Home Sweet Home?

Connie returns home from holidays on a late summers night. She is very unsettled from the moment she walks in the door and continually tries to make herself comfortable. Awaiting the arrival of her husband she slowly makes her way around the house with the feeling that someone is listening for her. Again, thinking it is only her mind playing games with her she decides to call her neighbour, Mrs. Winston. Things get from bad to worse when her neighbor gives word of the burglery's and violence in the city in her time being away. Coincidently, her son who has been convicted of numerous crimes has been away also but again Connie she tries to think nothing of it. Soon enough, the pieces come together when Connie discovers the cigarette butts on the floor and a bag of loot in the bedroom. Someone has been using her house as a drop off and they will be back to get it when they find out she has returned. She immediately responds by shutting off all the lights hoping the intruder did not yet see her in the house yet. This is when she notices the house key missing and the broken glass windows in the back door making it impossible to secure it. Connie hears footsteps in the house and goes into hiding. The fear builds inside of her as the dark figure searches high and low his flashlight. Absolutely tramatized by situtation already Connies recognizes the criminal turning her stomach even more. The very second she has a chance to escape she flees from the house running across the lawn to the garage where his motorcycle parked. Quickly she lights it up in flames to send out for a message of help. The sound of the sirens bring tears of overwhelming relief from the feeling of safety. Though her tears are also for the unfortunate Mrs. Winston who is left to deal with the reality of her son's behaviour.

Man Slaughter

Is it a mystery or suspense? When is the suspense introduced?How is it resolved?Did the author include any red herrings?Is the story an example of poetic justice?

A "Lamb to Slaughter" is a suspense short story. Mrs. Maloney is a loving housewife who shows complete compassion for her husband. We are lead into thinking that the pair are solely compatible. After a day of ordinary rutiene, her husband confesses his act of adultery and the tension errupts. He refuses to stay for dinner, but Mrs. Maloney insists that he stay and she goes down to the freezer to grab the meal. The unexpected occurs when Mr.Maloney drops dead when he is struck from behind with a slab of lamb leg. She is fast to think when she flees to the market covering the time in which she then claims the murder took place. When the law officers arrive they are not convinced that she is guilty of murder. They do not suspect a lamb leg to be the murder weapon as they are eating it and Mrs. Maloney is off the hook. The red herring is found in the beginning of the story when the reader is made to believe that Mrs. Maloney is a good and loving housewife. The author then finishes by showing a great example of how looks can be very decieving even in the most unlikely situations. This story is not an example of poetic justice because Mrs. Maloney doen't get punished for the crime that she committed.

Which is More Appealing

2. We have been reading Anne Sexton's poem, "Courage" and Rudyard Kipling's poem "If". Both poems deal with the theme of courage. Which poem appeals most to you and explain why. Consider what the poet says and how each poet expresses his/her viewpoint.



The poem that caught my attention out of the two was Rudyard Kipling's "If.." After reading I was given a sort of motivational feeling from his choice of words. My life is at the point where the decisions I make will follow me throughout my entire life. There is pressure all around me from friends, family, and enemies. No one is able to make decisions for me so I am left to make them even if what I believe is supported by others or not. The lines 25-28 " If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings- nor lose the common touch, if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much.." were the first to appeal to me. They really reminded me of the importance of self-belief because no matter who or how many people are against your opinions, you must always stay true to yourself and follow through with your ideas and dreams. Rudyard's style of writing was meant to give instruction's to show how one can be a better person. The speaker was obviously an older figure ( father, mother) because they've learned by their mistakes throughout their lifetime which they can now use as a guideline to lead others into better choices. "Courage" was also told by an individual who had faced hard times and passed on her emotions from the time she was a child to the time of death.

If.. Rudyard Kipling

1. Do you agree with Kipling's message in this poem? Why or why not?Identify which of Kipling's statements is the most meaningful to you and explain why. Is Kipling's advice useful for people today? Why or why not?

Yes, he has a great idea of the kind of guideline that one should follow to be a better person.I am particularly drawn to the line "If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss." It means that if you can give everything you have and risk it all on one thing and lose, you should never seek pity from others, and you start over with no complaining. There are many times in life where I will be left to take risks that will be very crucial and life changing, but I'll need to be willing to sacrifice and be prepared to face the consequences of my losses.

People everywhere will be faced with challenges and risks which makes this poem suitable for anyone. Situations can be overcome by thinking ahead, and others can not be predicted and that is when chance is the only option left to count on. So when life can be unpredictable and you are left with next to nothing, never stop looking for happiness because you can always start over.

Christy Brown's Left Foot

1. How does being able to write change Christy’s life?

The discovery of writing has opened Christy up to the opportunity of being able to express thoughts and feelings through words. Many people around Christy saw it as a miracle being that he was considered to be a hopeless case from birth. He showed the world that anyone has the potential to succeed no matter who they are, or how disabled they may be.

2. Who do you think is the main hero of this story?

Christy was noticed for his outstanding accomplishment, but the one who was determined to get him there is the real hero. Mr. Brown his mother, took Christy into her own hands when everyone told her there was no hope for him. Yet, she was not going to give up on any of her children and was willing to do anything to keep him feeling like a normal person. She remained a strong individual throughout the whole process even though she had no way of knowing that Christy would make any improvement. Everything she did for him was out of her own love which was completely heroic.

3. What do people like Christy Brown, Helen Keller and Christopher Reeve teach us about heroism?

Even the disabled people of the world can do amazing things if they have the motivation to succeed from others around them. There is always a way to find happiness but getting to that point takes a great amount of encouragement when you are in those kinds of situations.

4. What kinds of obstacles do people with disabilities face?

Individuals with disabilities face the challenges of doing everyday tasks. Some rely on others with everything like eating, cleaning, or even getting dressed, which takes a huge amount of responsibilty from the care taker. They become invisible to the world when opportunities are always being put behind closed doors. Life is a whole different perspective to them because they are trapped inside their bodies watching time pass before their eyes.

5. What do Christy’s accomplishments indicate about human potential?

Christy's twisted body disguised the potiential he had to communicate. His looks deceived many people until he showed the his mind was strong. This indicates that with encouragement from people around you great things can happen. If you can convince your mind that you can, you will.

No One Alike Mrs.Brown

No One Alike

Very few people obtain the strength to put others before them faithfully. Mrs.Brown is recognized world wide for her volition that changed hope for her son's life. Christy was disabled from birth and was considered to be a hopeless case from doctors and onlookers. Many assumed that putting him into a special care facility was the only option for him. However, Mrs.Brown was not willing to give up on her child and shows incredible strength when she takes matters into her own hands. At home she mothered five kids prior to Christy and had a total of 17 overall. Nothing seemed to discourage her decision for she was determined that Christy's body was the only reason for his disablement. After five years of next to no progress her tears of hopelessness become ones of joy. The family witnessed an opening of opportunity for Christy's world when he discovers communication with the use of his left foot. Only until that moment was Mr.Brown recognized for her dedication and faith in him. Then and now people across the globe admire her and are motivated from her incredible patients.