North End Faust project

North End Faust

Continuing from the beginning of the fifth paragraph on pg 89

His eyes were shifting madly looking for his escape route in the darkness. It was no where to be found. Alex stood up looking frantically around wanting to escape the isolation but he couldn't. He could not find the door. Alex thrashed his arms around knocking things over in front of him and on the walls. No matter how hard he tried he could not find his exit. Chills rampaged through his body and he could not see straight. Alex panicked under the stress of the isolation and grabbed a hard object on his desk. He hurled it at the darkness smashing the window forcing glass shards to shoot out in every direction. The smashed window let in a small stream of light allowing him to run to the window. Gripping the ledge he retracted his hands quickly to feel that his palms were soaking wet. As he clutched his hands against his body he tried to find his jacket through the mess of his panic. Unable to find it he retreated to a corner. Alex sat crouched holding his bloody hands in his lap. With his heart still raising and chills still crawling up his back he looked up.

The moon light coming through the broken window allowed him to vaguely see what used to be his study. His chair was thrown over, papers were every where, and his Certificates of his achievements hanging on the wall were smashed on the ground. He began to shake rapidly and sweat beads dripped down his face. Clutching his fists forced blood to flow out of his hands creating streams down his arms. Through his terror Alex could finally see the door. He was about to run towards it when a light flicked on outside the door that startled him. The door opened letting light cast on his ruined study. His wife walked in rushing towards him. She was trying to speak to him but he can not hear what she was saying. It is then when he realizes he was screaming at the top of his lungs.

Finally lowering his voice he began to hear his wife's cries. She was trying to calm him, but now silent, Alex sat wide eyed staring at the door way where stood his little boy, crying. His wife noticed his trance and turned around. She quickly got up and rushed to comfort and hold her little boy. She brought her boy up the stairs leaving Alex. Alex sat silently letting himself hear his wife and little boy walk up the stairs and into the bedroom. He was now alone again. The chills started crawling again he which made him stand up quickly to rush towards the door. Barely able to make one step Alex fell to the ground, passing out.

The next day he woke up with a jolt and he was awake. Looking around he realized he was in his room and his hands are wrapped in white bandages. Slowly Alex had out of bed and walked to his boys room. Their beds were made and the room was in pres-teen condition. Still confused in what was going on but could vividly remember the night before Alex walked down stairs to find note on the kitchen counter reading “Me and the boys have left and we are staying in a Hotel, last night was to much to handle. I'm sorry.” The letter was in his wife's hand writing. Alex was trying to process the note. Thoughts were scrambled in his brain when he realized, he had just lost his only ticket to the outside world. The darkness had won.

North End Faust by Ed Kleiman

Biography:
         Ed Kleiman was born in Winnipeg, Monatoba in 1932. Ed attended the University of Monatoba and the University of Toronto. While going to these schools he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Monatoba and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. He now works at the University of Manatoba teaching English. Some of his most famous story's are The World Beaters, A New Found Ecstasy, and The Immortals.

Symbol:

I chose this picture because I feel it represents the isolation room because it has know color and it is empty. This room closes off everything from the outside world and in this picture there is a camera just like in the book the window that allowed them to survey there volunteers. I think that the black dot in the middle of the room represents the button that the volunteer or Alex would press if they wanted out of the chamber.

1. How early in life does Alex become a loner? What events lead him to this choice? For what other reasons might someone become a loner?

Alex starts to become a loner when he was a child because when he was younger his brother had locked him in a closet and ever since then he had thought that being alone nourished him and strengthened him. So the impact that his brother had on him by locking himself in a closet was for ever life changing. Other reasons why someone might want to become a loner would be that they don't have many friends or they have gone through something horrific in their life so they just want to be alone. Also people could be like Alex who just enjoy being by them self.

2. What series of events leads to Alex's eventual breakdown? How might he have avoided this fate?

A series of events that lead to Alex's breakdown is when he spent two weeks in the chamber and started to loose a connection to the real world. That was the first event but the symptoms of him being scared of the isolation room are also a factor. It was when he couldn't even think of the isolation room with out freaking out was when he had finally cracked because all he wanted to do is find his perfect vacationing island that he had made up in the isolation room, but since he was loosing the connection between the darkness and real life that is what caused his death. How he might of avoided his fate would be to try and stay away from the darkness and isolation he had always confided in.

3. What are some similarities and differences in the characters of Miss Hancock and Alex? How are their experiences similar/ different? Write a sentence that summarizes the central idea or theme for both “North End Faust” and “The Metaphor?”

A similarity between the two characters are that they both past away and they were both having to cope with something. A difference between the characters were that Alex was going insane and he could of prevented his death but Miss Hancock could not. There experiences are similar because the most important thing in there life has changed drastically. They have both become afraid or insecure about it. There experiences are different because Miss Hancocks struggle has to do with her and other people and Alex's struggle is him against his mind. The central idea for both the stories is that something that you love and is your perfect in your life always has a speed bump.

4. What implications might the story have for someone who wants to become a scientist?

Some Implications the story might have had for someone who wants to be a scientist is to not become your work. Alex became his work and his mind was testing him, Alex failed and in this case it caused death. If people read this story they may be turned away from being a scientist because Alex's situation did not turn out so well, but there are many positives in becoming a scientist. For example in the story Alex achieved so much and got many awards. What Alex did wrong was surrounding him self in his work. It is always good to take a break and step back from your work.

Critical Thinking:

1. Why do you think the author wrote the text?

I think he wrote the text because this is his point of view on how people react to isolation. I feel that maybe he thinks that if he had ever experienced isolation this severe he would handle it like Alex handled his isolation. So, the text could be his description of a scenario where he could go through isolation.

ii)What does the author want you to think?

The author wants us to think about the consequences of isolation and the effects it could have on us mentally and physically. Whether we have a mental break down like Alex because of the effects of isolation or we physically break down where our body can not take the stress of isolation so it breaks down.

3. Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?

No because most of the groups are open to isolation and they enjoy darkness. I am the type of person who enjoys the company of others and light. So, in a way I could be like Alex's wife because after a while she does not enjoy isolation and she sees a change in Alex. All though I never have liked isolation I think I am more like the wife at the end of the story because she enjoys the company of her children and people.

4. Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?

It reminds me of when I was younger because when I was younger I was afraid of the dark. I would have to turn on all the lights when I walked down the hallway. So, eventually I new I had to conquer my fear. Then one day I was getting ready for bed and I had to walk down the dark hallway. I couldn't turn on the lights because my parents were sleeping, so I built up my courage and walked down the hallway really tense. When I got to my room I didn't turn on the light I just stood in the room and I realized that it was all in my head. That was the first step for me on conquering my fear. 

4. Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?

It reminds me of a show where a psychiatrist would kill people by there worst fear and in this case a girls fear was darkness and isolation. She was murdered because she had such an irrational fear of darkness and isolation. This show relates to the story because the darkness weakened this girl mentally and physically. The difference between the book and the show was that she tried to conquer her fear but it turned out the help that she seeked out was trying to kill her.

6. How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?

It helps me think about those who get bullied and end up isolating them selves because the fear of coming out results in bullying. The affect of isolation will forever change the kids for there whole lives. Bullying causes many kids to isolate them selves and it is a big problem in today's society. Not only does it cause isolation but it also causes problems like explosive anger, insecurities, and hate. Hate is a big problem that bullying causes because if a kid is bullied they will eventually come to hate there bullier which causes trust issues and the kid that is bullied will never again be able to trust some one properly. This is a problem because relationships are built on trust. These are some of the issues caused by bullying that are often over looked.

7. What action might you take from what you have learned?

I will think of a empty room and darkness differently. Instead of avoiding it I will try and see it as tranquility and peace. This would be difficult though because I do not enjoy isolation but I am not afraid of it which might help me to see it in a different light.

viii)What big question has this text left you with?

If you are scared of something is the best option to try and conquer it or reason with it?

All the Troubles in the World by Isaac Asimov

Biography:
        Isaac Asimov was born January 2, 1920 in the Soviet Union and past away April 6, 1992. He moved to the United States when he was eight and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of Columbia where he earned his PhD in chemistry which allowed him to teach Biochemistry at the University of Boston. Isaac is known for his science fiction stories many of which were about robots. Some of his most popular stories were I Robot and The Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter.

Symbol:

 I think this picture represents the book because it shows a computer/robot doing work and in the book the big machine that controls the world does all our work for us. Although this picture doesn't show a machine doing the whole worlds work it is doing someones which is one step closer to Multivac theoretically speaking. 

1. 
   
   Why do Ali Othman and Rafe Leemy wait before telling Bernard Gulliman the whole truth? Are there actions believable considering the seriousness of the crime?
        I think they wait because they want to make sure they have all the facts before they jump to conclusions so there pitch is accurate. I think there actions are believable because since the crime is so severe and serious in this society they live in they had to make sure they had everything under control or at least be aware of every possibility.
2. 
   
   What evidence from the story tells you that Ben and the other characters see Multivac as a kind of god? What affect does their view have on the story's ending?
        Evidence from the story tells me that Ben thinks of Multivac as if he were a god because when Multivac answered Ben's question Ben did exactly what he said with out question or hesitation. The characters in this story have full faith in Multivac that he will always have the right answer and do the right thing. The affect of there view has a huge impact on the end of the story because since all these people put so much faith in Multivac they never want to her that the source that they rely on to live and run there society wants to die.
3. 
   
   What does the ending suggest about the ability of technology to bring about a perfect world? Do you agree?
        The ending suggests that know matter how hard you try your perfect world will never last. You may have hope to build one up but there is no such thing as perfect when theirs a world filled versatile people. I agree with what the author's point is at the ending because if the human race relies on technology and the technology eventually fails are whole society will crumble.
4. 
   
   Would you like to live in a society in which there was a computer such as Multivac? How might it help the progress of society?
        I would not like to live in a society that is run by a computer because if we put all our faith in something soon we will not be able to do anything except trust in the computer that it will not fail and guide us through life. A computer may help the societies progress at first until the society does not need any more improving but with perfection creates new problems.

Critical Thinking:

i)Why do you think the author wrote the text?

I think the author wrote the text because he enjoys writing science-fiction and this is his perspective of the future or what he thinks the human race is leading to.

2. What does the author want you to think?
   He wants us to think that computers can not take over the jobs of humans.

3. Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?
   I think I am like Bernard because when i trust someone I will do what I can to help. In this case Multivac has given Bernard a task and since Bernard trust him so much he follows through with it.

4. Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?
   It reminds me of when I am working on the computer and then something goes wrong and my work deletes. This is like the book because the world relies on Multivac to get work done and if he wants to die he is going to delete the worlds work. 

v) Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?

It reminds me of a movie called I-robot because in this movie robots are trying to take

over the world to protect man kind but really they are harming us.

6. How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?
   It helps me think of how people rely to much on computers and technology which is leading to a new way for pedophiles to connect with kids over the internet. This is a social issue because more kids are on the internet then ever before which is making it easier and easier for pedophiles to find them.

7. What action might you take from what you have learned?
   I will try to not rely on technology to much.

viii)What big question has this text left you with?
When I go on the computer am I thinking of what I am putting on there as in information?

The Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson

Biography:

     Shirley Jackson was born on December 14, 1919 in San Francisco, California and passed away on August 8, 1965. She attended Syracuse University in 1940. The most famous short story she has written is The Lottery. Many of Shirley Jackson's short stories are about small American towns and the ends usually have a shocking twist.

Symbol:

I chose this picture because it reminds me of Miss Strangeworth's rose garden. I think the garden represents her need to be perfect. I think that Miss Strangeworth thinks of her roses like they bring peace and so her roses are her good in her world and once they are gone that has brought evil in to her world. These roses represent that because they are in very good condition and that is how Miss Strangeworth kept her flowers.

1. What is Miss Strangeworth trying to accomplish by sending out her letters? Does she succeed?
   
        She is trying to get rid of as much evil as possible in this small town as she can. She succeeds until someone finds out she is the one sending the anonymous letters out.
   
   
2. How would you describe the story's atmosphere at the beginning? How does this atmosphere help to emphasize the ending.
   
        I would describe the atmosphere as a perfect little town. Everything is in order, everyone is at piece and nothing could ruin Miss Strangeworth's very structured life. The atmosphere helps emphasize the ending because you think that the town is perfect and nothing big will ever happen to poor Miss Strangeworth until someone ruins something most prized to her. Her roses, which makes this a big deal because nothing ever seems to happen in this small town.
   
   
3. Why don't people ignore the letters they receive? If you received one of Miss Strangeworth's letters what would you do?
   
        I think people do not ignore the letters because it is natural for people to be interested in mysteries. I think all people are trying always to seek out the truth, and Miss Strangeworth's letters give them an opportunity to do so. If I received one of Miss Strangeworths letters I would be curious to who sent it and also it depends weather or not I am interested in the matter of what was written for me to investigate the subject.
   
   
4. Consider both Miss Strangeworth's anxiety about evil and the final crime in the story. Do you think human beings will ever create a society that is crime free?
   
        I do not think the human race will ever create a society that is crime free unless something in the human races minds are altered because no matter how hard people try to make peace there are always going to be the people who have a different perspective and voice there opinions.

Critical Thinking:

1. Why do you think the author wrote the text?
   I think the author wrote the text because he wanted to show that even though you try your hardest to shut out evil but also fix it, evil will eventually find you.

2. What does the author want you to think?
   The author wants us to think that there is a lot of evil in the world that come in different forms but we should always try and be aware of it. 
3.  Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?  
   Yes I am like the man who ruined Miss Strangeworth's flowers because if i found out someone was trying to meddle in my life or accuse me of something i didn't do i would get angry. I don't think I would express my anger like he did though.                                                                             

4. Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?
   This story reminds me of when I was younger my parents owned a property in Fort Langley and one day when we went to check up on it we went in to the shop outside and someone had vandalized the place. There was graffito on the wall, spiderwebs were burned and the dry wall was kicked in. This relates to the story because some had vandalized Miss Strangeworth's garden.

v) Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?

           Yes it reminds me of of a show I used to watch called C.S.I and in this one episode a women was afraid of the outside world. She couldn't leave her house because she was afraid of the evil in the world, but when she gets caught up in witnessing a murder she knows she has to go to the police. The only trouble was that she was scared to leave her house. 

6. How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?
   It helps me think of vandalism because people these days just go around vandalizing what ever they want and it has became a social issue.

7. What action might you take from what you have learned?
   The action I will take is I will think about what I am about to do before I do it.

viii) What big question has this text left you with?
Have I done things that I regret?

Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Biography: 

        Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was born November 11, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana and past away April 11 2007. He went to the University of Tennessee and Chicago as well as Cornell, Carnegie Tech. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a self taught science fiction writer. He wrote many of the great science fiction stories of today. Some of his best known books are Slaughterhouse-five, Welcome to the Monkey House, and Cats Cradle.

  Symbol:

I chose this picture because it reminds me of the part in the book where Harrison dances with the ballerina. This picture describes that part because the dancers are very graceful and in the book it says Harrison put his hands on her waist and then they sprang in the air. Even though the the man is not jumping in the air this picture really focuses on the girl rising above the world.

Response:

       1a) What is the purpose of handicapping in sports?

            To make everyone more equal in the sport that is being played.

       b) What sports use handicapping?

            Sports that use handicapping are Golf, bowling, and sometimes basketball.
       c) Why has handicapping become a law in Bergeron's community?
            It has become a law because the people who came up with handicapping wanted everyone to be equal. So if they made it a law it would have to be in forced.
       d) Is the society improved as a result.
          It depends on how you look at it because there are many parts of a society. From a safety       perspective I think the society has improved but when you look at it from an individual perspective half of the society who are handicapped would not be pleased with not being able to use there talents like Bergeron.

2. What part of the story is most exaggerated? What do you think was the author's purpose in using exaggeration so extensively?
     One part of the story that was exaggerated was when the author was describing Bergeron dancing. The reason why I think the author exaggerated this so extensively was because he wanted to get the point across that these people have not seen someone dance that well so to these people Bergeron and the dancing girl were jumping extremely high. 3.What do George's and Hazel's reactions at the end of the story reveal about the quality of life in their society?      It reveals that the society has brainwashed them so much that they can not retain emotions or thoughts that well, and that they are not able to remember sad thoughts. 4. What is the situation irony in this story? What would you expect a society to be like in which everyone is equal?      The situational irony is that if everyone is equal there would be know one in charge. If everyone was equal there would not be very many crimes and there wouldn't be any competition. b) What point do you think the author is making through the irony?      The point the author is trying to make is that know matter how hard we try, everyone being equal will not work because someone always has to be in charge. 

 Critical thinking:
i) Why do you think the author wrote the text?
     I think he wrote the text because he is a science fiction writer and this is his perspective of what the future will be like for the human race.
ii) What does the author want you to think?
     He wants us to think that the human race will go to severe lengths to make everyone equal and one day this could happen.
iii) Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?
     I think I am like Harrison in a way because he stood up for what he believed in and if I find something unfair I will say something about it.
iv) Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?
     It reminds me of what is going on in North Korean because the leader that the people trust in is taking advantage of them and basically brainwashing them to do what ever he wants. This is like the story because there leader has literally brainwashed the people, and has complete control over them.
v) Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?
     This story reminds me of a book called the Uglies because this book is about the future and how people are all equal in thoughts and looks, so there life is perfect.
vi) How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?
     It helps me think about equality because we live in a society of democracy which gives us rights and freedom of voting. Unlike the book where they live in a Communism society.
vii) What action might you take from what you have learned?
     I will make sure I embrace the freedom I have in my society.
viii) What big question has this text left you with?
     Is our community/society leading towards communism.