Frankenstein

"I shall die, and what I now feel be no longer felt. Soon these burning miseries will be extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly, and exult in the agony of the torturing flames". (page 166)

In the end, the monster acts remorseful and greiving about the death of Frankenstein. I mean I was caught a little off gaurd because he had been so mean to him for a really long time! He was the cause of the deaths of every single person close to Frankenstein. He followed him, haunted him, and was just a jerk. I felt bad for the monster up until he started doing this, so by the end I really did not believe what the monster said. He should feel responsible for the death of Frankenstein. He had caused him so much emotional trauma and had just ruined his life. Why would he even feel bad? Because he didn't get to kill him himself? Even though he never said that is what he wanted to do, I felt like the monster wanted to because of all the messages and stuff about coming north. I also think that the monster was bipolar. One minute he is happy, the next he is not. How do we know he wouldn't be happy the next night that Frankenstein is dead? Lastly, he said he would commit suicide, but I was thinking that the ending would be the monster killing Walton or Walton killing the monster, something action-y! I was kinda disappointed by the ending, but it was still a good fit for the book. This would be because it fit the theme of guilt. Even though I don't believe the monster, there is not really any proof, just my feelings. So, the monster feels guilt and it causes him to regret what he had done.

Frankenstein

" Do not returen to your families with stigma of disgrace marked on your brows. Return as heroes who have fought and conquered, and who know not what it is to turn their backs on the foe". (page 160)

When I read this part, I was a little confused. Victor had felt responsible for William, Elizabeth, Justine, Clerval, and his father's death, so why is he wanting to put all of these men in danger as well? I guess I just thought that Victor would want to keep these people safe, no be responsible for their deaths. I am assuming that he thinks they will get hurt since he knows of the strength of the monster. Also, I think that the whole message of the story Victor told was not what I had thought it would be. I thought he was trying to just say that not everything is worth the risks pretty much. However, it seems that the point of his story was to keep Walton from chasing his dream, but to help him achieve his. I think it was a little selfish. Also, I think it is jus ta little ironic that he thinks that everyone thinks that this monster is their foe. The people did not even know who the monster was until Victor told them. I mean, why would they care? Victor would be the only one feeling like a hero.

Frankenstein

"The threat of the fiend-' I will be with you on your wedding-night '". (page 139)

This is a motif used in the story as a reminder of the monster's presence in Victor's mind and actions. Victor is constantly reminded of the monster's threats. He cannot escape them, and I think that this has an affect of the character of the monster. At first, he is seen as the victim. Now, he is seen as the perpetrator, and he is the one who is instigating the unjust acts upon Victor. He threatens him, makes him fearful, and is always in Victor's head. I started to feel sympathy for Victor because he could not even be happy to get married because of this phrase said to him! Throughout the entire scenes leading up to and during the wedding, this phrase is repeated in order to emphasize the effect of the monster on Victor. It is also used as foreshadowing. It foreshadows the death of Elizabeth. It is so obvious that something bad is bound to happen, so when he left her for one minute I was pretty much ready for it.

Frankenstein

"For an instant I dared to shake off my chains, and look around me with free and lofty spirit; but the iron had eathn into my flesh, and I sank again, trembling and hopeless, into my miserable self." (page 117).

The literary term here is symbolism. At first, I thought that Victor literally meant that he had chains on him, so then I was looking back like I had completelly missed something. Then, I read and thought about it. I realized that the chains symbolized the hold that the creature has on Victor. Victor wants to be happy and live his life, but the monster's words and threats haunt his every move and thought. He starts to feel normal again, and then poof. He rememberst that he must fulfill his promise in order to rid of these thoughts and the monster all together. He longs to forget his promise, but there is no way around it. He has the duty to do this, but he cannot bring himself to complete the task. He knows he has an obligation, but he does not want to do it, which shows him actually contemplating creating again. This is something that he had not done before when creating the current monster.

Frankenstein

"This was then the reward of my benvolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and as recompense I now writhed under teh miserable pain of a wound which shattered the flesh and bone." (page 101)

The literary term used here is dramatic irony. The monster tries to continue his longing to be accepted by humans by being someone of loving and benevolent nature. In this scene, he saves a girl from drowning, but he is shot by her father who thinks that the creature had harmed her instead. This shows how the monster is alienated from society as a result of his physical appearance. No matter what he does, he is not going to be treated how he wants merely because of how he looks. This shows that he just does not belong. The parallelism her is between the creature and his creator. Victor had once said how he had felt like he did not belong or fit in with society who was not his friends. This shows that although Victor finds the creature to be a complete opposite, that in reality they are more alike then he realizes. Also, the scene supports the theme of nature v. nurture. Although Victor is not blood related to the monster, they still have similarities. He created him, which left a mark on the monster. They have some kind of simmilarities that make the monster connected to him. I think that it supports that the monster functions as a result of both the nurture/living of his life, but he was also subconciously affected by his creator.

Frankenstein

"A flash of lightining illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life. What did he there? Could he be (I shuddered at the conception) the murderer of my brother?" (page 50) When I read this, I felt that this would be who killed William, yet I was still kind of shocked that he actually did. I think that it is strange that the creature knows where Victor and his family were, especially since he never told him. I find it quite strange, and I guess that people have said we find out later in the book how he knew. Also, during this time period I can understand how this would be a 'scary' book since it was the first of its kind. Even reading it now, I get a little caught off gaurd by how weird and creepy some of the story is. Also, this is just another instance where lightning occurs. I think that it my be some kind of symbol, but it is hard to decide what for. Maybe to emphasize the darkness or fear of the creature and intensify the setting of the scenes. It may have been used as a way to scare the audience even more. Lastly, I found it so sad that William died. If the monster did in fact kill him, then I am even more angry that Victor created that creature. It makes his mistake harm those he loves, and they are innocent.

Frankenstein

"Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel". (page 69) I found this quote to be very interesting. It almost emphasized the situational irony in my previous blog. Even the creation knew he should have been accepted with open arms by his creator. He alludes to the Bible by saying that he should have been Adam, the first creation of God. The creation is implicating that Victor was trying to play God. This adds to the theme of creation. Victor should not have done his experiment due to the morals surrounding his work. He is not God, yet he strived to achieve what God does. In addition, the creature recognizes that he is seen as the devil by Victor. This seems to cause sympathy towards him because he has no one else in the world. Even his creator fears him. I think that this also proves that Victor should not have created him since he has made him live in a life of sadness. The selfishness of Victor is portrayed in this one quote made by his creation.

Frankenstein

"I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but not that I had finished, the beauty of my dream vanished, and the breathless horror and disgust filled my heart". (page 35) The literary device used in this quote from the story is situational irony. Victor had dedicated so much time and became obssessed with achieving his creation. When it was completed, it would be expected that he would be thrilled and proud. Instead, he is in shock of what he did and completely afraid of the creature he once believed was beautiful. He could not even look at it, and he hid from it too. This provides situational irony due to the fact Victor reacted in an unexpected way. This scene also supports the theme of creation and the right or ability to create. Victor continually thought can I do it, and became obsessed with the goal of achieving his creation. This caused him to lack in the moral thinking of his work. It doesn't matter if you can do something if it does not help society or should not be done. This is something quickly realized by Victor. He should have thought about if he SHOULD do it instead.

Frankenstein

"Study had before secluded me from the intercourse of my fellow-creatures, and rendered me unsocial," (page 45) The literary device of theme is used also in the work. Theme provides a meaning to the work which can be universal and allow for readers to understand or find a connection. In Frankenstein, one of the themes invovles seclucsion and isolation. Furthermore, the sense of not belonging, either to a community or to one's own sense of self. The theme is effectively portrayed in this one quote because it provides the fact that Victor had secluded himself from the rest of the world, even his advisors who lived and breathed philosophy and sciences. In my small group, we discussed why Victor told the story of his creation and the point of it being told to Robert. We came to the conclusion that Victor is implying to Robert that if studies alienate you from the world, then don't do it. It is not human to focus on only one thing, and it will negatively affect yourself. The isolation also provides a glimpse of the reoccuring characteristic of Victor. He tends to pull away from society, mostly because he feels he does not fit in at the moment. Another time he does this is when Justine dies, and he decides to go into the mountains.

Frankenstein

"Listen to my history, and you perceive how irrevocably it is determined." (page 13) The literary device that is used in this book that makes a major impact on the work as a whole would be the frame story(ies). When Victor tells Robert he is going to tell him his story, a parallelism between the two is even more noticeable. Robert and Victor already have similarities, which is inferred when Victor prompts the story as an advice and heed to the goal of Robert. Mary Shelley uses the frames stories as a way to provide a basis of the percepted parallelism seen between the two early on. It connects Victor, Robert, and I am guessing the creation too. The frame story turns the book into something more complex and intriguing. It draws in the reader, and it will lead them to find similarities between the major characters. I also know that by the end, all of the stories will eventually return to the point of Victor's telling of the story. It will provide an insight on human life, which will also deepen the story.

The Kite Runner:10

"There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood." (page 318) I have been trying to spread out my blogs among the entire story, but I really have to talk about this phrase because it just stuck out to me while reading. It is sad that children in Afghanistan face the horrors and violence in their life. In Afghanistan, it is almost as if children are no longer children. They have lost all innocence so early in life, and they are unable to enjoy their childhood as a result of the violence occuring. When Hassan was raped, I was shocked that another kid did that to him. Assef obviously was robbed of a childhood, and he decided to do the same to Hassan, which ulitimately led to the loss of innocence in Amir as well. Sohrab losses innocence when faced with Assef as well, and as a child he tries to commit suicide. Child cherish life, but when robbed of childhood and the life of a child they turn into something no child should be. They become an adult at a young age, which is so sad to think about. This book opened my eyes to how much children should be protected. By opening their lives to the adult world at an early age, children begin a life without a chance to be kids.

The Kite Runner:9

"For you, a thousand times over." (page 371) The literary device used here is a motif. The motif begins with Hassan, and by the end of the book Amir is using it. It is repeated constantly in the book to stress the importance of the theme of friendship. The phrase is definitely strong. It is not a light phrase used loosely among anyone. Rather, it is a way of showing the complete dedication and loyalty to a dear friend. Hassan always shared this to Amir, and it constantly reminded him of the great friendship that he had. Although they grew distant, each was always there for each other in the end. In the ending, Amir wants to share with Sohrab that, like Hassan was for him, he would do anything for him. He was a true friend, and this time Amir is going to get it right. The ending may be ambiguous regarding how Sohrab will change or how their life will be affected, but this phrase is pretty much forshadowing that something is happening. Amir finally has shown he cares to a friend. He never really told Hassan, so I think that this is almost like his final redemption of the way he had treated his friend. He is going to show that he cares and not let anything in the past reoccur.

The Kite Runner:8

"My body was broke-just how badly I wouldn't find out until later-but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed." (page 289) There are multiple literary devices used in this single instance. The first is irony. It is completely ironic that when he is being beaten Amir laughs. Most people would not be laughing. Also, the instance is ironic because Assef just talked about how he laughed at the guy he hurt, and now Amir was doing it to him. Even though he is being hurt, Amir does not care because he is feeling relief. This brings me to my next literary device, which is paradox. This statement is paradoxal because Amir is broken yet healed. Once thought about, the reader can infer that Amir is referring to being healed from the guilt that had long been harping on his life. He had stood and watched Hassan get hurt by Assef. He had begged Hassan to hurt him after. Finally, Amir is feeling the redemption he has long desired. With Assef beating him up, he feels that he is finally getting what he deserves. The redemption is freeing him of the guilt he could not rid of. He is healed.

The Kite Runner:7

"I laughed. Partly at the joke, partly at how Afghan humor never changed." (page 266) This literary device is humor. I did not want to include the entire passage, but Amir and Farid are telling "Mullah Nasruddin jokes". It may seem like just another scene, but I think that it plays a huge role in the situation and the people in Afghanistan. There is war, injustice, and violence rampant in Kabul and all of Amir's native country. Despite the stress and seriousness of the situation, there is humor used in the story. It may have been a way for the author to relieve the reader of the serious, melancholy tone. Also, it could have been a way for him to relay to the audience that despite the situation surrounding them, the characters are still human. They have emotions and are not immune to the terrible situation surrounding them. Amir and Farid share in a moment that shares their human emotions and how in even the worst situations, a country cannot take this from them. They cannot be dehumanized completely no matter what the Talibans try. In other words, I think it was a way to show that even though they are the 'choosen' race according to Assef, they are still against the treatment of women, Hazaras, and all the others faced with the injustice.

The Kite Runner:6

"like father like son. But it was true, wasn't it? As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I'd ever known." (page 226) The literary device used here is the cliche "like father like son". This phrase is used many times regarding the similarities between sons and fathers. Sometimes it is like they are a minature version of the father. This cliche is used to provide contrast to the past Amir. He used to find himself as as complete opposite as his father. On page 22-23, even Baba doubts that they are even related. They are so different, that this phrase would have been seen as irony if used earlier. As the story plays out, this phrase becomes the truth. Both Baba and Amir have guilt, have lied, and both wanted redemption. It was a burden on them their entire life. This cliche also affects the theme of the lies that bind the father and son together. Amir finds them to be related once he learns of the fact that his father also lied and had guilt. The guilt that each faced in the end was a way to see that the father had an unconcious influence on the son. The realization of the similarity brought to light by the lies reveal that the two are related and have a weird, but present connection.