PLOT
There are many similarities and differences in the plot of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. In the film version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the events that occur in Benjamin's life are not the same as in the book version. One of the major events that occur in the film, but not in the book include Benjamin's father abandoning him on a doorstep, right after his birth. Another event is Benjamin did not work as a deckhand on a boat. Also, Benjamin Button married his "childhood" sweetheart, whom he fell in love with at the nursing home. To me, the film version ads a little more excitement due to the extra events added to the movie.
POINT OF VIEW
The point of view of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in the film version of the short story, is more clearly understood, than in the book. In the book it made Benjamin look like he hated life. In the film, it showed that Benjamin understood he was different from others who were his real age, but he did not care as much. Throughout the movie, Benjamin got to participate in every experience that one was able to do, even though he was born with a disease. A similarity of the point of view throughout the story in both the film and book, is that Benjamin knew he was different from all people when they compared physical characteristics with actual age. Another similarity is that Benjamin Button thought the people who loved him were the most important thing in his life.
CHARACTERIZATION
There are many similarities in the characterization in both the film and book version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Benjamin always wants to do the things that people his age do, although he may not be able to physically. He always keeps a positive outlook on life, which shows Benjamin's love for life, even though he is not living a normal one. The physical characteristics of Benjamin Button stay the same throughout the film and book, such as the way he looks as he gets "younger". One major difference in the film version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is that Benjamin is having an affair with the spy's wife. Throughout the book, Benjamin is backed up with gentleman-like characteristics and honesty; which are not qualities of a man who cheets with another man's wife.
SETTING
The setting of the film version of the short story is significantly different from the book version. The setting as to where Benjamin Button grows up is at a nursing home. In the book version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Benjamin is raised in his father's home. In different parts of the film, the setting is completely different from the book. An example of a different setting is the part of the film, where Benjamin is working on a boat as a deckhand. The beginning scene in the movie is just like the beginning scene in the book, the setting takes where a woman is giving birth. The setting is also the same, because all of the nurses and people in the baby's room are in shock by the image of Benjamin.
THEME
The theme throughout the movie version and the book version of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are the same. The themes tell the readers that you need to make the best out of what you have. In Benjamin's case, he lived his life to the fullest. Benjamin was not afraid to do much, therefor he got into some trouble with his guardian and his father. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button tries to get the reader to understand a theme that even though somebody is different from what society depicts, they should be treated equally. Also, Benjamin thought that even though he had a disease, he should have the same opportunities, advantages, and disadvantages as the normal people around him. Both the film and the book version of this short story do a good job at providing clear themes to represent the message the the story is trying to portray.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The plot is a synopsis of all the main events that make up the whole story. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button the plot is very unusual, because Benjamin Button is born with a rare disease that frightens most of the people that he encounters. The plot informs the reader about every stage in Benjamin Button's life. The plot occurs in reverse form, so it explains the disease that Benjamin has. In the plot of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it reveals different characters that play a part in Benjamin's life. An example of a character in Benjamin's life is, ""That," he said, "is young Hildegarde Moncrief, the daughter of General Moncrief"(31). Also, the plot shows the different moods and feelings that are being portrayed in the short story. If one did not have a clear understanding of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, they could read the plot, and get the main ideas of the story.
The point of view in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is second person. Benjamin Button shares his opinion of the people around him throughout the story. His point of view offers insight of what he is thinking and feeling about himself and others. "Benjamin, no longer persona grata with the debuntantes and younger college set, found himself left much alone, except for the campanionship of three or four fifteen-year-old boys in the neighborhood"(50). Through the point of view in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the reader can understand how Benjamin feels when certain events occur in his life. This point of view makes the short story easier to understand, because it can be interpretted personally by the reader.
From the very beginning of the short story, Benjamin Button has been characterized. When Benjamin was just born, he was characterized as an old man whom nobody wanted. Many times throughout the story, he became characterized differently. This shows that Benjamin was always changing. When Benjamin Button was changing, he becam less and less mature mentally and physically. Hildegarde characterized Benjamin, when she said, "Your're simply stubborn. You think you don't want to be like any one else. You always have been about that way, and you always will be"(43). The characterization of Benjamin lets the reader get a visual image of what he is like.
In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the setting begins in the hospital in Baltimore. This setting is unusual, because Mr. Button went to see his "child" in the nursery, but he got an old man. In the short story, there are many different settings that represent stages in Benjamin Button's life. The settings are confusing, because they are in reverse order, which agree with the disease Benjamin has. The setting in the story show time passing by, but Benjamin becoming younger. The short story shows the setting in chapter 5 by giving the date and what Benjamin was doing for his birthday. "IN 1880 BENJAMIN BUTTON WAS twenty years old, and he signalized his birthday by going to work for his father in Roger Button & Co., Wholesale Hardware"(29).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has a main theme. In this short story the theme is represented by Benjamin's feelings as he becomes older, but physically younger. Also, another theme in this short story is your feelings or actions toward somebody should not change if they are different from you. One should treat others the way they want to be treated. This is presented in the story on page 54 when Benjamin says, ""Come to attention!" he tried to thunder; he paused for breath- then suddenly he saw the sentry snap his heels together and bring his rifle to the present. Benjamin concealed a smile of gratification, but when he glanced around his smile faded". These themes help the reader obtain the message that the short story is trying to get across.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3aKZ8Hr2bk VIDEO TRAILER!!!!!!
The point of view in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is second person. Benjamin Button shares his opinion of the people around him throughout the story. His point of view offers insight of what he is thinking and feeling about himself and others. "Benjamin, no longer persona grata with the debuntantes and younger college set, found himself left much alone, except for the campanionship of three or four fifteen-year-old boys in the neighborhood"(50). Through the point of view in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the reader can understand how Benjamin feels when certain events occur in his life. This point of view makes the short story easier to understand, because it can be interpretted personally by the reader.
From the very beginning of the short story, Benjamin Button has been characterized. When Benjamin was just born, he was characterized as an old man whom nobody wanted. Many times throughout the story, he became characterized differently. This shows that Benjamin was always changing. When Benjamin Button was changing, he becam less and less mature mentally and physically. Hildegarde characterized Benjamin, when she said, "Your're simply stubborn. You think you don't want to be like any one else. You always have been about that way, and you always will be"(43). The characterization of Benjamin lets the reader get a visual image of what he is like.
In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the setting begins in the hospital in Baltimore. This setting is unusual, because Mr. Button went to see his "child" in the nursery, but he got an old man. In the short story, there are many different settings that represent stages in Benjamin Button's life. The settings are confusing, because they are in reverse order, which agree with the disease Benjamin has. The setting in the story show time passing by, but Benjamin becoming younger. The short story shows the setting in chapter 5 by giving the date and what Benjamin was doing for his birthday. "IN 1880 BENJAMIN BUTTON WAS twenty years old, and he signalized his birthday by going to work for his father in Roger Button & Co., Wholesale Hardware"(29).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has a main theme. In this short story the theme is represented by Benjamin's feelings as he becomes older, but physically younger. Also, another theme in this short story is your feelings or actions toward somebody should not change if they are different from you. One should treat others the way they want to be treated. This is presented in the story on page 54 when Benjamin says, ""Come to attention!" he tried to thunder; he paused for breath- then suddenly he saw the sentry snap his heels together and bring his rifle to the present. Benjamin concealed a smile of gratification, but when he glanced around his smile faded". These themes help the reader obtain the message that the short story is trying to get across.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3aKZ8Hr2bk VIDEO TRAILER!!!!!!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sonnet 30
Sonnet 30 is all about portraying love and the rejection of love. The man loves a girl in the poem, who does not love, or like him back. To me, this sonnet portrays a "love hate" relationship. The woman does not respond to the man's compassion that he is trying to give to her. Edmund Spenser compares two unlike objects together to show their relationship, it would be fire and ice. He shows this comparisson when he writes, "That fire, which all things melts, should harden ice". The man is pouring his firey passion to her, and she responds by puting it out with ice. The resolution to this sonnet is that his love will not change for her. The man in Sonnet 30 will love the woman no matter what. He enterprets that strenght in his love when he writes, "Such is the power of love in gentle mind, That it can alter all the course of kind".
To me, this message being brought about in Sonnet 30 is true. In the movie Twilight Eclipse, the warewolf man loves the vampire girl, but she doesn't love him back. Part of her does not love him because he is an enemy. The other part is that she already has a boyfriend, but the warewolf man keeps on trying to win her love. Another example to support this message as being true, is an experience in gradeschool. Every guy has atleast one crush on a girl during grade school. In my experience I had a crush on a girl and she knew it, but did not like me back. I kept on trying to get her to like me, but she turned me away every time.
To me, this message being brought about in Sonnet 30 is true. In the movie Twilight Eclipse, the warewolf man loves the vampire girl, but she doesn't love him back. Part of her does not love him because he is an enemy. The other part is that she already has a boyfriend, but the warewolf man keeps on trying to win her love. Another example to support this message as being true, is an experience in gradeschool. Every guy has atleast one crush on a girl during grade school. In my experience I had a crush on a girl and she knew it, but did not like me back. I kept on trying to get her to like me, but she turned me away every time.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Ballad Blog
ALAN JACKSON
"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry
Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
The greatest is love
The greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
This song was written about the day of September 11th. As we all know, September 11th has been the most tragic disaster that has occured in the United States today. This song is a ballad because it reflects two topics of a typical ballad. The two topics are murderous acts and a tragic, sudden disaster. It is considered a murderous act, becasue the terrorist killed thousands of people that day. This song also has characteristics of a traditional ballad. One characteristic is the dramatization of the single incident, 9/11. Another characteristic is the asking of questions that further the story throughout the lyrics. Alan Jackson always asks "Where were you"? Another characterstic is the use of refrain throughout the lyrics, such as "Where were you... The greatest is love". This song greatly reflects a traditional ballad.
"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry
Did you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below
Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love
The greatest is love
The greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
This song was written about the day of September 11th. As we all know, September 11th has been the most tragic disaster that has occured in the United States today. This song is a ballad because it reflects two topics of a typical ballad. The two topics are murderous acts and a tragic, sudden disaster. It is considered a murderous act, becasue the terrorist killed thousands of people that day. This song also has characteristics of a traditional ballad. One characteristic is the dramatization of the single incident, 9/11. Another characteristic is the asking of questions that further the story throughout the lyrics. Alan Jackson always asks "Where were you"? Another characterstic is the use of refrain throughout the lyrics, such as "Where were you... The greatest is love". This song greatly reflects a traditional ballad.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hero Blog
I have a very unique fictional super hero. My super hero only shows up in the literature genre of entertainment. You can always count on Captain Underpants, my super hero, to save the day! He protects the innocent people with his tactical movements. I have read many of books in the Captain Underpants series. In each book series Captain Underpants always defeats the super vilian. In one of the books he takes out the evil doctor who tries to take over the childrens mind's, and turn them against Captain Underpants.
A personal hero that I know is my father. He makes sacrifices for our family that most people do not usually do. My dad works an average of 90 hours per week to provide for our family. He gives up most of his free time to work another shift. Also he makes sure we have everything we need in order to be happy. He is a hero, because he thinks about the people he loves before he thinks about himself.
Popular heros that are well-known are firefighters. They help protect and save our communtiy. One experience that firefighters have been extremely heroic is September 11th. Many firefighters risked their lives to help our country in a time of need. They thought about the civilians safety before their own.
A personal hero that I know is my father. He makes sacrifices for our family that most people do not usually do. My dad works an average of 90 hours per week to provide for our family. He gives up most of his free time to work another shift. Also he makes sure we have everything we need in order to be happy. He is a hero, because he thinks about the people he loves before he thinks about himself.
Popular heros that are well-known are firefighters. They help protect and save our communtiy. One experience that firefighters have been extremely heroic is September 11th. Many firefighters risked their lives to help our country in a time of need. They thought about the civilians safety before their own.
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