Summary
I have reached the end of the story is Ram going to have a happy ending or a sad ending? Ram is starving and wants to find food, he ended up getting free leftover food from Mcdonalds. He walked to Arga and saw the Taj Mahal, since it was Friday he got to see it for free. Taking advantage of the the foreigners thinking he was a tour guide person he earned a lot of money. Do not worry after being a tour guide for awhile he learned the correct history. Ram moved into a outhouse, by the way he changed his name to Raju Sharma since he was in a different place. Meeting Lajwanti the owner of the outhouse and Shanker a person she tooked care because he had a speech defect. Lajwanti wants her sister to get marry, so low on money she steals a necklace and gets caught and sent to jail. Some of Ram's friends brought him to a prostitute area, where he meets a girl named Nita and they are both 17. They end up making love after he asked questions about her life. Ram begins to fall in love with her and they start going out. Ram wants her to stop being a prostitute so he can marry her, but he must pay her brother 4 lakh rupees and that's money Ram can not even earn until years. Nita gets abused really badly where she needs surgery, Ram joins the quiz show so he can win the money to be able to be with her. He tells his lawyer he has not heard from her in 4 months. Shanker ends up dying really hurting Ram where he cries about it every time he talks about it. The 11th question asked about which Shakespeare play included Costard as a character. Ram used phone a friend, Mr. Chatterjee a man Ram helped when his son was hostipalized, he did not know the answer but told Ram to pick "Love's Labour's Lost" Ram picked it and it was correct he now has 100 million rupees. It has came to the 13th question the final one for 1 billion rupees. The host Prem Kumar is confident Ram would not get this question right. Ram knew all about the Taj Mahal and when he said the correct answer, the show made an excuse saying that was not question he meant to ask. When it was break Ram and Kumar went to the bathroom, Ram hold a gun up to Kumar saying that he was the one who abuse Nita and Neelima because he noticed that exact same marks he put on Neelima on Nita. Kumar convinced Ram not to kill him so they continued with the show.The last question was Beethoven's Paino Sonata is played in which key, Ram used life boat 50-50 to elimate two wrong answers, he used his lucky coin guessed A and won! After he found out his lawyer was really Gudiya from the chawl. Six months went by and Ram's lawyer helped him win the case, he ended up not getting the full 1 billion rupees because of a "game show tax" the show was canceled. Lajwanti was released from jail, Salim got a role as a 17 year old college hero and it was Ram who helped him. Ram is married to the love of his life Nita and Prem Kumar committed suicide, and Ram's lucky coin was actually a double sided heads and he ended up throwing it way because he did not need it anymore. It was a happy ending after all for Ram Mohammad Thomas.
Quotation
This is the very last page of the story where Ram and Smita are talking about the coin, "I take the coin from her and toss it high into the air. It goes up, up, and up glints briefly against the turquoise sky, and then drops swiftly into the ocean and sinks into its cavernous depths" (Swarup 318).
Reaction
Ram has brought this "lucky coin" everywhere with him it was like in every chapter it does not matter if it was in the beginning, middle, or end of the chapter he used it. Now finding out that it was heads on both sides, I think back thats why it always landed on heads and is the reasons he always betted on heads. The word choice Swarup used in this part blew me away because I could actually picture the golden coin shiny as it reaches it highest to touch the sky. It is at the moment where I thought Ram is going to grab it as it falls because thats his coin. In shocked that he let the coin drop into the ocean this shows that Ram is ready to move on, that he wants to let go of his past. Since the coin fell so deep into the oceans it foreshadows that Ram's problems have been properly put away, because he does not have to worry if they will show up again while the coin is deep in the ocean and will slowly move further and further away from India. Its is like if Ram would of kept the coin then I would of known that Ram believes he still needs luck in order to get by life in a happy manner. Noticing his life was going good after the the quiz show was over, there was no need to rely on a gold coin for luck but as Ram said, "I won't need it anymore. Because luck comes from within" (Swarup 318). Ram has always use his luck from within himself because his coin was double heads, so he used his instinct for when he came into hard situations. I am glad Ram's story ended well where he now feels happy.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Q&A (pgs166-237)
Summary
As Ram is telling his lawyer how he knew the answers, his story jumps around a bit so sometimes he would be with Salim or saying he has not seen him in a long time so bare with me. Ram explains how he knew the 8th question, this takes place when Salim and Ram are younger. There is this war going on with India and Pakistan, so Ram, Salim, and some friends will play war games and say that they love war because school was close. An old man named Sikh comes saying that they should not be happy that there is war. Sikh told them the whole story of what war was like for him in 1971. All the kids very interested in his story, Sikh says he saved a man's life and properly buried his friend like he promised. Ram learns Param Vir Chakra is the highest honor in the military. The kids called him a war hero, so a random man asks who, they show him Sikh the man laughs. Turns out Sikh lied about about the whole story, and really did not participate in the war. The 8th question was about what was the highest honor in the military, Ram said Param Vir Chakra and won 500,000 rupees. Ram has not saw Salim in 5 years so now they are much older and this is closer to when Ram is on the quiz show. They bump into each other and was in shocked, Ram says that Salim is better looking now. Salim tells Ram what had happen in the past 5 years. Salim was almost killed in this attack against the Muslim people but Ahmad Khan saved him. Salim wants to be a famous actor. Salim starts living with Ahmad Khan he found out that he is an assassin, so when Salim finds out he will assassinate Abbas Rizvi a director that couches Salim, he tells him. Abbas Rizvi runs away a promises Salim a role in a new movie. Ram new the answer to the 9th question because Salim briefly talk about the game between India and Austrialia, so Ram guessed that Sachin Malvankar scored 36 and won 1,000,000 rupees. It goes back to the past for the 10th question. Ram is the servent for famous actress Neelima Kumari and he begins to find out he does not like his job because everything is about her. She also kept talking about all the movies she done and how she wants to die young so people can remember her young. Ms. Kumari was known for being the Tragedy Queen and winning the National Award in 1985. Neelima was dealing with physical abuse from her now ex-boyfriend and drugs, she died from drugs and when Ram came for work he saw her laying there lifeless and ran away so the police would not think he murder her. The host wants to "help" Ram to win the show but he tricks him into thinking he will ask this other question. Ram is in shocked when the host asks him what year did Neelima Kumari the National Award for Tragedy Queen, Ram answer 1985 correctly and now won 10,000,000 rupees. The host in shocked too.
Quotation
The host Prem Kumar wants to help Ram, "Mr. Thomas has agreed to go into the Play or Pay rounds...Okay let me tell you about the next question. I am going to ask you, What is the length of the Palk Strait between India and Sir Lanka...The correct answer is (c) 137 kilometers" (Swarup 234).
Reaction
It is so wrong of these people trying to make Ram lose this quiz show, in the beginning the host was trying to help Ram win the money but now that Ram is getting big bucks he wants him to lose. I really think Ram should not trust this man after this little trick he played. Even though if that was the question Ram should of have not trust that answer at all, but I could understand why Ram would trust the host. The host keeps saying things like we want you win so I will help you. All I know now that the host is going to have hard time trying to trick Ram because Ram knows now not to trust him. I wounder why does Prem Kumar the host care if Ram wins or not it just a quiz show, they do not know the real reason why he even joined the show. Its like you think you can trust people but you can not because with the money Ram is winning I bet everyone would want to be his friend. This is a new show so how would think he is cheating. I was kind of expecting for the host trying to do something sneaky like that but it back fired on the host because Ram knew the answer to that question. I wonder what goes on in Prem Kumar's mind when Ram gets these question correct before I thought he was happy for him. As the more questions get answer I think Mr. Kumar gets jealous of Ram, saying things like he should take the money and run because Ram will not get the next one. If Prem Kumar tries another trick I hope Ram does not fall for it because he is so close to winning 1 billion rupees.
As Ram is telling his lawyer how he knew the answers, his story jumps around a bit so sometimes he would be with Salim or saying he has not seen him in a long time so bare with me. Ram explains how he knew the 8th question, this takes place when Salim and Ram are younger. There is this war going on with India and Pakistan, so Ram, Salim, and some friends will play war games and say that they love war because school was close. An old man named Sikh comes saying that they should not be happy that there is war. Sikh told them the whole story of what war was like for him in 1971. All the kids very interested in his story, Sikh says he saved a man's life and properly buried his friend like he promised. Ram learns Param Vir Chakra is the highest honor in the military. The kids called him a war hero, so a random man asks who, they show him Sikh the man laughs. Turns out Sikh lied about about the whole story, and really did not participate in the war. The 8th question was about what was the highest honor in the military, Ram said Param Vir Chakra and won 500,000 rupees. Ram has not saw Salim in 5 years so now they are much older and this is closer to when Ram is on the quiz show. They bump into each other and was in shocked, Ram says that Salim is better looking now. Salim tells Ram what had happen in the past 5 years. Salim was almost killed in this attack against the Muslim people but Ahmad Khan saved him. Salim wants to be a famous actor. Salim starts living with Ahmad Khan he found out that he is an assassin, so when Salim finds out he will assassinate Abbas Rizvi a director that couches Salim, he tells him. Abbas Rizvi runs away a promises Salim a role in a new movie. Ram new the answer to the 9th question because Salim briefly talk about the game between India and Austrialia, so Ram guessed that Sachin Malvankar scored 36 and won 1,000,000 rupees. It goes back to the past for the 10th question. Ram is the servent for famous actress Neelima Kumari and he begins to find out he does not like his job because everything is about her. She also kept talking about all the movies she done and how she wants to die young so people can remember her young. Ms. Kumari was known for being the Tragedy Queen and winning the National Award in 1985. Neelima was dealing with physical abuse from her now ex-boyfriend and drugs, she died from drugs and when Ram came for work he saw her laying there lifeless and ran away so the police would not think he murder her. The host wants to "help" Ram to win the show but he tricks him into thinking he will ask this other question. Ram is in shocked when the host asks him what year did Neelima Kumari the National Award for Tragedy Queen, Ram answer 1985 correctly and now won 10,000,000 rupees. The host in shocked too.
Quotation
The host Prem Kumar wants to help Ram, "Mr. Thomas has agreed to go into the Play or Pay rounds...Okay let me tell you about the next question. I am going to ask you, What is the length of the Palk Strait between India and Sir Lanka...The correct answer is (c) 137 kilometers" (Swarup 234).
Reaction
It is so wrong of these people trying to make Ram lose this quiz show, in the beginning the host was trying to help Ram win the money but now that Ram is getting big bucks he wants him to lose. I really think Ram should not trust this man after this little trick he played. Even though if that was the question Ram should of have not trust that answer at all, but I could understand why Ram would trust the host. The host keeps saying things like we want you win so I will help you. All I know now that the host is going to have hard time trying to trick Ram because Ram knows now not to trust him. I wounder why does Prem Kumar the host care if Ram wins or not it just a quiz show, they do not know the real reason why he even joined the show. Its like you think you can trust people but you can not because with the money Ram is winning I bet everyone would want to be his friend. This is a new show so how would think he is cheating. I was kind of expecting for the host trying to do something sneaky like that but it back fired on the host because Ram knew the answer to that question. I wonder what goes on in Prem Kumar's mind when Ram gets these question correct before I thought he was happy for him. As the more questions get answer I think Mr. Kumar gets jealous of Ram, saying things like he should take the money and run because Ram will not get the next one. If Prem Kumar tries another trick I hope Ram does not fall for it because he is so close to winning 1 billion rupees.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Q&A (pgs103-165)
Summary
Ram is starting to explain how he knew the 5th question for 50,000 rupees. Ram is a servant for an Australian family, they are christian so they prefer to call him Mr. Thomas. Besides Mrs. Taylor always saying, "Bloody Indians" they treat Mr. Thomas very nice like if he was a kid of their own. Mr. Thomas is paid good money, during his time with them he found out the Mr. Taylor was a spy and that is why he always knew the bad things that went on in his house. Mr. Thomas decided to leave the Taylor family because he earned enough money and he wanted to see Salim. The 5th question Ram knew because the Taylor family knew a lot about the foreign diplomat persona non grata, and wanted to know the meaning of that Ram answered that the diplomat is not acceptable and got correct. The host was in shocked that he answer correctly. After leaving Ram was still not able to meet Salim yet, so he ended up working as a bartender. Ram was getting tired of speaking to drunkards but when his boss demands he talk to the man who keeps weeping he starts to enjoy his story. The man's name is Prakash Rao who owns a button industry, he says he killed his brother because his wife Julie did voodoo on his brother. It got to the point where Mr. Rao would bring this voodoo doll everywhere with him and stab holes into it which caused his brother pain. His brother was sent to a mental hospital and died there, and Mr. Rao was now in control of the company. Mr. Rao was planning to divorce his wife, so she found out and Ram says Mr. Rao yelled ow and died right there. Smita does not believe the story at all and jokes about it. Ram got the 6th question correct by saying the capital of Papua New Guinea was Port Moresby. Ram is now boarding the train to head for Ghatkopar to see Salim. Ram had his suitcase and his 50 thousand rupees in his underwear, so no one would steal it. By meeting a boy named Akshay and showing him this money he had (such a stupid move) the next day a dacoits (robber) came to the people's valuable goods. When it was Ram's turn to put his stuff in the bag and when he was finish Akshay yells out he has 50 thousands rupees and the dacoits took it. Akshay's sister Meenakshi was getting sexually harass by one of the dacoits and Ram like her because he was beautiful so he shot the guy and ran off the train so he will not get arrested. The 7th question asking who invented the revolver he answer A Samuel Colt and now has 200,000 rupees, sadly he never saw her again.
Quotation
Ram is talking to Mr. Rao, and Mr. Rao says this a lot while telling his story, "Then I will tell you my story, friend. I am drunk, you know. And a drunken man always speaks the truth" (Swarup 137).
Reaction
I have heard this saying a lot when I go to family get together one of my uncles will say mostly when someone is drunk they will always tell the truth. It is always shown in movies too. When reading Mr. Rao's story I was in shock with some of the stuff he did to his brother because that is his brother he should be happy on how successful his brother is. As Mr. Rao was telling his story he would stop at one point and say this same saying, it seem as if he wanted Ram to know he was not lying about what happen to his brother or it just could of been that he wanted Ram to serve him some more scotch. It is surprising that Ram actually was interested in this story because before all he wanted to do was just leave and go home, but I also got interested in the story too because I got mad every time Mr. Rao would pause. I think Mr. Rao would say this saying a lot because Ram is probably not the first person he told this story to, and those other people would not believe him at all like Ram's lawyer Smita. I think Ram believe him because why would someone lie about something like that especially if it is their brother . The good thing that came out of this story was that Ram was able to answer the 6th question.
Ram is starting to explain how he knew the 5th question for 50,000 rupees. Ram is a servant for an Australian family, they are christian so they prefer to call him Mr. Thomas. Besides Mrs. Taylor always saying, "Bloody Indians" they treat Mr. Thomas very nice like if he was a kid of their own. Mr. Thomas is paid good money, during his time with them he found out the Mr. Taylor was a spy and that is why he always knew the bad things that went on in his house. Mr. Thomas decided to leave the Taylor family because he earned enough money and he wanted to see Salim. The 5th question Ram knew because the Taylor family knew a lot about the foreign diplomat persona non grata, and wanted to know the meaning of that Ram answered that the diplomat is not acceptable and got correct. The host was in shocked that he answer correctly. After leaving Ram was still not able to meet Salim yet, so he ended up working as a bartender. Ram was getting tired of speaking to drunkards but when his boss demands he talk to the man who keeps weeping he starts to enjoy his story. The man's name is Prakash Rao who owns a button industry, he says he killed his brother because his wife Julie did voodoo on his brother. It got to the point where Mr. Rao would bring this voodoo doll everywhere with him and stab holes into it which caused his brother pain. His brother was sent to a mental hospital and died there, and Mr. Rao was now in control of the company. Mr. Rao was planning to divorce his wife, so she found out and Ram says Mr. Rao yelled ow and died right there. Smita does not believe the story at all and jokes about it. Ram got the 6th question correct by saying the capital of Papua New Guinea was Port Moresby. Ram is now boarding the train to head for Ghatkopar to see Salim. Ram had his suitcase and his 50 thousand rupees in his underwear, so no one would steal it. By meeting a boy named Akshay and showing him this money he had (such a stupid move) the next day a dacoits (robber) came to the people's valuable goods. When it was Ram's turn to put his stuff in the bag and when he was finish Akshay yells out he has 50 thousands rupees and the dacoits took it. Akshay's sister Meenakshi was getting sexually harass by one of the dacoits and Ram like her because he was beautiful so he shot the guy and ran off the train so he will not get arrested. The 7th question asking who invented the revolver he answer A Samuel Colt and now has 200,000 rupees, sadly he never saw her again.
Quotation
Ram is talking to Mr. Rao, and Mr. Rao says this a lot while telling his story, "Then I will tell you my story, friend. I am drunk, you know. And a drunken man always speaks the truth" (Swarup 137).
Reaction
I have heard this saying a lot when I go to family get together one of my uncles will say mostly when someone is drunk they will always tell the truth. It is always shown in movies too. When reading Mr. Rao's story I was in shock with some of the stuff he did to his brother because that is his brother he should be happy on how successful his brother is. As Mr. Rao was telling his story he would stop at one point and say this same saying, it seem as if he wanted Ram to know he was not lying about what happen to his brother or it just could of been that he wanted Ram to serve him some more scotch. It is surprising that Ram actually was interested in this story because before all he wanted to do was just leave and go home, but I also got interested in the story too because I got mad every time Mr. Rao would pause. I think Mr. Rao would say this saying a lot because Ram is probably not the first person he told this story to, and those other people would not believe him at all like Ram's lawyer Smita. I think Ram believe him because why would someone lie about something like that especially if it is their brother . The good thing that came out of this story was that Ram was able to answer the 6th question.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Q&A (pgs54-102)
Summary
Ram starts telling his lawyer Smita about how he knew the third question for 5,000 rupees. Ram and Salim were living in a place called chawl, where they worked at the foundry. New neighbor Mr. Shantaram and his family move in, Shantaram was a scientist, an astronomer since the walls were thin in the chawl, Ram would listen to Shantaram talk about outer space, and when his daughter found a small cat, her father decided to name it Pluto since it was so small. Ram found out that Shantaram was an alcoholic, his drinking got so bad that he threw hot tea at his daughter face scaring her. Gudiya her name, Ram would visit her at the hospital, she would tell him that her father's drinking is what caused him to lose his job, that her father was a great scientist who discovered new stars, but now is going from job to job. Gudiya saw Ram as the brother she never had, when she got back home her father started to rape her. Ram made Gudiya a promise that he would always protect her, when he found out he killed Mr. Shantaram, and quickly got arrested and was sentenced death. Ram ends up running away from everyone even Salim, the third question asked what is the smallest planet, Ram answered correctly Pluto. Ram was put in a Juvenile Home for Boys in Turkman Gate, he became good friends with the boys that were there, people were impressed with his good English. This is where he met Salim Ilyasi, he was the better half of Ram. Salim became a orphan because his family was killed in mob attack since they were Muslims, when Ram found that out he told Salim that his name was Mohammad. They became very good friends because they had a lot of stuff in common, Gupta one of guards tired to rape Salim, but Ram saved him but screaming for help. Salim wants to become famous, they meet a man named Maman who takes children to have them make for him. After living in paradise Ram finds out that Maman is going to blind them so Salim and him run away, Ram ends up working as a servant for Neelima Kumari, and Salim works in the chawl. The forth question for 10,000 rupees, had to do with Maman favorite blind poet, and the god he loved which was Krishna.
Quotation
Ram and Salim really reach the place they would being staying, "One by one the children start trickling in and instantly challenge our definition of hell. I see boys with no eyes...boys with bent and misshapen limbs, dragging themselves to the table...boys with grotesque mouths and twisted fingers" (Swarup 89).
Reaction
When reading this it really did seem that the Ram and Salim were in a safe place, but when I came across these lines I knew that this man Maman was no good at all that all he cared about was the amount money he was getting. It is wrong if a child does not bring 100 rupees by the end of the day, they do not get to eat. I was scared for Ram and Salim because I did not want them to end up like the boys they saw when they first arrived there. It is really sad that a grown man like him could be so heartless and do that to children. The children do not run away because that is the only place that is there home. Salim just wanting to be a good singer for Maman did not believe Ram when he said that Maman would blind them, it goes to show that since Salim is younger than Ram he thinks everyone is a good person, but I was so relieved that Ram convinced Salim to run away. It was sad that Ram had to experience what people like Maman do to children who have no families, but this experience led Ram to know the answer to the forth question. Instead of these people giving money to this poor children, I believe they should found out where these children are coming from to stop this man, but then again people do not mess with gang leader.
Ram starts telling his lawyer Smita about how he knew the third question for 5,000 rupees. Ram and Salim were living in a place called chawl, where they worked at the foundry. New neighbor Mr. Shantaram and his family move in, Shantaram was a scientist, an astronomer since the walls were thin in the chawl, Ram would listen to Shantaram talk about outer space, and when his daughter found a small cat, her father decided to name it Pluto since it was so small. Ram found out that Shantaram was an alcoholic, his drinking got so bad that he threw hot tea at his daughter face scaring her. Gudiya her name, Ram would visit her at the hospital, she would tell him that her father's drinking is what caused him to lose his job, that her father was a great scientist who discovered new stars, but now is going from job to job. Gudiya saw Ram as the brother she never had, when she got back home her father started to rape her. Ram made Gudiya a promise that he would always protect her, when he found out he killed Mr. Shantaram, and quickly got arrested and was sentenced death. Ram ends up running away from everyone even Salim, the third question asked what is the smallest planet, Ram answered correctly Pluto. Ram was put in a Juvenile Home for Boys in Turkman Gate, he became good friends with the boys that were there, people were impressed with his good English. This is where he met Salim Ilyasi, he was the better half of Ram. Salim became a orphan because his family was killed in mob attack since they were Muslims, when Ram found that out he told Salim that his name was Mohammad. They became very good friends because they had a lot of stuff in common, Gupta one of guards tired to rape Salim, but Ram saved him but screaming for help. Salim wants to become famous, they meet a man named Maman who takes children to have them make for him. After living in paradise Ram finds out that Maman is going to blind them so Salim and him run away, Ram ends up working as a servant for Neelima Kumari, and Salim works in the chawl. The forth question for 10,000 rupees, had to do with Maman favorite blind poet, and the god he loved which was Krishna.
Quotation
Ram and Salim really reach the place they would being staying, "One by one the children start trickling in and instantly challenge our definition of hell. I see boys with no eyes...boys with bent and misshapen limbs, dragging themselves to the table...boys with grotesque mouths and twisted fingers" (Swarup 89).
Reaction
When reading this it really did seem that the Ram and Salim were in a safe place, but when I came across these lines I knew that this man Maman was no good at all that all he cared about was the amount money he was getting. It is wrong if a child does not bring 100 rupees by the end of the day, they do not get to eat. I was scared for Ram and Salim because I did not want them to end up like the boys they saw when they first arrived there. It is really sad that a grown man like him could be so heartless and do that to children. The children do not run away because that is the only place that is there home. Salim just wanting to be a good singer for Maman did not believe Ram when he said that Maman would blind them, it goes to show that since Salim is younger than Ram he thinks everyone is a good person, but I was so relieved that Ram convinced Salim to run away. It was sad that Ram had to experience what people like Maman do to children who have no families, but this experience led Ram to know the answer to the forth question. Instead of these people giving money to this poor children, I believe they should found out where these children are coming from to stop this man, but then again people do not mess with gang leader.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Q&A (pgs1-53)
Summary
It all starts off with Ram Mohammad Thomas (main charater) is arressted for answering all 12 questions correct on the new quiz show called "Who Will Win a Billion." They believed that he cheated because there was no way Ram, who did not get an education and barley speaks english could win. After being torture for awhile by Godbole, Ram's lawyer walks in and takes him away, and all she wants to know is the truth and wants to find out how he knew the answers. Ram starts telling his lawyer how he knew the first question. Salim is Ram's best friend, who is obessed with actor Armaan Ali, the first question had to do with Armaan Ali and the first movie he did with Priya Kapoor. Salim told Ram all there was to know about Armaan Ali and would take Ram to the movies to seem Armaan movies, so when Ram was asked that question he knew the answer which was "Betrayal?" and he got it correct. The second question, Ram was an orphan who was dropped off at a Christian orphanage. Being denied by every couple that came, he was taken in by Father Timonthy and was named Joseph but changed it since they were living in India. Ram lived a good life with Father Timonthy. When Ram started to spy on Father Jon and found out that Father Jon was a homosexual , Ram quickly told Father Timonthy and since it was with his son he was angry. Ram woke up the next morning to find Father Timonthy dead and Father Jon too. The second question, which the host asked Ram if he knew what FBI meant and Ram said no, the host asked what does he know and Ram said the order of letters on the cross and so Ram got that question right.
Quotation
This is when Salim finds out that Armaan and Urvashi break up, "If only I could meet Armaan. I want to comfort him. To hold his hand and let him cry on my shoulder...Maybe I could persuade her to come back to Armaan" (Swarup 24).
Reaction
This shows how Salim really looks up to his role model Armaan, that even he would try to get him back with his ex-girlfriend I think that is so cute, how at a young age you think anything is possible in the world. I wonder if Salim would comfort Ram like that if Ram was going through a hard time, and I think Salim would. It was funny how Salim says to Ram that if only he could persuade Urvashi to get back with Armaan, if little did he know that maybe Armaan is not a good boyfriend to Urvashi and maybe is the reason why she broke up with him. Salim would never believe that because he thinks Armaan is a good man. This is relating to the first question Ram is asked on the quiz show, and I find it amazing how he could remeber these little details of things that happen when he was so young. Does Ram still keep in touch with his best friend Salim? Salim is a typical fan of Armaan, well really a number 1 fan because he knows so much about him, I wonder what Salim would do if he met Armaan, and if he did would he comfort him like he said he would?
It all starts off with Ram Mohammad Thomas (main charater) is arressted for answering all 12 questions correct on the new quiz show called "Who Will Win a Billion." They believed that he cheated because there was no way Ram, who did not get an education and barley speaks english could win. After being torture for awhile by Godbole, Ram's lawyer walks in and takes him away, and all she wants to know is the truth and wants to find out how he knew the answers. Ram starts telling his lawyer how he knew the first question. Salim is Ram's best friend, who is obessed with actor Armaan Ali, the first question had to do with Armaan Ali and the first movie he did with Priya Kapoor. Salim told Ram all there was to know about Armaan Ali and would take Ram to the movies to seem Armaan movies, so when Ram was asked that question he knew the answer which was "Betrayal?" and he got it correct. The second question, Ram was an orphan who was dropped off at a Christian orphanage. Being denied by every couple that came, he was taken in by Father Timonthy and was named Joseph but changed it since they were living in India. Ram lived a good life with Father Timonthy. When Ram started to spy on Father Jon and found out that Father Jon was a homosexual , Ram quickly told Father Timonthy and since it was with his son he was angry. Ram woke up the next morning to find Father Timonthy dead and Father Jon too. The second question, which the host asked Ram if he knew what FBI meant and Ram said no, the host asked what does he know and Ram said the order of letters on the cross and so Ram got that question right.
Quotation
This is when Salim finds out that Armaan and Urvashi break up, "If only I could meet Armaan. I want to comfort him. To hold his hand and let him cry on my shoulder...Maybe I could persuade her to come back to Armaan" (Swarup 24).
Reaction
This shows how Salim really looks up to his role model Armaan, that even he would try to get him back with his ex-girlfriend I think that is so cute, how at a young age you think anything is possible in the world. I wonder if Salim would comfort Ram like that if Ram was going through a hard time, and I think Salim would. It was funny how Salim says to Ram that if only he could persuade Urvashi to get back with Armaan, if little did he know that maybe Armaan is not a good boyfriend to Urvashi and maybe is the reason why she broke up with him. Salim would never believe that because he thinks Armaan is a good man. This is relating to the first question Ram is asked on the quiz show, and I find it amazing how he could remeber these little details of things that happen when he was so young. Does Ram still keep in touch with his best friend Salim? Salim is a typical fan of Armaan, well really a number 1 fan because he knows so much about him, I wonder what Salim would do if he met Armaan, and if he did would he comfort him like he said he would?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Edgar Allan Poe His Life & Legacy (pgs 241-304 end)
Summary
This will be the last post for Edgar Allan Poe's life story, because we come to the part where his life ends. Even though his emotional problems, Poe continued to still write creative. He publised his love poem to Annie in the Boston weekily, The Flag of Our Union. The project Poe really wanted to accomplish was to own his own magazine but it failed because he could not get subcribers. In May Poe accomplished his last poem called, "Annabel Lee" Poe drank when he had to leave New York to go to a lecture in Richmond. He was arrested for drunken behavior, while in prison Poe claimed to that he saw, "weird and fantastic hallucinations." After getting out of prison, Poe went on a train back to New York to care for Maria Clemm, but then he got off because he said he heard a men three seats back from his that he was going to kill him so Poe got off quick. Poe had been feeling very ill he low on money and was living in a two story hotel. Poe had met Elmira again, she was his fifth and final attempt to remarry she accepted his proposal. When they called the doctor and sent Poe to the hospital, the doctor realized that Poe's life was in danger and believed he would die. Sadly Edgar Allan Poe died on Sunday, October 7 at 5 A.M. at the age of 40. They find Poe's death mysterious because he could of died of various causes, Poe was buried in the Presbyteria Cemetery in Baltimore on October 8 at 4 in the afternoon. Maria Clemm after Poe's death had published his work because she desperately needed money for survival. People were now taking pieces of Poe's work and publishing it to sell, but friends and supporters of Poe in America put together all Poe's work and published it they even wrote a book about his life. Poe was very popular in France and they took it seriously when he had died by decicating things to him, Poe influence art in Europe and America. Baudelaire used Poe's tragic life and spent years translating Poe's work, his infulence on American literature was deep, his originality and imagination has impact advanced thinkers today.
Quotation
After Poe's death, doctors found his cause of death as mysterious, "exposure...alcoholic poisoning...heart disease...Poe must probably suffered from hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar-possibly brought on by chronic liver disease, which can also induce altered states of consciousness" (Meyers 256).
Reaction
I was in shock when I came to the part saying that Edgar Allan Poe died, because I still had two more chapters left so I thought that he would die then not so soon, but then I realized that the two chapters were for his influence on Americans and Europeans. When Poe was in the hospital he was very sick, and it was easy to tell because he was seeing things and I got the impression that he was going to die because he saw Viriginia the love of his life. The doctors was still skeptic about how Poe died and I believed that Poe died of alcoholic reasons because towards the end he was drinking a lot every page I turned he was drinking. I think his liver was just very damaged, when Poe would drink I would be very disappointed because I know he went through a lot in his life but he died so young, and everyone witness his drinking they just stare and would not do a thing, he drank his life away. Poe was an amazing writer and I was suprised how some of these companies would reject his work or criticize it, personally I think they were jealous because Poe mostly drank for not getting his work published. This led to Poe not earning money to support his family which made him more depress. From reading the book on his life I believed Poe die of acoholic poisoning, at a young age.
This will be the last post for Edgar Allan Poe's life story, because we come to the part where his life ends. Even though his emotional problems, Poe continued to still write creative. He publised his love poem to Annie in the Boston weekily, The Flag of Our Union. The project Poe really wanted to accomplish was to own his own magazine but it failed because he could not get subcribers. In May Poe accomplished his last poem called, "Annabel Lee" Poe drank when he had to leave New York to go to a lecture in Richmond. He was arrested for drunken behavior, while in prison Poe claimed to that he saw, "weird and fantastic hallucinations." After getting out of prison, Poe went on a train back to New York to care for Maria Clemm, but then he got off because he said he heard a men three seats back from his that he was going to kill him so Poe got off quick. Poe had been feeling very ill he low on money and was living in a two story hotel. Poe had met Elmira again, she was his fifth and final attempt to remarry she accepted his proposal. When they called the doctor and sent Poe to the hospital, the doctor realized that Poe's life was in danger and believed he would die. Sadly Edgar Allan Poe died on Sunday, October 7 at 5 A.M. at the age of 40. They find Poe's death mysterious because he could of died of various causes, Poe was buried in the Presbyteria Cemetery in Baltimore on October 8 at 4 in the afternoon. Maria Clemm after Poe's death had published his work because she desperately needed money for survival. People were now taking pieces of Poe's work and publishing it to sell, but friends and supporters of Poe in America put together all Poe's work and published it they even wrote a book about his life. Poe was very popular in France and they took it seriously when he had died by decicating things to him, Poe influence art in Europe and America. Baudelaire used Poe's tragic life and spent years translating Poe's work, his infulence on American literature was deep, his originality and imagination has impact advanced thinkers today.
Quotation
After Poe's death, doctors found his cause of death as mysterious, "exposure...alcoholic poisoning...heart disease...Poe must probably suffered from hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar-possibly brought on by chronic liver disease, which can also induce altered states of consciousness" (Meyers 256).
Reaction
I was in shock when I came to the part saying that Edgar Allan Poe died, because I still had two more chapters left so I thought that he would die then not so soon, but then I realized that the two chapters were for his influence on Americans and Europeans. When Poe was in the hospital he was very sick, and it was easy to tell because he was seeing things and I got the impression that he was going to die because he saw Viriginia the love of his life. The doctors was still skeptic about how Poe died and I believed that Poe died of alcoholic reasons because towards the end he was drinking a lot every page I turned he was drinking. I think his liver was just very damaged, when Poe would drink I would be very disappointed because I know he went through a lot in his life but he died so young, and everyone witness his drinking they just stare and would not do a thing, he drank his life away. Poe was an amazing writer and I was suprised how some of these companies would reject his work or criticize it, personally I think they were jealous because Poe mostly drank for not getting his work published. This led to Poe not earning money to support his family which made him more depress. From reading the book on his life I believed Poe die of acoholic poisoning, at a young age.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Edgar Allan Poe His Life & Legacy (pgs 163-240)
Summary
Since Poe moved to New York he is writing all these different types of stories like The Raven which was a dramatic story he wrote that impressed a lot people. Poe's fame enhanced in February 1845 because a writer wrote an essay on The Raven where he said the story was not as good but Poe handled that criticism very well. Poe worked in the Broadway Journal in New York, where he was very quiet and concentrated on his work. He also worked for the Mirror, where in both places he wrote great reviews of the work of Burns, Milton, Lamb, Hunt, Shelley, Hazlitt, Barrett, Tennyson, Lowell, and Prescott. Poe worked a copious amount of hours but was underpaid. As Poe edited in the Broadway Journal and his fame and popularity increased in New York, and women became very attracted because they saw him as, "creative genius, his prestige and power in the world of letters." Poe began his love affairs with just two women, but feeling bad for his sick wife he stop, Poe began reading textbooks on tuberculosis which made him feel sad because his wife Virginia had the disease. Poe was able to read a poem that he wrote at the Boston Lyceum for 55 dollars, so he bragged that it was the best poem but it turned out that it was not which was ashamed in Bostonians eyes. The Broadway Journal went out of business but Poe borrowed money to buy it back, but since he was not able to keep he began heavily drinking for 18 months, his wife died at the age of 24 same age and disease as his mom and brother. After his depression, Poe started writing a book called Eureka in 1847 and completed it in 1848, it was about a French astronomer and mathematician. Poe started meeting other women he meet three women Marie Louise, who rejected him because of his drinking, Helen Whitman who decided last minute not to marry him because of his past, and Annie who wanted to be with him but he pick Helen over her so she move on. Poe did not have any good luck with women.
Quotation
After Virginia death Poe felt it was wrong to remarry but there was just some women that caught his attention, "Poe liked to worship women from afar, in letters and in verse. When he drew dangerously close to them, he became overwrought and insecure, and deliberately-if unconsciously-ruined his chances of marriage. There was a strong contrast between Poe's highly disciplined writing and the emotional eruptions of his love letters" (Meyers 221).
Reaction
I was very sad for Edgar Allan Poe because his wife Virginia died and he loved her a lot, some of the things he would write about where so deep and loving. I could understand why Poe was afraid to marry again because he has been with Virginia for so long, but the other women that are coming around are making him think twice which i kind of figured that he was going to want to remarry again. I agree with this quote because I noticed that Poe every time he fell in love with a women he would not just go up to them but he would take the time a write this detail letter or poem about that one lady. I think that is so romantic I see why these ladies fall head over heels for him, there are some of these poems in the book and he describes that particular lady so well I can picture her in my mind. The bad thing is Poe is a very heavy drinker it is like every time he is depressed he drinks, and when the women find that out they decided he is not the best choice to marry. I feel bad for him because he is a really nice man who falls in love with these ladies so fast and he that he could sit there and write this lovely poem about her. The difference between Poe writings was that he mostly wrote this fictional stories that pop in his head, but when it came to writing love letters he jus sat there and thought about the girl and put his thoughts on paper. I hope that Poe finds someone that will stick with him.
Since Poe moved to New York he is writing all these different types of stories like The Raven which was a dramatic story he wrote that impressed a lot people. Poe's fame enhanced in February 1845 because a writer wrote an essay on The Raven where he said the story was not as good but Poe handled that criticism very well. Poe worked in the Broadway Journal in New York, where he was very quiet and concentrated on his work. He also worked for the Mirror, where in both places he wrote great reviews of the work of Burns, Milton, Lamb, Hunt, Shelley, Hazlitt, Barrett, Tennyson, Lowell, and Prescott. Poe worked a copious amount of hours but was underpaid. As Poe edited in the Broadway Journal and his fame and popularity increased in New York, and women became very attracted because they saw him as, "creative genius, his prestige and power in the world of letters." Poe began his love affairs with just two women, but feeling bad for his sick wife he stop, Poe began reading textbooks on tuberculosis which made him feel sad because his wife Virginia had the disease. Poe was able to read a poem that he wrote at the Boston Lyceum for 55 dollars, so he bragged that it was the best poem but it turned out that it was not which was ashamed in Bostonians eyes. The Broadway Journal went out of business but Poe borrowed money to buy it back, but since he was not able to keep he began heavily drinking for 18 months, his wife died at the age of 24 same age and disease as his mom and brother. After his depression, Poe started writing a book called Eureka in 1847 and completed it in 1848, it was about a French astronomer and mathematician. Poe started meeting other women he meet three women Marie Louise, who rejected him because of his drinking, Helen Whitman who decided last minute not to marry him because of his past, and Annie who wanted to be with him but he pick Helen over her so she move on. Poe did not have any good luck with women.
Quotation
After Virginia death Poe felt it was wrong to remarry but there was just some women that caught his attention, "Poe liked to worship women from afar, in letters and in verse. When he drew dangerously close to them, he became overwrought and insecure, and deliberately-if unconsciously-ruined his chances of marriage. There was a strong contrast between Poe's highly disciplined writing and the emotional eruptions of his love letters" (Meyers 221).
Reaction
I was very sad for Edgar Allan Poe because his wife Virginia died and he loved her a lot, some of the things he would write about where so deep and loving. I could understand why Poe was afraid to marry again because he has been with Virginia for so long, but the other women that are coming around are making him think twice which i kind of figured that he was going to want to remarry again. I agree with this quote because I noticed that Poe every time he fell in love with a women he would not just go up to them but he would take the time a write this detail letter or poem about that one lady. I think that is so romantic I see why these ladies fall head over heels for him, there are some of these poems in the book and he describes that particular lady so well I can picture her in my mind. The bad thing is Poe is a very heavy drinker it is like every time he is depressed he drinks, and when the women find that out they decided he is not the best choice to marry. I feel bad for him because he is a really nice man who falls in love with these ladies so fast and he that he could sit there and write this lovely poem about her. The difference between Poe writings was that he mostly wrote this fictional stories that pop in his head, but when it came to writing love letters he jus sat there and thought about the girl and put his thoughts on paper. I hope that Poe finds someone that will stick with him.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Edgar Allan Poe His Life & Legacy (pgs 101-162)
Summary
Poe had decided to move to Philadelphia and started writing lyric poetry and short stories. These are some of the his great short fiction stories "Leigeia" "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Man of the Crowd", he was able to bring out his first book of stories. When Poe first started writing his short stories the were full of sadness and violence, this reflected off on how Poe was feeling he was very sad because of he wife sickness. The story "Leigeia" was about a powerful and beautiful women who returns from the dead, people said this was the best story Poe had ever written. Later on Poe had failed to achieve a popular success with "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym" which was bad for Poe because if it was successful he would be able to earned the money. Poe did not make a lot of money ever since he left the Messenger in Baltimore, he was able to get an editorial job at Burton's where he got his own outlet for his stories. Poe's writing was very successful in Burton's magazine, Burton and Poe worked together but Burton would get paid 3 to 4 thousand dollars a year, while Poe who did most of the work would only get paid 5 hundred dollars a year. This got Poe very angry with Burton, so Poe became very abusive and would stomp out of office this cause him to almost lose his job. Edgar Allan Poe having these disagreements with Burton he began drinking again and sometimes they will find him drunk on the streets. Finally leaving Burton, Poe found another magazine company called Graham he had more control where he got credited for writing his stories they became popular like "The Murders in Rue Morgue." Poe dedicated stories to his sick wife the most popular was "The Black Cat" and "The Tell-Tale Heart." The Graham's magazine was not going so good because he was still paid low salary and he needed more money to support his family. Edgar Allan Poe being the first American writer he wanted to make his own magazine so he decided to move to New York to start it.
Quotation
When Poe wrote his stories about dead woman he believed, "the death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world, (Ugly women, dead or alive, were presumably not worth a story.) But the slow, prolonged death of a beautiful woman was to Poe even more moving" (Meyers 103).
Reaction
Poe had believed this when he had wrote the story "Liegeia" and I find this to be true sometimes because when I read books or watch movies about dead women who returned from the dead they are describe as very beautiful the book or movie is very interesting. I can see that maybe for Poe it was easier to write about a beautiful woman since through most of his life women that he loved died. I thought of it as Poe wrote this type of story because he wanted those women that died to come back from the died, and when Poe would describe these women it seem to me that they were very beautiful. Now when Poe says that ugly women are not worth a story, I think he means that if you are going to write a story about a woman it should be about a woman that you think is beautiful. When the story is written about that person you think is beautiful it comes out a better story then for someone you really did not care about. It was better for Poe to write a story about a beautiful woman that came back from the dead because readers would be more interested in reading that type of book. It is not like Poe said a pretty woman, but it sounds more appealing to read a beautiful woman, so with Poe's belief I agree with it that writing about someone you think is beautiful is worth it than writing about someone you do not see that beauty in them.
Poe had decided to move to Philadelphia and started writing lyric poetry and short stories. These are some of the his great short fiction stories "Leigeia" "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Man of the Crowd", he was able to bring out his first book of stories. When Poe first started writing his short stories the were full of sadness and violence, this reflected off on how Poe was feeling he was very sad because of he wife sickness. The story "Leigeia" was about a powerful and beautiful women who returns from the dead, people said this was the best story Poe had ever written. Later on Poe had failed to achieve a popular success with "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym" which was bad for Poe because if it was successful he would be able to earned the money. Poe did not make a lot of money ever since he left the Messenger in Baltimore, he was able to get an editorial job at Burton's where he got his own outlet for his stories. Poe's writing was very successful in Burton's magazine, Burton and Poe worked together but Burton would get paid 3 to 4 thousand dollars a year, while Poe who did most of the work would only get paid 5 hundred dollars a year. This got Poe very angry with Burton, so Poe became very abusive and would stomp out of office this cause him to almost lose his job. Edgar Allan Poe having these disagreements with Burton he began drinking again and sometimes they will find him drunk on the streets. Finally leaving Burton, Poe found another magazine company called Graham he had more control where he got credited for writing his stories they became popular like "The Murders in Rue Morgue." Poe dedicated stories to his sick wife the most popular was "The Black Cat" and "The Tell-Tale Heart." The Graham's magazine was not going so good because he was still paid low salary and he needed more money to support his family. Edgar Allan Poe being the first American writer he wanted to make his own magazine so he decided to move to New York to start it.
Quotation
When Poe wrote his stories about dead woman he believed, "the death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world, (Ugly women, dead or alive, were presumably not worth a story.) But the slow, prolonged death of a beautiful woman was to Poe even more moving" (Meyers 103).
Reaction
Poe had believed this when he had wrote the story "Liegeia" and I find this to be true sometimes because when I read books or watch movies about dead women who returned from the dead they are describe as very beautiful the book or movie is very interesting. I can see that maybe for Poe it was easier to write about a beautiful woman since through most of his life women that he loved died. I thought of it as Poe wrote this type of story because he wanted those women that died to come back from the died, and when Poe would describe these women it seem to me that they were very beautiful. Now when Poe says that ugly women are not worth a story, I think he means that if you are going to write a story about a woman it should be about a woman that you think is beautiful. When the story is written about that person you think is beautiful it comes out a better story then for someone you really did not care about. It was better for Poe to write a story about a beautiful woman that came back from the dead because readers would be more interested in reading that type of book. It is not like Poe said a pretty woman, but it sounds more appealing to read a beautiful woman, so with Poe's belief I agree with it that writing about someone you think is beautiful is worth it than writing about someone you do not see that beauty in them.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Edgar Allan Poe His Life & Legacy (pgs 56-100)
Summary
When Poe's foster father got re married Poe was able to come back to Baltimore. Poe was thinking of how he was born his parents had to give him up and then he was an orphan at the year of two, he did not complete university education, expelled from West Point, rejected by his foster father and was scared how every women that loved him Eliza Poe, Jane Standard, and Frances Allan died. While Poe was in Baltimore he found his aunt Maria Clemm and his nine year old cousin Virginia who later becomes his wife. Poe was very close to Maria saw her as his mother so he had written a poem called, "To my mother" which was for Maria. Poe entered a contest called, "Saturday Courier" the prize offered 100 dollars for the best original story but he did not win. Poe used the several stories he wrote to make up a volume but never got to publish it. Since Poe decided to take car of Maria and Virginia he needed money, Thomas Willis White help Poe publish one of his stories in the March issue of the, "Southern Literary Messenger." Poe was doing really bad financially, so Poe began reading and writing so he can get some materiel for the magazine, he successfully publish a play everyone like called, "Politian" it was a romantic tragedy. after that Poe was beginning to publish more stories, Poe was very sensitive to criticism about his stories and he had a lot of enemies sometimes he would attack the author that criticize him. When Poe died, there was one guy named Tennyson a famous poet in England said he admire Poe's work. Poe got married at 27 to 14 year old Virginia, he began getting stress so he started to drink and would not stop until he ran out of money, he said drinking clam his nerves, alcoholism runs in Poe family his father and brother were alcoholics. Poe was one of the best editors in his time, but when he was about to loose his job because of his drinking he stop. Poe decided to move to New York to leave his problems behind.
Quotation
These are some of the reason why Poe started drinking again, " He drank when he was in danger of losing Virginia...He drank when overwhelmed by work...He drank to clam his nerves (though drinking actually excited them) " (Meyers 88).
Reaction
Edgar Allan Poe has gone through a lot as he gets older and there are not really good things especially him having financial problems, his wife is sick , and plus on top of that he needs to do his job. During that time it was common for people to drink a lot but Poe took it to the point where he just drank because of stress which is not good at all. I can see why he drank because of all the problems he had, but as people were finding out that he was drinking they did not like that especially when he would just drink out in the open. I think if it was not for his boss saying if you do not stop drinking you are getting fired and that was like a slap to his face so he stop. I think Poe just drank because it was a way from him to escape away from everybody he did not have to worry about anything. It was not a wise choice for him to start drinking especially when he needed the money. I would not doubt that the more I read this book that he would star drinking again because his father and brother were alcoholics and I see it as like father like son.
When Poe's foster father got re married Poe was able to come back to Baltimore. Poe was thinking of how he was born his parents had to give him up and then he was an orphan at the year of two, he did not complete university education, expelled from West Point, rejected by his foster father and was scared how every women that loved him Eliza Poe, Jane Standard, and Frances Allan died. While Poe was in Baltimore he found his aunt Maria Clemm and his nine year old cousin Virginia who later becomes his wife. Poe was very close to Maria saw her as his mother so he had written a poem called, "To my mother" which was for Maria. Poe entered a contest called, "Saturday Courier" the prize offered 100 dollars for the best original story but he did not win. Poe used the several stories he wrote to make up a volume but never got to publish it. Since Poe decided to take car of Maria and Virginia he needed money, Thomas Willis White help Poe publish one of his stories in the March issue of the, "Southern Literary Messenger." Poe was doing really bad financially, so Poe began reading and writing so he can get some materiel for the magazine, he successfully publish a play everyone like called, "Politian" it was a romantic tragedy. after that Poe was beginning to publish more stories, Poe was very sensitive to criticism about his stories and he had a lot of enemies sometimes he would attack the author that criticize him. When Poe died, there was one guy named Tennyson a famous poet in England said he admire Poe's work. Poe got married at 27 to 14 year old Virginia, he began getting stress so he started to drink and would not stop until he ran out of money, he said drinking clam his nerves, alcoholism runs in Poe family his father and brother were alcoholics. Poe was one of the best editors in his time, but when he was about to loose his job because of his drinking he stop. Poe decided to move to New York to leave his problems behind.
Quotation
These are some of the reason why Poe started drinking again, " He drank when he was in danger of losing Virginia...He drank when overwhelmed by work...He drank to clam his nerves (though drinking actually excited them) " (Meyers 88).
Reaction
Edgar Allan Poe has gone through a lot as he gets older and there are not really good things especially him having financial problems, his wife is sick , and plus on top of that he needs to do his job. During that time it was common for people to drink a lot but Poe took it to the point where he just drank because of stress which is not good at all. I can see why he drank because of all the problems he had, but as people were finding out that he was drinking they did not like that especially when he would just drink out in the open. I think if it was not for his boss saying if you do not stop drinking you are getting fired and that was like a slap to his face so he stop. I think Poe just drank because it was a way from him to escape away from everybody he did not have to worry about anything. It was not a wise choice for him to start drinking especially when he needed the money. I would not doubt that the more I read this book that he would star drinking again because his father and brother were alcoholics and I see it as like father like son.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Edgar Allan Poe His life & Legacy (pgs 1-55)
Summary
This biography is about a famous poet named Edgar Allan Poe and the way he grew up and the reasons why he wanted to become a poet. Poe was born in the year of 1809 in Boston, MA and during the time he was born his parents were going through a financial problems, were the Poe family had to find a way to get money with their new baby Edgar. After David Poe (Edgar's father) could not get the money he demanded for from his cousin George Poe, he had no choice but to leave five week old Edgar in Baltimore with his mother and father. Soon that did not last long because David's parents returned him back in six months but this time to a nursemaid who cared for Edgar and his sister Rosalie. This nurse would give Edgar alcohol just to put him to sleep and here is where Edgar's alcoholism began just as he was a baby. Edgar's father had died in 1811, and they say he was to be just like his father. His mother who was a famous actress had taken care of Edgar and Rosalie but had died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four and that was last of seeing his parents. Later Edgar becomes an orphan and is taken in by John Allan his foster father even though John Allan had not adopted Edgar the Allan's decided to put Allan in the middle and is why is name is Edgar Allan Poe. The Allans spoiled Edgar they treated like a young prince send him to the best schools where he found his love for literature, and spoke French very well, everyone describe Edgar as a very attractive boy who had his fun times it was ironic to find out he was very quiet and look sad all the time. Edgar had fell in love with one of his friends mother her name was Jane Stanard the reason was she would show him affection but when she had died he would visit her grave, Edgar wrote a poem about her by changing her name to "Helen." At seventeen Edgar went to University of Virginia where he had change and participated in more sports, in his time in college he read a lot poems and written his own and his friends love them. Poe had gotten into fights in school, which lead to him drinking and gambling, Edgar's foster father had money and since Edgar was the only son he had, Edgar had the big chance of getting the inheritance. Edgar had fell in love again to a girl named Elmira Royster they were both in love but since Edgar was doing bad things in school which got Allan mad this was pushing Edgar not be able to get the inheritance and when Elmira's father found that out he would hide all the letters Edgar send her and had her marry someone else. At this point Edgar was mad and sad to find out she was engaged so he join the army which also mad Allan mad , during Edgar time in the army he wrote many poems of the things he saw.
Quotation
This is one of the poems John Allan Edgar's foster father wrote, " From childhood's hour I have not been As others were-I have not seen As others saw-I could not bring My passions from a common spring- From the same source I have not taken My sorrow-I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone- And all lov'd-I lov'd alone " (Meyers 16).
Reaction
This quote was a poem by John Allan, I think this quote is important to the story because at this time was when Edgar was younger in school and was very unsociable kid who did not have that many friends he was a bit of a loner. I believe that John Allan wrote this for Edgar because he was always alone as a child so it is trying to say that as Edgar was a child he was doing things on his own and while other children were doing things. Also that Edgar had to do things on his own especially when he had to love himself instead of being loved. This is a important to the story because it shows how John Allan see Edgar, this is what he believes Edgar feels but Edgar could not feel like that, it is base on how a parent views their child because they are very limited they only know what they see. For the Allans they found it very strange for Edgar to be so isolated from everyone. In this poem its says that all the others get to do these things while in this case Edgar is doing things alone. I think that the reason why Edgar acted so lonely was because both his parents died and he never really got to know his parents all he knew was their names and the jobs they had, and that can be a lot for a child to take in.
This biography is about a famous poet named Edgar Allan Poe and the way he grew up and the reasons why he wanted to become a poet. Poe was born in the year of 1809 in Boston, MA and during the time he was born his parents were going through a financial problems, were the Poe family had to find a way to get money with their new baby Edgar. After David Poe (Edgar's father) could not get the money he demanded for from his cousin George Poe, he had no choice but to leave five week old Edgar in Baltimore with his mother and father. Soon that did not last long because David's parents returned him back in six months but this time to a nursemaid who cared for Edgar and his sister Rosalie. This nurse would give Edgar alcohol just to put him to sleep and here is where Edgar's alcoholism began just as he was a baby. Edgar's father had died in 1811, and they say he was to be just like his father. His mother who was a famous actress had taken care of Edgar and Rosalie but had died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four and that was last of seeing his parents. Later Edgar becomes an orphan and is taken in by John Allan his foster father even though John Allan had not adopted Edgar the Allan's decided to put Allan in the middle and is why is name is Edgar Allan Poe. The Allans spoiled Edgar they treated like a young prince send him to the best schools where he found his love for literature, and spoke French very well, everyone describe Edgar as a very attractive boy who had his fun times it was ironic to find out he was very quiet and look sad all the time. Edgar had fell in love with one of his friends mother her name was Jane Stanard the reason was she would show him affection but when she had died he would visit her grave, Edgar wrote a poem about her by changing her name to "Helen." At seventeen Edgar went to University of Virginia where he had change and participated in more sports, in his time in college he read a lot poems and written his own and his friends love them. Poe had gotten into fights in school, which lead to him drinking and gambling, Edgar's foster father had money and since Edgar was the only son he had, Edgar had the big chance of getting the inheritance. Edgar had fell in love again to a girl named Elmira Royster they were both in love but since Edgar was doing bad things in school which got Allan mad this was pushing Edgar not be able to get the inheritance and when Elmira's father found that out he would hide all the letters Edgar send her and had her marry someone else. At this point Edgar was mad and sad to find out she was engaged so he join the army which also mad Allan mad , during Edgar time in the army he wrote many poems of the things he saw.
Quotation
This is one of the poems John Allan Edgar's foster father wrote, " From childhood's hour I have not been As others were-I have not seen As others saw-I could not bring My passions from a common spring- From the same source I have not taken My sorrow-I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone- And all lov'd-I lov'd alone " (Meyers 16).
Reaction
This quote was a poem by John Allan, I think this quote is important to the story because at this time was when Edgar was younger in school and was very unsociable kid who did not have that many friends he was a bit of a loner. I believe that John Allan wrote this for Edgar because he was always alone as a child so it is trying to say that as Edgar was a child he was doing things on his own and while other children were doing things. Also that Edgar had to do things on his own especially when he had to love himself instead of being loved. This is a important to the story because it shows how John Allan see Edgar, this is what he believes Edgar feels but Edgar could not feel like that, it is base on how a parent views their child because they are very limited they only know what they see. For the Allans they found it very strange for Edgar to be so isolated from everyone. In this poem its says that all the others get to do these things while in this case Edgar is doing things alone. I think that the reason why Edgar acted so lonely was because both his parents died and he never really got to know his parents all he knew was their names and the jobs they had, and that can be a lot for a child to take in.
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