Category: Literature

The mark of a good reader is someone who actively engages with a text, rather than just passively consuming it. A reader who truly gains understanding and insight from a book is one who actively participates in the reading process by annotating and interacting with the text, rather than simply reading it without any critical thought or analysis. In How to Mark a Book, Mortimer Adler argues that actively engaging with a text through the practice of annotating is essential for truly understanding and learning from a book. Adler asserts that the act of marking up a book forces the reader to slow down and really think about the content, rather than simply skimming for surface level comprehension. He also emphasizes the importance of rereading marked up texts, as the notes and annotations serve as a guide for deeper understanding and retention of the material.

Adler explains that marking a book does not necessarily mean writing all over the pages or defacing the text in any way. Instead, he suggests highlighting or underlining important passages and writing notes in the margins that reflect on or further explain the text. Adler also advises readers to be selective in their annotations and to focus on the main arguments and key concepts rather than trying to annotate every single detail. Adler argues that marking a book is a form of dialogue with the author. By writing notes and asking questions in the margins, the reader is able to engage with the authors ideas and thoughts and to form their own opinions and responses. Adler also suggests that the act of marking a book can help the reader to remember and retain the material more effectively. Overall, Adlers main message in How to Mark a Book is that the practice of annotating a text is an essential component of truly engaging with and learning from a book. He encourages readers to slow down, think critically, and actively participate in the reading process in order to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the material.

Introduction

Michelle Obamas memoir, Becoming is an inspiring and deeply personal look into her life and journey. The book follows her life, childhood, and career, providing a unique perspective on the life of the nations first African-American First Lady (Obama, 2021).

Discussion

In Becoming, Michelle Obama shares key takeaways from her life, including the importance of education, the power of resilience, and the journey of self-discovery. She talks about her upbringing in the South Side of Chicago and her struggles to become a successful lawyer (Obama, 2021). She also talks about her time in the White House, including her work on initiatives like Lets Move and Reach Higher.

Throughout Becoming, Obama shares powerful stories from her life, from her work in a corporate law firm to her time in the White House. She emphasizes the importance of education, the power of resilience, and the journey of self-discovery (Obama, 2021). She also reflects on how her experiences have shaped her, from her childhood in the South Side of Chicago to her career in the White House (Obama, 2021). She encourages others to find their paths and be proud of their stories.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Becoming is a motivational and intimate insight into Michelle Obamas life. The book offers compelling narratives and significant lessons that readers may use in their own experiences. It strongly emphasizes the value of education, the strength of resilience, and the process of self-discovery. Michelle Obama inspires readers to follow their passions and to be proud of who they are through her stories. She demonstrates via her tale that anything is achievable with effort and tenacity. Ultimately, the book encourages readers to forge paths and take pride in their histories.

Reference

Obama, M. (2021). Becoming. Penguin Books.

In her article entitled Polyester: The Perils of Francine, art historian, critic and PhD in film studies Elena Gorfinkel examines the role of women in the work of director John Waters. The author assesses the films realization, features and subtext and compares it to other milestones in the directors career. The film is seen as an excellent example of the mixing of parody and the most tearful genre, the so-called womens film about the problems and peculiarities of a middle-class womans life and is quite highly regarded by the critic.

The author of the article notes the paradoxes of melodramatic femininity that Waters notes in the example of the films protagonist. The combination of mock hypocrisy, hystericality, and excitement in the life of an early eighties suburban woman confronts the seriousness of ensuring order in the home and simultaneously disrupting it. The contradictions in womens self-definition in such situations, reality and fiction in their perceptions, are emphasized and even sometimes grotesquely highlighted by the director, according to Gorfinkel (2019). The beleaguered banality and repulsive impression at the same time as the appeal of the protagonist are appreciated as blurring the line between anticlimax and pathos.

In addition, duality is also observed in the appearance, behavior, and presentation of the heroine. The author notes the idealized and de-idealized image, noting its reckless but quirky femininity (Gorfinkel, 2019). One can observe the meaning of the films title in this  after all, polyester is a modern, outwardly attractive and sturdy but cheap and artificial material. In the context of the suburban atmosphere of the films characters environment, their attempts to follow fashion and the American dream are associated with an illusion, a mask over real life, albeit a beautiful one(Gorfinkel, 2019). According to the author, it is this synthetic nature of such womens life roles in this time period that demonstrates the grotesque and excessive (Gorfinkel, 2019). Periodic dependence on the opinion of others is also both the cause and the consequence of such outwardly brilliant syntheticism. It is noted as a violation of the mental space of the characters.

The problems in the family of the films protagonists, while exaggerated, are also versatile, tragic and, at the same time, parodic. Reaction instead of cardinal action in response to the adversity piled up is noted as realistic and entitled to exist. That said, one cannot help but note the retention of the general classic trashiness of Waters film production. He incorporated the metanarrative of trying to add smell to films in theaters into his work. He actively exploited this opportunity, expanding the audiences perception but mocking such an opportunity by providing a negative library of smells (Gorfinkel, 2019). Provoking audiences and an anarchic attitude with notes of vulgarity were meant to break taboos and surprise audiences, something Waters successfully accomplished with his most famous film titles.

The author appreciates the directors ability to realize permutations, ambiguities, and inconsistent elements in his works. As a result, we can conclude that Polyester is appreciated quite highly in her genre in this critical article. The authors ability to analyze situational changes, strokes of emotion and the directors intention demonstrate her high professionalism and passion for both womens cinema in particular and the film industry in general. Her experience and knowledge extensively assist her in this matter. Therefore, for this reason, the article can be considered entirely competent.

Reference

Gorfinkel, E. (2019). Polyester: The perils of Francine. The Criterion Collection. Web.

Literature dealing with post-apocalyptic themes is among the most intriguing and frightening to read. This is because they touch on the issues of what will become of the world and humanity after the destruction of everything on Earth. The comic The Stand: Captain Trips based on Stephen Kings novel Confrontation is an interlude to the events that will take place during the following books. This work is a summary of the first five parts of The Stand: Captain Trips, providing a description of the basics of the events of the plot.

Before discussing the comic book, it is necessary to consider the personality of Stephen King and his influence on the literary world. Stephen King is an American writer who made a splash in the genre of fantasy literature. In addition, the main genres within which the author works are thriller, horror, mystery, and drama. A particular characteristic of Kings work is that in each of his books, there is a specific message that often touches on the themes of morality, morality, and topics that can respond to each reader. Research stated that he is the recipient of the 2014 National Medal of Arts and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (Stephen King, N.D., para. 2). Thus, the author has an important place in American, and world literature and is a favorite a writer of many generations.

Stephen Kings work entitled The Stand: Captain Trips is one of the parts of the writers more global work. Initially, the novel on which the comic is based includes four books, the narrative of which is based on a story about a post-apocalyptic world in which people die at high speed from rapidly mutating flu. This intriguing and frightening plot is revealed in the first five parts of The Stand: Captain Trips. Visualization of Kings novel increased the works popularity and contributed to the expansion of the writers fan base, as it attracted comics fans to the audience.

The first part of the analyzed work presents an overview of how the spread of the deadly virus began. Readers are introduced to the future characters of the narrative, who will each have their role in the future. A young family with a small child leaves their home in a hurry. The reader immediately understands that something serious has happened because the man is talking about the dead and that soldiers may come for him. Further, the comic presents a group of other characters engaged in everyday conversation when a car unexpectedly crashes into the gas station they are at (Aguirre-Sacasa, 2010). The man from the original scene is frightening; his wife and child are dead. The first part also talks about a young man Larry, who decided to return home, a girl named Franny, and found out about an unexpected pregnancy.

The second part presents the reader with a completely new picture of the military base. There, the military discusses the imminent spread of an unknown virus that has begun to spread among men at a gas station (Aguirre-Sacasa, 2010). Then, the comic presents a frightening overview of how easily the virus was transmitted from one person to another. When viewing this part, one involuntarily remembers the beginning of the pandemic that struck humanity in 2020. The only one who was not infected in the incident at the gas station was Stu, who came under the supervision of the military and doctors for research (Aguirre-Sacasa, 2010). The man demanded answers as to what was happening and why blood was constantly being taken from him for study. The distraction of Frannies story contributes to the difficult realization that the virus may soon affect her family, but the only problem at the moment for her in pregnancy. In the same part, readers get acquainted with Nick, who is brutally beaten and gets into the police. At the end of the second part, Stu has a dream in which he meets a terrifying unknown person.

The third part of the comic further tells about the spread of the virus, which continues to gain momentum and gradually infect people. Frannie talks about her pregnancy to her mother, who is infuriated by this news and does not want to communicate with her daughter, and her father is trying to protect her. Then, the story moves on to Nick, who was released from prison and was at home. However, he had to go back there and replace the sheriff, who got sick and stayed at home. That night, the young man had a strange dream very similar to that of Stu. At the same time, armed robberies and shootings take place in the camp, and the author seems to hint at the unrest taking place in society. Stu is still at the military base, but now his main concern is how to escape from there.

In the fourth part, it is narrated that an increasing number of people, already from a closed circle of the main characters, are infected with an unknown virus. More and more gossip arises since neither the state nor other authorities give accurate comments on the flu, which affects more and more people (Aguirre-Sacasa, 2010). The author shows that not letting people know the truth only contributes to the aggravation of the situation with the spread of the disease and that it is possible that if the necessary measures were taken, many would be able to escape. In the same part, the reader receives a description of the main symptoms, the initial ones of which cannot be distinguished from the common cold. An even worse situation is shown by the fact that Frannies mother, who has all the symptoms of an unknown disease, gets on the waiting list in the hospital. This reflects the seriousness of the problem that people are facing and that hospitals cannot cope with the number of patients.

All five parts of The Stand: Captain Trips aim to build suspense and the fear that overtakes humanity in the face of an unknown disease. In the last part, readers are introduced to another character, a mysterious man whose appearance inspires distrust and terror. At the same time, people are succumbing to increasing panic; there are speculations about the nature of the disease and a possible vaccine against it. Television shows devastating and terrifying footage of trucks dumping bodies into the river (Aguirre-Sacasa, 2010). The presidents speech, aimed at reassuring the citizens of the country, is announced against the background of the tragic deaths of the main characters loved ones. Society is slowly plunging into chaos; people are being killed during strikes, and explosions are taking place in some cities. The Stand: Captain Trips ends with the mysterious man from the beginning of the fifth part, Flag, having magical abilities and the ability to transfigure.

In conclusion, The Stand: Captain Trips, a comic book based on Stephen Kings novel, presents a chilling plot about a deadly virus killing society. However, this is not the only unique characteristic of the plot, which the author hints at the end of the fifth part. The Stand: Captain Trips talks about the gradual spread of an unknown disease, which eventually reaches the comics main characters. Reading this work causes many emotions, the main ones being fear, tension, and horror.

References

Aguirre-Sacasa, R. (2010). The stand: Captain trips. Marvel.

Stephen King. (n.d.). National book foundation. Web.

Short Story and Poem Analysis

Life and Other Shortcomings by Corie Adjmi is a short story that explores identity and self-discovery through the eyes of its protagonist, a young woman named Leila. The story is set in New York City and is written in a first-person narrative. Additionally, it is structured in a non-linear manner, with the protagonist reflecting on her past experiences. The central conflict is Leilas struggle to understand her identity and where she belongs. Moreover, the story is rich in characterization, with Leilas character developed through her thoughts and actions. Its setting, New York City, is a metaphor for the protagonists internal struggle as she constantly navigates the different cultures and communities that form the city. In terms of devices, the tale uses imagery and symbolism to convey the protagonists inner turmoil. For example, the protagonists conflicting feelings towards Leilas heritage are symbolized through the different devices. Besides, the author uses a critical tone that blends with a language that reflects the doctoral education level. His voice reveals a unique perspective towards cultural diversity and it establishes a peculiar intimacy with the reader.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is a poem written in free verse and divided into four stanzas. The poem is written in a first-person narrative and is a tribute to resilience and self-empowerment. It speaks to the struggles and challenges the marginalized communities face and encourages them to rise above adversity. Additionally, it has a strong rhythm, with the repeated refrain I rise throughout the plot. Moreover, it uses imagery and metaphors to convey its message. The use of simple diction makes the poetry accessible to a broad audience. Based on the authors use of language, Maya Angelou uses simple and powerful language to convey the subject matter. On the other hand, the tone is uplifting and empowering, and the voice is that of a resilient and determined individual.

Personal Reactions to Each Text

In Life and Other Shortcomings by Corie Adjmi, I relate to Leilas struggle to understand her identity and where she belongs. I empathize with Leila as she navigates the conflicting feelings towards her heritage and the desire to fit in with the different cultures and communities that build New York City. Additionally, I can perceive Leilas feeling of being torn between two worlds and the strive for a sense of belonging. Its non-linear structure and the use of imagery and symbolism may evoke personal reactions from me. For example, I could relate to the symbolism of the different food Leila eats throughout the narrative and how it reflects her conflicting feelings toward her heritage.

In Still I Rise by Maya Angelou, I was inspired and motivated by the message of resilience and self-empowerment present in the piece. Its use of repetition, imagery, and simple diction may make it accessible to a broad audience and help other readers to connect with its message. In addition, its tone of hope and encouragement evoked feelings of empowerment and determination in me. Furthermore, I felt moved by the recognition of the struggles and challenges faced by marginalized communities present in the verse. Since I have experienced adversity before, the message about self-empowerment resonated with me when reading the text.

Point of Connection and Difference for both Texts

Life and Other Shortcomings by Corie Adjmi and Still I Rise by Maya Angelou connect through their themes of identity, heritage, and belonging. Both works explore the idea of being caught between two worlds and the struggles of trying to find ones place in the world. In Life and Other Shortcomings, the protagonist, Leila is torn between heritage and the desire to align herself with the different cultures and communities that are present in New York City. Besides, Leila struggles to understand her identity and where she belongs and is constantly navigating the different cultures and communities that give a foundation to the city. Similarly, in Still I Rise, it speaks to the struggles and challenges faced by marginalized communities and encourages them to rise above adversity. Generally, this poem represents a tribute to resilience and self-empowerment and encourages its readers to find their place in the world despite challenges.

However, the short story and the poem differ in style and structure. Life and Other Shortcomings is a short story written in a first-person narrative and is structured in a non-linear manner. The recital is rich in characterization and uses imagery and symbolism to convey its message. Still I Rise is a poem written in free verse and is divided into four stanzas. Moreover, the verse is written in a first-person narrative and uses repetition, imagery, and simple diction to convey its message. Additionally, its tone is uplifting and empowering, and its voice is that of a resilient and determined individual.

Relationship with Status Quo

In Life and Other Shortcomings, the protagonist, Leila, is trying to find her place in the world, but she is also aware of the status quo and the expectations placed on her by society. She is torn between her heritage and the desire to fit in with the different cultures and communities that build New York City. Generally, the story suggests that the status quo often opposes individuality and self-expression and can be limiting for people who dont fit into the mold.

In Still I Rise, it speaks to the struggles and challenges faced by marginalized communities, often excluded from the status quo. Additionally, the short verse encourages its readers to rise above adversity and challenges the status quo by encouraging them to be resilient and self-empowered. Unequivocally, it acknowledges that the status quo oppresses marginalized communities and encourages them to challenge it and strive for a better future.

Depending on which story or novel the reader is reading, their opinions on the narrator in Gabriel Garcia Marquezs writings can change. Sometimes, the reader will identify strongly with the narrator and be able to identify with their experiences and viewpoints. In other instances, the reader could perceive the narrator as unstable or untrustworthy and struggle to empathize with them. In the end, the readers opinions of the narrator will be influenced by their own experiences and viewpoints, the authors storytelling ability, and the topics and motifs of the story.

Whether the reader trusts the narrator and finds them reliable in Gabriel Garcia Marquezs works can vary depending on the story or novel being read. In some cases, the narrator may be a highly reliable and trustworthy source of information, and the reader may have no reason to doubt their account of events. In other cases, the narrator may be less reliable, and their understanding of events may be called into question, making it difficult for the reader to trust them. In Marquezs works, the narrator can be reliable and unreliable, depending on the story.

In Gabriel Garcia Marquezs writings, the narrator is the author; the author made the narrator a fake persona to convey the tale. A first-person character who is deeply immersed in the tales events may serve as the narrator, or the story may be told from the perspective of an objective third party who offers a more dispassionate and impersonal view. If the narrator is ubiquitous, they may have access to relevant information that the storys participants do not. The narrators voice is fundamentally the authors speech, independent of the narrators style or amount of involvement in the story, as the writer is the one who developed and sculpted both the narrative and the narrators voice.

In order to depict the imaginary world in a distinctive and inventive way, Gabriel Garcia Marquez frequently uses magical realism, a literary genre in which mystical elements are incorporated into an otherwise realistic environment. This technique gives the reader a sense of surprise and enchantment, which draws attention to the storys themes and motifs (Saleh, 2019). The fictitious world can also be depicted by the narrator using different techniques. The narrator might, for instance, employ descriptive language to conjure up evocative images and draw the reader into the storys setting.

Reference

Saleh, E. S. T. S. (2019). Magical realism: A Step further towards Eco-feminism with special reference to Marquezs innocent erendira. CDELT Occasional Papers in the Development of English Education, 66(1), 75-91. Web.

Introduction

Both Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs were enslaved people who experienced significant suffering during their lives. However, their experiences as male and female slaves differed in several ways. One key difference between the sufferings of male and female slaves was the sexual exploitation that enslaved women were subjected to. In Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs writes about the sexual abuse that she and other enslaved women were only an object to their owners and other white men (Douglass, 2019). This abuse included rape, harassment, and the threat of being sold to different owners if they resisted or complained. Enslaved women were also often separated from their families and children, who could be sold at any time. Douglass, as an enslaved man, did not experience the same level of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Discussion

Another difference was the lack of legal protections for enslaved women. Douglass was able to eventually gain his freedom through lawful means, such as purchasing his space and using the law to defend himself against false charges. Enslaved women, on the other hand, had fewer legal protections and were often unable to use the law to their advantage (Douglass, 2019). They could not own property, bring legal cases, or testify in court, making it more difficult for them to gain their freedom or seek justice for abuse.

Enslaved women, on the other hand, were usually relegated to domestic work, such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children (Ann, 2018). While both types of work were demanding and often involved long hours, enslaved men were often subjected to more physically grueling labor and had fewer opportunities for education and personal development. Despite these differences, both Douglass and Jacobs wrote about the mental and emotional toll that slavery took on them and their fellow slaves which is shown at the end of their works (Douglass, 2019). Both depicted the constant fear of being separated from their families, the feeling of powerlessness and oppression, and the psychological damage caused by the dehumanizing treatment they received. One as well as the other also mentioned the importance of education and the role it played in their eventual escape from slavery.

In addition to the differences in abuse and exploitation, there were also details in which male and female slaves stood against their enslavement. Douglass, as an enslaved man, was able to use his physical strength and size to resist and escape slavery. He also used his education and writing skills to advocate for the abolition of slavery and to inspire others to fight for their freedom. All of that is presented at the end of the novel, where the life of Douglass is described in all the details. Enslaved women, on the other hand, had fewer options for physical resistance and often had to rely on more subtle forms of resistance, such as feigning illness or sabotage (Ann, 2018). Jacobs also used her writing and education to fight against slavery and to advocate for the rights of enslaved women. She wrote Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl under the pseudonym Lydia Maria Child in order to protect her identity and avoid retribution from her former owner. The book still remains popular and helps to shed light on the experiences of enslaved women and the specific challenges they faced.

Conclusion

Overall, the experiences of male and female slaves were shaped by their gender and the societal expectations and roles that came with it. While both Douglass and Jacobs suffered greatly under the institution of slavery, their experiences differed in significant ways due to the gender-based discrimination and oppression they faced. Their writings, however, have helped to shed light on the common hardships and struggles of all enslaved people and have inspired future generations to fight for justice and equality.

References

Ann, H. (2018). Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl. Outlook Verlag.

Douglass, F. (2019). Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass. Bibliotech Press.

How a Mormon Housewife Turned a Fake Diary Into an Enormous Best-Seller by Casey Cep recounts the story of Beatrice Sparks, the true author behind the Go Ask Alice novel. The article opens with the influence of Sparks, who was a popular and prominent figure but had also been often untruthful about her expertise and experiences. Much of Sparks philosophy and teachings are focused on Mormon and conservative values for girls and young women. She would often support her opinions and insights with her abilities as a psychologist and counselor, though her education in either or any other field was unproven. As such, her involvement in the creation of Go Ask Alice, which focuses on a teenagers descent into drug abuse, poses a clear ulterior motive and potential hazards for the social understanding of drug-related issues.

Go Ask Alice was published in 1971 to much acclaim and presented as an edited but otherwise authentic diary of a teenage girl, which was far from the truth. Cep (2022) recites the contents of the novel in which the narrator lives in a Christian household but becomes upset after a move to which she cannot adapt. Following this, she tries LSD, quickly moving to more dangerous drugs such as heroin. Further in the novel, the narrator turns to prostitution and often relapses with drugs that lead to severe outcomes. The novel finishes with the narrator attempting to return to a more balanced life only for an editors note to let the readers know that she had passed away three weeks after the last entry. Cep (2022) recounts these elements of the novel, as well as the stylistic choices in order to emphasize the melodramatic nature of the novel. Despite this, few initial reviewers recognized the falsification of the diary and praised it for being realistic and important.

The article also observes the emergence of Rick Emersons Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter Behind the Worlds Most Notorious Diaries, a work that aims to analyze both Sparks and the influence of the novel. However, Cep (2022) explores that both authors fall subject to an ulterior motive that outweighs the initial positive message that was present in their works. Emerson completes his book with a hint that the real person behind the character of the narrator exists but will remain anonymous. Cep (2022) compares Emersons desire to debunk and Sparks anti-drug agenda to be of equal harm to individuals struggling with drug-related issues.

Sparks had grown up in Utah where she worked as a waitress alongside her mother after dropping out of high school. When she turned eighteen, she moved to Santa Monica and eventually married a Mormon. Together, they became wealthy through an investment in the Permian Basin and moved into a mansion in the fraud capital of the country, Provo, Utah. Sparks would later collaborate with Art Linkletter, whose daughter had committed suicide, and to whom Sparks sent a manuscript of Buried Alive: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager.

The article traces the success of Go Ask Alice to the newly emerging market for young adult literature and the ways in which publishers worked to promote their products, whether they publicized honest statements or not. The controversy was a central marketing feature of Sparks novel and soon enough, Sparks expanded by publishing a further two books, but under her own name. Cep (2022) also cites that despite some of Sparks work being based on real incidents, her novels only worked to exploit and transform the narratives to serve her own agenda. These false diaries were compounded by marketing decisions that attempted to convince readers of the reality of the works in order to become more profitable.

References

Cep, C. (2022). How a Mormon Housewife Turned a Fake Diary Into an Enormous Best-Seller. The New Yorker. Web.

The books illustrations are separate art designed to accompany the main text, creating a mood and visualizing what is happening in the story. First, the pictures help the reader to better imagine what is happening in the book, follow the characters actions, and feel them more fully. Second, the illustrators drawing style can affect the storys perception. More colorful, optimistic, bright illustrations will set the readers in a light mood, making them appreciate the storys meaning without looking for more profound ideas. Such drawings are often made for childrens books in order to maintain an overall positive attitude. However, to bring out deeper and more instructive meanings in the same story, illustrations can be drawn in a more realistic or minimalist style, setting readers in a more philosophical perception. Thus, they will tend to look for deeper meanings and life lessons in their reading.

In class, we reviewed two famous, well-known childrens stories, The Velveteen Rabbit and In Which Pooh Goes Visiting, with original illustrations from the early 20th century. The short story In Which Pooh Goes Visiting by Alan Alexander Milne was illustrated by Ernest Shepard. Drawings of Winnie the Pooh performed by Shepard became famous works that gave him popularity and eclipsed other works. These illustrations are also unusual for the modern reader since people are used to cartoonish images of Winnie the Pooh and his friends. This edition uses black-and-white graphics and a realistic style; animals do not have anthropomorphic features. The illustrations contrast with the more frivolous narrative, making the moral more down to earth. This is logical since In Which Pooh Goes Visiting is a story about the consequences of rash actions that overtake a person. In the picture where Robin reads a book to Pooh, who is losing weight, one can see the edification and cold irony of the story. In the cartoon version, the emphasis is on Poohs stupidity and the comical nature of the situation. At the same time, Shepards illustrations set up a more realistic and serious perception of the problem that the character has created for himself and everyone around him.

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams is a romantic love story with a deep intellectual and emotional charge. Although this is a childrens story about toys coming to life, the illustrations by William Nicholson are highly artistic, emotional, and even depressing. The engravings use the counting of black, yellow, and red colors, which creates a unique style and is enough to manipulate the mood of the images. For example, in the Christmas morning illustration, yellow and red predominate, conveying the joy and festivity of the received gift. The Anxious times image uses a lot of black and gray to represent the build-up of atmosphere to an all-black background in The Fairy flower, where only the yellow flower of hope shines in the darkness. Illustrations allow you to live the story more profoundly and dramatically, feeling suffering and happiness.

Comparing the styles of illustrations in both books, it can be observed that they are similar because they do not have a childish, cartoonish, or light mood. They guide the reader to a deeper understanding of the story, either ethically or emotionally. However, the pictures in The Velveteen Rabbit reveal more of a sensual aspect, conveying the state of a rabbit that strives to become real and becomes because he is loved. In Which Pooh Goes Visiting is more of a cautionary tale with a pragmatic conclusion, so the realistic style will better set the reader on it.

Illustrations for texts can greatly affect the readers perception emotionally and create basis for reflection. The pictures in the stories The Velveteen Rabbit and In Which Pooh Goes Visiting are done in different styles, but they encourage people to take the stories more seriously, to look for a moral and meaning in them, or to sympathize with the characters. In this way, the illustrations reveal the original message of the storytellers more profoundly.

Introduction

The expression grass is always greener on the other side is sometimes true, and it is valuable to know how much greener it is. The given analysis will focus on Toni Cade Bambaras The Lesson with a focus on the main character Sylvias transformation in separation, initiation, and return. The original interpretation is that Sylvia represents the oppressed, who can only learn about their oppression through education to identify the beneficiaries of the system.

Initiation

Sylvias initiation stage begins when Miss Moore brings her and the other children to a toy store in a wealthy neighborhood, which shows the other side of the system (Heros journey, n.d.). The analysis reveals that the toy store represents an unknown world for the character, which is why she was shocked by the toy prices (Bambara, 1972). Oppression is invisible and unperceivable for the oppressed until they can see the source of oppression, which means the beneficiaries of institutional racism, capitalism, and classism.

Return

Their return stage is marked by the mastery of two worlds reflected in her greater understanding of the wisdom behind Miss Moores lessons (Heros journey, n.d.). The analysis of her statement, Where we are is who we are, Miss Moore always points out, reveals that one must seek to learn about the unknown to properly understand the known (Bambara, 1972, p. 5). Learning about the oppressors and beneficiaries of the system is necessary to solve any form of oppression.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one can learn about his or her own oppression through education to identify the oppressors of the system. Sylvia enters the initiation stage by seeing the toy store used by rich people, whereas she returns by reflecting on her own state back home. It provokes questions about what regular people do not know about their leaders, business executives, politicians, and corporations that would put them in Sylvias shoes.

References

Bambara, T. C. (1972). The Lesson. Book Rags.

Heros journey. (n.d.). Web.