Person, Grace, and God week seven vocab

unequivocal (14): Having only one possible meaning.

Convoke (14): To cause to assemble in a meeting.

week six post B

This post I would like to compare this book to the Golden Compass, another teenage fiction book. Surprisingly, their is a huge reading level difference between the two. For example, the Golden Compass depicts the monstrous nature of the church (in the book, the church is monstrous) by, if your familiar with the story, the jarring of demon's of little children. The worst scene in Elephant run, is that of the slight description of decaying corpses. Another huge difference between the two books is the theme development. Other than the foreshadowing presented in Elephant run, little to none analysis was required to understand the rest of the book. However, if you wanted to grasp the whole picture in the Golden Compass, you needed to analysis carefully, because many themes were hinted on. A similarity however, is the vocabulary used. It isn't very difficult to read each book, for the vocab isn't very intense, but of course, it is a step up from elementary school reading, but not by much. I remember reading the Golden Compass in fifth grade, I didn't exactly catch all the deep themes in the book, but I defiantly enjoyed the most obvious plot line. Elephant run was even easier to read because of the less condensed font and the very easy to follow plot line.

week six figurative language

Do to the fact that I finished the book last week, I will go back through the book and pickout and clues that would foreshadow the ending of the book.

1."I'd like that," Nick said, but he still had no intention on going"(92). This is a key foreshadow that I missed because throughout the begining of the book, Nick is constantly reminded that his stubborness will get him in trouble. Well in this case, Nick is going to be transported to India because the Japanese are going to invade the part of Burma he is currently in. He winds up captured, and is forced to stay in Burma for about 8 months.

2."He'll be fine as long as we don't run into a tiger along the way"(231). This quote refers to Hannibal, a fierce elephant that can only be controled by Hilltop, a mysterious monk. I over looked this quote and others metioning Hannibal's utter hate of Tigers, which plays a crucial part in the end of the book because Hannibal winds up saving Nick because he attacks this Japanese jeep covered in Tiger hide.

3."In Burmese, Kya Lei meant Tiger's Breath. An odd name, even for a Burman, Nick thought"(240). This quote I didn't miss exactly, and I predicted that Kya Lei would be key to the ending of the book (I metioned how in my previous posts), but I remeber when I first read this, I ignored it.

quote week six

"When I get a chance, I volunteer Miss Pretty for rail duty. Jackson is usually assigned to that crew. It's terrible work because you're exposed to the sun all day. But the last two times I volunteered, he wasn't there"(261). This quote was important to the book because it shows how the rescue of Nick's father is going to be much harder then anticipated, so they are going to keep trying to figure out ways to accomplish it, which is exactly the major theme throughout the book.

week six theme

The theme that I found most important throughout the book was that you must keep trying if you want things to get done.

vocab week six

Choon (289): An item used by Mahouts, it is like a small backpack.

baton (290): a club that marks someone of authority.

week 5 post b

This week I finished by book, and I would like to talk about the conclusion. Throughout the book, many deaths occur of innocent people. However, even though some of these deaths are described in more detail then a book designed for children, it is barely a step up. For example, in the beginning of the book, when Mia's father dies by being beaten, his corpse is described as "Nang and captain Josephs had been dead for some time. They may have been killed as early as the day before, when Nick was on the island"(111). This scene would not have appeared in a child's book, however for a young adult my age, this lack of imagery is unnecessary. My A.P. world text book gives pictures of actual paintings of morbid scenes with the details. The fact that a textbook is giving more information about death without going into much detail is making me consider if this book shouldn't be labeled as teen fiction.
The ending of the book is also like the ending of a children's book in the sense that everyone lives happily ever after and none of the main characters who were portrayed as protagonists are killed in the end when realistically half of them would be dead. So this book is labled under teen fiction, however, the definition of a teenager is too broad in my opinion because someone my age would fine this book childish, where as a 13 year old who is technically a teenager would fine it well done.

week 5 theme

The theme that is predominate in this section of the book is; don't give up hope, no matter how impossible a situation seems because you can always find a way to make it possible if you think clearly.

week 5 quote

"I have lived my life,' he said, bowing. 'Now you go off and live yours"(Hilltop 310). This quote is extremely imporant to understanding the ending of the book because Hilltop has been this authority figure that has proven himself to be fearless at times of great danger and wise in the sense that he protects Mia and Nick when a single mistake could have them executed. Throughout the book, you really don't understand why he is going through all this trouble for two children, because doing this is putting his life in jeporady. With this quote, you realize that he does this immense act because he has lived his life, and he is trying to allow these children the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest.

week 5 figurative language

1. "His head drooped back, and Nick stifled a distraught moan. The man with the boots was his father"(296). This is an example of figurative language because you can picture Nick's anguish at seeing his father dead.

2. "The tracker rolled away and came back up on his knees, pointing the rifle at Nick's chest"(307). This is an example of imagery because you can picture Nick's life being an instant away from being ended.

3. "dog tags
hung on bamboo crosses
sounding like wind chimes"(286). This haiku is an example of figurative language because it shows the author's opinion about how the deceased soldiers aren't completely gone. He does this by making all those soldiers who died in the concentration camp make sounds on earth because their dog tags make noise when the wind blows hard.

week 5 vocab

Dispersed (290): To scatter or to send off in various directions.

Decomposition (292): The act of disinigration.

Week 4 post B

This week I wish to discuss the book in the respect that the author (Roland Smith) draws attention to the hardships war unintentionally creates for all of those who are in the countries involved in the war. For example, Nick orginally lives in England during world war II, but is moved to Burma because of all the Nazi bombings. He arrives there only to discover war is just around the corner, and all of the inhabitants of Burma are about to suffer for what they had no part of. Japan invaded Burma, which lead to the basic enslavement of the Mahouts (elephant drivers) and the people in the communites nearby. A far out community is forced to give tribute to the Japanese soldiers, which completely disrupts their lifestyle and thus they have to endure hardships because they have to eat less and live in fear of Japan's rule. Another example of how innocent people have to endure hardships is when a girl is forced to shave all her hair and her eyebrows in order to escape the Japanese compound disguised as a monk. Conquered countries don't usually have a say in what their conquerers do. So of course the citizens of a conquered country don't have any rights at all, unless the conquerers give them some.
The thing I loved about this book was how the author got these hardships across with barely any violence or death, this made this book better in my mind because almost all books about war have greatly depressing scenes that depict utter multilation of the human body.

week 4 theme

The theme that I think is most important in this section is that sometimes in order to save the ones that you love, you must make great sacrifices.

Week 4 quote

"Nothing is safe with the Japanese, but it will be safe enough"(266). I believe this quote is important because it even though the plan to Nick's father seems safe enough, it could still go horribly wrong and cause multiple problems. I think this attempt might even lead to the death of a person close to Nick.

Figurative Language week four

1. "On the far end of the camp, outside where the fence had been, were the graves. Row after row of bamboo crosses with dog tags hanging from them"(255). This excerpt from the book is metaphorical because the only way for the soldiers to escape from the concentration camp was to die, and the fact that the graves are outside the fenced area shows this.

2. "He is a thief and a traitor. Anyone caught helping him or hidding him will be executed." He looked at Hilltop. "What about you monk? Do you konw this Kya Lei." "I have heard the name," Hilltop said, meeting the captain's gaze without a glimmer of fear"(243) This passage illustrates foreshadowing because Hilltop wouldn't know the name of a random person, so if he new someone, they would have to be very notorious or very famous. Either way, he will probally play a major role in the upcoming story line.

3. "The sentry stood up a little straighter when he heard the name. Hilltop was relieved. It meant that the Colonel still held the power, or else his loss of it hadn't filtered down to the sentry level yet"(256). This quote is symbolic towards how if you treat those under you unfairly, they won't be very willing to help you. The Colonel punished those below him for making mistakes, and when he finally made one hisself, he was hurt.

Vocabulary week four

Moulmein (260): A seaport in southern Burma near the Salween River.

Guerrillas (254): Members of an indigenous military unit operating in small bands to defeat an enemy.