ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES
FINAL PRODUCT
- Shooting an Elephant by Eric Blair
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Napoleon Crossing the Alps by J.L David
- Invictus by W.E. Henley
- Turning Japanese by Heidi Julavits
- A Ballad of John Silver by John Masefield
- Excuses by Clair Peach
- Lewis Pugh swims the North Pole by Lewis Pugh
- Army Days by Kristie Raburn
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
- Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World by Scott Russell Sanders
- Taxi Tales by Lou Solitske
- Like Mexicans by Gary Soto
- The Bourne Ultimatum by Paul Greengrass
- The Bourne Ultimatum by Paul Greengrass
- How to get out of a Locked Trunk by Philip Weiss
1.
“Shooting an Elephant” by Eric Blair
Blair, Eric. “Shooting an Elephant”. Print
In this essay, Eric Blair is pressured to shoot the elephant on the run once had he picked up his rifle. Blair gives into the pressure of the crowd of hundreds and demonstrates his weakness, gives in and shoots the animal while it’s calmly eating on a nearby pasture. Eric Blair argues that he had no other choice but to shoot the animal. Blair suggests that he shot the animal, not by choice but to not disappoint the growing crowd behind him. He concludes his essay by saying “I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.”
Read it here:
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Collins, Suzanne. “Catching Fire”. 2009, New York, Scholastic Press. Print.
Catching Fire, the second in the Suzanne Collins trilogy of “The Hunger Games”, there is a deeper emotional side to it than in the first book of the series. Completely unraveling everything Katniss knew in from her past. As Katniss makes acquaintances with other victors, they are tossed into the 75th Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell. Everything goes from bad to worse to disturbing. The tributes get attacked by strange hungry animals that attack daily on a planned schedule. All is going to plan for Katniss, until she is electrocuted and sent away in a helicopter to the Capitol. All Katniss can think of now is: Where could Peeta possibly be. Katniss soon discovers the undesired truth. President Snow is keeping him hostage, and torturing him. “Catching Fire” could be considered a classic because of its immense amount of suspense.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, published in 2008, is from a world that we know today as North America, in ruins now by the name of Panem. There is an annual competition called the Hunger Games. Where 24 tributes from the 12 Districts, two from each one, a girl and a boy from the ages of 12-18, must all fight for their survival. There must be death for there to be a victor. The 24 tributes must fight to death, with nature and any living thing in their opposition. The intense description in the book makes it very addictive which makes the reader able to observe the aspects of adventure sown into the plot. The whole book is an adventure. Even Katniss and Gale’s day to day survival and hunt in the forbidden woods. Every page in the book gives you a ”fear” of the unknown and a concern for Katniss’s survival/ safety in the arena. The reasons why this book could be considered a classic that the author, Suzanne Collins, has a very unique and interesting way of writing and has the reader feel a certain emotion and actually feel like they are Katniss and are expecting the unexpected from any direction.
“Napoleon Crossing the Alps” painted by Jacques – Louis David
David, Jacques-Louis. “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” (1800)
In this painting of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David various concepts can be perceived by the lighting, positioning and the engravings on the rocks. The painting was made to praise Napoleon and his rise to power as emperor of France. The idea of ‘glory’ is emphasized all throughout the painting, from his coat to the lighting. J.L David shows through his art exactly what Napoleon was trying to convince Europe of. He demonstrates this ideal through the positioning of Napoleon’s hand as if to say ‘with my lead, there is going to be progress in the whole of Europe’ David suggests this again with the tanks faintly seen at the bottom of the painting. David also puts forward the idea of Napoleon’s rule being in favor of his image. This is seen at the bottom of the painting with Napoleon’s name engraved in a rock next to Hannibal’s name, the leader of the second Persian wars.
Look at the painting here:
INCVICTUS By William Ernest Henley
Published: 1875
Henley, William Ernest. “Invictus.” Web. September26th 2010
Henley, who had been going through a very complex time, reflects himself and his previous situations into this poem. Henley, even though missing school due to illness, became a successful author. The narrator, who is going through these misfortunes, demonstrates their pain by saying “under the bludgeonings of chance.” Henley’s writing is captivating, but uses very complex wording from the late 19th century and can be quite confusing. This piece of literature could be considered a classic, since it clearly shows the pain millions have gone through during Henley’s time period, without anesthesia to help them overcome the pain.
Read it here:
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/invictus/
“Turning Japanese” by Heidi Julavits
“Turning Japanese” by Heidi Julavits
Julavits, Heidi. “Turning Japanese”. Print.
Heidi Julavits, a successful author, explains to the reader all of her experiences of living in Japan and of the cultural adaptations. Julavits claims that the Japanese live a healthier and less sugary life than the average American, and furthermore asserting that humans do not need extremely sugary foods to survive. Julavits defends the new habit she has gained. Heidi Julavits’s statements illustrate the culinary art of the Japanese, their ‘specialty’ being the ‘bean cake’ that inspired Julavits to reflect on her life once again. Although the essay uses very simple and plain language, the author (Heidi Julavits), eventually seems to get her point across.
A Ballad of John Silver
The main character of this poem narrates his life as a sailor to younger fellow shipmen. He explains all his hardships and experiences. He insists that all he has gone through is ‘so dangerous’ that the shipmen present wouldn’t be able to survive anything he’s been through. Through the narration, Masefield explores the way of telling a story through another person. The story of an elderly man recounting the story of his life is very simplistic ideal wise. The simple style of the story illustrates its message, which in itself makes this story a masterpiece.
Read the poem here:
Excuses by Clair Peach
Peach, Clair. Excuses. 2009. Web
The poem “Excuses” by Clair Peach has the plot line of a mother who wants to do everything possible to help those in need, the starving, the poor and to stop disease from spreading in the world. But then comes the part of the excuses, what would her husband say? Her children need their afternoon snacks, and she goes on and on with excuses. This poem relates to the topic of adventure because of the daily descions we have to make, procrastination and anxieties of what others may think if we act a certain way or do something out of the norm. When the words, “ but maybe – well next year” was said , it clearly showed the reader how much procrastination there is in the world. This literary piece could be considered a classic because of how well it portrays the era we are currently in.
Read it here:
TED talk – Lewis Pugh
Pugh, Lewis. “Lewis Pugh swims North Pole.” TED Talk. Monterrey, California. Sep.2009. Lecture
Lewis Pugh, an accomplished swimmer, made his speech at a TED conference in 2009, two years after his historic swim to the North Pole. Lewis Pugh persuades the audience present of the effect of global warming on the North Pole and Artic regions. Pugh, on top of being an accomplished swimmer, he has had contact with countries in distress. He has submerged himself in water as low as 1.7 °C, and has described it as “fucking cold.” Lewis Pugh really shows the audience in words and actions how much he really cares for the Earth we are on. He deserves to be recognized for sharing the awareness throughout the world of the very serious problem of Global Warming
Watch it here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/lewis_pugh_swims_the_north_pole.html ng/eng/lewis_pugh_swims_the_north_pole.html
Army Days by Kristie Raburn
Raburn, Kristie. Army Days. 2010. Web
Army Days, by Kristie Raburn is about a woman’s time served in the Army, explaining her bad and good moments. It is both an adventure and romance story all rolled into one. The various people she meets day to day, and her experience as a new recruit and the tough life style all while being home sick. This poem relates to the topic of adventure with a lady who has never been in a certain situations before like, “Made a pilot friend who flies in the clouds. A ride in his Cobra, chasing the local cows” By the end of the poem she is married and has made a family.
Read it here:
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.
Safran Foer, Jonathan. ”Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”. Mariner Books, 2005. Text
In this novel, a young boy discovers a hidden mystery left behind by his deceased father. Oskar goes out into the busy and strange neighborhoods in New York to find out why the word “black” is on an envelope his father left behind and analyses all the clues, including an ancient key. Foer states through the mind of a child, that everything has a meaning. An example being “when someone tests a pen, usually he either writes the name of the color he’s writing with, or his name”, suggesting that this simple but complex psychological idea could be a clue to the meaning of Oskar’s search. This concludes that even though something is small and may seem easy to discard, it could have an unknown meaning or reason of being. The way the author presents the thinking process of someone at least 20 years younger is impressive and allows younger readers in their teens to be able to connect more with Oskar and what it was like at that age. This along with the sideline story of a mute man falling in love with a stranger and their instant connection to each other, “she took my pen from me and wrote on the next blank page of my daybook, the final one: Please marry me” both make “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” a classic that will forever show the tragedies endure during September 11th 2001. Showing this and Oskar’s relationship to his grandmother and departed father, Jonathan Safran Foer suggests that everything has a purpose and that everything lasts forever.
Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World by Scott Russell Sanders (article)
Sanders, Scott Russel. Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World. Boston. Beacon Press.1993. Print
Sanders, in his fiery essay response to an article by Sir Salman Rushdie, argues his point of “no migration”. Sanders uses harsh and persuasive words against migration, “living on ideas instead of on actual geographical places”, and that people haven’t “shaken off the romance of unlimited space.” Sanders also reinforces the point that societies are tolerating other cultures and religions more and more, and that this “tolerance” is all due to migration. Sanders also implies that the populace that migrates doesn’t care for their environment or surroundings as much as the native to the land.
Taxi Tales by Lou Solitske
Solitske, Lou.” Taxi Tales”. Web
The Poem “taxi tales”, by Lou Solitske, is a poem about a taxi driver’s adventure driving around the streets looking for customers, always seeing the same people on the same corners of the same streets. Drunks, love couples, and what the author calls “weirdoes”. This poem relates to the topic, adventure, because although it is not the classic version of an “adventure”, it is because it is an adventure of day to day life and hoping not to get the drunks or drug addicts or the people with mental problems. It is also an adventure to try to earn enough money in one day to be able to survive/ live off of something. The author’s language/ style of writing is very casual, almost like a friend talking to you about their problems. Since the author talks like this we feel comfortable and relate to the author and the author’s problem
Read it here:
“Like Mexicans” by Gary Soto
Soto, Gary. “Like Mexicans”. Print
In this essay, Gary Soto is dealing with pressure and stereotypes from his grandmother of all people. Gary Soto is told not to marry or date any “Okies”, meaning anyone who isn’t Mexican, Black or Asian. Gary follows these guidelines set by his grandmother and family. This conveys Gary Soto’s theme about finding someone similar to him and his Mexican American cultural style. He concludes that he and his future wife, who is Japanese American, are more alike than they both realized. This essay could be considered a classic since it clearly shows tolerance between races and how two races can be more alike than different.
The Bourne Ultimatum. Dir. Paul Greengrass. Perf. Matt Damon. Universal Pictures. 2007. Film
In this movie, Jason Bourne is juggling the confusion of his past, present and future. Jason Bourne dodges bullets and hunts down the man suspected of being the one who transformed him. Jason Bourne traces the location of the suspected man and gets an explanation of when and why he became who he is. This conveys Paul Greengrass’ theme getting to know who you really are. Paul Greengrass demonstrates this through the explanation Jason Bourne gets from ‘worst enemy’. Paul Greengrass suggests that to really know who you are, you need to comprehend what it is like to not know who you are before you truly know what is inside of you.
“How to get out of a Locked Trunk” by Philip Weiss
Weiss, Philip. “How to get out of a Locked Trunk”. Print
Philip Weiss narrates how important it is to have knowledge of car trunks from the inside. He explains that this knowledge should be taught everywhere, just in case if a person gets kidnapped and placed inside a trunk. He insists on this point of importance of the subject mainly because of his own paranoia of someday getting locked in the trunk of a car and never being able to get out. Through the narration, Philip Weiss researches about different latches on different brands of cars. Weiss demonstrates that it is useful to know how to unlatch a trunk from the inside. The reason for which this essay could be considered a classic is because of its representations of the amount of phobias people around the world have.
