Week 3 Romeo and Juliet

Juliet is 13 years old at the time of the play, and Romeo is assumed to be about 16. What effect does the age of the main characters have on a modern audience?

Throughout the whole play Romeo and Juliet exhibit scenes about love and hate, although the passionate love that Romeo and Juliet show together over powers the hatred displayed within the play. Back in the day of Shakespeare it was proper to get married at the age of 13-16 showing maturity and love to the other half, almost 100% of the time being an arranged marriage. Though in the 21st century men and women don’t normally get married till mid twenties, as it is known to teenagers that you just don’t marry the first guy that you fall in love with, known as the high school sweet heart.
The display of passionate love is not so real in Romeo and Juliet; it is just like high school sweet hearts as know to today’s audience. Romeo seems to be disrespectful to females, wants what he says and always persuades Juliet into things she is not comfortable doing. On the other hand Juliet is an unexperienced, innocent female that may or may not be passionately in love with Romeo. Overall the couple of Romeo and Juliet show that they are not experienced together and are not truly in love.

Short Story Questions

1) What is the crowd/group?
The crowd is basically Sabstians friends and Jess.

2) What does the group value?
The group is seperated in two two groups. Sebastians friends vaulue him as a funny guy that they can trust and have his friendship, unlike Jess she does't think he can take anything serious although they have been going out for over a year.

3) How does the hero challenge the values?
Sebastian said that he is a funny guy although Jess doesn't realise that he can be serious and support her, if there is something wrong (e.g. she has cancer and she had bottled it all up until she exploded).

To Kill a Mockingbird chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 1

1. Briefly describe the main characters.

Atticus: Atticus is the father of Scout, she looks up to him as her father as well as teacher. He teaches his children the traits of how their town works and how people pay differently if they are not wealthy enough to pay out front with cash. Mostly everyone looks up to Atticus (he is the hero).

Scout: Scout is a tomboy and has a strong and confident character. Scout is very intelligent and respects the traits of her community. She lives with her brother Jem, her father Atticus and her black cook, Calpurina in a small place called Maycomb.

Jem: Jem is Scouts older brother in which she looks up to for guidance. He is Scouts constant play mate at the beginning of the novel, although as the novel continues Jem parts away from her games though keeps her companion for life.

Boo: He never sets foot outside his house. He is one of the novels supposedly 'mockingbirds' as he is a good person that is damaged by the thoughts and evil opinions of man kind.

Calpurnia: She is the families black cook, people think of her weirdly as she is black although the Finch family treat her with respect and the children treat her as part of the family.

2. Explain the last paragraph with reference to the events preceding it.

Dill and Scout dared Jem to go up and touch the Radley, whilst this was happening Scout and Dill thought that there was movement in the house and they thought that Boo Radley was their peeping through the window as it states in the last paragraph.

3. What do you notice about the narrative voice and view point in the novel?

The view point and narrative voice is all from Scout's perspective. As she is explaining everything that has happened so far.

Chapter 2

1. What is the most significant event here?

The most significant event in this chapter is that Scout begins school at the same school that Jem goes to.

2. Why does Scout get into trouble on her first day?

Scout gets into trouble on her first day as she already knows how to read and non of the other students know how to. Mainly because she is too intelligent.

3. Who is Walter Cunningham and what do we learn of his circumstances?

Walter Cunningham is a student that attends Scouts school, he is not wealthy enough to provide himself with shoes or lunch for the first day of school and the teacher offers to pay for his lunch. Although what she does not know is that Cunningham's do not accept anything that they cannot repay.

What does it mean to go against the crowd?

Going against the crowd is obviously your own way of taking action/just doing something. For example, just standing their in the middle of a shop with a sign, instead your standing there shouting to promote your product. (in some cases going against the crowd can benefit) It is good to be an individual and not like everyone else in the world. People look for creativity and individuality through work places, friendship and in general life.

Image analysis

What is the setting of the photograph?

This photograph is taken during the day (the sign is hanging of the edge of a building)

Describe what you see in the photograph. Include specific details.

Within this image the word 'coloured' is in bold to make the difference and make it significant that it was not for whites (coloured only).

What structures are in the photograph?

This image is mainly of the sign to make it clear to the audience what the photographer was trying the emphasise.

What is the tone of the photograph?

This photograph is in black and white as they did not have coloured images back in the 1930's

Growing up in the 1930's

Dear Pen Pal,
I am writing to you from the 1930’s, it is very restricted on money here in Alabama and everyone is feeling the pinch. Each morning my mom, dad, brother and I wake up very early to receive a small loaf of bread to help us get through the tough times. My mum and dad are unemployed and are struggling of receiving money and food for the family from a day to day basis.
Our home is very small although it’s just fine for the four of us; there is only one large room though we separate the room at night with large sheets that my mother had given us. The garden is beautiful, it has growing native plants that my mom uses to help heal cuts and recover bruised skin, as both of my children love climbing up trees as it is their favourite hobby together. Together as a family we enjoy going for long walks down to the park and my brother and I play together on the play equipment. Before America hit its lows my mom and dad were employed by jack Johnson, doing carpentry work of shops and houses. It was high pay compared to the no pay they receive now as no one can afford paying anyone for doing labour.
Next door we have a lovely couple although on the other hand there are some really racist and freaky people surrounding us. Sometimes when certain people are out doing gardening or putting the rubbish out I’m too scared to go join my brother climbing trees. I really don’t know, but I think they have a bad vibe about themselves. My community is very ‘white’ they don’t even talk to a black man which seems a little odd. My parents haven’t explained to me why I shouldn’t talk to black people, they are human though just a different colour. My cook is ‘black’ and her food is amazing, and I have respect for her.
My brother and I go to a ‘white’ school which is much better educated than other schools located in Alabama. No ‘black’ children come to my school as they are not permitted. Schools must be segregated, as well as parks, bathrooms, water fountains and much more. One of my best friends that my parents don’t know about is a ‘black’ girl my age, she is really nice and we go for walks and play games together, I also have many friends in the neighbourhood but they are very racist which I don’t like. I have respect for black children and adults as they have done nothing wrong in society.
During this year the world’s financial system is getting better although it may take some time. In Alabama money is still sacred and cannot be earned easily as many people are unemployed like my parents.