The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse - Assignment Example

Lecturer Short stories The summer of the Beautiful White Horse Aram was surprised that his cousin invited him to go horseback riding because; firstly, horses were one of his earliest memories and he longed to ride. This is clear when Aram asks Mourad whether he will allow him to ride alone and at the outset, he had told him he was not dreaming. Secondly, they were very poor and therefore, could not afford owning a horse; indeed, nobody could understand how they got food to keep their stomach full. As such, he wondered why his cousin got the horse; and stealing would be the appropriate answer. It reminds me of a story a read of a boy who shared cookies with his friends who were surprised as they knew he had money to buy. 2. Maruod justifies his behavior to Aram and himself that he had borrowed it (sought of). This may be true to some extent given the fact that he was willing to return it after six months. He goes on to the extent of asking Aram whether he is inviting a member of their family to steal (Saroyan 67). Aram and Maroud are not dishonest. Firstly, they had planned to return the horse. Secondly, no one had asked them about the horse and if asked they were willing to tell the truth. Eventually, they took it back to its owner. However, they may be dishonest as the return was as a result of the farmer’s statement which implied he may have suspected the horse was his. It reminds how we use other people things without asking for permission even with the intention of returning. 3. The farmer does not claim the horse because he believed that the boys cold not lie to him as they came from an honest family. The fact that he was calm and did not claim the horse despite the similarities, one may argue that the boys may have felt guilty. This, therefore, made the boys return the horse. Furthermore, his calmness and trust attracted the boys. The farmer brought the horse to that family to confirm to them that it had been returned. Indeed, the gesture shows that he was an honest and caring man. This may be connected with the way one may talk of something getting lost to his friends and when he finds it, he shows it to them. 4. Byro and Khosrove have things in common; they both like coffee and tea. When they visited Aram’s home, his mother offered them coffee and cigarettes. At that time both of them had lost things; while Byro had lost his horse, Khosrove had lost his homeland. Both of them were also lonely; it is stated out of loneliness the farmer had learnt Armenian and Aram’s mother points out that Khosrove was homesick, depicting loneliness. Finally, both speak Armenian. It reminds me of two enemies in a film who had difference but shared some similarities. 5. Armenian farmers’ posses something else in common despite having few materials: honest and caring. For instance, the famer could have claimed the horse was his if he did not know the boys were from an honest family. This is also shown by how they cared for the animals; Maroud helped the robin to fly by fixing its wing, he was able to tame the horse and he had a way with the dogs. In addition, they sensitive to people feelings and could not stand seeing people get hurt. They have unfailing honest which is depicted by Khosrove responses; for instance, telling Byro to pay attention to minute things. The lives are rich due to the value they put in family; that is, the care and sharing heart they possess. For instance, Maroud shared horse riding with Aram. Qualities of character to be honored include honesty, caring, mindfulness, and trust. This is a good reminder of a story of a poor boy but had a good heart and cared for the old people. Truth and Lies 1. Louise thought that the narrator was vulgar, brutal, cynical and coarse fellow. This is true from the passage as the narrator assert that she would disagree with him on anything (Maugham 14). In addition, she would always find a way to belittle him. This reminds me on a movie where two people were friends and one had a negative opinion of another despite staying together. 2. The parents were dismayed when Tom asked to marry her as they felt that she was too delicate to handle a marriage; indeed, it is stated that her heart was weak. They gave their consent as Tom was richer and promised to take care of her. From the story, he promised to do everything for her. This reminds me of a passage where a mother did not want her only daughter to be married by a stranger. However, the stranger promised to take care of her and make sure she visits them after two months. Indeed, after every two month the daughter visited the mother. 3. Tom dies of cold during a sail. From the passage, he died of cold after giving Louise every rug to keep her warm. Indeed, it takes me back to a film where the parents had to die of hunger in order to save the last food for their children. 4. Louise’s friends feel sorry for Iris as they thought she would be an orphan. The storyteller makes it apparent that the acquaintances also expected Louise to die and as such leave the daughter alone. This takes me back to a book a read about a village where the neighbors were worried that some children would be left as orphans as both parents had gone in such of food in the forest. 5. Iris feels sorry for her mother who always has a heart attack when she goes out. This explains why she does not go out as often. This can be accredited to the reality that she was to be near her mother and take care of her. This reminds of a movie when a child would start crying when her mother went out. The orphaned swimming pool 1. The description of the their compound and the pool “But by midsummer the new grass was sprouting, the encircling flagstones were in place, the blue plastic tinted the water a heavenly blue, and it had to be admitted that the Turners had scored again. They were always a little in advance of their friends” (Updike 2). Their lifestyle; “Ted would return from work to find a poolside cocktail party in progress, and the couple would end their day at midnight” (Updike 3). This reminds me how people’s compound depicts the social class. 2. The swimming became the center of the neighbor activity by attracting the Murtaughs who were followed by others. The neighbor justified their use as they stated that it was ‘duty’ to keep the Murtaughs ‘from drowning each other (Updike 3)’. In order to feel that everything was in order the neighbors brought things including lawn furniture and set them up by the pool. However, not everything was in order as it was hard to restrict admission given that ‘Everyone’ visited the pool. Simply, it had become a public pool where even people visiting the town would be a guest. It reminds me of an adage; when a cat lives, the mice take over. 3. The story reveals the sex lives of the American in that particular class as a basic want. This arises from the fact that couples enjoyed themselves every day after the party. Still, Ted after the separation, Ted was said to be dating someone else. It reminds me of the current movies that depict sex as a need. 4. By analyzing the passage, one may suppose that Linda new Ted had an affair with another woman. After every question, the writer describes in a way what she may be thinking. For instance after the troubling question, the writer states; “She stood at the window, in the house that already seemed to lack its furniture, at the same side window where the lovers had crouched, and gazed at the deserted pool” (Updike 7). It reminds me of situation where women know their husbands have mistress but it is hard o confront them. Developing a way with words 1. As pleasant; 2nd paragraph “It was a young pool, only two years old, of the fragile type fashioned by laying a plastic liner within a carefully carved hole in the ground” (Updike 2) “blue plastic tinted the water a heavenly blue” As unpleasant and potentially dangerous; 3rd paragraph: “The pool looked desolate and haunted, like a stagnant jungle spring; it looked poisonous and ashamed” (Updike 2). Making connections 1. Despite having the fear of being discovered, Ted risked bringing his mistress to the house. Indeed, this was simple for him as Linda was not at home at that time. As such, he was sure that she would not discover this. Furthermore, one may argue that he never knew that his place had become a public hangout; so he was sure no one would ever know of his affair. In most movies, men tend to take their mistress in lounges to avoid scandals. 2. The writer reveals various aspects that a reader is expected to get humored. Firstly, the seemed to be doing fine at the surface in their marriage; however, they had grave issues. Secondly, the friends and neighbors took advantage of their separation to enjoy their resources. For instance, the friends started using the pool so as to up, "to keep the Murtaughs from drowning each other." I would not like to meet them given that fact that they are untrustworthy and opportunistic people who are all set to take gain of every situation. It reminds me of situation where one is surrounded by friends who are in need of your resources. To Build a Fire--Jack London Theme: 1. The connection between man and the natural world may be said to be hostile. The nature seems to be cruel to the man. Lack of sun, steep banks, blotting out of the fire and so on, are some examples of how the nature treated the man. The nature tried to discourage the man from proceeding with his journey. On the other hand, however, the man was not readily put off by nature’s cruelty, he persisted. Indeed, this depicts a struggle between the two ‘characters’. It is a reminiscent to me of a film when a man was to get of a deep dark hole but could not. Character 1. Indeed, the man in the story is persistence and stubborn; given the fact that he continued the journey despite the hardships and not hindering the man advice shows his stubbornness; creating another fire after the first went off depicts his persistence too. In the movie, the man was persistence in order to get out of the hole. 2. The man lacks experience; as such, he is a novice. He was not fully prepared. The fact that he carried matches and bites describes his preparedness. However, the fact that he never had a human companion depicts his unpreparedness. The man in the movie was not prepared to find himself in a hole. Setting Mood 1. The opening of the passage makes one feel despaired and a spirit of fear sets in. This is attributed to the fact that the landscape and weather have been described in a hostile manner. Lack of sunshine or even a hint of the sun in the late morning (London 56), and steep banks, introduces a feeling of despair. This is accompanied by the fact that there was subtle gloom that worsened the day. It reminds me of a beginning of a movie when the man was in a dark hole and tried to get out but could not as he was shot. Style 1. The passage would be different. Given that the story would be told from a first person view. As such, it would be subjective; the narrator would describe the situation from his personal opinion. This would introduce biases and the reader would not be able to learn of the real happenings. Additionally, the reader would only be drawn to the world of the narrator. Still, the narrator would omit some information denying the reader facts; getting a single interpretation of the event. Finally, through this, the scene would not be set clearly bringing a different passage altogether. It shows how various people who have experienced a situation describe it differently from those who observed. Symbolism and message 1. The movement of the dog towards civilization clearly depicts the need of one to connect with nature. It is impossible to fight with nature at all times. This therefore, symbolizes the fact that the dog understood the nature. In addition, it depicts that the relationship with the nature was that of understanding and respect; allowing nature to take its course. With the above understanding, the dog was able to survive. As vivid in the other divisions of the passage, the dog primarily followed its instincts unlike the man. Similarly, the final movement could also be because of instinct. This is made clear in the passage as it states that the dog headed in the direction of the camp, which it primarily knew; that is, the dog was naturally good at that. It is a clear indication that instinct should be followed. Work cited London, Jack. To build a fire and other stories. Stilwell: Digireads publishing, 2010. Print. Maugham, Somerset. The moon and six pence. Rockville: Serenity Publisher, 2008. Print. Saroyan, William. My name is Aram. New York: Wiley, 1940. Print. Updike John. The orphaned swimming pool. New York: Wiley, 1969. Print Read More