Ted Kooser Analysis

In the reading of the text Braaksma is determined to get others to understand his view on blue collar work and college life. In his article Braaksma identifies factory work with torture while characterizing college with vivacious words such as lush and cavernous. “For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be uncivilized, getting to a factory by 6 o'clock each morning, where rows of hulking, spark-showering machines have replaced the lush campus and cavernous lecture halls of college life, is torture.” (5) As I reflect on my previous work experiences, college life was a regular daydream for me. Although, my intentions prior to finishing high school were to go to college, life, had a surprise for me in the form of a baby girl. Often, even now that I’m an online student I find myself wondering, how cool it would’ve been to enjoy the life as a college student?

Both works illustrate the idea of enlightenment through learning and how painful the brutal reality of truth is. While one is metaphor and one is autobiographical, they show that if one can learn to get passed the pain, you can free yourself and experience a world you never knew

“The Lost Boy”, preceded by “A Child Called ‘It’” then, followed by “A Man Named Dave” is about the struggle that keeps going, even after he finds believes to be his new home. Many find it incredible that, such a young child could withstand all of this torture. It’s a great book about the struggle he faces yet, you feel the emotional effects you begin to have by this. You may be able to relate the emotion he feels, as the regard into fitting in, feeling lost, losing hope, and being abused. You sense everything in this book.

Observing the love and affection between others only increases the effect his own solitude has on him. He is aware of his otherness and knows that he is “shut out from intercourse” (84) with the people he holds so dear. It can be argued that this is the point where the creature’s humanity is the strongest throughout the course of story. He has a basic understanding of human societies, he speaks and reads their language, shows compassion and, most importantly, seeks their company and friendship. In his knowledge that social belonging is the missing component to his own happiness, he confronts the people he secretly observed only to, once again, be met with fear and anger (94-95).

This is evident when he refuses to jump from the tree and declines Gene’s pass during Blitzball. “Leper looked up in anguish, shrank away from the ball, and voiced his first thought, a typical one.’I don 't want it!’” (Knowles, 39). This seems like a sign of weakness to the other boys, the odd one out that doesn 't relish the activities the other boys like to participate in. However, Leper could be seen as a strong character, on that won 't be pushed around. Leper decides to join the war effort for his own purposes; he

Another example of Atticus showing sympathy towards people is a case with Bob Ewell. There was a scene when Bob Ewell made a barbaric attitude by spitting in Atticus’s face, yet Atticus didn’t mind it and just simply walked away. In this scene, Atticus demonstrated a lot strength of restraint and dignity by resisting to retribute for Bob’s action. “Caring people no matter how nasty they are” is the lesson, which he taught to his son. The “mockingbirds” in this book, are innocent people who have a pure heart.

By learning about the severe beatings, sicknesses, fears and molestations occurring at the school, a sense devastation is created to the reader’s mind, though in Saul’s mind aside from the havoc he has encountered, there is something else he thinks of. Despite the fact Saul faces the most tragic adversities, he pulls himself aside from the fear and acts secure. Amazingly Saul spoke to himself, as he said, “When the tears threatened to erupt from me at night I vowed they would never hear me cry. I ached in solitude What I let them see was a quiet, withdrawn boy, void of feeling” (55). By remarking the fortitude Saul speaks of, it is exemplified that Saul has enough courage to accept the circumstances he is in and move on, showing the reader even though he has lost many things he has learned to show others he is fearless and strong.

Further developing the meaning of the story, connoting the mental struggle and the way priorities change over time, keeping readers mindful of the motifs and how they impact each character. One of the most noticeable conflicts that emerges in the early chapters seem to be almost mundane, but affects the overall characterization of both Amir and Baba. Amir is a young child, yearning for his father’s attention, his approval, his love. The conflict is one of both external and internal. It had gotten to the point where Amir went through with the kite flying with Hassan just to receive his father’s approbation.

I think this shows great text evidence because he scared to show the boys about his letter. He is also scared that they will make fun of him for writing to his mother. This also shows that he is a shy kid when “He was only talking to Zero in the beginning because he didn’t want to talk to anyone else.” (Sachar 1-15) This is great text evidence because only shy people talk to one or two people a camp. Stanley is a very shy kid because he only wants to talk to one person.

In “Tableau”, the poet uses phases such as “The stable Pride of night” (819, 4) and “blaze the path” (819, 12) to demonstrate this theme. This word choice is important because it displays how the boys are proud for what they are doing. They are breaking society's standards are creating a new path, a new outlook on life. The phrases “Grant me a little life” (576, 20) and “Risk my difference” (576, 19) are used by Mora in “Now and Then America” to display the theme. This diction portrays how the poet wants to follow her own path in life.