The Kite Runner:3

"I saw something I'll never forget: Hassan serving drinks to Assef and Wali from a silver platter" (page 100).
Literary term: Situational Irony
The scene occuring at the end of Chapter 8 displays situational irony. This is due to the fact that Amir was in awe that Hassan is serving these boys who have scarred him for life. Instead of not serving them or standing up for himself, Hassan is gentleman and goes and does his job. He does not let his emotions show, and it surprises Amir that he can treat those people like royalty when they treated him like dirt. The situational irony here does two things. The first is that it reveals what kind of a person Hassan is. He is not someone who stands up for himself. He bottles up his emotions, and this just intensifies the emotional damage he is holding in since he is facing those who raped him. The fact that he does not retaliate even there shows that he is a person of character. In addition, I think that this scene emphasizes the theme of guilt since Amir sees it. It shows that he lets the injustice affect him more than Hassan does, and he is the one who actually experienced the horror. I think that this shows that the betrayal has an effect on people that cannot be explained.

The Kite Runner:2

" 'I think I have saratan,' I said. Cancer. " (page 14)
Literary term: Foreshadowing

This scene is foreshadowing of the scene on page 154 when Baba finds out he has the possibility of having cancer. Hossenini is a great author and uses very small details and scenes such as this to inform and hint at what may happen in the future. I had underlined this because I thought that this scene had to have some importance. Then, when I read when Baba found out he might have cancer I immediately remembered the fact that Amir once said this to Baba. The effect that this literary term has on the novel of the whole is that both scenes present a contrast in the characters of Baba and Amir. When Amir tells Baba he thinks this, he told him he could "get the soda" himself (page 14). This shows that Baba was not even listening to Amir's concerns. Even if it may sound absurd for a kid to say, it shows he is not one to show emotion or empathy since he does not comfort and tell him differently. In contrast, Amir questions the doctor more and does everything he can to find out for sure what is wrong with his father. Amir is sympathetic and caring. He takes action and is attentive to every detail while his father tends to ignore others sometimes. He thinks about himself and does not listen to the opinions of others.

Theme Blog #1

"Eveline" #2
Eveline feels trapped in her present life, and I do not think her father respects her as he should. On page 219, she says that "she would not be treated as her mohter had been". She would have "respect". Her father must not have respect for women. I think he may have physically hurt her mother and controlled what she did. Eveline says that she is afraid of "the danger of her father's violence". He was controlling and probably has anger issues. She wants to live a life of her own. He "had forbidden her to have anything to do with [Frank]"(p 220), which is what made her happy. She also said that she had a "right to happiness" (221). She must not have happiness in her current situation since she says this. Miss Gavan is very critical of Eveline, by correcting everything she did. Eveline says she "would be glad" if Eveline left, which also shows that Miss Gavan gave her more incentive to leave. Lastly, I think her father forbidding her from things made her want that life even more. Also, her memory of her mother contributed to her decision to leave. She saw how her mother was treated and did not want to be trapped. Since she remembered how life for her mother was, she knew what she did not want. Eveline wanted to escape into a life of her own, not dictated by her father.

Characterization Blog #4

"Bartleby the Scrivener"

I honestly still am trying to finish this story. I have tried so many times but it keeps confusing me! Its a lot of details and a slow start, so hopefully it gets better. I found this kind of humerous with the descriptions of the three scrieveners who were already employed. On page 646, I thought it was funny when the narrator gave the contrasting descriptions of Nippers and Turkey. And For real, how can you not find their nicknames funny? Its a comic relief to the story because most of the content of the story is kind of serious, but the author does throw in some humor. I think, but I am really bad at picking up on if things are supposed to be funny or not so I am sure that is wrong. Lastly, I think it is weird that Bartleby always says "I prefer not to". He does not want to work for some reason. Also, it is very strange on page 659 when he won't even say something about himself. I still have to finish, but I am just not sure why he always is saying this and what the meaning is behind it if there is one.

Characterization Blog #2

"Hunters in the Snow" #1
I find all of the characters mostly insensitive. Each of the friendships between the three is very shallow. They do not seem to care about each other. If I had to pickt he one I find most sensitive, I would say Kenny. Although he is very rude and obnoxious in the beginning, Kenny seems to change and show the real him after he is shot. He puts on a front. He tries to be all manly and macho, but really he cares for people. He acts like he wanted to kill the dog, but we find out on 194 that he had been asked to do that. He was actually helping out this old man who could not bear to put his dog out of misery. Also, after getting shot he says that he was not really going to shoot Tub. I think that he is most sensitive also because he stops being rude right after he is shot. He relies on his 'friends' and feels pain. Even though it is something anyone can experience, his pain causes him to end his insensitivity towards his friends. In contrast, Frank would be the least sensitive. He cares about no one but himself and his own problems. He "left the directions on the table", and instead of easily going back to get them he just says he will pretty much wing it. That is so insensitive since his friend's life is on the line. He has them stop to eat and has Tub take even more time to eat the pancakes. In addition, making Tub eat those pancakes shows insensitivity. A real friend would have helped Tub overcome his weakness, but instead he is sitting there making it worse. Lastly, he cheats on his wife emotionally. We do not know for sure if it was physical but he knows when the girl was born, like exact time, so obviously they talked. He does not care about how his kids will feel when he leaves his wife. He only cares about himself. Tub's name makes me want to feel bad for him, but at the same time I don't because obviously it is his own fault.

Literary Term #7

Flashback

• page 55: "Chunks of my own history flashed by. I saw a seven-year-old boy in a white cowboy hat and a Lone Ranger mask and a pair of bolstered six-shooters;I saw a twelve-year-old Little League shortstop pivoting t o turn a double play.....My whole life seemed to spill out into the river.."

This is a great example of flashbacks. During an important life changing decision, Tim's life flashes before him because he is about to completely change. No longer will he be the person he once was. After his choice, he will alter himself and become a new person. Either way he will not be who he was in his youth. Flashbacks allow for the reader to become a part of the character. They start to feel their feelings and become engaged by wanting the character to pick a certain way. This is also important to the story becasue it reveals Tim's past in a clever way. I think this flashback allows for the reader to understand where Tim is coming from. Lastly, the flashbacks are an effective way of showing that change is about to occur.

Literary Term #4

Epithet

• page 37: "Tim O'Brien: a secret hero. The Lone Ranger."

This epithet is used to describe the connection of O'Brien and his experience with courage. When he describes his perception about how courage works, he uses these phrases to describe himself before going into his story to support his theory and adjectives concerning his character. I think that these epithets gives us the readers a better understanding about O'Brien. We see how he percieves himself, and what he thinks about courage. Courage is a huge part about being a soldier. By using his courage at certain spurts or situations, O'Brien really is a "secret hero" because he doesn't use his courage all of the time, just in times he finds necessary or appropriate. He is the "Lone Ranger" in his story about how he used his courage. The epithets strengthen our view of O'Brien. It is a way to describe his character in a different, yet effective way.