Creating Empathy

It is 2012 and a girl in her late teens has started dating someone who she believes is her true love. Unfortunately, her parents, family and friends don't approve of the relationship and are trying to force her to end it. Her parents have even gone so far as to say that they will disown her if she doesn't stop the relationship. In her diary she writes down her feelings about the whole situation. What does she write?

In your response, consider where in the world this girl lives, what her family situation is, what her social status is, what it is about her 'true love' that her family and friends dislike, etc.

05.06.2012
I met the most handsome guy today, he is like the perfect image right out of my dreams. His name was Drake. Drake have the most mesmerising jade like eyes that one could imagine and that any woman would love and simply melt from. He had the softest short scruffy dark brown hair that was perfect for his overall image, tall, thin but with a good build. He definitely did not look scrawny or buff but just right, a man who still seemed to have tremendous strength in his arms, legs and entire body. He is like the man any woman would wish for in their dreams. I wonder if ... his personality is as good as his looks Diary?

08.06.2012
Diary, you remember how I mentioned Drake before? well guess what?! he transferred to my chemistry class today and he sat next to me today ><. He is such a nice guy, very open and cheerful, not at all awkward to be around. It was so easy for us to simply break out into a conversation and it went on so well that we even had lunch together. Drake is like totally my type of guy, a great guy with a great personality, what more could you ask for? 

15.06.2012
It has been nearly over a week since I started getting to know Drake and I am convinced that he is 'the guy' for me. That he is my 'true love', I've told my best friend Amy about this but she thinks that I'm just fantasizing too much and that it will never work out between us and I should just stay friends while it lasts. Well, I know I may not be the smartest girl in school but I work hard despite the fact that my parents always end up bribing my teachers. I'm little girl in a rich family and get the top spot no matter what, even though I hate it. I know I'm not the best and that the Emily in the front row with the square glasses and sweatshirt is and I simply want to have a normal time where I am the same as any other kid that goes to school and Drake.... Drake he is like the only other person who would talk to me like my best friend Amy. Another reason why  I could just fall right into his arms without any hesitation.

17.06.2012
Today was the day, I finally confessed my feelings to Drake....

18.06.2012
I was so nervous to hear his response today...

23.06.2012
We went on our first date....
There is one thing about him that always gets me and its those eyes his has when he looks at you and you simply feel drunk, drunk by his looks, by his eyes .

05.07.2012
It has been nearly 3 weeks since we have started dating. I have been telling my family how perfect Drake is and how I think he is the perfect guy, how no one will be better suited for me than him, he 'is the one'. They then told him to bring him home at least so they could have a look instead of hearing me brag about me everyday and see if he really is 'the one' before I go any further. It has been a tiring day and I'm going to rest early, can't wait to hear all their compliments tomorrow about Drake he was simply, again perfect today!

06.07.2012
Why? I mean I love him and he is like the 'perfect guy' and yet they all say his too fishy and that he is too perfect. I mean, how can they say that about him? He may be perfect but that doesn't mean he is weird or up to anything. He loves me, I'm sure he loves me just the way I love him. There's no way ..... No No he loves me, Drake loves me. They are just jealous that I found my dream guy and they always ruin everything. How could they? How dare they say that about my beloved Drake!

10.07.2012
I don't know what's going on anymore....

Love Story – Taylor Swift

We were both young when I first saw you

I close my eyes and the flashback starts

I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air

See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns

See you make your way through the crowd

And say hello, little did I know



That you were Romeo

You were throwing pebbles

And my daddy said stay away from Juliet

And I was crying on the staircase

Begging you please don't go

And I said


Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby, just say yes



So I sneak out to the garden to see you

We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew

So close your eyes, escape this town for a little while



Oh, oh, oh



'Cause you were Romeo,

I was a scarlet letter

And my daddy said stay away from Juliet

But you were everything to me

I was begging you please don't go


And I said


Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess

It's a love story, baby, just say yes



Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel

This love is difficult, but it's real

Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess

It's a love story, baby, just say yes



I got tired of waiting, wondering if you were ever coming around

My faith in you was fading

When I met you on the outskirts of town


And I said
Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone

I keep waiting for you but you never come

Is this in my head, I don't know what to think

He knelt to the ground and he pulled out a ring

And said


Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone

I love you and that's all I really know

I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress

It's a love story, baby, just say yes


Oh, oh, oh, oh

We were both young when I first saw you

Love Story Official Music Video Clip           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlbB7qt6v_0

Discussion Questions:

Outline the subject matter of the poem?

The subject matter of the poem is a love story, mainly based off Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending. This is known as the lyrics state, 'I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns', the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet and how they met at a ball is very well known to the general audience who know about Romeo and Juliet. In addition, Romeo and Juliet are mentioned throughout the song. 


Why is the poem entitled “Love Story”? Use evidence from the   lyrics to support the titles significance and relevance.

The poem describes a love story and a very famous tragic love story by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet but has also incorporated it into a love story that there is a happy ending. This is obvious as the lines, 'it's a love story...' is mentioned thrush out the song.

Describe the relationship between the two characters.  Who are they?

The two characters in the song are Romeo and Juliet. They have met at a party/ball and fallen in love but they were children of enemy families and because 'he was Romeo' her father opposed them.'...little did I know, that you were Romeo' meaning she had began falling for him without knowing he was Romeo and that it might have been otherwise if she did.

What evidence is there to suggest that these lovers have to overcome obstacles in their relationship?

'This love is difficult, but it's real'
'Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess'
...'I keep waiting for you but you never come'
...'I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress'
These lines show that their love are having difficulties but it's real and they will somehow make it out of this mess together. as time passed Juliet continued to wait and slightly became restless but then Romeo finally shows up asking for her hand in marriage after getting permission from her father. Living happily ever after.


What themes and issues are explored in the lyrics and through the video clip?

Love and relationships are themes explored within the lyrics as it is mainly about ones romance story and how they could finally be together again. I think the video explored the lyrics in a way to show that even though in the actual story romeo and Juliet had a tragic end it is possible for them to reincarnate and meet again but this time their love for each other in their past lives will draw them together and the tragedy will now have a happy ending.

How does the “Love story” end for Romeo and Juliet in the song? Is this how it ends for the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? Why does Taylor Swift end her song this way? What perspective is she writing from and why would they want the story to end this way?

Romeo gets approval by Juliet's father to marry her but in the real story of Romeo and Juliet tragically, they both die after believing the other is dead. Maybe she didn't want a tragedy and she thought it could have been different.she is writing in Juliet's perspective and as Juliet she would want to be with Romeo and have the support of their family.  They may also have wanted the story to end this way as the title of this song is 'love story' which would tend to be thought of as a fairy tale to the general public. Fairy tales have happy endings, they are bright and colorful stories as opposed to the original Romeo and Juliet, filled with blood and killing.

"Chicks in the Line of Fire"

The headline is very effective as the subject has been cleverly incorporated into the healdine. In addition, the headline ' Chicks in the Line of Fire' draws the readers attention in and makes one wonder what it is about and therefore achieving its goal in making the reader read on.

In not including an extensive byline, means that one does not need to read a lot to understand what the article will be about and won't be caught at the byline and end up not wanting to read on as it was too long. The byline, 'Natalie Maines is one of those people born middle finger first.' tells the reader that the main topic will be about a person called Natalie Maines and her rudeness. This short byline grabs the readers interest as, if they knew the band ' Dixie Chicks' they would know who this person is, the main lead in the band, and would draw these people who have an interest to this person into the article further. In addition, they would have a greater understanding of what the article is about as they read on.

The intoductory paragraph really emphasis on her attitude as a person whilst explaining how the band came to be and what the article is related to/ how this article came to be/ why the author wrote this article which would be the incident where she spoke of her thoughts in London, 2003. This paragraph gives the reader a solid understanding to what is to come within the article.

The journalist clearly states his/her opinion in a manner which doesn't put her in a position where she could be in trouble. At first there are signs of sympathy, empathy, as the journalist describes, ".. group received death threats and was banned by thousands of country radio stations, may of which still have informal bans in place."in knowing that they received death threats and were not able to broadcast their songs on various radion stations when they only stated their opinion makes one feel sorry for them. Later we realise that the journalist kind of looks up to this group or more like, respects them as she conitnuously quotes Maines,' " I apologised for disrespecting the office of the President...But I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."... " I don't know what to do about that. I can't change who I am."..."I guess if we really cared, we wouldn't have released that single first... that was just making people mad. But I don't think it was a mistake." ' I think the journalist respects this group or Maines for how she stood up for what she beleives and continues to stand firm and that the journalist does not believe that it is right for anyone to be threatening her or simply be so against her when she simply stated what she beleived in. This is clearly shown when the journalist wrote, ' three Texas women have the biggest balls in American music.'.

The journalist seems to be telling the readers that the Dixie Chicks are standing strong and will continue to and that it was a brave thing to state her opinion on current issues and it should not cause them so much pain for just doing so.

In using direct quotes within the feature article, the reader is able to get a sense of who the person being spoken of is and their personality, ethics, way of thinking, values. For example, " I don't know what to do about that. I can't change who I am." and " I apologized for disrespecting the office of the President.. But I don't feel that way anymore. I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever" from these we can see that Maines is pretty stubborn, but she is not wrong. We cannot change who we are simply because a large group of people disagree with our ideas and opinion, we can't just change and be who others expect us to be. This shows that she isn't just some wishy washy person who will follow the crowd just because it's easier but instead she is able to stand up to what she believes and keep standing her ground. This really makes one think that she is a a great and respectable person.

The journalist sympathising with the Dixie Chicks. She uses direct quotes to provide examples of the severe treatment of the Dixie Chicks. The purpose of the article is effective in achieveing its defensive stance of the band.

Song - Not Ready to Make Nice by Dixie Chicks

S - The song is about how she won't back down from what she believes and the fact that they all know what she is thinking, she likes it. she doesn't regret saying what she said despite receiving such an awful backlash.

P - This song was recorded in response to all the backlash received after what the main lead had said.

E - Anger is a very prominent emotions throughout the whole song, I think there's also a lot of frustration, sadness and disbelief? Frustration can be heard, just before the second chorus the pace picks up drastically( more like she's rapping but not, still singing) and its as though she's just letting it all out, it's different to how she sings at the chorus, beginning and end. Bits of sadness seeks through at the beginning and the end where it says, ' Forgive, sounds good, Forget, I'm not sure if i could, They say time heals everything, but I'm still waiting'. These words kind of gives off the feeling that the reaction received from the audience has left such a scar in her that it's hard to forgive and let alone forget. It might have even shown that she's sad that her fans were unable to accept her ideas. Disbelief would be, ' ...a mother would teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger...how in the world can the words that I said send somebody so over the edge...'

C - Rhyme and Imagery

S  - This song makes me feel understanding, it doesn't make me angry but instead it makes me understand her anger, frustration and sadness. It puts me in her place, in her shoes and why she said, ' forgive, sounds good, forget i'm not sure if i could.' then when it comes to ' they say time heals everything but I'm still waiting' really gives off the feeling of sadness.

S - 8 stanzas, clear chorus and versus.

L - The language used really effective in bringing out the emotion presented and clear and straight to the point providing some examples in what she's trying to say.

I - ' I made my bed and I sleep like a baby'

M - I think the instrumental just before the second chorus, gives you time to process what she just said and really think about her last words, ' Shut up and sing or my life would be over?'

S - Rhyme, pauses.

HWK

S -Irish Civil War
P - talks of a soldiers view, why he fought and it's like he's reflection on the war before dying
E - it seems to be from ones mind, a very dense feeling, kind of feels as though he's falling to his death and he thinks of all this as he looks up to the sky.
C -  Imagery
S - This poem kind of makes me feel empty, it is sad but not crying sad. It makes me think that this soldier wasn't really able to enjoy life and do many things. I feel that he accepted his death too early, like he gave up.

S -one stanza, 16 lines
L - old english, personal
I - clouds, death (personification)
M - consistant flow
S - Rhyme

Summary Book 1 Chpt 2

In this chapter Vladek talked of the time just before the war and of when war just broke out. Before war, they found out that Anja was helping the communists translate documents and was arrested. Before they arrested her she gave the documents to a neighbor who she was a good customer of. The police couldn't find anything at home so they also searched the neighbors and so Miss Stefanska was also arrested. She claimed that a customer just left it, therefore due to lack of any further evidence she was not kept in jail for long. Anja's parents paid Miss Stefanska a large amount of money for the trouble caused. Not only that, Anja's father gave Vladek & Anja plenty of money in which they were able to build a textile factory. Later, came the birth of their first son Richieu, October 1937(Artie's elder brother).

While Vladek was away for the factory business, news of Anja being sick came through from a call. Anja was depressed, hysterical, having a breakdown, giving birth to a child was too much of a strain to her. Vladek went home and accompanied Anja to a sanitarium. They left the child with the governess and the factory business to Anja's father.

On their way they saw many flags of the Swastika and heard many stories of the discrimination and boycotting of jewish businesses. Vladek and Anja were away for three months and when they returned, Anja was like a totally different person from when she left.     Unfortunately, there was bad news upon their return, the factory was robbed and they took everything and Vladek hadn't been able to insure anything before they left three months ago.

For over year they were pretty well off despite the nazy's riling things up and chasing Jews out but then a draft notice from the government was received in 1939, August. With this, Vladek and Anja parted and went in different directions. Anja, Richieu and the governess left for home in sosnowiec and Vladek left for the frontier of war against Germany. 1939, September 1st war came and Vladek stood in the front lines.

2. War and the treatment of Jews were the main themes of this chapter.

3. From this chapter we can see that Vladek is a person who cares a lot about work and earning money. He seems to be a pretty stiff and stubborn man. Anja on the other hand seems to be oblivious and weak minded.

Explain what Art Spiegelman is trying to tell us about the main themes in this chapter (what is the message?)

I believe in showing us a story of how Jews were treated, we would be able to understand the confusion before war...

- discrimination

- Nazi power

- before war

- when war began.

Identify the various techniques that Art Spiegelman uses in this chapter to help us understand the themes and the characters

- black and white images

- mouse & cat  & pig

- words

- non linear

Explain why/how these techniques are effective.

 - more serious

- closer to reality

- not just filled with facts for it to relate to human life

- more emphasis on words so that we read and not just look at pictures

- representation of the Jews , German, and poles

Practice

The conflict between Geraldine and Fran was not Fran's fault, tho she is in the wrong to be meeting Paul despite having a husband already but this should not concern Geraldine. When Fran was 18 her sister Geraldine was going to have a wedding with Paul but on the night before the wedding, he called off the wedding. This was huge impact on Geraldine. Later, Paul reveals his reason to Fran,"... I was...thinking, I wish it was Fran.She's the one I really love. I wish I was marrying Fran."(pg.59) Paul really loved Fran and therefore couldn't marry Geraldine. It may seem to be Fran's fault for Geraldine's failed wedding but at the time Fran truly wished for her sisters happiness as after hearing the news, " Fran could feel the beginnings of panic stirring up inside her chest. Mixed with fury...She wanted to hit someone. Tears sprang to her eyes."(pg.32)If Fran really wanted them to break off the wedding, she would have feelings of joy not sadness and fury. Clearly it was Paul's fault for not having sorted out his feelings earlier and ended up breaking Geraldine's heart, Geraldine should not hold a grudge against Fran.

HWK

1.     Which characters speak to us directly in the first-person? Why?

Throughout the book only the characters Sophie and Fran speak to us directly in first-person. This is known as the author has used pronouns such as I, my and me. From this we can really connect with these characters as they can be said to be the most important characters in this story. In having these characters speak to us directly in first-person, we are able to feel what they feel, see the world as they see it and notice things that only they noticed. It allowed us to really understand who this character is and experience everything they had or are experiencing and know their feelings and thoughts towards others. But, at different points in the story Fran speaks in third person and in speaking in third person we get the sense that she is showing us something. In switching from first to third we are able to grasp where we are in time, whether it was the present or the flashback of the past. It made it clear not confusing.

2.     The backcover blurb suggests that Sophie is the main character of the book. Do you agree? How important is Fran? Is it significant that hers is the only voice we hear directly for almost the first quarter of the book?

I believe that Sophie is the main character as the blurb itself shows that the main character is Sophie, if people believe that Sophie is not the main character of the book then I would say that the author was unable to make it clear enough that Sophie is the main character. All the things that occur within the book mainly revolve around Sophie or is linked back to Sophie in some way, these happenings also having their meanings and their points to do with Sophie. In addition, Sophie is the only character other than Fran who speaks to us in first person and Fran only speaks in first person because her points are mainly proven within her flashbacks and in having her speaks in first person at present and third in the past help us get through the book without too much confusion. Therefore, for Sophie to be in first person would be because she is the main character and in having the main character in first person helps us understand her and be her be the main character, know the main character who is the most important.

5.     The climax of the novel – Sophie’s return, Geraldine’s confrontation of Fran and the fire that destroys the house – is narrated in the third-person. What reasons might Maureen McCarthy have had for avoiding first-person at this point?

Maureen McCarthy might have had avoided first-person at this point as at the climax, every character has a different view on something and see different things. In having it in third-person, the reader is at a neutral point where they decide to see what they see for themselves and think for themselves not what she wants them to think by being able to see the overall view. The overall image would portray the whole scene and situation better than that in the eyes of  just one character.

6.The final pages of the novel are first-person narrative. Unlike everything that has gone before, they are also written in the present tense. What is the effect of the use of present tense in this last scene, when Sophie goes to visit the Duong family?

It pulls you back to the reality or the present as though you’ve been back in time and seen everything and the final act was right here and gives you a sense that a conclusion is nearing. Then it plays the final moments as though it was before at present and the catch the last moment before it all disappears. It wraps the ending in present tense, the same way it began in present tense.

Show Don't Tell

Far away, in a peaceful forest, filled with a calm, peaceful feeling and full of greenery, there situated a warm and lovely town. On the outskirts of town people were hardworking in the heat on the farm in the late afternoon and in the centre of the town a statue of a man stood tall and proud. His facial features were very distinct, his eyes were kind and filled with light and his stance was brave and of someone with justice, a hero, Any women would blush at the sight of his body build. Then, the sky turned grey, peasants hurried to hide their valuables and take in their children, their faces dulled and animal cries could be heard all over town. Silence washed over town as a gruesome figure wearing a cloak emerged from amongst the mist. People hung their head low as the figure slowly began to move and it came to a stop. A ball rolled over and stopped at its feet, a little girl chasing after the ball stops just a foot away not daring to come any closer. The figure bends down and takes the ball in hand and hands the ball back with a grin. The girl quickly takes the ball, turns and runs away, before the child reached her mum she gave a loud scream as millions of spiders dropped from her hands to floor and crawled all over her arms. He laughed out loud and demanded for materials and food with no intention of paying. Sounds of a galloping horse neared and people's faces lit up with hope, ' No fear for I am here, the Knight of Knights, the most talented. I shall be the one to ward off this evil thing. You over there, get that child away from me, my horse will not have spiders near him and you, get out of here, the king has sent me to rid of you and as the best Knight you shall be gone by my great skills.'..... To be continued


- The hero was strong and handsome. He was admired by the townspeople. He was brave and wished to help those in need.
- The wizard was ugly and evil. The people of the town were terrified of him. He enjoyed threatening them, especially the children. He was cruel and greedy.
- The Knight was arrogant and greedy. He did not want to help others. He only wanted to be viewed as the most handsome and talented warrior in the land.
- The peasants were kind and helpful. They were hard working and honest people. They were scared to drawing the attention of the wizard.

Using your senses to write

Situation to rewrite: They were walking down the street in the city Sense: Sight

Lights gleaming bright into your eyes, cars, traffic just rushing past. Large crowds rushing in and out of stores and across pedestrian crossings. Night has turned to day. Large banners up high above your head like you've shrunk ever so smaller to the world. Like an ant standing next to a human, you stare up with bright glistening eyes and forward to the adventure that awaits in the sparkling lights.

Situation to rewrite: She cuddles up to her teddy bear Sense: Touch/feel

Squeezing it tight and lying crouched under the blankets with a teddy bear. Hands running through its soft fur, rubbing round and round the ears with your thumb, that feeling like silk clothing you can never get sick of. Coming to the eyes, smooth hard plastic and a roughly furred, hard nose then tracing across the stitches of the mouth. Patting the head and feel the fur in between the fingers. Then hugging it tightly you feel it on your cheek, soft fur better than your pillow, you fall asleep.

Situation to rewrite: It was a dark and stormy night Sense: Hear

Silence feels the room as you lie in bed, on sound far in the distance you can barley make out then a soft rumble up in the sky. Wind is picking up, trees are rustling and banging against the window as the leaves skid quickly across the pane making a short light squeak. Then, a large roar moves overhead and you feel yourself shake with the ground below you. Another loud roar in anger and a thunder clapping through the sky, clearly there was a war going on up there.