Development of My Essay "Literary Analysis" 2 Paragraphs

In John Updike’s A&P the main character Sammy, despite his seemingly moral actions, his true intentions are sexually minded. His true intentions are reflected through his description of the girls, lack of acknowledgement for their mental capacity, and the way he assumes they are of higher class status. The way Sammy describes the three girls goes to show what his true intentions are. He is very detailed in his description of each girl. Most young men at Sammy’s age during the early sixty’s, just classified a girl as pretty or ugly. Sammy on the other hand, went into great detail, “She was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white just under it, where the sun never seems to hit, at the top of the back of her legs” (pg 220). Most nineteen year olds would just say nice butt. His details were so great that while reading the story, I could visualize almost exactly what each girl looked like. He describes one girl as having “one of those chubby berry-faces, the lips all bunched together under her nose” (pg 220). The next girl he describes “as a tall one, with black hair that hadn’t quit frizzed right and one of these sunburns right across under the eyes and a chin that was to long” (pg 220). Because he goes into such immense detail, it leads me to believe that he had more on his mind than just a relationship of some sort. His descriptions of the girls were sexually minded. That is just the first to paragraphs of my story I still have alot to write. I feel as if I have a pretty good start and will be able to write a very good paper. All i have left is the conclusion and just going back and adding little things throughout the story to make it more clear. I can't wait to finish my story and to turn it in. I'm also hoping that our peer review session will help me too!!

Final Basketball Game as a Junior!!

I know it may seem like on every free blog, I write about something very depressing, but I really am a happy person. This just happened recently though and is very fresh on my mind. Friday was our area round of the playoffs and of course you have to win once you hit playoffs, or your out and your seasons over. We left school that day around 0ne. We left that early because we played Christoval in San Saba, which is a good two hour drive. We also stopped to eat a late lunch. Throughout the whole week I had been sick with strep, but it was getting better and I knew I would be ok to play. The whole way there, I was thinking that this could be the last time, I ever play with the people I have been playing with since I was a freshman. The majority of the people on our team are seniors, so the pressure was on. We arrive at San Saba and Kaley(a senior) and I were just talking about the game and the things that we knew we had to do to come out with a victory. Because we had left so early, we arrived around five and our game didn't start till seven. With the extra time we just practiced shooting on there goals and streched as a team. Game time finally arrived and the game began finally. We started out very bad, I think our nerves had gotten the best of us. We went into the locker room down by thirteen at half. Our coach gave us a pep talk and we were ready to play, knowing that this could be it. We Came out and cut the lead to four, but that just wasn't enough and ended up losing by ten or so. After the came we were all very upset. I know that we lost but even though our season is over and they will all be graduating soon. We will continue to remain friends and always be there for each other.

Had a Bad Day!!

While most girls are waking up to go get their makeup and nails done on prom morning, I was waking up in Brenham for regional finals track meet. I was excited knowing that in my three running events my time was looking good to qualify for state. I stepped off the bus thinking this was going to be an eventful yet exciting day. Little did I know, that this was going to be one of the worst days of my life. As I got off the bus my leg muscle pulled worse then I had ever felt it pull before. I kept thinking it would go away but that just didn't happen. I went to let my coach know and she started rubbing it, trying to get the knot out of my calve muscle. Unfortunately, it made the situation worse. I was detemined to run the 800 run, because I was sitting second. The first lap was very painful to run, but I was in first. I turned the corner on the second lap, but the pain was just to much to handle and I ended up getting 7th, which was devastating. That pretty much sums how my 2nd event went. I still had one shot to make it to state on the mile relay, but our first leg jumped the gun and we were disqualified. I left the track meet very angry but still had to rush home and get ready for the prom. I only had an hour to get ready once I got home. There was a lady waiting on me to fix my hair which turned out the complete opposite of what I was hoping for. With no time left I had to wear my hair that way. I rushed home and got dressed within thirty minutes, make-up and all. Once my date picked me up the night turned around somewhat but I sat at prom starving all night, selfconscious about my hair. I only hope my prom is better this year.

Sammy in A&P

I have picked the story A&P because I feel like there are many comparisons between the main character and the setting. The main character in this story is a young adult named Sammy. The Setting takes place at a grocery store, A&P. Sammy is a cashier at the grocery store. While reading this story I noticed that Sammy wasn't exactly what I would call your average teen. The way that he talked about and described the girls led me to believe that he was very observant and noticed very little details. I can imagine that the grocery store was very well kept up. Every little detail in the store was immaculatly clean. Even if I wouldn't have known when this story takes place I probably could have guessed that it took place somewhere between the 1950-1960. I could have guessed that by the way the author describes the grocery store. He describes the flooring as chekerboard green-and-cream rubber-tile floor. Also by the way Sammy talks about the girls, the names he gives the girls, and the phrases and words he uses. A difference between the two is the age of the story and the age of boy. The store seems to be a very old town store. Sammy is in his late teens. I have never imagined ever reading a story and being able to pick out comparisons from the characters and setting. After doing this assignment I realized how many stories use character and setting as two major elements of literary fiction. It really brings the story together.

Speed Demon

One Friday morning I was in a rush (like always) trying to get to school on time. It was in september, which means it was still football season. Friday is the day we always have our football games. I'm a cheerleader so that means I have to wear my uniform to school for pep rally purposes. I was almost at school when I suddenly realized I had forgotten my pom-poms. So I did a u-turn and went as fast as I could, and went home to get them. I was running late, but I thought to myself I can still make it to school on time. I turned on the road in front of the school and was very excited I still could make it, I had one minute until the first bell rang. Not paying any attention to how fast I was going. I turned behind the school and looked in my rear view mirror and realized their was a cop sitting there. I was in a complete panic mode, but I still had this little hope that he wouldn't pull me over.I thought to myself I was going to school, surely he wouldn't pull me over. Sure enough he turned on his lights and pulled me over. I had only had my license for three months, my only thought was my mom is going to kill me. By then I had accepted the fact that I was going to be late to school, but that was the least of my worries at the moment. The cop got out of his car and came to my window, I tried crying but that failed. I waited in my car for five minutes and finally he just gave me the ticket. I thought to my self my day could not get any worse. I was putting my ticket in my purse when I noticed that I was stopped in a school zone going thirty-two in a twenty. Well although I am still alive, I think I learned a very valuable lesson....NEVER SPEED, no matter how late you are running.

Hills like White Elephants

After reading this somewhat confusing story, I have come to a conclusion that Ernest Hemingway used the mimetic theory of literary criticism. I say that because in the story he showed that true love can overpower almost anything. In everyday life I think you could say the same. This story was about a couple who were in love. In the mist of love the girl got pregnant. Throughout the whole story they, or should I say she was debating on wether she should have the baby or get an abortion. During the story the man was trying to comfort her and tell her that he would be there for her, even if she wanted to keep it. You come to realize that he really didnt want her to have the baby and tried to convince her to get an abortion. So after the reassuring that she would be fine and it's perfectly normal she goes ahead with it, and gets an abortion. She got the abortion because she thought that if she would have had the baby they would have been unhappy and he would not love her like he used to. I do believe that deep down she wanted the baby. I think she did it for him and their relationship. Another way the story represents the complexities of romantic relationships is when you are in a serious relationship, sometimes you do what you think is better for the other person and not what is best for your own well being. I would say that is exactly what happened in this story.

First Journal Entry

I think that all works in a literary canon should include interest to every reader, the story or poem should have a purpose to be read, and include a life lesson that people will be able to learn from. The reason why I think that it should include interest to every reader is because, if people read something interesting it will keep them wanting to read that book. It will also help people have a better understanding of the material that they are reading. I also think that every story or poem should have a purpose to be read. Maybe something that will help you later in life or even give you a since of knowledge that you never had before. The most important work that a literary cannon should have is a life lesson to all readers. I think that because, it is so important to get something out of what you read. Something that you can share with your family and friends. I think that no individual or group should be able to tell people what they should or should not read. It is all up to the reader to determine what they like and dislike. Everyone is different. What may appeal to some readers may not appeal to others. Literature plays a major role in life culture. We use literature everyday. If it wasn't for literature we would not be able to study history. We would be clueless to historic events. Sometimes I know I take literature for granted, as well as many people. If it wasn't for literature what would this world be like today?