Practice Free Response Question 8:

Jim is often considered to be Huckleberry Finn’s “true” father. He is often presented as a father-like figure for Huck to look up to, revere, and respect. Although they do not always get along, there is a bond between then that is reminiscent of a father and son. They both want the same thing and are striving to get there together.

In the beginning of the novel, Jim, a middle aged black slave, is often poked at by Tom and Huck, playing pranks that often hurt Jim’s feelings. Yet we see when Huckleberry needs help and advice, he goes to Jim and his “magic” hairball. This isn’t a perfect example, but Huck did go to him first, which began to build up his trust in Jim.

They next section of the model, Huckleberry runs away and he bumps into Jim who had run away as well. Instead of turning him in, he decides that he was going to let Jim travel with him. Huckleberry almost immediately plays a prank on Jim, trying to convince him that the idea of his getting lost was ridiculous. Throughout this entire time, Jim appears to be heartbroken over the fact, because he thought that Huck was dead, and it was truly upsetting. Then, like a parent, Jim just looks disappointed over the fact that Huck would try to trick him. This just eats Huck up inside, and makes him feel guilty, although Jim never got angry, the power of guilt ate him up. This is very much a parental type reaction, a defense mechanism. Jim cares enough about Huck, and he just wants him to realize that.

As the story continues, you see Jim taking close care of Huck, providing him with shelter, and slowly changing Huck’s view on slavery. Like a parent, he greatly influences Huck’s way of thinking. He starts off not wanting to sell Jim because it was too much work, but later, he doesn’t want to give Jim away because he truly cares for him. It’s a relationship that is bonded together by more than words. For example when Jim and Huck needed to get away fast, they just both know how to work off of each other, and do what they are supposed to, a bond that doesn’t require words. It’s a touching example of Jim’s love to Huck.

Huck is like Jim’s child, but whether he shows more of a motherly or fatherly bond is uncertain. But Jim portrays both well, he watches Huck like a mother hen, but also lets him lead his own life, more like a father.

In my opinion, Jim very much is portrayed as a father figure, and Huck looks to him as a son to his father. It is a touching and sentimental idea, they are both runaways that are brought together to form a bond. Although they are from two different societies (black slave and white) they are both portrayed to be more than what it seems. The story makes you love Jim and truly love what he does for Huck. It is like reading a story about an adventure between a father and son.

Whose Fault??

Murcutio’s death in Act III is very controversial because it was no one is sure who to put the blame on. In my opinion, I would say that it is Mercutio’s fault. When Tybalt first came asking where Romeo was, Mercutio was mocking Tybalt and being uncooperative. Yet, once Romeo came, and refused to fight, Mercutio, deciding that it was dishonorable for his friend not to fight, tried to step in. Romeo holds him back, explaining that Tybalt was family and he couldn’t hurt “one of his own.” Yet Mercutio goes ahead and gets heated up, Romeo would have had a better chance of calming down two raging volcanoes. Even once Mercutio is stabbed, he refuses to admit that he is hurt, and jokes about it, refusing a surgeon. It is technically his fault, if he had taken his would seriously and just gotten over his stubborn pride, he might have lived, or at least not bled to death.

Tybalt's Obituary

Tybalt, the nephew of Lord Capulet, died Monday by a young Montague in a heated argument. A funeral is supposed to occur Tuesday unless Juliet Capulet’s wedding is to occur that day.

Tybalt was much loved by his family, especially Lady Capulet. He was a very talented swordsman and was known for his ambitious attitude. He was very supportive of his family and willing to do anything for his family’s honor. His family shall morn him for one day then move on to his cousin’s wedding. All of the other Capulets are still living. If you would bring flowers to honor the dead and words of encouragement for the family, were the Uncle’s and Aunt’s wishes.

Free Response- Romeo and Juliet

The mood in Act 2, Scene 2, more commonly known as the balcony scene is based on two different people’s views. Romeo views this as a very passionate exchange, whereas Juliet is filled with fear and concerned. This intense passion is enflamed by the possibility of being caught. This forbidden love between two young souls, a Capulet and a Montague, is made famous from this dialogue of fearful romance, creating a standard for young couples everywhere.

When Romeo first begins his speech to Juliet, he is in this state of ignorant bliss. He sees nothing but Juliet and cares for nothing but her beauty. He is blinded from the danger by the possibility of Juliet’s returned love. This is shown through Shakespeare’s diction, or word choice. He creates a scene where Juliet’s logic based dialogue is contrasting Romeo’s euphoric language. Juliet uses short words that mean business, not using colorful language but rather keeping to a business-like speech. Romeo sees nothing to be serious about, so instead he uses long, descriptive words that keeps the mood flowing. So this state of secret passion is drawn from the way Romeo responds to Juliet and Juliet to Romeo. Juliet’s phrases are concise phrases of concern, fearful more for his safety than for the growth of their passionate “love.” Phrases such as, “How cam’st though hither, tell me, and wherefore?” and, “If they do see thee, they will murder thee.” Otherwise, Romeo uses his eloquent language to “fob off” Juliet’s rebuffs, explaining his reasoning as a feat of love. “With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls; for stony limits cannot hold love out,” and “Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords.” He is too preoccupied by Juliet that he seems unable to see the very apparent danger, which really influences the mood of passion that, in time, also influences Juliet and her speech patterns.

As Romeo continues to speak, Juliet’s syntax, or sentence structure, begins to change. When he first started his monologue of love, Juliet would interrupt with short one sentence lines, focusing more on the logical side of things. Yet Romeo continues to speak in a very fluid tone that can go on for paragraphs, barely leaving any time for Juliet to interrupt. Once again, this shows how Juliet is too frightened by the secrecy and possibilities of getting caught to form long flowing sentences, and Romeo continues on. Eventually Juliet ends up loosening up her tone, becoming preoccupied with Romeo’s passionate responses, that her short one liners flow into similar responses. As higher class citizens, both Juliet and Romeo use iambic pentameter which helps their blank verses to flow and create a very poetic atmosphere.

Once you delve deeper into Juliet and Romeo’s speeches, you see that Romeo uses a lot of metaphors, comparing her to the sun, and describes his love as a bird that can fly him over the garden walls. Yet we see that Juliet uses no metaphors, but keeps everything very logical and predetermined, almost rehearsed lines that any “well-mannered” lady would have asked. She intends to give him this mood or atmosphere of unwanted or unorthodox love, which she both fears and wants to enjoy. This internal conflict in Juliet also adds to the mood of the entire scene, as she discovers her own desire to increment her passion between her and Romeo, yet fear for her maidenhood and the safety of Romeo.

From this, many things accumulate the “air” or mood of secrecy and passion, Romeo tends to increase the passion and Juliet a feeling of fear or desperate need for secrecy. If any of her family were to catch her, she would be gravely punished and Romeo most likely killed. Juliet’s internal conflict really influences her reaction to Romeo. The mood is formed from two different sides, Romeo acting to make things more romantic and Juliet to increase the feeling of fear and secrecy.

Symbolism Essay

Rose of Sharon’s pregnancy is a “growing” symbol of the Joad family, in the Grapes of Wrath, and their trek as they move towards California. Her pregnancy depicts the thoughts and feelings of the Joads, as the baby grows and prospers, it represents a hope rooted in the family. The value of the baby’s life as it fluctuates for them, shows the fluctuating feelings the Joads have for California.

The baby first appears as a symbolic “beacon of hope” for Tom and the rest of his family. As the Joads prepare to leave for California, they have this blissful view of California. They expect to go, receive jobs and start a whole new life, escaping the one that has thrown them into poverty. Connie, Rose of Sharon’s husband, has a whole plan as to what he was planning on doing once he got to California. He talks of educating himself, and providing a house with a white picket fence, the very substance of an American dream. The baby is prosperous, growing strong and the hope of the family is flying on cloud nine, a new creation that gives the family a hope and a dream. The baby is due to be born around the same time they are due to arrive in California. The baby, to them, shows how they will be full of life and curious as a newborn. It gives them a purpose and reason to continue on, Rose of Sharon is extremely happy, with thoughts of California, white fences, new houses, and a brand new life coming into this “perfect” world.

The family then sets off for California, Rose of Sharon becomes cranky and scared, less hopeful as she watches all of the migrants move towards California, the same as her family, suddenly she realizes that the baby may not grow up in a the perfect place that they are planning for her. Sights of poverty and seclusion pass through her mind, and much like that of the Joads hope for California, the baby begins to slow down. It’s almost like it wouldn’t be worth it to bring a child into this messed up world, for them. Connie continues to pump Rose of Sharon’s and even Al’s, Tom’s brother, heads full of thoughts of the “great life in California.” The family chooses to believe this, choosing to remain strong, and like the baby, keep on kicked forward, pushing forward.

When they arrive at the river, and the desert beyond in view, shows the once flowing life of the baby is starting to die out, it seems all well and fine now, with the cool refreshing water, and Rose of Sharon growing bigger every day. They don’t realize how the “desert” in the future will hurt them, the river is only the last lick of life before a crash. Just like the baby, who is growing and kicking, hasn’t yet shown signs of failure, they are so close, the baby is coming in a small amount of time. It seems too good to be true.

It was. The baby loses her father, Connie, who decides to run away, the pressure and realization that he cannot provide for his wife and soon to be new born baby. Now the baby shows how the beacon is slowly dying. A vital part of its life, her father, had left; the one who had pumped up everyone’s heads with thoughts of the better life had run away, leaving the baby and Rose of Sharon. The baby now was functioning with half of its life support.

Finally the baby comes, everyone else is celebrating, yet this baby comes in a dark corner, under a prickly bush. In the midst of happiness, it is sorrowful, fighting to come out, yet having nothing to look forward to, nothing but the stab and pain around it. The baby comes out stillborn, lifeless, with all of the tragedy that has happened to the Joad family, it seems still born, but then Rose of Sharon takes the baby’s second life support, her breast milk, and gives it to a starving man. The original focus of life was gone, true, but a new hope has been found, a new purpose, giving a sense of continuation, the story doesn’t just end, it continues into an unknown abyss. There is a beacon of light, barely flickering in all the darkness, a new found light.

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Satirical Essay- Home Life is the Good Life

Everyone loves his/ her parents, right? So who wouldn’t want to stay as long as possible? All choices will be made for you; like who will clean the house or what you will eat for dinner. This is so much better than college where trays and trays of food overwhelm you. Plus mom is always there to treat you like a king, providing for your every need and whim.

Apart from that, you have your own room. You can leave your clothes everywhere and rearrange furniture anyway you want without having to consult anyone like a roommate. Besides, when you go to college, you need new closet hangers, a new bed, new sheets and all the same items you have at home, but you have to pay for it. Why waste money you don’t have when it’s already the set up and ready for you in your room at home?

Who wants to pay for a house full of loud college students, who will talk and party all night long when you try to catch up on your much needed sleep? Banging on walls, loud music, raspy voices and dirty hallways will annoy you every night. Therefore, stay home where you, now an “official adult” can make your own decisions and order everyone else to “stay quiet” and control your own decisions. That even includes ordering your necessary 15 hours of sleep every night.

Smells are the worst to suffer through. When you live in a house just packed full of germs, dirty feet and people who haven’t bathed even after their girlfriend puked on them after the party last night. Cigarette smoke seeps in through the door and the windows, and the alcohol slides under the door staining your carpet. Just stay home and you get the smell of fresh home cooking and air fresheners every night and morning when you wake up and as you dose off. You don’t have to suffer through waiting in long lines for food, no need to worry about getting a seat in the cafeteria because you always have a seat at home. Your parents would never betray you and laugh at you when you trip and drop all of your food, life at home is just better, why leave when you have all this before you?

When life gets tough and all you need is a good old Ben and Jerry’s pint, followed up by a old romantic movie that makes you cry every time, college is extremely inconvenient since you have to go out and drive around until you find a store, then you have to find the products you need, then drive all the way back home, a painfully tiring thought. When you are at home, the TV is always on. Your parents own the movies that are so old they date back to prehistoric time. All you truly have to do is coax your mother into buying the ice cream with the notion that she truly wanted it first, you just reminded her.

Who wants to walk around when you have a car at your disposal? No need to pay for gas since dad always slips a hundred dollar bill on the dashboard “for safeties sake” of course. The car is always ready to go and all you have to do is move yourself from your butt spot on the couch to the car seat. At college what guarantee do you have that you will even have a car available? You have to borrow cars and you have to share cars between people, which is extremely inconvenient. With the price of gas going up and the lack of time to go out, the car ends up sitting in the student parking for weeks at a time. They think, “Why even bother going out if it is so much hassle?”

Everyone knows that homework is the worst! In high school a student cannot wait until they are in college, “free” at last, when really college is just high school times 10. You don’t have daily homework, but rather 50 page papers that that are weighted much more harshly than in high school. At home you will never have to touch a pen or paper for anything but to write checks and sign for the occasional package. You will live a life of ease and no hand cramps.

Cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning. No one likes it, so why do it? You have a mother who so graciously offers to do the laundry, make your bed, vacuum and dust. After all that is all mother’s have to do in life. Just wait all you need to do is play your cards right and she will even make you a sandwich in between jobs. In college you have to clean up your own room and the common room. Not only do you have to clean up after yourself, but you also have to clean up after your hygiene deprived roommates.

Stay at home and you will see, just how easy and fun life can be. No worries or troubles or daily cares, which is more than can be said about how a college student fares. At home you have peace and tranquility; at college you have noise and terrible racket. Good home-cooked meals verses cafeteria foods, we all know which one is the better choice.

So just stay at home and avoid all of the inconvenient troubles of college life and you’ll be as happy as a 20 year old can possibly be. Nothing is better in life than sleeping in. Staying at home is a win-win-win! For all of you seniors this year, take a minute to consider my proposition. You know what you life. If you want to continue on the path of papers and finger cramps, then please, go ahead and accept that invitation into Harvard. For the rest of the normal people out there you can clearly see that the life at home is the best way to go. Viva life in “Never- Never Land.”