Category Archives: Grade 11

Blackout Poem – “O Captain! My Captain!”

Posted on by under English 11

Analysis of “O Captain! My Captain!”

It is important to understand poems such as, “O Captain! My Captain!”, by Walt Whitman because of the connections to historical events. The poem is written in first person point of view and it begins with the narrator addressing his captain by exclaiming, “O CAPTAIN! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done” (1). The mood at first, is celebratory because they have completed their journey, but it soon switches when he says, “But O heart! heart! heart” (5). At this moment, the narrator, who we’ve inferred is a crew member, realizes that his captain has, “Fallen cold and dead” (8). The mood has now become frantic and mournful. The narrator continues to speak to his captain and tell him that there are crowds on the shore, celebrating their return and victory and it is all because of him. Towards the end of the poem, he says “Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells” (21). The crowds are still celebrating, thus them not realizing the captain is dead. A thematic statement for the poem could be, when someone important is lost, their successes are still remembered. This thematic statement matches the poem because even though, the captain is dead, everything he has done will still be remembered by the crowds and by the speaker in the poem. Connotatively, Abraham Lincoln was killed but everything he has done for America is still remembered, and he is widely respected. In fact, this connection is what makes the poem so significant. The poem is literally about a captain who has died after completing a quest, but it is supposed to also represent the event of President Lincoln’s assassination. The poem also uses a few poetic devices, such as apostrophe when the narrator says “O Captain! My Captain” (1). It also contains an example of a metaphor in the verse, “It is some dream that on the deck,/ You’ve fallen cold and dead” (15-16). Repetition is also commonly found within the poem, for example the narrator repeats “for you” (10-12) to provide emphasis. There is a lot to poems such as these and when people are unaware of the connections in them, they miss out on understanding the poem in full.

“He died and he earned the respect. The crime was assassination. Booth, his dangerous days on the run. Abraham Lincoln did inspire to win battles and revive slavery. He is the hero of the story.”

Fahrenheit 451 – Radio

Posted on by under English 11

Conformity has an important role in the novel, Fahrenheit 451, and today’s society. We further researched conformity and connected the information to characters and pieces of the story. We explore this topic more closely in our podcast, and come to learn that there are many components to why a person conforms. After this project we were able to answer the following question, how does conformity influence one’s judgement within a society?

 

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Literature Photo Project

Posted on by under English 11

In the short story, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” by James Thurber there are many shifts from realism into expressionism. Certain things in Walter’s ordinary life cause him to imagine himself elsewhere, with a completely different life. The readers observe him as a hydroplane pilot, a surgeon, a criminal and more. The story also contains dramatic irony, for instance we are aware of Walter’s shifts into expressionism, however his wife is not. The point of view, third-person limited omniscient, helps add to this irony. This project helps to show an understanding of the character and the story’s plot by using personally created photos and direct quotes from the story. Each of the quotes and pictures will be connected to literary terms that were learned in class.

 

  1. Exposition

“The crew… in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned… ‘Not so fast! You’re driving too fast!’ said Mrs. Mitty.” (1).

This quote introduces the reader to Walter Mitty’s imaginary life but then also shifts to his wife telling him that he is driving too fast. At this point, the reader may realize that the hydroplane scene is part of a daydream, giving the reader an idea of how the story may continue, and introducing the reader to the main character.

 

2. Rising Action Example #1

“‘Hello Mitty’ [Dr. Renshaw] said. ‘We’re having the devil’s own time with McMillan…. Obstreosis of the ductal tract. Tertiary. Wish you’d take a look at him.’” (2).

This quote is part of Walter’s second shift into expressionism and it portrays him as a well profound surgeon. He also uses jargon, which further proves that this is another one of Walter’s daydreams.

3. Rising Action Example #2

“‘You are a crack shot with any sort of firearms, I believe?’ said the District Attorney… ‘Objection!’ shouted Mitty’s attorney.” (3).

It’s evident in this quote that Walter is in a trial for committing a crime. At this point, it’s clear that these daydreams are a regular occurrence and they are an escape from Walter’s boring life.

4. Rising Action Example #3

“‘It takes two men to handle that bomber and the Archies are pounding hell out of the air. Von Richtman’s circus is between here and Saulier.’ ‘Somebody’s got to get that ammunition dump,’ said Mitty.” (4).

Based off of the references in this quote, one can conclude that Walter is now a fighter pilot, fighting a war against the Germans. This is Walter’s fourth daydream and it is noticeable now, that all the scenarios of his imaginary life are more exciting than his real life.

5. Climax

“‘I was thinking,’ said Walter Mitty. ‘Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking?’” (5).

Throughout the story, Walter’s wife has been noting that Walter is acting strange and that he might be sick. She also tells Walter what to do while she gets her hair done and it seems she is very controlling. This quote would represent the climax because it is when Walter finally speaks up and reminds his wife that he can indeed think for himself.

6. Falling Action

“‘Wait here for me. I forgot something. I won’t be a minute.’ … Walter Mitty lighted a cigarette…. He stood up against the wall of the drugstore, smoking” (5).

Walter Mitty and his wife’s trip into town is almost over and they are heading back to the car. Ms. Mitty asks Walter to wait for her as she quickly grabs something from the drugstore. The reader’s can sense that the story is beginning to wrap up because Mr. and Ms. Mitty are almost finished their errands, therefore this quote can represent the falling action.

7. Denouement

“Then, with that faint, fleeting smile about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.” (5).

A denouement is usually when all loose ends are died up and the conflict is resolved. Although the story ends in a cliffhanger, this quote can still represent the denouement because Walter’s character changes and he becomes proud and almost accepting of his fate. Of course, this is in his day dream, but it most likely reflects on how he is feeling in reality.

8. Physical Setting

“She had told him, twice, before they set out from their house for Waterbury (3).

This quote refers to how Walter’s wife told him what he needed to get before they left for Waterbury. He is now trying to remember what it was, so it is concluded that the story takes place in Waterbury, Connecticut.

9. Emotional Setting

“In a way, he hated these weekly trips to town—he was always getting something wrong.” (3)

These trips into town for Walter Mitty are routine and he mentions that he hates them in a way. This shows how dull his life is and it creates a gloomy emotional setting. This setting helps to explain why Walter Mitty often removes himself from reality.

10. Conflict Type

“‘He said puppy biscuit,’ she said to her companion. ‘That man said puppy biscuit to himself.’ Walter Mitty hurried on.” (4).

Walter Mitty shifts into expressionism as a way of making his life less boring, but these “daydreams” are affecting his real life. The conflict type could be person vs. society because people around him are being affected, but it could also be person vs. self because he is trying to distract himself from his uneventful life.

11. Ending Type

“Then… he faced the firing squad; … Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.” (5).

The last scene in the short story is Walter Mitty about to be executed by a firing squad. Nothing is resolved, and we are not sure what happens to Walter. Therefore, the ending type would be a cliffhanger or unresolved.

12. Irony

“What are you driving so fast for?” (1)

In this quote, Ms. Mitty is asking Walter why he is driving so fast and he shifts back into realism. Readers understand that he is driving fast because he was imagining that he was flying a hydroplane through a storm. Ms. Mitty however, is unaware of this.

13. Suspense

“Then, with that faint, fleeting smile about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.” (5).

Suspense makes the reader unsure or excited about what may happen next. In this example, the readers are left knowing that Walter is facing a firing squad, but the story ends there, leaving everyone with questions. How will Walter snap back into realism? What will his wife do when she finds him “daydreaming” again?

 

 

 

 

 

Walter Mitty Daydream Six

Posted on by under English 11

Kaitlin Walashek

English 11

9 September 2018

Mr. Barazzuol

Walter Mitty Daydream Six

        The short story, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” by James Thurbur demonstrates great use of expressionism and realism. Expressionism represents subjective concepts, and it is shown in multiple ways using flashbacks, memories, thoughts, dreams and pause of live time. An example would be, a girl in school, day dreaming of being in Hawaii relaxing on the beach. The girl is not really in Hawaii, but it is expressionism shown in a dream. On the other hand, there is realism, which represents real-life events happening in the present, like a man just driving to work on a cloudy morning. In the story, it is evident that certain events cause Walter Mitty to transition from realism to expressionism. For example, when he puts his gloves on his hands and drives past a hospital, he is suddenly a well-known surgeon about to perform a surgery. Of course, Walter Mitty is not a surgeon in real-life, it is just an example of expressionism. The same continuing pattern can be seen in the following paragraphs.

        The firing squad began shooting and the sound was deafening…. A woman dropped her bag of items from the drugstore at his feet, startling him. “I am so sorry!” She began frantically gathering the items that had fallen in front of him and hurried away. Ms. Mitty came around the corner. “Walter! You couldn’t have helped the poor woman pick up her things?” Walter was still dazed and stood looking at her. “Well let’s get going then,” she said. They crossed the street to the parking lot and got into their car. Walter sighed as he realized they were low on gas. He just wanted to get home, but now they had to stop at the gas station. His wife stayed seated in the car eager to get going while he pumped up the car with gas. As he stood there impatiently waiting for the tank to fill, he heard the sound of sirens near. He turned to look towards the main road and sure enough, a firetruck passed with its sirens blaring….

        The heat of the fire was almost unbearable. “Alright, everyone is out,” announced Walter as he ran out of the burning house. He noticed one of his men racing over to him with worry painted over his face. “I was just informed that an 8-year-old boy is possibly still in the house. The parents are in agony.” Walter stared at him in disbelief. “I thought we covered the whole house!” He turned around and darted back into the house, searching every corner of every room. The fire continued to roar angrily, but Walter did not stop looking. He fled up the stairs that were collapsing under his feet, and that was when he heard a frightened scream. Walter reached the top of the stairs, and across the room he spotted the boy who was ceaselessly coughing. “Hey!” Walter called out to him. The boy lifted his head and stared back at Walter fearfully. He had to get to him fast or they would get trapped in the scalding hot flames. Walter hurried over, but as soon as he got to him, a barricade fell from above with a loud snap, separating them from each other. The boy let out a high-pitched shriek and Walter’s heart sank. The boy was just out of reach.

The Butterfly Effect in “A Sound of Thunder”

Posted on by under English 11

In the short story, “A Sound of Thunder”, the butterfly effect takes place. The story is about time travel so when a group travels back into the past, they make an impact on the future. Eckels and the safari group travel 60 million years into the past to hunt a dinosaur but they must be very careful not to alter anything. Maybe if Eckels knew what to expect and didn’t fear the T-Rex, he wouldn’t have had to flee back to the time machine. Then, if he never fled back towards the machine he never would’ve stepped off of the path and killed the butterfly. Eckels should have known it was a bad idea for him to hunt a dinosaur in the past, so if he never went, then he may not of performed the series of actions leading to the alter of the future. Because he killed the butterfly, a chain of events occurred all the way back to the future and it ended up making a big difference. When the safari group made it back to 2055, Deustcher was the winner of the election instead of Keith, and the spelling of words completely changed. The safari leader, Travis was extremely angry at what Eckels did so he shoots and kills him. Eckels could have decided not to go on this safari hunt into the past and this might have prevented the butterfly effect that caused the change in the future. In fact, this decision could have saved his life.

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