The Red Convertible

1. What is the setting of this story? The setting of this story is on a Reservation in North Dakota (1970). 

2. What is the main character's opinion on the army and his brother's involvement? The main character's opinion on the army and his brother's involvement was that when Henry finally came home, he was totally different. The different wasn't for the better, and he was so quiet. They used to seat around all day and just hang out, talk with each other. But Henry doesn't like to sit around anymore, he's always moving around and going places. He never even laughed anymore, and he used to make jokes all the time. He just turned mean when he came back. 

3. Provide an analysis behind the symbolism of the red convertible. Include a definition of symbolism in your answer. The red convertible symbolizes how Henry used to be. It makes Lyman remember all the good times they shared together. They were together when they first saw the car, and when they first bought the car. They went places together in that car, and traveled one whole summer together. 

4. This short story was written in 1984. Based on events that occurred during the 1980s, explain why the author may have developed certain plot elements/ literary devices in the story. This story was in the 1980s which was during the Vietnam War. But, the book was written in 1984 which was the same date as when the Vietnam War Memorial was opened in Washington D.C. I think she used this as inspiration to write the story, since it was written in the same time as the Vietnam War and the Memorial made for it.

Blog 3: A White Heron

Sylvia felt a connection with the white heron because she's closer with nature than she is with actual humans. Her and the bird are very close because they both want the same thing and freedom, and they both are by themselves. In her relationships with other people, she's disconnected from them because she isn't good with communicating. Her cow and the white heron are her best friends because they're alike in ways, and connect with each other from the things they have in common. 

Sylvia tries to stay true to herself and to the white heron in the end because he doesn't tell the guy the secret of the bird. Freedom symbolizes, in this story, that you have to find it yourself and be true to yourself always. 

 

Blog 2: The Body of Christopher Creed Ending

My final thoughts on the ending of The Body of Christopher Creed:

-Kind of confusing in a way of how it ended
-He says .."Reply That Makes Me Believe Totally That Creed is Alive"

~I agree with that because when you read the letter that he says he

thinks Chris Creed is still alive, it seems like it's Chris writing about

himself and why he doesn't want to be found.

-It's really frustrating because you really don't know if Chris is alive or dead

~In the book, he says they never find where he is, and that's what

you've been looking forward to this whole time you were reading.

Did you enjoy reading it?

-I really enjoyed reading this book because I could really get into it and it

didn't take forever for me to start to like the book.

~This book is like the kinds of books I enjoy reading

-The author did a really great job in keeping the reader fascinated with

the book, and everything that was happening.

Theory for the responses on Torey's web page:

-The first response on Torey's web page was from someone named Torey J.

Healy. The response was kind of weird in a way with the words and phrases

she/he said back to Torey. "If I had a candle and you, I would dance naked

to 'Titanic' while you read passages of this poetic journey from sweet youth

to robust manhood." [page 326]

-The second response on Torey's web page was from someone named Alex

Healy. His response was pretty mean and cruel, responding to something

as serious as Torey's story. "The fact you failed to capture was the pain of

the Creed mother and father, but being that you're just a boy, you could not

understand the agony of parents who lose a child." [page 326-327]

-The third response on Torey's web page was from someone named Michael

Alex Adams. This one, to Torey, said he thought it was Chris Creed in disguise,

because when Michael wrote back, he only responded to Torey's grammar

problems during his whole story. "Use your spell-checker and/or stick to

songwriting." [page 327]

-The fourth and last response on Torey's page is from Victor Adams. This is the

one where Torey says that it makes him believe Chris Creed is "totally alive".