence. Fate kinda sucks that way, huh?

2. Discuss the grandmother's definition of a "good man" using specific examples from the text.
This one took some pulling and shoving. From what I can understand, the grandmother would view the ideal "good man" as a religious, non-violent gentleman. I chose gentleman because the grandmother seems to appreciate a man who treats others (especially ladies) right, as she explained when talking about how much she enjoyed Mr. Edgar Atkins Teagarden and how he left her watermelons. Non-violent was a shoe-in--she didn't seem to appreciate how The Misfit dealt with his inner turmoil, resulting to screaming and shouting at him for his actions. (Granted, he was killing her family and was obviously a little/lot off his rocker....nevertheless, it's a good trait that I think she would appreciate based on her reactions). And finally, religious was also a pretty obvious trait. She constantly went on about how praying and finding Jesus would help the troubled killer find peace.

Well... All I can say is that if all the PATH readings of 2012 were of his caliber, I'd say we have a pretty interesting school year on our hands, wouldn't you?

Reading Log 6: The Odyssey Books VIII-Ending

Well. Old habits die hard, huh? I'm so bad--putting off posting this until Tuesday night... blarg. Well, here it is! The final posting... this makes me sad! I really enjoyed reading the Odyssey, and think that now I'll buy the actual book now. It was a colorful, good book, filled with exciting places and interesting characters. (My new book crush is now Telemachus, or Ulysses if he was younger. =D)

Summery:
Ulysses begins to plot his revenge against the suitors. He stealthily infiltrates the house of his wife and son, and sizes up the competition. Through many days and nights, he broods and becomes bitter over how they are treating his property and his wife. He looks forward to the day where Minerva shall aid him in the killing of all the men. She herself was responsible for many outbursts that the suitors had against Ulysses, and aided the hero in putting them back into their places. She wanted to make Ulysses as bitter as possible before he reached his breaking point, so that he would fight like a lion to kill the men.

Eventually, the inevitable battle draws near, and Ulysses reveals his true identity to the many perverted suitors. At first, they beg for forgiveness from the legendary hero, but quickly find that this will not work. They try to fight, but Ulysses, Telemachus, and his aids are more than a match for the men. Ulysses takes pleasure in killing all the men with his arrows and swords, and we're offered a lovely description of how the suitor's brains spatter the floor. In the end, Ulysses stands triumphant over the men, smeared with blood. Telemachus begs for his father to let two of the men go, who had done no wrong and only what the suitors forced them to do.

Ulysses then orders the 12 maids that betrayed his wife to clean up the mess, then tells his companions to "take the hussies of of doors, and run each one through with your sword until they are quite dead." (Direct quote, I may add.) He then reveals his true identity to his wife, who after some persuading that this really is her husband, rejoices and weeps for his return. They... ahem... spend a night together, and then Ulysses and his men set off for other adventures as the gods talk over the great adventure that they have played a role in.

Thoughts on the Reading:
Oh god... where to begin?! All the way through, I was thoroughly enchanted by the book. To think that Homer could have written such a great story in ancient times inspires me to think about what I myself could write if I really tried hard. I really loved all the detail, but my favorite parts would have to be the beginning and the end. I loved the beginning because it really shows Telemachus and his situation, and also establishes Ulysses' journey. The midsection gets a bit slow and confusing, but was still a fun read. However, the story goes out with a bang when Ulysses and Telemachus kill the suitors in a mighty, gory battle, and some happy resolution is reached. I might read this again over break... just 'cause. It was that good.

Final Note:
A big "good job" to all my fellow Pathies--it's been a great experience to read and share my thoughts with you, not to mention read your own thoughts on the book! And thanks to Mrs. Marietta, who let us combine blogging with our schoolwork. I think I may start another blog for another reading project of mine... What are the odds I could become the second "Julie and Julia" writer?

We shall see...

Until we meet again, (or are just given another blogging assignment,) Faretheewell!

Reading Log 5: The Odyssey Books VIII-XVII

Oh my gracious. How do these things happen? I finish my reading on Friday and the next thing you know it's Sunday! I should have had this posted by then by my blogger account was having problems. Turns out I was just on the wrong Gmail account. =P Oh well... better late than never, right? Anyways, on with the review!

Summery:
Some of my favorite chapters are when nothing much happens. =) It's quite easy to summerize this week's reading. Ulysses, with the help of his new friend in king Alcinous, returns home to Ithaca. His crew lays him upon the beaches as he sleeps, and he awakens, confused. Then, under the guidance of Minerva, he is taken to a pig farmer's home, where he and many others spend their nights. He is then informed of just how serious things have become since he left Ithaca over a decade ago. He is disgusted by the suitor's behavior, and wants nothing more than to kill them bloodily and mercilessly.

Telemachus then returns from his journey, greets his mother, and goes out to meet the man that Ulysses is disguised as. After talking with the man, it is revealed that this is indeed Ulysses, and that Telemachus' long lost father is home at last. After a tearful reunion, the two plan to dispose of the suitors and bring honor back to the name of the Hero Ulysses once and for all.

Thoughts on the Reading:
I honestly really liked this series of chapters. They were easy to read, and I felt myself spending a lot less time taking notes over things that I didn't understand, and didn't use a whole tube of highlighter going over the pages. Reading is getting easier for me.

Seeing the reunion between Telemachus and Ulysses made me so happy and was one of my favorite parts. I was happy to see the return of Telemachus, and I'm always a sucker for a good father/son relationship in any writing. Especially one like that! I'm eagerly awaiting to see how the suitors are dealt with.

Predictions:

• Telemachus and his father will destroy the suitors
• Ulysses will get his wife back, and win her over again

I SENSE HAPPY ENDINGS!! OH THE JOY.

Reading Log 4: The Odyssey Books VIII-XII

My gosh this reading took me so long! With exam season wrapping up, I went into a bit of a hibernation for two days of vacation. =) Took me a while to get back out, and here I am almost done with my NaNoWriMo and finished with my PATH work! I lowered my word count to 18000 words, but that's because I was so busy doing other things. I'm proud that I managed to get all that done, 'cause I usually can't just write one thing. So this was a big accomplishment.

Anywhoooo... to the reading! Awayyyy~!

Summery:
This reading begins with Ulysses on the island. He feats with the Phaecians, listens to their bards sing, and competes with them in events. Finally, as the night wears on, King Alcinous finally demands to know just who this stranger is. Ulysses reveals his identity, and begins to regale his tale of misery and hardship to the king.

First, he and his men were wrecked near the islands where the Cyclopses make their home. However, the main cyclops (Polythemus as he is called in the Greek Tale, son of Neptune,) does not take kindly on the visitors, and eats many of Ulysses' men. The hero and his remaining men manage to blind Polythemus and trick their way out, but after Ulysses taunts the Cyclops, Polythemus prays to his father that Ulysses shall be punished in that all of his men will die before him, and he will not return home for many years.

Next, Ulysses and his men journey to another island, and there find the goddess Circe. She instill a false sense of security in Ulysses' men, and turn them all into pigs. However, Ulysses manages to get his men turned back when Circe, who was waiting on him, sees him unhappy. After the two sleep together (oh god...) she tells him that he and his men must journey to the underworld and receive a prophecy from the blind prophet Teiresias. Ulysses and his men journey to the land of Hades, and Ulysses recieves his prophecy after battling the demons of the many dead people that he had known.

Finally, the group returns to Circe, and Ulysses sets out again for his home. They encounter Sirens and the monstrous Scylla, whom they fight past in order to proceed. Finally, they journey to the island where the sun god kept his cattle. Though Ulysses' men swore not to touch them, they ate some of the sacred cows, and where punished harshly. Just as they were about to reach their home, the men foolishly unleashed the power of the winds that wrecked their ship and sent all but Ulysses to his death. He was then found by the goddess Calypso, and the story catches up with the present.

Thoughts on the Reading:
I actually really liked these few chapters, though I did find the 30+ pages a little daunting to read. It got strong, then weak, then strong and weak in the writing time and time again, and was a little bit hard to get through. However, since I've read the Oddessy before and did a massive project on Ulysseus' time in the underworld, I didn't have to take as many notes since I knew what was going on, which was nice.

Predictions:

• Ulysses will come close, or will, get back to his home soon.
• Telemachus, with or without the help of his father, will rid the house of the vile suitors.

Questions:

Only one. Why in the word have I been finding so many typos?!?!

Reading Log 3: The Odyssey Books V-VII

I believe it’s a sad state of affairs when one child (such as myself, for example) is so preoccupied with exams and Biology reports, as well as play rehersals, that she forgets to go ahead and post her blog entry. Shame on this said child, who has had her blog entry finished since SUNDAY.

I dun like exam season.

Summery:

             Happily enough, the chapters assigned were not all that difficult to read and delightfully straightforward. This installment beings with Calypso finally releasing Ulysses from her island prison, and giving him free reign to go home. She gives him the necessary tools to construct a raft (very helpful on a raging sea /endsarcasm) and gives him provisions to be on his way.

            Ulysses, overjoyed with the prospect of returning home, sets off for his estate immediately. However, he is soon once again staring hardship in the face. Neptune has realized that his mortal enemy is now once again striking out across the sea for his home, and decides to give Ulysses a difficult time getting there; despite what any of the gods may say. So, he wrecks the man’s raft.

            Slowly, Ulysses manages to pull himself from the water, bruised and battered, where he settles for the night on a nearby beach. In the morning, he is discovered by a beautiful girl, Naustica, and her handmaidens. He returns back to her house with her upon discovering that she is the king’s daughter, and believes that the King may help him to get back home.

            With Minerva’s help, Ulysses makes a good impression within the royal household, and the King insists upon giving the man a ship and crew in order for him to get back home. Our installment was wrapped up with Ulysses settling down in lavish comfort for the night within the King’s home.

Predictions:

 •          Neptune will be more than happy to cause more trouble for Ulysses once he and his new crew get back out on sea.

•           Telemachus will receive more word of his father’s whereabouts after this encounter with the King.

Questions:

            Again, there really were none! It was written/translated really well and I enjoyed reading it!

Reading Log 2: The Odyssey Books II-IV

Alright! Go me—I managed to pull off getting all these books read over the course of the weekend. My band class went on a trip to Detroit, and there was a lock-in at the school. Everyone stayed up all night: movies were watched, video games were played, my fellow classmates ran about screaming and yelling during the night…it was a good time. STILL. Amongst the throngs of chaos I got my reading done. Feel proud of me, because that wasn’t easy. =D

Summery:

            These chapters begin with Telemachus’ story. Basically, to condense it into a shortened version, Ulysses’ child begins his journey to other lands to meet those who might know of his father’s fate. He gathers the men of Ithaca to arms, and those who support him come with Telemachus on his quest. Minerva is also involved, taking the form of one of the man’s closest friends; Mentor (yes, both literally and figuratively).

            Telemachus first visits Nestor of Neleus, but is discouraged in his journey to find that Nestor has no news of his old friend’s survival in the Trojan War. However, he doesn’t stay down for long, and goes immediately thereafter to Lacedaemon to visit one of Ulysses’ closest friends: Menelaus. They arrive in the midst of a great party, and are treated with the utmost of hospitality while the group regale stories of Ulysses’ great accomplishments.

            It is with Menelaus that Telemachus first receives good news of his father’s whereabouts. The old war hero tells about how he learned from the Old Man of the Sea that Ulysses was one of the few men that survived the wreck, and is currently imprisoned on an island, held “hostage” by the seductive goddess Calypso.

            Telemachus goes further on his voyage, but not until the readers are shown a terrible plot being hatched by the suitors back in Ithaca. They plan to kill Telemachus on his voyage in order to make access to his land and his mother’s hand in marriage that much easier. They reveal their dastardly intentions to the reader, and Book IV ends with the suitors crouching in an ambush, ready to attack and kill our hero.

Predictions:

• Telemachus will survive the ambush
• Soon, Ulysses will become the main focus of the story as he regales his journey back home.
•  

Questions:

            None for this chapter, really! Everything seemed fairly straightforward…save for the names. I’ll decide to become a dandelion picker for a living before I can remember all those names.

Reading Log 1: The Odyssey Book I

            So! I pride myself on saying that I actually accomplished my active reading of the Odyssey: Book 1, on Thursday night. (Because I have no life.) *ahem* Anyways! I really enjoyed this week’s reading. I wish you all could see how many notes I took; my fingers were practically stained with highlighter ink and charcoal by the time I was done. In coincidence, our class actually read an excerpt from the Illiad this week in English 10A—that’s the predecessor to the Odyssey, so the two really went nicely together.

Summery:

The story begins with a prayer to the muses, as most (if not all) ancient Greek Tales do. It then segues into the gods discussing why they both like and dislike Odysseus—Ulysses— and how he has been stranded on an island for 10 years under the watchful eye of goddess Calypso.

The goddess Minerva, who I’ll more often then not refer to as Athena, takes pity on Ulysses and goes to visit his family in disguise. She goes to the man’s home to find men constantly flocking to his wife, Penelope, and trying to seduce her or win her hand in marriage. She, however, cannot accept the fact that he “died at sea,” and relies on these men and her son, Telemechus, for support.

Telemechus greets the disguised Minerva warmly and ushers her inside, giving her food and drink while the men are treated with less dignity then the visitor. The goddess, disguised as a family friend of Ulysses’, constantly drops hints that the adventurer may still be alive, and Telemechus should go and get word from other men around Greece about his father.

As she departs, Telemachus realizes that he was just in the presence of a goddess, and Minerva transforms into a bird and flies away. Telemachus returns to the house, demands that the suitors return home and never spend the night in his father’s mansion again, and bids them good night. As he readies for bed, he thinks about the voyage that has been assigned to him by the gods and about the preparations he must make.

Thoughts:

All in all, I was very interested throughout the story! I was a lot easier to read then a lot of other ancient Greek tales, and I think that made it a lot more fun as an assignment. One thing, however, that was a stumbling block for me, was that I mostly identify with the Greek gods—not the Roman ones. I call Jupiter Zeus, Minerva Athena, Ulysses Odysseus, ect. So, I was constantly looking up on the internet who was who, and that kind of spoiled the immersion for me.

Another thing that stood out for me was the good examples of foreshadowing placed into the story. For one, when Telemachus is talking about how he will never see his dead father again, that’s a fabulous example of situational irony: that is, we know something that the character doesn’t. I’m really looking forward to read about Telemachus’ reaction when he discovers that his father is actually alive and well.

Now, did anybody else besides me notice this? Was it just me, or did Minerva really seem to have a… for lack of a better term, flirty attitude towards Telemachus? I dunno if I’m just reading too much into her behavior, but I actually think that pairing might be cute later on in the story. (Though I’m fairly sure that might just be moi talking.) However, I will have to admit that Telemachus is my favorite character so far. He just seems like a very strong individual, having kept most of the suitors at bay and taking charge after his father’s death.

All in all, I’m really pleased with the reading and it was a real struggle not to move farther along in the story. I’m excited for the next assigned reading chapter!

Predictions:

• Ulysses will be helped by the gods (but will meet challenges from Neptune) on his journey home.
• Telemachus will begin his journey to get word of his father’s possible whereabouts.
• Some battle between the suitors and Ulysses will ensue if he returns home. (I mean, if somebody treated my spouse like that, I’d get a whoopin’ on their buts goin’!)

Questions:

Just a couple for this section. Now, at the very end of the story, when the maid—Euryclea—was helping Telemachus prepare for bed, I was a little thrown off. I mean, wouldn’t that be something that Penelope would do, or a mother for her own child in a broader sense? I don’t know if it’s just a bit of culture shock and that’s how women took care of their children (as in, had a maid do it,) but that just seemed a bit odd for me.

And lastly, why didn’t Penelope fend off the suitors for herself? I mean, wouldn’t that be considered being unfaithful to her (albeit dead) husband? I mean, sure it’s been ten years, but I wouldn’t let two dozen men stay in my house after my spouse drowned at sea? Is that just me, or would others do that too?