Literature Analysis #4

Emma by Jane Austen

1. The novel Emma, is set in the early 1900’s, in England. The novel is based on a privileged young lady named Emma Woodhouse and some of her friends. Even thought she vowed never to marry anyone, she took pleasure in trying to match up other people with who she believed to be the perfect match. While she was trying to match people together, she found good intentions back fire and eventually hurt her friend, Harriet. In the novel, some characters find marriage to be not important at all, and those who find marriage a way of tradition, and a fortunate way to build up your social status. In the end of the novel, everyone is in love with the one they were meant to be with.  Also, in the end of the novel, Emma broke her vow of never marrying, and found herself in a fortunate marriage, with the foundation of love.

2. The theme of the novel Emma is marriage and the social status’ issues. Throughout the whole novel, the people who are married, or have a significant other have difficult times between them. Marriage was a big deal in their time. The main character was a good example of a traditional woman.

3. The tone in the novel is ironic and also compassionate. The compassionate tone came about, for some people; it wasn't about love, but just looking to get that safety and to follow tradition.

"It is fit that the fortune should be on his side, for I think the merit will be all on hers."

"It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. A man always imagines a woman to be ready for any body who asks her."

“"It darted through her with the speed of an arrow that Mr. Knightley must marry no one but herself!"”

4. The literary elements that helped me strengthened my understanding were:

Diction: “She did not always feel so absolutely satisfied with herself, so entirely convinced that her opinions were right and her adversary's wrong, as Mr. Knightley."

Syntax: “The wedding-cake, which had been a great distress to him, was all ate up.  His own stomach could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be different from himself…”

Foreshadow: "It was foolish, it was wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together. It was adventuring too far, assuming too much, making light of what ought to be serious, a trick of what ought to be simple."

Tone: "A woman is not to marry a man merely because she is asked, or because he is attached to her, and can write a tolerable letter."

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

We had to choose between Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities. Since we are in groups of two, my partner really wanted to read Great Expectations, so I let her pick that one and I didn’t have a problem choosing the other novel. I am sure both novels are great.

The novel A Tale of Two Cities starts in the year 1775, during the French Revolution. Charles Dickens chose to name the novel "A Tale of Two Cities" because it was the closest contact of European life at the time. Dickens' other novels was based in one city and because this takes place in two of the great cities.  Therefore, I think that the novel’s title fits it very well.

Big Question Intro

Big Question

Try, Try Again by Anonymous

'Tis a lesson you should heed,
Try, try again;
If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again;
Then your courage should appear,
For, if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear;
Try, try again.

Once or twice though you should fail,
Try, try again;
If you would at last prevail,
Try, try again;
If we strive, 'tis no disgrace
Though we do not win the race;
What should you do in the case?
Try, try again.

Time will bring you your reward,
Try, try again.
All that other folks can do,
Why, with patience, should not you?
Only keep this rule in view;Try, try again.

I like this poem because it encourages you go never give up.  Even if things seem tough, you still have to try because if you give up, you might start thinking you are not able to do a lot of things.  I was taught to always try your best and to never give up.  If people gave up because they failed the first time, who knows where we would be today?

Big Question Abstract

There are many different languages in world, over 6800 to be exact.  Out of 6800 I wondered why English was the official language in the United States of America.  After I did some research, there were many articles saying that there is no official language in the USA.  English is the most spoken language, but it is not the official language.  Because there are so many different languages, the government thought it was useless to make English the official language.  Although many people have tried to make it the official language, the USA still doesn’t have an official language.  Yes, states have passed bills to make English the official language, but there are still some states that have not done so.