Author: ClaireM

In “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl, a story is told of a young man, Billy, who finds himself in a peculiar hotel managed by a landlady. Things become more and more strange as he finds himself there longer. In the end, the three points that foreshadow the ending of the story are the animals, the smell, and the landlady herself. This foreshadowing also builds up the plot and builds suspense in the reader. 

In the beginning of the story, as Billy finds himself drawn to the “Bed and Breakfast” pub, he notices two animals: a parrot and a dachshund. He feels that these animals make for a more comforting environment, as he thinks, “Animals were usually a good sign in a place like this.” However, after he gets settled into the pub, the landlady reveals to him that the parrot and the dachshund were stuffed. This foreshadows the end of the story since it shows the landlady is fond of stuffing her “pets” and wants to keep them with her forever, him being included in the category of a “pet.” 

The landlady also sits down with Billy and offers him tea. Billy notices a strange smell emanating from her that he couldn’t quite recall, one that he describes as “Picked walnuts? New leather? Or was it the corridors of a hospital?” Billy also seems to taste a similar thing in his tea, which “tasted faintly of bitter almonds.” This is most likely referring to a type of poison, where the landlady poisons Billy to stuff him and keep him. 

Lastly, the landlady herself seems to constantly contradict herself. When the landlady asks Billy to sign a book of his stay, he notices that the date of the last person was over three years ago. However, the lady talks about them as if they recently left, saying phrases such as “Mr.Mulholland was a great one for his tea.” Then, she continues to contradict herself by saying that the previous two people were still in her hotel. This strange behavior can be explained by the landlady not wishing to expose her true intentions and not have Billy suspecting anything. 

In the end, the lady poisoned Billy through his tea and most likely stuffed him. Through the stuffed pets, we can see how he would end up being stuffed. Through the tea, we can see what ultimately would cause his death. In the landlady’s statements, it builds suspense and confusion in the plot to give a larger element of surprise in the ending. 

In a recent Ted Talk by Madi Hammond, she talks about how the most recent generation, Gen Z, has been impacted and lived with fear due to struggles in society and common recurrences of disasters in recent years. Many of this is due to the rise in recent years of the access to technology, and therefore, the news. However, the news is run by the media, and the news people read everyday comes down to the media. These media organization companies include CNN, NBC, Fox News, ABC, and much more. Whether or not the world really is getting worse, the nature of news will take any opportunity to make people think it is. This brings up the question: What is the real point of media organizations? 

In the end, media organizations are still companies. One of the sole purposes of a company in order to keep it running is to make profit. Simply put, if the phrase “what is the purpose of a company” is searched up on Google, the result is “the main purpose of a company is to take money from investors (their creditors and shareholders) and generate profits on their investments.” This is the same concept for media companies. All of them have to find a way to make money, or else their company would become bankrupt and no longer function. However, the most impactful and large-scale news is not always the one that makes the most money. 

Most people noticeably have a larger fear of flying in an airplane than driving or sitting in a car. Plane crashes kill about 200 people a year, but car crashes kill about 1.35 million people a year. This may be blamed on the media, where plane crashes are much more commonly on the news as compared to car crashes, presumably because plane crashes make for a more “exciting” and interesting story than a car crash. Furthermore, due to the increase in news coverage and technology in recent years, in a survey in late 2016 by the Pew Research Center, 57% of registered voters believed that crime has gotten worse since 2008, even though FBI and BJS data shows that violent and property crime rates declined by 57% and 71%, respectively. 

As the media covers more and more of crimes in society, people will continue to want more and more of the news. In this way, media companies are able to make money. Many people are quick to believe anything they read on the news, but they need to remember that media companies want to make money, not make people feel better. Sometimes, in the end, it isn’t about the changes in the world, but more about coverage and media that controls our everyday news. 

In “Rules of The Game,” a chapter from the well-known story “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan, the main character is a young girl named Waverly. Throughout the story, Waverly becomes better and better at chess, which also causes her mother to become increasingly proud of her. Eventually, Waverly gets upset at her mother since she felt like an object being shown off instead of being a person. In many ways, my life has similarities and differences with Waverly’s. 

The major similarity between my life and Waverly’s is our culture and background. Both of our parents immigrated from China and still hold many Chinese beliefs and traditions. For example, since I was young, I have been taught Chinese and many aspects of Chinese culture. Waverly is also taught about Chinese sayings through chess, such as the phrase “The Double Attack from the East and West Shores.” This phrase and many others she was taught is influenced by common Chinese sayings. Waverly and I also have a similar background since we were both raised in the Bay Area, where there are many opportunities. 

However, I feel that my parents have become more accepting of American culture and adapted more parts of American culture than Waverly’s mother. A part of Chinese culture is one’s pride in family, which Waverly’s mother shows excessively throughout the story. When I was young, I played piano for several years and became decent at it. Instead of always showing me off, my mom spared me from the embarrassment since she knew I would not like it. In contrast, Waverly’s mother showed her off to random people since she had always been taught to show pride in her family. Eventually, this led to major conflicts between Waverly and her mother. 

Overall, in comparison, even though Waverly and I have similar backgrounds and cultures, there are also differences between our mothers’ willingness to adapt to their setting instead of clinging onto the past. This firm belief in Chinese traditions led to problems between Waverly and her mother, showing that sometimes it is for the better to familiarize oneself to the setting and culture within the country.

Marco Polo is known as one of the greatest explorers to ever live. His impact on all of our lives is immense, such as the popular “Marco Polo” children’s game. Through the changes he impacted on the Eastern and Western world, two of the most notable are spreading cultures and sparking the Age of Exploration. 

Since he traveled along the Silk Road, Marco Polo was able to not only bring elements of Western culture to the East, but Eastern culture back to the West. He brought back various Chinese innovations to Europe including paper money, coal, eyeglasses, and a postal service. Polo also used Eastern concepts and ideas to improve the Western map-making and cartography. Without introducing these inventions to the Western world, our world today may be less advanced and complex. From the West, he brought many concepts such as Christianity and many priests. Polo’s had a huge effect on spreading vital ideas and inventions throughout the world in the 1200s. 

Furthermore, Marco Polo sparked the start of the Age of Exploration, which included people such as Christopher Columbus and Magellen. These people were curious in the adventures Polo went on to keep exploring the areas he found riches in. Columbus went as far as carrying Marco Polo’s book “The Travels of Marco Polo” with him at all times and attempting to explore the Eastern world described in his book. 

Without Marco Polo’s journey to the East, the whole world, namely Europe, the Mongol Empire, and China would have undergone much different paths in history than they did in reality. The trade of culture, goods, and ideas between the East and West allowed the whole world to take a large step in becoming a more modern society. Marco Polo’s trek marked the start of an age of exploration and curiosity that allowed for large steps in advancement for the world.

In “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O.Henry, an ironic story is told about two foolish kidnappers kidnapping a wealthy man’s son. However, ironically, the son, a ten-year-old child, annoys and abuses them to the point where they have to pay money to return the son instead of holding him for ransom. Typically, a story about kidnapping and abuse would be a serious, dark story, but O.Henry makes the story into an entertaining and comical story. The two factors of irony and literary devices have a huge effect on the story’s overall demeanor, allowing readers to smile and sympathize with characters. 

Irony is used several times throughout the story. The simplest and least complex use of irony is the name of the town where Johnny is kidnapped. The town’s name is “summit,” however, it is also described to be “as flat as a flannel cake.” These two descriptive terms are obviously polar opposites, creating a funny feel and environment to the story. Another example is throughout the story, where the kidnappers become victims to Johnny in a fashionable manner instead of the other way around. 

Furthermore, the use of literary devices, such as metaphors and allegories, have a great impact on the story. One metaphor is when Sam finds Johnny threatening to smash Bill’s head with a giant rock. Instead of simply saying a giant rock, the author uses a metaphor to compare the size of the rock to be “half as big as a coconut.” Here, coconuts seem out of the blue and random, giving the readers a chance to laugh at the absurdity of the metaphor. The author also uses an allegory to the Bible when Johnny throws Bill into the fire. Bill brings up a Biblical reference to King Herod, who is believed to have initiated a murder of all the infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to get rid of the baby Jesus. This can be compared in the story to Bill wanting to get rid of Johnny, similarly to the way King Herod wanted to get rid of Jesus. To compare a small-scale kidnapping to Jesus is no small feat, once again, allowing readers to sympathize and laugh along with the story. 

Through the use of irony and literary devices, the story does not feel as if it had been about an unlawful and unjustified kidnapping, but instead the story of two foolish criminals and a laughingstock of a boy. 

In “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, a story is told of a traditional lottery in a small, secluded town. However, as the story builds up, it becomes increasingly clear that this lottery is not a normal, modern lottery, and instead, the winner gets stoned to death. The author uses many ways to make the story seem like a happy, children’s story at first, including the setting, the use of children, and one’s own family. 

The setting and environment of the lottery day is described in detail in the opening sentence of the story. Jackson writes, “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.” Upon first impression, this gives the reader a positive, welcoming feeling that they are about to read a story with a happy ending. Furthermore, as the story goes on, the author describes how there are children at play, laughing and smiling. Based on an average reader, these described settings would all allow for a warm, summery day full of life and happiness instead of one with death. 

Secondly, the use of children in the story leads readers to believe in a positive outcome in the story. Children in society are often seen as harmless and symbols of youth and innocence. It would be downright wrong to assume that the children would assist in the murder of an innocent women just for the sake of an old tradition. However, this is exactly what happens, leading to an unexpected turn of the story. The children are described to be playing with one another, “their talk was still of the classroom and the teacher, of books and reprimands.” Through describing these children as normal children, it allows the author to make the readers believe in a normal lottery in the story. 

Lastly, description of groups of families standing together seem to create an environment of trust and stability in the story. In our modern society, most families value each other’s lives, futures, and well-being. This seems to be the case in their town at first, with each family standing together with their children. However, in their society, when the lottery is complete, one person gets stoned to death. Their own family turns on them, joining in with the “mob mentality” to kill the winner of the lottery. 

Through using the setting, children, and families of the story to her advantage, Shirley Jackson builds up the story, creating similarities to our modern society. However, as the story progresses, things begin to change, and eventually, their town seems similar to a barbaric, ancient type of town with death and rituals. 

One of the most well known speeches in all of US history is Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech “I Have a Dream.” His speech emphasized the racial inequalities and segregations that people of color were going through and wished for a better future for all of the black community. From his speech in 1963, much of the United States has changed, whether economically or socially, but to this day, the “I Have a Dream” speech remains a symbol for hope for people of color. In total, Dr.King used the phrase “I have a dream” nine times in his speech, each time voicing his hope for the future. Overall, I categorized these nine phrases into two main ideas: One where MLK wants people to know that “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” where someone is judged based on their character instead of their race. The second main idea speech is where he gives specific examples of states he wants to see improved, namely Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. Looking at the improvement and areas that need improvement, we can see how Dr.King’s speech still applies to today’s society. 

 Dr.King mentions the South as a specific area he wants to see become less segregated, especially Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. These states were former places of slavery, and he says that he wants these places to, “be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.” According to WalletHub, Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama rank third, fourth, and twelfth in racial progress, respectively. This signifies that these places Dr.King wished to improve have greatly improved over the years, showing progress and giving hope for further improvements. However, although these places have improved since Dr.King’s time, 57 years later, there are still various examples of racism and inequality throughout the United States. 

There have been tens, even hundreds of studies showing black oppression in recent years, ranging from law enforcement to job opportunities. To name a few, according to a study in May of 2020 that detailed nearly 100 million traffic stops conducted across the country, it was found that black drivers were more likely to be pulled over, but interestingly, they were less likely to be pulled over after sunset, where the darkness masks one’s race. Furthermore, according to the US Census Bureau in 2018, the average black worker earned just 62% of what the average white worker made. These are only two examples of thousands of examples of black oppression and racism in our society today. Dr.King’s wish to have “a nation where they[his children] will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” has not been fulfilled.

There has been improvement since Dr.King’s speech in 1963 in various places in the US, but there is still much more to be done until reaching everything that he wanted. Through various studies done in recent years it can be clear how black oppression still exists in 2020. In order to honor Dr.King’s effect in our society as a whole, it is our job in our society today to fulfill his dreams of an equal and just country. 

In a Ted Talk by Jacqueline Woodson in April 2019, she tells the importance of reading slowly and cherishing a book. She reminds us to remember the weeks, years, or even decades an author spends on a book, and how people should respect the author by cherishing their book. Furthermore, there are also academic benefits to reading a book slowly. Last year, I learned the importance of slow reading. 

Last year, in my English class, we were given the book Whirligig by Paul Fleischman to read together as a class. Before we began reading, I decided to first read the book by myself to first get to know what the book was about and what to expect in class. The first time I read the book, I finished in about an hour, and I decided that I did not like the book. Frankly, I did not like the book since I did not understand the general plot of the story and many details surrounding the plot. Many important parts of the story did not connect together and I did not understand why we would be reading that book together as a class. 

In class, as we took our time reading and processed every word and detail, my understanding of the book entirely changed. I realized that I only found the book uninteresting and boring because I read too quickly and did not understand all of the plot and details. Furthermore, after rereading the story with my class and taking our time to analyze the story, I saw the true beauty of the story containing various symbols and details. From this experience, I learned to truly cherish books by reading them slowly not only to respect the author, but also for the personal benefit of understanding a book. 

Now, when I read a book, I try to take it more slowly by reminding myself of my experience with Whirligig. When I do not understand a detail or feel a bit confused, I simply reread a section, and most of the time, the logic becomes clear. I know that I have learned many things connecting to Jacqueline Woodson’s Ted Talk through my own experiences, and I hope that others can also learn the same lesson one way or another. 

In A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, human psyche and mindset plays a huge part in how the story plays out. The story also shows many flaws in humans, especially due to their arrogance and sense of superiority. Overall, the story gives an important message and sheds light on the dangerous inner feelings and minds of humans. 

First, humans’ wish and desire plays a major part in the story. In the beginning, Eckels and a few other crew members travel through a time machine to visit the age of the dinosaurs to kill a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Before going, Eckels constantly asks and looks for reassurance that he will make it out alive. He asks the man behind the desk for the reassurance that he will get the thrill of a dangerous experience without worrying about his danger. He realizes how much of a dangerous situation he was getting himself in, but proceeds to be drawn to the time machine and the possibilities behind it. Due to Eckels’s own sense of adventure and belief in himself, he gets himself in danger. 

Secondly, before Eckels hears about the possibility of death and encounters the Tyrannosaurus Rex, he feels confident and ready. Presumably, in his head, he had played out a situation that utterly fails when occurring in reality. After the official behind the desk tells him about the possibility of death, Eckels feels uncertain and afraid. He continues to describe the fear surrounding the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Eckels becomes offended, clearly still stuck in his imagination and dreams. However, when Eckels meets the Tyrannosaurus Rex in reality, he runs away in fear and cowers due to the sheer size and strength of the beast. An ironic event occurs as a result of him running. Eckels runs away due to being afraid of death, but in the end, his death was caused by him running away. 

Overall, A Sound of Thunder tells us about how human emotion and feelings cause major consequences through their actions. Eckels and the whole safari’s sense of enjoyment causes the whole situation with altering the future to occur. Another way human feeling affects the story is through one’s arrogance about a situation only to be disrupted by reality. Through A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury, human psyche and feeling are shown through the decisions that each character makes. 

Today, Ludwig van Beethoven is known as one of the greatest composers and musicians of all time. His well-known works include Symphony No.9 and Für Elise. However, a distinct factor that separates Beethoven from other composers was his deafness. Beethoven started losing his hearing in his late-20s with an increased ringing sound in his ears. Eventually, he became completely deaf. At the time, people felt that the more deaf he was becoming, the stranger and worse his music became. Now, Beethoven is appreciated and admired for his unique type of music. Many people now, including myself, believe that his deafness, in fact, was an enhancement for his music instead of holding him back. 

In my opinion, Beethoven could compose music without the fear of not being accepted or being judged by himself and others. Instead of having to compose music that would fit into the style of his time, he could not worry about what people thought of him. Furthermore, this would allow him to express his feelings and thoughts through his music more clearly. When he wrote a song, he didn’t have to listen to it first, and correct it if he didn’t like the way it sounded. Overall, Beethoven’s personal judgement of the way one of his songs sounded was not a blockade for his music, and instead gave him free reign of what he wanted and didn’t want to express through his music. 

Secondly, Beethoven’s lack of hearing could enhance his creativity and imagination, similarly to how deaf people’s other senses are often slightly enhanced. Beethoven could focus on a more visual and emotional form of music instead of focusing on the specific notes and overall sound of the music. This can be shown through the differences between his and Mozart’s music. Mozart’s music is more clean and precise than Beethoven’s, as if to satisfy himself and the audience. In contrast, Beethoven’s music is more personal and emotional, reflecting his own thoughts and opinions. 

Overall, Beethoven’s lack of hearing impacted his music through one way or another. He did not have to worry about the sound of the music and his judgements through the sound. Furthermore, he could express his personal feelings and emotions more clearly through his music.