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Melting Pot by Anna Quindlen

Cultural Catalogue

In Quindlen’s neighborhood - Italian, Yugoslavian, Ecuadorian, British and American people In Our class, Korean, American, Canadian, Chinese

Check comp 1-4 interpret 1-4 evaluate 5-6

Check Comprehension > She also has a positive relationships between most of the different ethnic societies of her street, due to the atmosphere created by the children (hers and the ‘others’). This bridges up the relationship, which would’ve been quite awkward without their major role, even though ‘it took awhile’. > Also, the actual fact that they were forced to live together made them accept their each individual specialities and, in some occasions, think of them as positive. Sometimes they could learn their way of thinking as quoted ‘About a third of the people think squid as calamari, a third think of it as...‘. As they live together they find out some of the same beliefs that they share, such as the conditions of the street. When people find something they have in common with each other, I find that they warm towards each other. > Also, due the children relationships are cemented together in a way. Due to their participance the melting pot did bring out a positive factor on a micro level. Interpret > They also share beliefs of the environment that they share with each other. one example is the conditions of the street, which I incline to be extremely demeaning > The first belief divides the residents as their prejudices hold them apart. This belief puts them further apart and makes them group together into their own societies. Hate always make people draw apart from each other. > Also, the fact that there are very distinct outlines of ethnic groups, tells me that she held international relationships important, and possibly wished that her children could have a wise range of experiences to choose from. One could believe that the reason she thought these relationships were important is because she didn’t want to lose her old ties to the Italian culture, which she thought was extremely valuable to her. > I do not think she would give such advices such as ‘let your children form special relationships with others or ‘bring them together in a large meeting’ as she probably believes that one cannot forcibly change these things. She says, ‘Change comes hard on America.’ Advice would probably not be of any help in most cases, because the situation has been changed. Evaluate > It also suggests that prejudice still is a major factor in these little neighborhoods, and is quite severe. However, even though one could look from this way, one could say that this means that everybody is equal in such neighborhoods, as everyone is a minority, even the people who were there in the first place. > This piece of writing also gives hints that people living in American city neighborhoods are quite cold and do not have a positive attitude to change. This is true in most countries. Not many people favor change, but change always happens, and there is nothing to stop it.
 * 1) The countries and the ethnic groups in Quindlen’s neighborhood represent the ‘ingredients’ in the melting pot that are being mixed together. They also represent their country to the people around them. For example, the Italian people represent the whole country of Italy, and the Eucadorian people represent the whole of Ecuador.
 * 2) Children, as children are innocent, young and doesn’t know very much about the world, mix with each other without any ethnic problems. They probably didn’t understand why they are different from each other in any way, as they haven’t experienced the world or know the absolute differences between many things. The children’s parents as they have a ‘soft spot’ for their children, they feel inclined to accept the children’s friends and their family. The parents of each children would share conversations and socialize with each other.Due to this a fair, sturdy relationship is built up.
 * 3) Quindlen uniquely is treated amiably by her neighbors, and she does so vice versa. No one has a particular ethnic, or any other, prejudice against her. This is probably because she used to belong in the ‘old Italian’ society when she was in her youth. She moved out and returned as a factor of the new ‘professional’ group that was coming into the neighborhood. Though most of the Italians dislike this new group, they treat her specially, as she used to be a part of their group too. She describes herself as an ‘interloper’.
 * 1) ‘People get along in a micro level’ due the small relationships that they possess between each other. Though most people feel prejudiced against a certain type of folk, they say, (quote) ‘I like you, therefore you aren’t like the rest of your kind, whom I hate’. Most people on the street has friends who belong to the ethnic society which they ‘hate’. They feel that these friends are special exceptions.
 * 1) The neighborhood shares the belief that everyone is different, and that they hate each other due to this, (with minor exceptions). This is the belief on a macro level. Most of them believe that they are always right, and that the people they hate are the minorities, even when that might not be the case.
 * 1) The second shared belief unites the residents as they have a common enemy (the council perhaps) and as one particular saying goes, the enemies of your enemies are your friends. They complain together, thereby bonding, and mixing with a positive outcome.
 * 1) Quindlen chose to live in her old neighborhood, where she knew that it had very distinct types of population, either from her old experiences, or when she came back. This tells me that she held memories of her childhood experiences very precious and felt a longing for home. It also tells me that she was happy where she used to be (why would anyone move, when they had choice, where they used to live, where one was unhappy?). This tells me that she treasured her emotions very much.
 * 1) I would not know what Quindlen would actually say on people of different culture socializing, but I would guess that she would tell them actually not to do very much. Nature itself will make a way. She would say that society mixed in together because they had to.
 * 1) The reason it is possible to be on both sides of two cultures. If you imagine a Venn Diagram, the intersection is the place where people of both sides belong. In the intersection could be a person who has roots in both cultures. Maybe a person whose parents are both from a different culture themselves. Won’t this person be of two ethnic groups? Also a person who was completely and only involved with one groups could spend time away from this original group and spend time with different cultures. This person would be of two cultures. One example is Anna Quindlen herself, an interloper between the group of old Italians and new professionals.
 * 2) This story suggests that American city neighborhoods are populated with an international society, as the United States of America is an ‘international country’. It is full of people of different ethnic origins.

Response to Literature

Reader’s response

I am very sympathetic towards Margot, as I believe that she was being put through bullying from fellow classmates. She lacked friends as well, therefore I must imagine that she led a lonely life. However, the fact that she didn’t stand up against her classmates makes me think that she was very weak as well. If she did stand up then most of the trouble, I believe could have been avoided, though considering her age, she would’ve found it too daunting. She also shouldn’t uttered words that she knew would make other children jealous. Even though there was a problem with her approach, I still feel very sympathetic towards her. She had no choice but to be submitted under bullies.

Thematic focus

I would have many words to say to such children who acted extremely cruelly against another individual. All of the words would be directed to change their behavior and make sure that such incidents never happened ever again. I would say, ‘You have sinned greatly against an actual human’s moral beliefs and there will be greater consequences if such kind of thing ever happens again to Margot. I order that one out of every five of you will punished severely. These people will be cast by voting. Also, I would like the remaining to go to Margot and do whatever you can to make her feel happier.’ The reason for the severe actions is to frighten them, and the voting to break the bullying circle up. The final order, instructing the others to make Margot feel happier is to make them interact with Margot and, if everything goes accordingly, Margot would’ve earned friends.

Check your comprehension


 * 1) The reason everybody is excited in the beginning is due to the fact that that the Sun was going to rise, after a seven year hiatus. For most of them, this was going to the first or second sight of the Sun.
 * 2) Margot knows more about the Sun than the rest of her classmates, as she remembers it from her time on Earth when she was younger, whereas the other children either never saw it in the first place, or lost their memory of it.
 * 3) The children denounce Margot as a liar, after she tells them about her experience of the Sun and how she thought about it, and they forcibly, against Margot’s protests, put her in a dark closet. They locked the door, and watched happily and contently as Margot tried everything, in a desperate manner, to escape.
 * 4) The children generally enjoy the Sun and all its properties. To properly list all of them, they ran and turned ‘their faces to they sky’ and felt the sun on their cheeks like ‘warm iron’. They took of their jackets and ‘let the sun burn their arms’. They ran around the jungle, enjoying themselves, running, tripping, lying, playing games. The lay on the jungle mattress
 * 5) Margot is freed from the closet by the children who are feeling extremely guilty. She slowly comes out to the world of rain and jungles, not the sunshine that she was hoping for.
 * 6) Proud words are called dangerous due the fact that you cannot ‘call them back’ and also, Primer Lesson conveys the image that they are impossible to stop. ‘They wear long boots, hard boots; and they walk off proud; they cannot hear you calling’. The boots convey image of marching and the second part conveys the image that they are impossible to stop.

Interpret


 * 1) The children are unking the Margot because they cannot face the fact that she knows more about the Sun than they do. This is the reason for their ultimate cruel behavior. The reason the initial bullying started was because Margot was different from everybody else, standing aside, having a possible, bright future on Earth, her silence, her physical appearance.
 * 2) They reject Margot’s description of the Sun because they reject the actual individual herself. They dislike Margot and everything she does, and therefore rejects her description of the Sun, not caring whether it may be true or not.
 * 3) All the children go along with the prank as most of them dislike Margot, some even hate her. Also everyone was following each other. Nobody had courage to do what’s right because they were following the majority.
 * 4) The children probably intended the prank to end on a jolly note for them and a humiliated note for Margot, because they believed the Sun wouldn’t rise. It would just be normal bullying, not a catastrophic crushing of Margot’s heart.
 * 5) The children feel extremely guilty and worried, for both themselves and Margot. They feel humiliated themselves for letting such a thing happen.
 * 6) This story teaches us the same lesson that is repeated so many times, but never really paid attention by many pupils - the moral wrongness of bullying. It also teaches us sometimes that we have to accept, or take account of knowledge that we do not wish to think about, without violence or anger.
 * 7) When Sandburg talks about ‘hard boots’ he is talking about the difficulty of breaking pride. Hard boots are tough and do not wear easily, just like the pride that Carl Sandburg is imagining.
 * 8) Primer is an adjective that means - from a simple text book for teaching basic reading and morals, and I assume it must be for children. The reason Sandburg called it Primer lesson was because the actual fact that pride was dangerous is such a simple moral fact that us humans know, that it doesn’t deserve to be in a book for elder people. Also the poem in itself has simple structure, and is set out like a children’s poem, without the rhymes. One characteristic aspect of children’s poem is the first sentence, which often explains what everything is going to be about in the poem, is repeated at the end. ‘Look out how you use proud words.’

Extend


 * 1) I think the children will treat Margot with caution, never too friendly, never too mean. They won’t interact with her unless told to. They will never cause her any more damage, but will still be treated coldly, and Margot will forever be lonely.
 * 2) The poem Primer Lesson is mentioned after the short story ‘All summer in a day’ because proud words are uttered many times in the story, from the antagonists. They, with immense pride, denounce Margot as a liar. Margot also, I think, with hidden pride, describe the Sun.

Build vocabulary


 * 1) A feeling of being alive : vitality
 * 2) Elements of food essential for life: vitamins
 * 3) The body’s indicators of life: vital signs.

Spelling strategy


 * 1) Constant rain saturated Bradbury’s Venus.
 * 2) In actuality, there is no rain on Venus.
 * 3) The fictional situation makes a good story.

Using Word bank


 * 1) Water is vital to life, as vital means ‘needed for the life of’ (latin word root vita).
 * 2) The meal that I savored is a meal that I like, as savor means to enjoy (food) completely
 * 3) Slackening rain is decreasing, as slackening means slowing.
 * 4) When a feather lands on the floor, it doesn’t produce a concussion, as concussion means, ‘a temporarily unconscious state’, and a feather is too light for that.
 * 5) I would describe a baseball as resilient, as resilient means to be able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
 * 6) If electricity surged through my computer, it would harm my computer, or leave it on as normal, as surge means a sudden rise, and for a computer, that could mean many things.
 * 7) When children play tumultuously, they are not quiet, but in fact, are loud, as tumult means loud, confusing sounds.

Literary focus


 * 1) The fact that Venus is so far away and that (Bradbury’s) Venus has never had sunshine in seven years is extremely important.
 * 2) Margot longs for the Sun, as Venus lacks it and makes her keep going on about the Sun, which eventually causes the other children the erupt in jealousy, and lock Margot up in a cupboard.
 * 3) The other children also have an extreme longing for the Sun and this causes them to be jealous against Margot, who remembers seeing it. Because of this, they lock her up, and feel extreme guilt when they free her.
 * 4) Events similar to this could happen in anywhere where someone has experience something whereas others haven’t and the person talks about it, and the others attack him/her for his experience. One example could be in a high school where a boy, who has already got accepted into his dream university and talks about it to those who did not take the test yet. The others could get aroused angrily, and could attack the boy.

Practice


 * 1) __It has been raining for seven years__ . For- prepositional word, describes position in space. Seven years is the object.
 * 2) __Margot stood apart from the children.__ Apart from is the preposition. The children is the object.
 * 3) They read in class about the sun.
 * 4) __She would play no games with them in the echoing tunnels of the underground city.__ With is the preposition. Them is the object. In is the preposition. Echoing tunnels is the object.
 * 5) The sky darkened in a flash.

Writing applications


 * 1) It rains heavily in the mysterious land of Venus, but near the oceans, it is always summer.
 * 2) One boy spoke about Venus, a planet far away from Earth, despite the din of children screaming, laughing, and shouting around him.

April 5th The song of Myself and I'm nobody.

Check Comprehension

> For example, he says, ‘I celebrate myself’, introducing himself as ‘myself’ and tells us also what he is doing. He also says ‘For every atom belonging to me as good as belongs to you.’ He also describes what he is doing in the fourth line ‘I loaf and invite my soul.’ I think the difference between that and ‘I celebrate myself’ is that he is constantly celebrating himself.
 * 1) Walt Whitman quickly introduces whom he is, what he is doing, and why.
 * 1) The fact that he is just what it is, not famous or someone who achieved something special, is enough for him. In other words, he is just happy with whom he is.
 * 2) Emily Dickinson asks the readers whether they are a ‘Nobody - too.’ This invites the audience to think and interact more deeply with the poem it self. She also tells the readers that she is a Nobody as well, and talks as if they are a rare breed, being chased by society. ‘they’d banish us.’ The ‘they’ often refers to society or authority.
 * 3) Some people behave like frogs because when they are in front of children, the children always chase them around, point and look at the frog. Therefore, when somebody behaves like a ‘frog’, they are attracting attention to themselves.

Interpret

> > Evaluate
 * 1) Whitman’s loafing can be a celebration of himself because loafing means doing nothing. When on is doing nothing, one only thinks and ponders. Whitman’s form of celebration is not a party, but a quiet content feeling within him that he always thinks about.
 * 2) Whitman is telling the readers that they are just as good as everybody else, ‘For every atom that belongs to me as good belongs to you.’ He is also telling us that we shouldn’t try to live being someone else, and just be happy as you are.
 * 3) In Dickinson’s mind, Somebodies have to be always on show in public. They also have to introduce themselves every time they meet somebody. She also thinks that they are dreary or lifeless.
 * 4) For Dickinson there are two facts that make Nobodies better than Somebodies. One is that Nobodies attract little attention, and never have to be on show. Also Somebodies don’t care about Nobodies, because it is implied that Nobodies don’t have to introduce themselves when they meet someone new.

> > Compare literary works > > In Dickinson's poem she connects with two types of readers: those who she consider as Nobodies, and those whom she consider as somebodies. She makes the Nobodies feel more special in themselves, and make them feel like a precious, vanishing breed. Her extravagant pauses imitate whisper and her saying 'Then there's a pair of us!' makes the Nobodies feel as if they are precious. She also gives them a common enemy, or someone who doesn't feel amicable towards them by saying, 'they'd banish us.' The they refers to the others. > For the Somebodies, they might realize that they have been a bit ridiculous by reading this from another's perspective. They might see a bit of truth in Dickinson's writing and be, in the inside, a bit humiliated. 'like a Frog' for example.
 * 1) I disagree with Dickens on. I believe that there is a certain type of thrill in being in attention. This is a personal trait, that I like, as I feel being a Nobody is going to be mundane.
 * 1) Both of these poems creative a special bond between the readers. The Song of Myself creates a certain connection by making relieving us of the pressures of our daily lives. Whitman realizes humanity’s constant struggle to overpower each other, to prove oneself better than the other, and calms the reader’s ambition down by saying that he doesn’t care what others think of him.

**"Me" by Walter de la Mare.**

Thematic Focus

Walter De la Mare gives us the feeling that one cannot change what one is. He says ‘As long as I live I shall always be My Self.’ One is always going to be what one is as long as one lives. It is decided, he thinks.

Check Comprehension


 * 1) The poet will always be himself ‘and no other’ as long as he lives, always just the same person.
 * 2) He describes himself as a willow, elder, aspen, thorn, cypress, primrose and violet.

Critical thinking

> However, sometimes, you are not just yourself. In many ways, the different opinion of what everybody else think of you makes you seem to other people like you are not ‘just you’’
 * 1) All the things that he describes himself are objects of sadness and short beauty. For example the willow is a try that symbolizes great mourning and the thorn symbolizes pain. His usage of melancholy words combined with the symbolic trees create the image of a person who is not confident. Also the flowers symbolize for him, great beauty. However, he reminds us of its temporal bloom, by sating ‘Like a flower, for its hour’. His usage of symbolic flowers help us as well. The primrose is the first flower to bloom. This shows us that he is something that rises early and the violet symbolizes his purity. It also carries the theme of mourning, as he says ‘dew drops wet’ meaning tears. I think he also compares himself with flowers because flowers are fragile, and he believes himself to be fragile, may be emotionally.
 * 2) The message of ‘me’ is comforting because it feels as if you don’t have to change, that you were born like this and will never change to be another thing. However, it also creates a feeling of limitations because you realize that you cannot be the things that you always wanted to be and never succeeded, because you will always just be yourself.
 * 3) ‘Me’ is successful in suggesting the mystery of being a ‘Self’. He provides one solution that you can never change what you are. You are just yourself. However, it is vague because the structure of it is as if this came out from a train of thoughts. It develops on a theme and alternates into a different variation of it and eventually states the theme back again. Its stops suggest the train of thoughts theory. ‘Just me’ (pause) ‘Like a tree’. This makes the sentence sound as if a person was thinking this up, wrote a line, and wrote the next after considerable thought.
 * 4) In many ways, you are just yourself. To you, you probably don’t feel a change in your everyday life, unless you had an astounding epiphany. You constantly wish of being someone else and always have a sense of failure because you cannot change yourself.