Unit Three Week 1, post B

Throughout the first chapter, you get the understanding of the author's style of writing. This surprises me because this a non-fiction book about World War I, and even though it won a award, I thought it would have been dreadfullying boring. But Barbara W. Tuchman author the book I'm reading The Guns of August really creates an interesting beginning making the true plot seem almost like a novels. Consider the following excerpt: "The Kaiser (the leader of Germany) always wanted an agreement with England if he could get one without seeming to want it" (page 5). Its very interesting that Germany's ruler wanted a peace treaty with Britain, however, because of his pride, he refused to state his desire for such a treaty. It goes to show that perhaps this World War I could have been delayed or perhaps prevented altogether if personal pride hadn't been so high on leader's agendas.
Another interesting thing I found in the beginning of this book, is how Japan was considered very important to the world powers, in the late 18-hundreds. The reason this is apparent to me, is that the emperor's brother was at the funeral of the King Edward, which goes to show that Japan was thought of as an important ally.

Zeus- a "Good Old Fashion Lover Boy"

The reason why I picked Zeus out of all the characters we have met so far is because of how he has effected the story indirectly rather then directly. He has done this by having affairs with women. Odysseus would not be considered as powerful and his ego wouldn't be as big, which is the thing that got him stranded for 9 years and got his crew killed. Athena, the one person really keeping Odysseus alive was born out of an affair Zeus had, so had Zeus remained true to Hera, this story would already be over. The reason I picked the song is because it is about a boy loving multiple women and I thought Zeus fit that perfectly. Bascially the whole song could be used to describe Zeus because the person it is about is not defined, however, a line really relates to Zeus.
"I'd like for you and I to go romancing, Say the word - your wish is my command" This displays Zeus's opinion about love and since he is leader of the gods, he can grant any wish.

Sound Track assignment: Odysseus and Bohemian Rhapsody

Odysseus's character draws my interest because of what consequences his actions cause. For example, the bragging of his name to the Cyclopes resulted in his crew's death, but not his own. The whole book is about his return and its a big deal because of what a "great man" he proved himself to be in the Trojan war. However, personally, I don't really think he is all that great of a man because when you are first introduced to him, his values don't seem to be all that great, like his cheating on his wife with Calypso. That action and the fact that he doesn't seem to regret killing his crew (he cries out of self pity and homesickness, but not because of what problems his actions have caused), make him stand out to me compared to other characters. The reason why I picked this song is because it is about a man who is in a situation strikingly like Odysseus's. The lyric section: "But I’m just a poor boy and nobody loves me-He’s just a poor boy from a poor family-Spare him his life from this monstrosity-Easy come easy go-,will you let me go-Bismillah! no-,we will not let you go-let him go-Bismillah! we will not let you go-let him goBismillah! we will not let you go-let me go Will not let you go-let me goWill not let you go let me goNo,no,no,no,no,no,no-Mama mia,mama mia,mama mia let me go-Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me-" "I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me" is like Odysseus despairing about his current predicament, and the person saying "we will not let you go" is like Poseidon refusing to relent in his anger at Odysseus, and the mother mentioned "mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go" is like Athena trying to quell Poseidon's wrath.

Week seven post B

This post will compare and contrast the prior book I read Elephant Run and the current book I'm reading Person, Grace, and God. Frankly, I am amazed that these two books could be anything alike, for the books are of a different genre, so of course a different target audience. For example, Person, Grace, and God is targeting an audience of college students who have a few years of philosophy courses. Elephant Run on the other hand targets teenagers who are a year or two younger then myself. The major comparison both books have, is that they bring up subjects that are not often touched upon. In Elephant Run, the story took place during World War II in Burma, which for the western hemisphere rarely gets metioned when talking about that war. In Person, Grace, and God the author puts the defintion of personality into focus concerning theological terms. The major difference between the books is how much they differ in reading level. Elephant Run is made to target early teens, Person, Grace, and God targets and audience of a college level, which causes the vocabulary to much more difficult.

Theme week seven

The major theme in the part of the book I read was that personality in this book refers to one's own unique traits.

Quote week seven

"Being employed in this theological sense, personality is not to be confused with psychology's current use of the term, which, in textbooks and popular usage, refers to the individual's traits or dispositions, which countless others could share"(4). This is a very important quote to the book because it indicates what one of the major themes in the book is going to be.

Figurative language week seven

1. "When we cry, "Abba! Father!" we are enacting and confirming the gift of person hood, and we are entering into communion with all those who have ever thus spoken, and with all those who ever will do so" (9). This is example of figurative language because it emphasizes the power words can hold.

2. "[...] A fresco portrays a masked figure domininating an opponent. Near the head of the masked figure is written Phersu, in Greek letters (but following the Etruscan usage, the letters go from right to left)"(11). This is an example of figurative language because it describes the fresco so it is an example of imagery.

3. "This is because a face is a structure that whos forth meaning. It is transparent with the innocent, concealing with the devious, glowing with the joyful, grieving with the sad, indifferent with the bored.... A person's face is meant to be the signature of the character within; one cannon disengage the face from a certain interiority"(13). This is an example of figurative language because it describes the importance of the face on a human.