Yeah, _Andrew’s Brain_ is overwhelmingly filled with material to analyze.
“Writing is like talking to yourself, which I have been doing with you all along anyway” (51). I’m seeing this quote as it is. On the same page, Andrew says to “Doc,” “I am safe here. I mean, for all we know I put you in danger every time I walk into your office” (51). The paragraph ends with no reply from “Doc.” The paragraph comes to a halt and the next paragraph begins a Mark Twain discussion. I think a major theme to the novel is when Andrew remarks, “How MT dealt with life was to make a point of explaining children to adults, and adults to children” (51). It’s as if there’s no difference between children and adults, which is similar to the behavior of schizophrenics. Moreover, Andrew changes to second person in one of his memories he’s retelling: “Your cheeks were red, your nose was dripping water, snow clung to your eyebrows, snow was under your sleeves and inside your boots” (57). Doesn't seem like a significant quote, however it is if you consider Andrew just talking to himself throughout the book. Why else would he change the point of view? He’s remembering for his own sake. The novel reflects the
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Like you said last week, “a funhouse hall of mirrors, all comic and tragic distortions of reflections with no exit, not for Andrew and not for the reader.” I either find myself laughing,
A Ticket out of the Past By (Teresa) Yung-Ching Chuang. Life is like an ascent, the more you climb, the higher you will get. J. C. Burke skilfully undertakes this philosophy as a source of inspiration for ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’. It is not another crazy adventurous tale with a heroic storyline that seems unrealistic; the novel is about individual representation as Burke insightfully illustrates the long and slow journey of Tom Brennan, navigating through his road of self-discovery that eventually leads to his destination and achieves his “ticket out of the past” (Burke, pg 182). The catalyst of the novel is a traumatic car accident causing two instant deaths and one paralysis.
In the short story The Devil and Tom Walker, written by Washington Irving, the protagonist Tom Walker, is characterized as being a negative man. This is demonstrated through Tom Walker being characterized as being meager, outspoken, fearless, greedy, stubborn, and unloving.
The structure of the essay leads the reader to make conclusions about the morality of the human species. Twain presents specific examples of human deficiency that certain populations can identify with, then moves to broader topics that anyone can relate to. Twain describes mankind's moral dilemma by saying (quote). Allowing the readier to come to the conclusion that man kind is jaded when it comes to issues on morality Twain has successfully achieved his goal. He does state his opinion but does not force the reader to come to the same idea. The manner that he presents the information allows the reader to come to the conclusion that humans are flawed in comparison to animals in a logical manner even though the overall theme of the essay is a satire
Both Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass use many similar narrative techniques in The Boys’ Ambition and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Both Twain and Douglass use formal diction when recounting their personal lives in these narratives. For example, when Twain writes “before these events, the day was glorious with expectancy; after them, the day was a dead and empty thing”, he shows his understanding of high level vocabulary as well as the appropriate usage of a semi-colon (Twain). Douglass also demonstrates his formal diction and educated grammar usage when he writes “I may be deemed superstitious, and even egotistical, in regarding this event as a special interposition of divine Providence in my favor” (Douglass). Another way
Mark Twain’s use of humor in the story mocks and shines light on the issues of our society’s political system from back then that continue
...f him as a person. He then finally thought of how Jim called him honey and how Jim was all he had. “I took it up, and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt tow things, and I knowed it. I studies a minute, sort of holding my breath and then says to myself: “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” – and tore it up” (Twain 210). This moment was greatest turning point of the book.
In the end of the story, Andrew’s dad helps Andrew be able to go to school. His dad says to Andrew, “Andrew you have to start school this Summer.” Andrew answers, “How?” His dad responds back with, “I don’t know but you’re going.” This shows how Andrew’s dad really believes that Andrew will go to school next Fall. It also shows how Andrew’s never gives up on Andrew going to school. He helps him by never giving up and making him go to school.
For example, he explains to the reader that he would carry loaves of bread when sent on errands so that he could bargain with the local children for a reading or writing lesson. He admits "I was much better off in this regard than many of the poor white children in our neighborhood" (Douglass 101). This statement is ironic because Douglass himself was in a worse position, but instead, even as a 12-year-old Douglas acknowledges what little advantages he does have. Another example of irony is presented later in the essay, when Douglass is explaining his mental struggle, long after successfully learning how to read and write. He refers to his literacy as his "wretched condition" and even tells the reader "I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing" (Douglass 103). This statement is relevant because although Douglass 's fame in literary history, and that he is feeling burdened by this. This adds to the overall resolution of the essay because it adds a new element of mental discomfort instead of the physical and social discomfort associated with
He then continues to say, “Do you want to miss a match? Blow your ride?” The pressure that his dad puts on him to be rebellious like him made Andrew get into detention in the first place simply because he got caught. Andrew describes that he “taped Larry Lester’s buns together”, he then goes on to say “that the bizarre thing is that I did it for my old man.” This further proves that Andrew’s dad has influenced the way he has behaved, and his parent-adolescent conflict worsens as his push for freedom establishes a harsher, goal-seeking father. Instead of becoming close in a new, harmonious way, it appears Andrew and his father will eventually distance themselves from one another. He wonders if he will end up like his parents or not: “Oh God, are we gonna be like our
Thoughtful laughter is a technique used frequently in satirical pieces in literature. It allows for the audience to enjoy the wittiness of a work, later ponder on the meaning, and then apply the message to reality. Thoughtful laughter is often an inner experience that can only be achieved by authors who write meticulously. Two examples of satirical works in literature that display this concept explicitly are Voltaire’s Candide and C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. Both authors explore the depths of satire and simultaneously deliver an important message to readers through skillful technique.
The first time the narrator sees the House of Usher he sees it through a “somewhat childish experiment” in which he is “looking down within the tarn” to see the house for the first time, the narrator admits that this is purely for dramatics, and adds to the argument of “The Fall of The House of Usher” being a possible parody (Poe 5). However, Poe’s use of mirroring can also show how he is taking the story seriously . While the literal use of reflection to see the house is a bit comical, mirroring, when taken seriously, can add substantial amounts of drama to a Gothic short story; for example Poe shows the potential with the subtle mirroring of the outward appearance of the house matching the inward mentality of Roderick showing how seriously mirroring can be taken (Poe 2). When the house is compared to Roderick it is done so in many ways, the decaying outside being shown to resemble his deteriorating mentality, or, possibly, how the “fissure in the mansions stone work mirrors the split between the Usher twins,” or even how Roderick is crushed, literally and figuratively, by the end of the story by Madeline 's reveal (Hayes 90). Another subtle way that Poe uses mirroring to prove that Gothicism can be taken seriously is with Roderick and Madeline being twins, showing that the illness is linked between the two, and mirrors being referenced several time throughout
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by the pseudonym Mark Twain, has been central to American literature for over a century. His seemingly effortless diction accurately exemplified America’s southern culture. From his early experiences in journalism to his most famous fictional works, Twain has remained relevant to American writing as well as pop culture. His iconic works are timeless and have given inspiration the youth of America for decades. He distanced himself from formal writing and became one of the most celebrated humorists. Mark Twain’s use of the common vernacular set him apart from authors of his era giving his readers a sense of familiarity and emotional connection to his characters and himself.
Duncan, Dayton, and Geoffrey C. Ward, writ. Mark Twain. Dir. Ken Burns. PBS, 2001. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, tells a compelling story of the mischievous and imaginative child called Tom Sawyer. The protagonist leads his friends through these creative journeys. Because of Tom’s sly personality, he ends up in trouble quite often. However, the clever young boy is able to use his charm and shrewd tricks to avoid his problems. This book displays real life struggles a boy can face during his adolescent age. The author captures the audience with a perspective on the realizations children are able to face within a community. As the story progresses, Tom grows into a mature young man while making mature choices. His childish pranks and games start to diminish throughout the book. Tom starts to learn
Novelist and grocer Evan Kingston states that, “Humour is a tool, like characterization or dialogue, and its foolhardly for any writer to rise to the impossible task of communicating the unspeakable with less than all”. In literature to use humour in a narrative is often justified along the lines of a comedic structure. It is a genre that can be mixed and connected with more than one type of literary work. In Canadian literature, I have noticed that works, like King and Compton, often illustrate social issues regarding gender, oppression and multiculturalism. We normally sense the of rage and empathy that the author tries to convey but I find that humor can portray these themes in a way that can easily interest the reader. In literary works like Thomas King’s short story “Borders” and Wayde Compton’s poem “Where Heaven Lies”, these works prove that humour can project these social issues in a manner that is just as effective as anger can. Kingston also notes that humor in literature is not only a tool but it is also a sense. We can consider it as a “sense of humor”— where it engages in all the senses: making the story come to life by stimulating every input the reader has (Kingston). Humour has the ability to not only draw in and fascinate people, but it allows readers to have a relatable connection to the literary works. It parodies stereotypes and humor allows us to consider the idea of identity and freedom in these kinds of work. Kingston’s connection with humor as both a tool and a sense is exemplified in Compton’s poem and King’s short story plays with the readers senses and draws them into these works and thus makes it relatable.