Love Defies All

The Kite Runner
Khalded Hosseini

Hosseini makes Soraya out to be a round character in The Kite Runner. When Amir first married Soraya, he neglected to disclose much information about his past. However, since Amir realizes he cannot leave for America without Sohrab, he must tell Soraya about his past. When he calls Soraya, he tells her everything. He also wants to ask her permission to bring Sohrab back to America with him. Amir worries that Soraya will not be accepting of Sohrab, but he could not have been more wrong. "Amir, he's your qaom, your family, so he's my qaom too"(Hosseini, 326). This shows that she views Sohrab as a member of her family before she has even met the boy. Hosseini shows that Soraya is a very loving character who is more than willing to be accepting. Soraya is a perfect complement to Amir. He needs a woman who can handle his complicated past. Her love is exactly what will get Amir through his hardships.

Relationship Strengthened

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini 

Hosseini stresses the awkwardness that lies in the relationship between Amir and Sohrab in The Kite Runner initially. Sohrab is very tentative because of his corrupted childhood up until this point in his life. He is finally interacting with an adult who seems to care about him since his parents had passed away. Amir truly cares for Sohrab. However, Sohrab is having trouble grasping the fact that Amir is not going to abandon or hurt him. Sohrab believes that Amir will not continue to care about him, but Amir wants to dispell all of Sohrab's trust issues. It is through both Amir and Sohrab's hardships that they have faced in their lives that they are able to become closer. "Now, as the boy's pain soaked through my shirt, I saw that a kinship had taken root between us too"(Hosseini, 320). This shows that through Sohrab's emotional release, Amir is able to finally connect with him on a deeper level. I feel as though Amir and Sohrab's relationship will not stay this strong for long though. Once someone shows signs of trust issues, I feel as though those trust issues may take some time to disappear. 

The Unsuspecting Hero

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini 

Hosseini makes an effort to put a great deal of conflict into The Kite Runner. Once Assef's identity is exposed and Sohrab is found in his home, there is immediately a conflict between Assef and Amir. All Amir wants is to take Sohrab with him, away from Assef. However, Assef does not want for Amir to have what he desires so easily. Assef says Amir can take Sohrab with him if Amir can prove to beat Assef in a fight. As Sohrab was watching Assef and Amir fight, he was overcome with emotion and could not take the fighting anymore. He picked up a slingshot and "the slingshot made a thwiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming"(Hosseini, 291). Sohrab's courage saved Amir's life. However, Sohrab's courage was not expected from Amir. He stood up for Amir, and because of this, he was able to escape from Assef's home. 

Sunglasses Removed

The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini

Hosseini utilizes imagery in The Kite Runner. One image that occurs around chapter twenty-two is the image of a man's sunglasses. These sunglasses keep his identity secretive and unknown. This man is the  man who Amir believes knows where Sohrab is located. When Amir encounters the man wearing the sunglasses, he thinks that he recognizes the man from somewhere. This man proves to be none other than the man who hurt Hassan when Amir and Hassan were children: Assef. "But he was already here, in the flesh, sitting less than the feet from me, after all these years. His name escaped my lips: 'Assef'"(Hosseini, 281). The ambiguity of Assef's sunglasses were a strong image that represented the unknown, unattended aspects of Amir's past. His past was closing in on him as he knew it. The world that Amir had tried to escape from was slowly coming back into his life. The imagery of Assef allows for the reader to be overcome with shock that Assef has come back into Amir's life. Before, he had stolen Hassan's innocence, but now he attempting to corrupt Sohrab, the next closest thing to Hassan.

Fatherhood

The Kite Runner 
Khaled Hosseini

As The Kite Runner continues, Hosseini makes use of the literary device of irony. One thing that is consistent throughout the novel is Amir's confusing feelings for his father. Amir is intimidated, yet admires his father even so. When Amir and Soraya try to have children, they realize that they cannot have children. They also seem to not be extremely keen on the idea of adoption. Much like Amir's relationship with his father, he says that "the idea of fatherhood unleashed a swirl of emotions in me"(Hosseini, 184). Amir's father was his hero. The fact that Amir will never be a father is somewhat ironic. Amir has always wanted to please his father, and I think the fact that he cannot have children is perhaps what his father may have wanted. If Amir could not be the same type of father for his children as his father was for him, then I believe that Amir would have parented his children is different way compared to his father.

Baba's Last Gift

The Kite Runner 
Khaled Hosseini

One theme that Hosseini presents throughout The Kite Runner is the theme of different relationships. One relationship that flourishes is the relationship between Soraya and Amir. In Amir's culture, most marriages were approved of by both families. When Baba continued to debilitate in health, Amir wanted to make sure that his marriage took place while Baba was still living. Once Baba was discharged from the hospital, Amir said that he wanted Baba to "ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand in marriage" (Hosseini, 161). Baba wanted to give one last gift to Amir; the gift of Soraya's hand in marriage. On Amir's wedding day, Baba said it was "the happiest day of my life"(Hosseini, 166). Both Soraya and Amir were madly in love with each other. Unlike marriages today, Amir and Soraya really did not know each other that well before they married. However, after their unity in marriage, they have gotten to know each other's families better; thus, they have both strengthened relationships.

So What Can Women Do?

The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini

In The Kite Runner, Hosseini makes the views of women in Afghanistan quite clear. Women are not acknowledged hardly at all compared to men. When Baba and Amir are trying to escape away from Kabul, their covered bus comes across a Russian guard. The bus driver has worked out an arrangement for their bus to pass by without any troubles. However, the Russian guard says the bus may only pass if the Russian gets to have alone time with one of the women in the bus. Women were viewed as material possessions or some type of currency. The bus driver says that sexual relations are the soldier's "price for letting us pass"(Hosseini, 115). This shows that the bus driver may disapprove of these actions, but he is more concerned with the bus being allowed to pass. The woman "burst into tears" (Hosseini, 115) when she heard what the Russian soldier expected of her. The women clearly did not approve of the treatment they received from the men.

5 Year Transformation..Or Not So Much

The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini

In The Kite Runner, Amir, the main character, seems to develop as a character a great deal throughout the novel. Earlier in the novel, the reader is able to notice some of the direct characterization of Amir. Many of Amir's attitudes toward Baba contribute to his characterization. As Amir grows up from a thirteen year old boy into an eighteen year old adult, he begins to transform and develop his character. When Amir was younger, he idolized Baba. However, as he grows up, he begins to have a more realistic view of his father. He says that "Baba was like the widower who remarries but can't let go of his dead wife"(Hosseini, 129). Hoseeini is showing Amir's characterization through his thoughts about Baba. His thoughts of Baba were thoughts of intimidations mixed with admiration. However, as he grew older, he begins to become wiser about who Baba was. Amir became less intimidated by his father as he grew up.

Potpourri Unit 4

Dover Beach

Matthew Arnold 

In Dover Beach, Arnold talks about how some of nature's beauties can actually be full of pain and sadness. The speaker describes a a calm sea and tide crashing on the shore. Typically, the ocean shore can be associated with peace and tranquility, and initially, the speaker describes the ocean as a "tranquil bay"(Arnold, 892). However, as the poem continues, the speaker describes "the turbid ebb and flow of human misery"(Arnold, 892). The speaker talks about how one of the most beautiful aspects of nature, a tide, can be associated with human misery and pain. Even though many of these phenomenons of nature are compared to pain, the speaker does not ignore their beauty. The speaker says that our world is not filled with joy, peace, or pain. However, humans confuse their feelings which is the root cause of the world's pain. When humans witness something as beautiful as an ocean tide, it is their reaction to confuse these feelings which will in turn, produce feelings of pain or sadness. Human tendency to struggle with confusion is how pain has entered into the world. 

Potpourri Unit 3

Batter my heart, three-personed God
John Donne

In Batter my heart, three-personed God, Donne's usage of diction proves to be effective in interpreting the meaning of the poem. The poem focuses on the speaker's relationship with God and faith. I believe that the speaker's diction that is related to marriage helps to convey the relationship between the speaker and God. The speakers says he "would be loved fain, but am betrothed unto your enemy"(Donne, 840). This is saying that speaker wants to be in a loving union with God, but the temptations and evils are still bonded to the speaker. The speaker is asking God to "divorce me, untie or break that knot again"(Donne, 840). This is the speaker's plea for God to 'marry' the speaker so that the speaker may be freed from all of the evils to which he is currently attached. He wants for the three-personed God to defend him and mend him. Donne's diction about marriage helps clarify the type of relationship that the speaker is wanting to have with God. The speaker wishes to divorce his harmful ways in order to have a faithful relationship with God.

Potpourri Unit 2

I taste a liquor never brewed
Emily Dickinson

In I taste a liquor never brewed, Dickinson using comparisons in order to convey her meaning through her work. She compares the feeling of being intoxicated to being overwhelmed in one's surroundings. The speaker notices many different things about nature while she is 'intoxicated.' She becomes intoxicated as she is overwhelmed with nature. The speaker says that "when butterflied-renounce their "drams-I shall but drink the more!"(Dickinson, 797). This shows that the more nature that she becomes overwhelmed, the more nature she wishes to take in. The speaker clearly appreciates all of the forms of nature. The phenomenon felt from all of the nature can be compared to the phenomenon of intoxication.  As the speaker encounters more enjoyable aspects of nature, she continues to express how she wishes to enjoy these beauties of nature until the day that she dies. The speaker does however believe that the power of nature outweighs the power of alcohol. She says that "not all the Vats upon the Rhine yield such an alcohol!"(Dickinson, 797). This indicates that the speaker feels as though the feelings provoked by nature can be better felt than some of the effects of alcohol.

Potpourri Unit 1

The Convergence of the Twain
Thomas Hardy

In The Convergence of the Twain, Hardy's use of the subtitle helps contribute to the meaning of the work. The subtitle provided says: (Lines on the loss of the 'Titanic') which helps clarify the fact that the poem is in fact about the Titanic. The poem describes the events preceding and following the ship crashing into an iceberg. The crash itself is made clear by Hardy's use of diction. He says that the ship seemed extravagant in "stature, grace, and hue"(Hardy, 779). The speaker describes says that the ship and the iceberg were "alien" and "no mortal eye could see the intimate welding of their later history"(Hardy, 779). This shows that no one predicted that the ship would take such a terrible hit. I feel as though this can relate to any situation in life today. Many times, the two most unlikely elements can prove to come into contact somehow. The fact that an extravagant ship and a treacherous iceberg may have seemed unlikely to most; however, their "wedding" was one that will always be historically remembered.

Othello 8

Othello 

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare hints at the fact that death will be occurring soon in Othello. However, these deaths are motivated. Othello plans on murdering Desdemona because he believes that she is unfaithful. Even when he hears from other people, like Emilia, that Desdemona would never betray Othello's trust, he still plans on murdering her. Even if Othello and Desdemona were to separate, in Othello's mind, that would not solve the problem of Desdemona's treatment toward men. He says that "she must die, else she'll betray more men"(V.ii.6-7). He believes that if she lives, she would still continue to 'betray men.' If Desdemona were to find another man, then Othello believes that the man that she marries next would end up in Othello's position. In Othello's mind, he believes that killing Desdemona would be benefitting more people than himself. He believes that Desdemona's habits cannot be changed. For this reason, he believes that the only solution would be killing her. 

Othello 7

Othello 

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare created the most manipulative character in Othello, Iago, but Iago now finds himself in a not particularly ideal situation. At the beginning of Act V, he contemplates if Roderigo's death or Cassio's death would benefit him more. He says that if Roderigo lives, "he calls me to a restitution large of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him as gifts to Desdemona"(V.i.14-17). If Roderigo lives, then Iago will owe him monetarily. However, Iago finds that Cassio dying is the best case scenario for himself. "If Cassio do remain, he hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly, and besides, the Moor may unfold me to him. There stand I in much peril"(V.i.18-21). Iago is put in much danger if Cassio lives because Cassio could expose Iago to Othello once he finds out the truth. Iago would prefer to not be exposed for his deceitful ways to Othello. Iago did not count on anyone finding out about his deceptive nature. Even though Roderigo was the closest one to find out about his ways, Cassio's death would be a greater benefit to Iago. 

Othello 6

Othello 

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is able to utilize dynamic characters in Othello. Roderigo would be an example of a dynamic character in Othello. In the beginning of the work, he seemed to just be a little bit upset about not being able to court Desdemona. I felt as though his jealousy was minor and would really not come into play again in the work. However, he proved to be rather intelligent as he appeared again in Act IV. He is really the first one to catch onto Iago's deceiving ways. Roderigo says to Iago, "I have heard too much, for your words and performances are no kin together"(IV.ii.181-182). This indicates that Roderigo has heard all of the lies that Iago has planted into each person's brain. He wanted to come and confront Iago about his lying ways, but Iago is able to convince him to keep quiet. Iago is able to show his manipulative ways through Roderigo. He tells Roderigo that because of his lying, Roderigo will be able to be with Desdemona. Iago says to wait another day, and if Roderigo is not with her by the next day, then he has permission to expose Iago. 

Othello 5

Othello 
William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare does a great job of presenting opposing opinions for nearly every decision that must be made in Othello. As Othello and Iago are discussing the murder of Desdemona, they have differing opinions on how she should die. I believe that each way that is proposed is suggestive to the kind of characters that Othello and Iago are. Othello orders Iago to "get me some poison, Iago, this night! I'll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again"(IV.i.188-189). However, Iago advises Othello, "do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated"(IV.i191-192). Othello wants to kill Desdemona in the least violent way possible because he wants to preserve her beauty even though he believes that she has been dishonest to her. However, Iago wants to draw out the worst in Othello, and everyone else for that matter, so he wants Othello to kill Desdemona in a violent fashion. These two characters are foil characters for a few reasons. They not only have differing views on how to murder someone, but they also have differing views on women. Iago does not trust women and he really does not like women very much. However, Othello truly loved his wife and trusted her until Iago tried to convince Othello that he should be concerned about Desdemona's faithfulness. Both characters have differing values on varying aspects of their lives.

Othello 4

Othello
William Shakespeare

Shakespeare portrays Iago is a mischievous character who is also manipulative to many of the other characters in Othello. Following the firing of Cassio from his lieutenant position, he wanted to speak with Desdemona privately about his job loss. As Cassio is leaving his talk with Desdemona, he sneaks off in order to avoid any type of anger with Othello. However, Iago tries to plant the seed in Othello's head that Desdemona and Iago have something to hide from Othello. Iago says "that he would steal away so guilty-like, seeing you coming"(III.iii.40). This indicates that Iago is overtly fabricating the details in order to cause Othello to have doubt and concern. Iago enjoys having so much control over everyone and he continues to do so in an inconspicuous way. I believe that Iago will not get away with his manipulation for much longer though. Many of the other characters are smart and will catch onto Iago's tricks that he is playing. Iago's trickery and deceit is ironic because he hates women for being deceitful to men. However, Iago is deceitful to everyone that he encounters.

Othello 3

Othello
William Shakespeare

Shakespeare utilizes some of the typical stereotypes of women are exhibited in Act II of Othello. As Iago and Desdemona discuss the ideal woman to Iago, he expresses his views of all different types of women. He believes that women are manipulative and he is the epitome of a misogynist. Iago's perfect woman is one who will "suckle fools and chronicle small beer"(II.i.59). This shows how stereotypical Iago is towards women. He believes that a woman is best-suited in a kitchen or nursing her children. Another example Iago's misogyny would be present in the way in which he treats his wife, Emilia. He tells her that she "rises to play and goes to bed to work"(II.i.114).  This is an example of his rude nature toward his wife. He believes that if he has any reason to doubt her genuine nature, then he will mistrust all women.

Othello 2

Othello
William Shakespeare

Shakespeare uses foreshadowing at the beginning of Act II of Othello. As scene one opens, a storm is occurring on the sea where a flood has also occurred. The Turks are on ships that are on the sea at the time of the storm and the flood. As Montano and the gentlemen attempt to figure out what has happened to the Turks at sea, they come to the conclusion that the Turks may have drowned. Montano says that "if the Turkish fleet be not ensheltered and embayed, they are drowned"(II.i.17-18). The storm at the beginning of the Act foreshadowed the trouble that would soon occur involving Montano. One evening when Cassio was drunk, he beat Montano in a fight. Cassio was consequently stripped of his lieutenant title. However, Montano was also injured and hurt which was foreshadowed by the storm at the beginning of the Act. The events involving Montano and Cassio were some of the effects of the foreshadowing storm.

Othello 1

Othello
William Shakespeare

Early on in Act I of Othello, Shakespeare provides multiple examples of racism. One of the conflicts in the play is between Brabantio and his daughter, Desdemona. Brabantio becomes infuriated when he realizes that Desdemona is in love with Othello. Partially, I believe that Brabantio was upset because he felt as though he was deceived by his daughter. However, I also believe that he was upset that his daughter fell in love with a black man. Brabantio's anger was fueled by his racism toward Othello. Brabantio had felt betrayed by his daughter as Roderigo told Brabantio that his daughter was planning to marry Othello. Brabantio angrily says to Roderigo, "With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father! How didst thou know 'twas she? Oh she deceives me"(I.i.161-162). Brabantio's fury is well illustrated in this scene. He has been betrayed but his daughter by planning to marry behind his back and choosing to marry someone who is not of her race.

Love Me Not 4

The Apparition 
John Donne

Donne uses foreshadowing throughout his poem, The Apparition. The word "apparition" literally translates to "a ghostlike figure." I was able to conclude that the poem was spoken from the point of view of a deceased lover. The ghost is saying that he will haunt any other man who tries to appeal to his lover when he was alive. The ghost says that he will "...come to thy bed, and thee, feigned vestal, in worse arms shall see..."(Donne, 889). This is an example of foreshadowing in showing that the ghost will appear to any possible suitors. If these men approach the ghost's lover, then the ghost will scare them off. The ghost's lover was under the impression that she would be free from her lover after he died. However, the ghost is going to ensure that she does not feel any sense of security despite his recent death. I believe that the relationship with the deceased man and the woman was not a desirable relationship. I feel as though she would not be wanting to be "free from all solicitation..."(Donne, 889) from the deceased man.

Love Me Not 3

Popular Mechanics 
Raymond Carver

Carver establishes the mood of Popular Mechanics by his use of diction. Much of the diction used is diction that implies negativity and struggle. A couple is going through a separation throughout the poem. The couple appears to be fighting over who will get to keep their child. Some of the diction used shows that the fight that the couple is having will not be resolved cleanly. "The kitchen window gave no light. In the near-dark he worked on her fisted fingers with one hand and with the other hand he gripped the screaming baby up under an arm near the shoulder"(Carver). The diction that Carver uses indicates that the fighting is violent and physical. The man seems to be willing to go to any cost in order to keep his child. I was surprised that the man was violently fighting with his wife. I felt as though this would make her even more wary to allow him to spend time with their child. After this fight, I admired the mother for going to all costs in order to protect her child. The diction not only showed the violence of the fight, but it also showed that the mother was going to great lengths in order to be protective.

Love Me Not 2

The Story of an Hour
Kate Chopin

Chopin's use of imagery in The Story of an Hour allows for the reader to envision the type of pain that Mrs. Mallard is experiencing. After Mrs. Mallard is told that her husband has died, she stays seated in a chair where she observes the happenings outside of a window. As she contemplates her life after her husband has died, she begins to experience feelings of helplessness. "She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams"(Chopin). After reading this portion of the story, I was able to visualize what Mrs. Mallard looked like as she mourned her husband's death. I feel as though her feelings of motionless were more of a shock from losing her soul mate. Once someone's soul mate has passed, I feel as though a part of that person has died as well. When two people become so invested in each other, they cannot help but become one entity. Through Chopin's use of imagery, I was able to envision the way in which soul mates are connected. Mrs. Mallard and her husband would not be separated from each other for long, which is truly how soul mates live and die.

Love Me Not 1

You're Ugly, Too
Lorrie Moore

Moore does an excellent job of making the character in You're Ugly, Too, Zoe Hendricks, a very interesting character. I could easily tell within the first few pages of the story that Zoe had a biting sense of sarcasm. The use of personification is used in order to prove Zoe's sarcastic nature. As Zoe's sister, Evan, inquires about her love life, Zoe says that she is seeing her house. "I'm tending to it when it wets, when it cries, when it throws up"(Moore, 357). This reply personifies Zoe's house while still providing evidence for Zoe's sarcastic nature. It seems as though Zoe is never truly genuine with anyone throughout the course of the story. All of her comments seem to tinged with some sort of ingenuity. Through Moore's use of personification, Zoe's character is proven to be even less genuine than before. I feel as though Zoe's sarcasm is fueled by her opinion that her life is mediocre. She seems to think that the only way to prove that she is not ashamed of her life is to make jokes out of everything relating to her life.

Love Unit 4

Delight in Disorder
Robert Herrick

In Delight in Disorder, Herrick poses questions of how one interprets beauty. He believes that beauty is most enticing when one is not quite sure what he thinks is beautiful. Confusion becomes the most interesting aspect to beauty. This concept makes sense because with confusion comes different types of unique interpretations among everyone involved. In the poem, Herrick's usage of contradictions indicate that he is indeed confused. However, even in his conveyance of confusion, the reader is still able to tell that he is finding some beauty in what he is watching. "An erring lace, which here and there enthralls the crimson stomacher"(Herrick, 979). This quote indicates that even in his confusion, he is engrossed in the woman over which is confused. Perhaps confusion is the most interesting way of feeling in love. Herrick is showing that feeling in love can be a confusing feeling because it is unlike any other feeling. He wants to show that confusion is a promising sign that one could be falling in love.

Love Unit 3

Lonely Hearts
Wendy Cope

In Lonely Hearts, Cope uses the literary technique of mood to convey her message. The mood of this poem was impatient with the repetition of the line "Do you live in North London? Is it you?" at the end of each stanza. The mood created by the writer is somewhat humorous though. The narrator is clearly trying to diversify herself in order to appeal to anyone who may be her soul mate. However, her personality characteristics are subject to change depending on who she is communicating with. The narrator is willing to go through a number of drastic personality changes in order for someone to love her. The way in which Cope goes about showing the multiple personality characteristics contributes to the somewhat humorous mood of the poem. For example, she says in line four that she is "gay vegetarian whose friends are few"(Cope, 973). However, she contradicts herself by saying that she is "perhaps bisexual..."(Cope, 973) in line eight. Her capricious views will not allow her to find someone who is truly compatible. This message is conveyed through Cope's humorous mood of her poem.

Love Unit 2

Eveline

James Joyce 

In Eveline, Joyce makes note of the internal conflict that overcomes the narrator. The narrator expresses her need to leave her home. She is engaged to a man by the name of Frank. This man is going to take her with him to Buenos Aires where she will finally become free from her home. However, as the time nears for her to move with with Frank, she begins to have cold feet. "She had consented to go away, to leave her home. Was that wise? She tried to weigh each side of the question"( Joyce, 219). She had received the permission to leave her home, but she did not know if that is what she truly wanted. I feel as though the narrator's internal conflict was fueled by her being averse to change. She had become so used to the routine that she was currently a part of at home. Her internal conflict on whether to leave her home or not is deeper than just deciding on whether or not to move. She is also dealing with her indecisive nature fueled by her lack of exposure to any place besides her home. 

Love Unit 1

How I Met My Husband
Alice Munro

In How I Met My Husband, Munro invokes a great deal of thought for the reader. I felt as though Munro also had a variety of characters in her work. Munro used the literary technique of a round character in How I Met My Husband. Edie was the round character in this work. At the beginning of the story, I thought that she was more of an innocent, laid-back character. However, as the story continued forward, she started to show more complex qualities and began to show more emotion for other characters such as Chris. As the story neared the ending, she also began to make a few life revelations which contributed to her being a round character. By developing a mature, in-depth thought process, she was clearly displaying characteristics of a round character. Near the end of the story, Edie realizes what kind of woman she wants to become. "If there were women all through life waiting, and women busy and not waiting, I knew which I had to be. Even though there might be things the second kind of women have to pass up and never know about, it still is better"(Munro, 147). This quote indicates that Edie knew that she needed to be the type of woman that did not let her life become consumed by hopelessness.