Book Smarts vs Street Smarts

Although Friar Lawrence had book smarts, he gave really bad advice to Romeo and Juliet, this shows his world experience isn't up to par with his book smarts. This advice caused a lot of the dramatic consequences within the play. In act 2, scene 3, Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence for advice about his love for Juliet. Friar Lawrence thinks it’s strange that last time he spoke to him; he was in love with Rosaline. “Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Act 2, Scene 3, 67-69) Even though Friar Lawrence did not agree with Romeo’s swift marriage, he still agreed to marry them, knowing that their families were at war. Friar Lawrence did not foresee any of the consequences that were to come. And in act 4, scene 1, Friar Lawrence tells Juliet to take a sleeping potion that will make her seem dead to anyone. “And this distilling liquor drink thou off, when presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy humour ” (Act 4, Scene 1, 95-97) Shakespeare uses a foreshadowing technique to show Friar Lawrence’s naivety, as his predictions for the future weren't supported by street smarts.     

The role of women

Within the play, Romeo and Juliet, there are 3 main women characters: Juliet, Nurse and Lady Capulet. However, there are many more male main characters: Romeo, Mercutio, Capulet, Tybalt, Benvolio, County Paris, Friar Lawrence and Prince Escalus. This shows that the women’s voice in this play is not valued by Shakespeare. In addition, the topics discussed by both male and female characters are worlds apart. For example, the men discuss things such as war, love, sex, partying, fighting, honour, sports, food, peace and death. However the women within the story discuss love, marriage, and gossip. Shakespeare portrays women to only value being wives and gossipers, the Nurse says of women, “No less! Nay, bigger: women grow by men.” (Act 1, Scene 3, 99). Women are also portrayed as owned by men. Capulet shows this by offering all of the abled women to men, “Welcome gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes unplagu’d with corns will walk a bout with you.” (Act 1, Scene 5, 8-9). Imagery is used as a technique to portray women, in particular ‘women grow by men’ metaphorically relates women as a smaller person without a man.  

Suicide

At the end of Shakespeare’s play, both Romeo and Juliet end up committing suicide over believing one another is dead, but is this really the right way? Near the end of the play, Juliet fakes her own death so that she didn't have to marry Paris. When Romeo heard of Juliet's 'death', he obtained an illegal poison so that he could be in heaven with her as soon as possible as he couldn't bear to live without her. Romeo drinks the poison that he purchased, and he kisses Juliet, after which he says that the poison works quickly, and that he will die with a kiss. "O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die." (Act 5, Scene 3, 121-122) To inform the audience of the suicide, or that something bad such as suicide were to happen at the end, Shakespeare used the foreshadowing technique. It is as though Shakespeare had written this part to say that it is ok to kill yourself if you are in love or lust with another person. 

Love vs. Lust

Throughout the world, readers of Romeo and Juliet have interpreted it as a story of either lust or love. Shakespeare had used several techniques to show that Romeo and Juliet are not in love, but in lust. In the play, Romeo and Juliet had fallen in love with each other only by their beauty in only a few minutes without actually physically meeting each other. This wouldn't happen in real life as someone cannot just fall in love in just a few minutes without actually knowing that person, and just immediately fall in love by just their looks. In the play, Romeo describes Juliet as being so bright that she teaches the torches to shine just like her. “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear; beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. (Act I, Scene 5, 38-41)”. In Act 2, Romeo proposes to Juliet, only after meeting her a few hours before. They both act carelessly; they both marry too quickly which leads to problems. Love is always patient, and slow, however lust is always quick paced. There are several techniques utilised by Shakespeare in this play that portray lust between Romeo and Juliet. These are dramatic irony, the way that Romeo speaks of Juliet, such as comparing her to light, and the foreshadowing of their fate afterwards. Shakespeare has written Romeo and Juliet, not as a love story, but a lust story. 

Romeo and Juliet extended response

In Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, we have seen different representations of love. There are numerous foreshadowing examples that are present throughout the play; some are said by the chorus, and others are said by the characters themselves. At the beginning of the play, the chorus tell the audience that there are two people that have fallen in love will both kill themselves, which tells the audience that fate controls everything, as well as giving an insight into what will happen later in the play. “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their lives;” (Act 1, Prologue, 6) In Romeo and Juliet, the character Mercutio doesn't seem to believe in love for another woman, instead he just feels that a woman is like a sex object, he just cares about the physical side of it and nothing else. “I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes, by her high forehead and her scarlet lip, by her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, and the demesnes that there adjacent lie, that in thy likeness thou appear to us!” (Act 2, Scene 1, 19-23). At the beginning of the play, Romeo sees love as this horrible torture, as he has fallen deeply in love with a girl that won’t love him back. “Not mad, but bound more than a madman is; shut up in prison, kept without my food, whipt and tormented, and-God-den, good fellow.” (Act 1, Scene 2, 50-52) However, we see a transformation of Romeo’s views for love when he meets Juliet. “The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand, and touching her, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (Act 1, Scene 5, 44-47) When Romeo and Juliet first talk to each other, Shakespeare used a Shakespearean sonnet, which is a love poem from lines 90-97. Shakespeare then used a broken Shakespearean sonnet from lines 98-101, to show the true romance and positive love that Romeo and Juliet have. One technique used in Romeo and Juliet is motifs. In Act 1, Scene 2, line 25, a star motive is used by Capulet, where he creates imagery of heaven and stars.  

Creating empathy - Diary entry response

9/10/12

Dearest diary, today I have just the worst news from my family that anyone would want to hear - they would disown me if I break up with this boy I like!! And my friends aren't helping the situation because they are telling me if I keep on seeing him, they will just stop being my friends. I thought family and friends were supposed to support one another, not turn on them and decide to completely isolate them over something, especially over a boy! I'm finding it very hard to make new friends, especially being the 'plankton' on the bottom of the school food chain (luckily I found my friends while I did). I'm feeling it harder to express myself to most of my friends, but it's harder to try and even speak to my parents. Ever since they found out about this boy, they act like they only have a son. I'm so glad I will be out of this jail-house in 2 years! My parents have had a few massive fights over the last few months, but with them both agreeing that I should dump Jonathan,I think their relationship has grown stronger! Jonathan is an amazing, sweet man, however my parents aren't seeing the kind man I love, instead they see a booze drinking guy who hangs out with a lowlife rude gang. I just wish they wouldn't force me to choose between my first true love and my so called supportive family and friends. What am I going to do? 

Notes on PDF documents

Expectations of daughters in Elizabethan England

·         The best portion, the greatest inheritance and the most precious jewel that they can take with them on their wedding day is shamefastnes (the want whereof is most hurtful in all women)

·         Women must carefully avoid sluggish and nasty talk, nice looks, flirtation and light expression when they walk abroad or be in company

·         No man will look for any other thing of a women but her honesty

·         If you take everything away from a maid or woman (such as beauty and wealth) and give her chastity, you would have given her everything. If her chastity is taken away and is given everything else, she would be called a wore or naughty pack  

17^th Century rules regarding marriage

·         Ministers were not allowed to marry anyone without banners or licence

·         Ministers were only allowed to marry couples between 8 and 12 in the forenoon

·         Ministers cannot marry two people in a private place, only in the said churches or chapels where one of them dwells

·         The people getting married are not allowed to be under the age of 21

Marriage Customs

·         When a daughter turns 7, the father will have help from his tenants to marry her

·         When the daughter turns 9, she is able to deserve and have dower

·         When the daughter turns 12, she is allowed to marry

·         A woman married at 12 cannot disagree afterwards, however if she is married before 12, then she can disagree until the age of 14  

·         The first promising and inception of marriage is in 2 parts – part 1 is when a man and woman bind themselves by their word only to contract matrimony thereafter. Part 2 is when an oath is made

·         Chastity is the major feature of a woman – if she doesn’t have it then no man would marry her 

Discussion questions - love story

Outline the subject matter of the poem? The subject matter of the poem is of two people that glance at each other, and have a 'love at first sight' moment. This song is based on the story of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, where they look into each other's eyes and fall in love with each other. In the song, the line "See you make your way through the crowd, and say hello, little did I know" suggests that they had no intention of meeting each other, but they had somehow caught each other's eyes. In the film clip, Juliet is talking with some friends, and Romeo is walking to her. When Juliet turns around, their eyes meet and they instantly feel a connection with each other. 

Why is the poem entitled “Love Story”? Use evidence from the lyrics to support the titles significance and relevance. The poem is entitled "Love Story" because it recounts a journey of two people that had met and fell in love, however they couldn't be together as their were numerous boundaries stopping them. The line "And my daddy said stay away from Juliet" suggests that Juliet's father did not feel that Romeo was good enough for his little girl. The lines "Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel. This love is difficult, but it's real" shows that this isn't a fairy tale, but that this real and the love they are feeling for each other is real, however it is a struggle, like in a lot of love stories. 

Describe the relationship between the two characters. Who are they? The two characters in the song are based on Shakespeare's characters, Romeo and Juliet. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet is that they are in love during the beginning of the song, "You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess", however near the end Juliet starts to think differently as she begins to feel that he had forgotten about her and has left her without saying anything, "I got tired of waiting, wondering if you were ever coming around. My faith in you was fading...Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone". However Romeo surprises her by coming back for her, and asks for her hand in marriage, "Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone. I love you and that's all I really know". 

What evidence is there to suggest that these lovers have to overcome obstacles in their relationship? One piece of evidence that suggests that these lovers have to overcome certain obstacles is that Romeo has to prove to Juliet's father that he is the right man for his girl, "And my daddy said stay away from Juliet". Juliet loves Romeo too much to not see him, however she was forbidden to see him, so they had to sneak out and secretly meet up, "So I sneak out to the garden to see you. We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew".

What themes and issues are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip? The themes and issues that are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip are love, journey, heartbreak and acceptance. Love is shown in many ways throughout the video clip and lyrics, but one example is when Juliet says, "And I was crying on the staircase begging you please don't go" which suggests that she doesn't want Romeo to leave, but to stay with her as she has strong feelings for him. Journey is shown through the video clip by showing Juliet and Romeo going through different events so that they could be together, and near the end, they are running for each other like they are at the very end of their journey. Heartbreak is shown when Juliet is feeling upset as she thinks Romeo has left her for good, and will not come back, "My faith in you was fading". Acceptance is shown in the lyrics when Romeo says that Juliet's father has finally agreed for him to marry Juliet, "I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress".

How does the “Love story” end for Romeo and Juliet in the song? Is this how it ends for the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Why does Taylor Swift end her song this way? What perspective is she writing from and why would they want the story to end this way? The ending for "Love story" is that they get married and are able to live happily ever after, with Juliet's father approving of the marriage, "He knelt to the ground and he pulled out a ring and said marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone...I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress". This isn't the same ending for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, because instead of being able to live happily ever after with the parents accepting the marriage, they end up dying as they feel that they can't live with each other (Romeo thinks Juliet is dead and vice versa). Taylor Swift wants to end her song this way to show that there can be happy endings, and that love is not always a tragedy. From this song, she shows that there can be a special someone out there that is worth fighting for. She is writing from the perspective of the girl that is portrayed as Juliet. Taylor Swift would want the story of Romeo and Juliet the way her song did because she may not feel that this would be quite accurate, and that this story should show the happiness and adventure that love has, without a tragic ending. 

Dixie Chicks "Not ready to make nice" - SPECS AND SLIMS

Subject Matter – The experience that the song “Not ready to make nice” is about the Dixie Chicks not wanting to apologise to the President of the United States (President George W Bush at the time) after the lead singer Natalie Maines mentioned during a performance that they were ashamed that the President was from Texas.

Purpose – The purpose of this song was to express their feelings and thoughts over the debates with what they had said to the President, the banning of their song from country radio stations, and their freedom of speech.

Emotion – The predominant emotion represented in the song is anger. The mood stays constant throughout the song. The Dixie Chicks want to seek that the listener of their song would feel that they don’t feel as though they need to apologise and that they feel strongly about how angry they are about comments people have said.

Craftsmanship – The techniques used in the Dixie Chick’s song are rhyme and imagery. The singers achieves their effect by wearing white dresses to represent them being sweet, and then being smeared in black paint, to represent them going over to the ‘dark side’. This shows that people perceive them as girls that have turned from good to bad.  

Structure – In the song, “Not ready to make nice”, there are 8 stanzas, and there are clear chorus and verses. 4 of the stanzas have 4 lines in them, 3 stanzas have 8 lines in them, and 1 stanza has 9 lines in it. The 5^th stanza in this song is the bridge.    

Language – The language used is appropriate in this song as it is trying to convey a message of anger because they can’t speak their mind without being ridiculed by strangers. “It’s a sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.”  

Imagery – One example of imagery is when she sings, “I made my bed and I slept like a baby,” which gives the listener the image that she is a normal innocent person that makes their bed and has restless or good sleeps like anyone else. The imagery given off in the music video is showing them covering themselves in black paint and having black paint wiped all over them. This gives off the impression as though they are angels that have turned bad as people are seeing them as these perfectly angelic women, but after the comment, they are suddenly seeing them as bad people.  

Movement – I don’t feel that this poem has any significant sound features. It is a good song however it is not a musical.

Sound – In stanzas 1, 2 and 8, the last word of the first 2 sentences rhyme with each other. In stanzas 3, 6 and 7, the last word in every second line rhymes with each other.  

Summary – I feel that the impact of this song for me was that people should stop pressurising and threatening the Dixie Chicks for making one comment about the President. They are just people, but when strangers are criticising them, they shouldn’t be forced to apologise and be hated. I feel that they are right to not apologise, and just stand up for what they believe in. 

"Not ready to make nice" Dixie Chicks

1. How effective is the headline? I feel that the headline “Chicks in the Line of Fire” is a very effective headline as it informs the reader that the people in the article are in trouble, and using Chicks is clever, as it shows that women are in trouble, but because the article also relates to the Dixie Chicks.
2. The Journalist has chosen not to include an extensive byline. Do you think this is a good decision? Explain your answer. No, I do not feel that the journalist’s decision to exclude an extensive byline is a good idea, because the byline usually expands on the headline and what will be included in the article, however, the byline the journalist used was just informing that even as a baby, Natalie Maines is a rude person.
3. How does the introductory paragraph help your understanding of what the article will be about? The introductory paragraph helps me understand what the article is about because of how it mentions who this article is about, what it is about, and why the person had done what they did. The introductory paragraph introduces Natalie Maines and how she had joined the Dixie Chicks. It then goes onto what she had said about President Bush, and how she doesn’t feel as though he deserves any respect for sending over troops to Iraq.
4. What kind of tone do you think the journalist is trying to achieve? Provide examples to explain your answer. I feel that the journalist is trying to achieve a tone of sympathy for the Dixie Chicks as though they have done nothing wrong and people shouldn’t be harsh towards them. “…group received death threats and was banned by thousands of country radio stations, many of which still have informal bans in place.” I feel that by mentioning the Dixie Chicks had received numerous death threats and their songs banned from country radio stations, this makes the reader feel sorry for them.
5. What do you think the journalist’s purpose was in writing this article? Provide examples to help prove your answer. I believe the journalist’s purpose to write this article was to try and get the readers to connect with the Dixie Chicks and really feel for them and be empathetic for all the criticism and controversy they have received. “…was to appear nude on the cover of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY with slurs (SADDAM'S ANGELS) scrawled on their naked bodies.” This gives the reader a message that they have been ‘targeted’ just for saying what was on their mind about them feeling ashamed that the President was from Texas. The journalist’s purpose was probably to show how much criticism the Dixie Chicks had received, and that with the use of direct quotations (see below) she has been trying to dial down the hatred they have received.
6. The journalist makes considerable use of direct quotations throughout the article. How does this affect your understanding of the article and influence your opinion of the band members? Use evidence to support your claims. The use of numerous direct quotations affects my understanding massively as it is coming from their own personal views and you can learn a lot more from the person than from someone just explaining how they feel. "If people are going to ask me to apologize based on who I am," says Maines, "I don't know what to do about that. I can't change who I am." This direct quotation teaches me that Maines is a strong fighter for what she believes in and she would never back down if she is passionate for the cause; I feel that is a great characteristic for someone.
7. How effective do you think this article is in achieving the journalist’s purpose? Explain your answer in full please. I feel that this article “Chicks in the Line of Fire” has been very successful in achieving the purpose of showing sympathy towards the Dixie Chicks. With using various direct quotations, an effective introduction paragraph and using the tone of sympathy for writing, the journalist has effectively represented the message of the Dixie Chicks across, and how we should feel sympathy for them and what they have gone through.

SPECS AND SLIMS – An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

Summary • Describes a war • He is talking about how he can predict his death Purpose • To inform the reader about how he only has a neutral feeling towards the war, he doesn’t hate, nor love anyone that he is fighting and guarding • He wants to say how war has affected how he is seeing life, and that it has lead him to be able to see when he will die Emotion • Sadness • Sympathy Craftsmanship • William Butler Yeats has used many techniques to carry across the message of war to the reader • He achieves these effects well because of the different words and techniques he has incorporated into this poem. Some specific techniques Yeats uses in this poem are imagery, euphemism and rhyme. Imagery can get the reader to paint a picture in their mind and imagine that they are there. Euphemism makes the poem more subtle, for example instead of saying death, he says fate (1st line) Structure • 16 lines in the poem • 1 stanza Language • 1st person • Emotive • Formal • Euphemism (1st line) • Last 4 lines of the poem – William Butler Yeats uses a chiasmus Imagery • Example – Line 2 “Somewhere among the clouds above;” shows an image of him flying in a plane • All the lines represent war and death Movement • There was an ab ab rhyming pattern • No significant sound features Sound • Rhyme • Example – Line 12 “Drove this tumult in the clouds” suggests planes flying over, and you can hear the jet engines Summary • This poem makes me feel angry about war because of all the emotive language about a soldier who has no emotion or feeling for going to war • It also makes me feel sad and sympathetic towards the soldier because he can detect when he will die and that his best mate had been killed in action • I feel this poem was successful in carrying the message of war and death across • I feel that it does achieve the poet’s purpose of informing people about war, because of all the different techniques he has used to get the reader to feel more like they are in the shoes of the solider

Book 1 Chapter 3 Analysis (p.43-73)

General overview In this chapter, Vladek is recalling to Artie what is was like to be a Jewish Prisoner of War and the events that he went through that helped him survive. He talked about the hard ache that all the Jews had to go through, and the punishment they received just because they were not German. It tells us how much torture the Jews encountered, and how much unfairness and pain the Germans gave to the prisoners. We learn about how Vladek's father tried to do anything for his children to stay out of the war, as he had experienced it firsthand. Vladek's father would use some techniques such as pull out some of their teeth, and to make them look as sick as a dog by just giving them coffee and let them have virtually no sleep. We also see how something as small as chocolate was worth a lot in those camps. Main themes The main themes in this chapter are survival, war, journey, and the P.O.W camps. The very first theme we are confronted with is his father insisting that he eat all his food. Showing how his past experiences, such as eating whatever you are given to survive, have affected his current views. This gives an introductory insight to Vladek’s personal journey and survival during the war and in the P.O.W camps. What we learn about the main characters in this chapter: We learn that Vladek had a tough time trying to survive, and that although he went through all that pain, he was one of the lucky ones to have been able to survive and see his family in the end. You also learn how the war has shaped Vladek into being a person that is always clean and doesn't like anyone to be wasteful. We learn that although Vladek had to live in tough conditions, he tried to save and use his resources carefully so he could live another day, such as bathing in the river to stay clean and to save the food and cigarettes he relieved from his family and the food the Red Cross gave to him on the train. We also see that Vladek doesn't have the best relationship with Artie. One example that shows this is when Artie looks for his cost, and he realizes Vladek had thrown it out because he was ashamed of it. Art Spiegelman's message/what he is telling us about the main themes: Art Spiegelman is telling us that it was very hard to survive in the camps, and that although a lot of people tried to do anything to survive, the majority of them were killed. This gives the impression that luck was needed to survive as the strong and brave also died. He showed how being a Jew had a massive impact in how they were treated. For example, "The Polish prisoners get heated cabins… Yes, and we're just left to freeze in these tents" (p.55). Techniques used: Art Spiegelman uses techniques such as language choices, the way people are portrayed as animals, the lack of colour, flashbacks, perspective and sequencing of events. The author uses character impressions of other characters to give a broader understanding of the other characters such as mentioning the way his mother used to feed him. . How the techniques are affective: The techniques are affective because of the ways that they portray the message a lot clearer. It also makes the comic less graphic with the use of animals and use only black and white colours. It gives the reader a vivid picture of his experiences which brings the reader closer to the characters. Art Spiegelman’s carefully chosen words gives the reader insight into character features.

English response 1.

Jimmy had helped rebuild Sophie's confidence and find happiness by regaining her love for pottery making. Although she is hesitant at first, Jimmy persuades her that if he can find the right equipment to help her start pottery again, she will be able to do it again. '"Listen, if we can get hold of a wheel," he said, "then I reckon I can get access to a kiln." "Really?" I said, now interested.' (p.237). Jimmy helps Sophie go back to making pottery, and with the persuasion of offering to take her to a pottery barn, Sophie slowly starts to make an emotional recovery. This shows that Jimmy wants Sophie to regain her confidence and get back on her feet again.

English practice essay response

Response: Whilst the two sisters were growing up together, Geraldine and Fran have experienced different events in their lives to contribute to them having a bad relationship. Some events are when young Geraldine was rude to young Fran’s new boyfriend and when Geraldine’s wedding had been broken off because the guy had fallen in love with Fran, Geraldine felt so torn. During Amy’s party, Fran had brought along her boyfriend to show Amy and Geraldine, however Geraldine acted rudely to him which caused Fran to get upset. Geraldine didn’t react kindly when Raymond, Fran’s boyfriend, had asked if Amy and Geraldine had wanted to go to a small art exhibition Fran had put on. ‘“He was just telling you about the art, Gerry!” she protested furiously. “There is no need to give a lecture!”’ (p.182). When Geraldine and Amy were talking, they had been thinking about asking Raymond to leave the party. Although Amy wanted him to go, she didn’t want to hurt Fran in the procedure. ‘“The thing is not to hurt Fran in the process,” Amy said loyally. “I don’t care if we do hurt Fran,” Geraldine shot back fiercely.’ (p.188). When Geraldine and Amy walked out into the dining area once their conversation was over, Raymond had said some rude things to them. Shocked, Geraldine harshly replied and rudely asked him to leave otherwise she would get some men to kick him out. ‘“Geraldine!” Fran gasped furiously. “How dare you say that!” “I do dare, Fran,” Geraldine snapped.’ (p.188-189). When everyone had put some pressure on Amy, she started to feel upset and cry. Raymond didn’t feel that he did anything wrong and so he just sat at the table and started to chuckle. Geraldine got really mad at Fran for bring Raymond to Amy’s dinner. ‘“For God’s sake, Fran, can you do one sensible thing in your stupid life and get him out?”’ (p.191). Geraldine and Fran had argued a lot about Raymond during Amy’s birthday dinner, which had been a factor to both of them having a bad relationship with one another. Geraldine was so distraught when her wedding was cancelled just the day before it was supposed to happen, that even though Fran was trying to be supportive, Geraldine didn’t want to see her. When Fran heard the news that Paul, the groom to Geraldine, she immediately felt hatred for him and felt sorry for Geraldine. However, despite the fact that Fran wanted to try and be supportive, Geraldine didn’t really care. ‘“I’m so sorry, Gerry,” Fran whispered eventually…“Where did you come from?” she demanded hoarsely.’ (p.34). When Fran had bumped into Paul a couple of days after the wedding had been cancelled, she had never expected that she was the reason that Paul had decided to not go through with the wedding. ‘“Well,” Paul sighed…“I knew then that I absolutely shouldn’t marry Gerry…I wish I was marrying Fran”’ (p.59) Although Geraldine and Fran should both be blamed on them having a bad relationship, Geraldine is the main contributor to the fact that they have not had a good relationship after the different events that have occurred during their life. It is not fair that Geraldine has been very aggressive with her temper towards Fran for the majority of the book, as Fran is a family orientated person, however having a bad relationship with her sister would make her feel upset. Geraldine should forgive Fran for all the things that have happened because the events that have turned out have not been Fran’s fault entirely, and therefore Geraldine should not hold a grudge against her sister. Geraldine and Fran have come across different events during their lives that have contributed to themselves having a bad relationship with one another. Geraldine is the main person that should be blamed for all the trouble and relationship problems that Geraldine and Fran have come across. The events that have occurred have not helped the relationship of the two sisters, and this is why their relationship has been very rocky from when they were teenagers.

Chain of hearts english questions and answers

1. Which characters speak to us directly in the first-person? Why? The character that speaks to us directly is Sophie. This because the author has used words such as I, me and my and we can see through her perspective by being in her shoes and how she sees things. 2. The backcover blurb suggests that Sophie is the main character of the book. Do you agree? How important is Fran? Is it significant that hers is the only voice we hear directly for almost the first quarter of the book? I feel that Sophie is the main character, because we see things through her eyes, and we get an understanding of what is going through her head, whereas with Fran, we just get that third person view of her, and not actually experiencing what it is like living as Fran. Fran is quite an important character in this book, as Sophie spends a lot of time at Fran's house, as well as finding information about Fran that she would've not known. Yes, it is significant that we hear only Fran's voice in almost the first quarter of the book as we get a sense of what Fran was like when she was younger, who she hung out with and how she had acted when she was roughly the same age as Sophie. 3. Are the voices of Sophie and Fran different? Can you identify language features in Sophie’s narrative that you do not find in Fran’s? No, I don't feel that the voices of Sophie and Fran are different, because when you learn about what Fran had been like in her younger years throughout the different chapters of the book, you get a sense that a younger Fran could be a similar comparison to Sophie when she was 17 years old. Yes, I can identify language that you can't find in Fran's narrative but you can in Sophie's. Sophie's narrative includes some swearing and hatred towards people that you can't really find with Fran's. "The dragon, that b!tch commonly known as my mother, didn't come." (p.64) 4. We are almost three-quarters of the way through the book before we come to a chapter that is from Geraldine’s point of view, even though it is third-person narrative (pages 287-315). Does this chapter change our understanding of Geraldine? If so, how? I haven't read up to this chapter yet, so I am not sure. 5. The climax of the novel – Sophie’s return, Geraldine’s confrontation of Fran and the fire that destroys the house – is narrated in the third-person. What reasons might Maureen McCarthy have had for avoiding first-person at this point? Maureen McCarthy might have written the book in third person because she doesn't just want to just get one person's perspective on it, but wants to show how everyone would be reacting and feeling. Although with first person, you can hear what a person is thinking, you can't overly see what is happing in the scene if that character isn't present. You can show all the different emotions of all the characters in that area when narrated in third person, yet in first person, you can only see and hear so far. The narration of third person gives the reader the overall feeling in the scene, and create a better scene as you can tell if the house would be disintegrating, or if someone is dying or being hurt. 6. The final pages of the novel are first-person narrative. Unlike everything that has gone before, they are also written in the present tense. What is the effect of the use of present tense in this last scene, when Sophie goes to visit the Duong family? The effect of the use of present tense is that the chapter can become unexpected and it can put you into a situation and feel how the character is feeling at that present time, instead of just finding out what the character felt like. You can visualize how the person might be feeling at that moment, and how the mood might be in the room, as well as being able to catch every detail instead of just reading the important memories of what the characters had.

Show don't tell 3:

Tell: The hero was strong and handsome. He was admired by the townspeople. He was brave and wished to help those in need.

Show: "Hahaha," Jones chuckled as he listened to the jokes the small children had told him. Jones was dancing in the hospital ward, trying to uplift the spirits of the sick and injured family that he had saved a few days earlier from a burning fire. A few frightful days earlier, a family of 7 were enjoying a home-cooked meal when one of their pans had caught on fire. Jones had just arrived home from saving a cat trapped in a tree, and was casually playing Solitaire when he suddenly heard the plea for help from the family. He immediately grabbed his bike and rode with all his might to the incinerating house. He dialed 000, and while the fire brigade was coming, Jones fearlessly broke down the singed door and tried to find some moving life. He had found the 3 girls, one lying unconscious, one clinching her teddy bear, and the other was trying to get her puffer into her mouth. Jones immediately grabbed the two girls that were still partially conscious, and the unconscious girl was swung onto his broad shoulders. He had successfully taken them out of the collapsing house. He tried to look for the two boys and parents. He could hear the fire brigade rushing down the street, but Jones knew he couldn't just leave them inside. Jones saw a locked door right next to where the girls were. He couldn't hear any movement or chatter. Jones tried to break down the door, but it didn't budge. He tried several times and finally succeeded. He saw the two boys, lying face down. He put both boys on his shoulders and were heading to the door until an alit beam blocked the doorway. Jones tried to break the beam, but it didnt work the first time. He was becoming light-headed, but he was determined to get the boys out. After a few attempts,he broke through, and laid the boys next to their sisters. "We will take it from here mate. Thanks," One of the firemen said to Jones. Jones was in the newspaper for the heroic act, and the parents of the children were wanting to give him a reward for what he had done, but Jones generously declined.

Show don't tell 2:

Tell: The Knight was arrogant and greedy. He did not want to help others. He only wanted to be viewed as the most handsome and talented warrior in the land.

Show: Sir Larry Snob, Knight of King Kong, stood next to the princess, doing is job; supposedly. It was the day of Queen Kong's birthday, and all the villagers were trying to impress her majesty, to win a smile and gracious bow from the queen herself. All the knights in the land were there, making sure that the royal family was safe from any danger. All except Sir Snob. He was standing in his position, yawning rudely, and slowly falling asleep. He just wanted these villagers to get out of the castle, so he could show off his talents to everyone. All he was thinking was 'Pfft. These no good villagers are talentless! I could verse all of them with my eyes closed and still win the Queen's respect over them. Plus, all the women would rather watch a piece of eye candy, like me, then these lumpy potatoes with no skill or talent.'

Show not tell 1:

Tell: The wizard was ugly and evil. The people of the town were terrified of him. He enjoyed threatening them, especially the children. He was cruel and greedy

Show: Merlin looked down at the townsfolk disgustedly, laughing at their misfortune. It was the night of Halloween, the favorite holiday of some children, but also for Merlin. He loved dressing up as himself, so he could scare children away by offering spiders instead of candy. He would use his bony fingers to zap away the angry parents. "Happy Halloween you little snot rags," Merlin would scream, as he shoos the children away with spiders and a life size grim reaper robot that chases them out the gate. He would then keep the candy that children drop while scampering away from the castle.

She cuddled up to her teddy bear

Feeling the softness of Mr Ted made Tayla feel safe. Lying flat on the soft bed with Mr Ted in her arms made her feel like she was floating with the angels. Mr Ted's hat was a hard, velvet cap. He wore a soft suite, with small shoes. His eyes were always hard and cold, but that made him all the more special to her, as this made the evil Jublies stay away from her bed. As she closed her eyes, she could feel Mr Ted kissing her goodnight with his gentle, silky lips.

It was a dark and stormy night

Coco was snarling at the lightning, as if it was a burglar waiting to barge into our home. I was relaxing on the couch with a very agitated dog beside me. We were watching the latest horror movie when suddenly a thunder storm emerges from nowhere. The sound of the thunder was like a thousand jets zooming over our home. Rain drops were splattering our windows from every direction. The noise from the rain splattered out windows, in sight of wanting to break into our home.

It was time for breakfast

I was slowly stumbling down the stairs until I was overcome with a pungent smell that was irresistible. The bacon was slowly crackling away in the pan, getting crispier by the second. Egg shells were being broken to reveal the golden treasure inside. Dad was freshly squeezing some orange juice for the family to enjoy. The smell of fresh bread sitting in the toaster, waiting to emerge and show off it's brand new tan. The cherry tomatoes were in the pan, slowly wrinkling up, as if they were in the water for too long. Mum and dad plated up a great feast for us to enjoy. I knew it was time for breakfast.