John McCrae

John McCrae:

John McCrae was born on the 30^th of November 1872 in Ontario, Canada. He died on the 28^th of January 1918 at the age of 45, in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. He developed an intrest in poetry at a young age, and wrote throughout his life. He was Canadian and was a Lieutenant Colonel. He died in the time of World War 1 and he was 45 at the age that he died, this was because he died of pneumonia, which was a common illness at the time.

He was writing about World War 1 as this was the war that he lived through and died during. World War 1 began on the 28^th of July 1914, and lasted until the 11^th of November 1918. It was predominantly called the ‘World War’ or the ‘Great War’ until World War 2. It involved all the world’s great powers. It was the world’s sixths-deadliest conflict in world history.

The most popular and famous poem John McCrae has written is ‘In Flanders Fields’. It was written during the First World War, and was inspired to be written on May the 3^rd, 1915, after his friend and fellow soldier, Alexis Helmer died. It is one of the most popular and most quoted poems from the war. Its reference to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the worlds most recognised memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict.

Specs and Slims: An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

Specs and Slims: An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

Subject Matter:

The poem is about an airman that knows that he is going to die, however he is not scared and he is embracing it because he knows that it is his fate.

Purpose:

The purpose of this poem is to show how the author loves flying and that they would do it wherever because it is what they love, even if they have to do it in a warzone. Also that he is not afraid of death because he will be doing what he loves.

Emotion:

The emotion is a bit sad, as you know that he is going to die, but as you keep reading you realize that he has accepted it and he is okay with it and this makes you feel quite peaceful.

Craftsmanship:

The poet does this by creating an atmosphere where death is not feared but it is expected and inevitable and people just accept it.

Structure:

The poem is just in one large stanza.

Language:

The language in the poem is in older English, but it goes with the theme of the poem as it was written in a world war. The language also helps guide the emotion of the poem, as the language is not overly sad and it is more peaceful and calming.

Imagery:

There is an example of a metaphor in the line “My county is Kiltartan Cross,” this give a stronger connection to the word as you are saying that it is something.

The word fate has been used as a euphemism in the line “I KNOW that I shall meet my fate”, in this fate is used instead of the word death to give it a nicer meaning, but in a way that will still know what the poet is referring to.

Movement:

There is a sound feature where the word tumult is used in the line “Drove to this tumult in the clouds;” this word is used to explain the sound of the rapid shooting that was going on in the air. It gives you a sense of movement as you can imagine the shots being fired to the rhythm that the poem is being read at.

Sound:

There is an example of alliteration in the line “I balanced all, brought all to mind”, this gives the effect of a rhythm when you are reading or saying the poem.

The poem also rhymes every second line, which gives you a rhythm as you read a long, which makes it a lot more enjoyable to read.

Summary:

This poem is very impacting as it is quite different from other war poems which show the element of death being scary or feared, however within this poem death is embraced as the poet knows that it is inevitable and that if he dies doing what he loves then it will be okay. This also occurs with the mood of the poem as it is quite sad at the beginning, but as people adjust to the fact that death is going to happen either way the poem becomes quite peaceful and calming. 

Specs and Slims: An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

Specs and Slims: An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

Subject Matter:

The poem is about an airman that knows that he is going to die, however he is not scared and he is embracing it because he knows that it is his fate.

Purpose:

The purpose of this poem is to show how the author loves flying and that they would do it wherever because it is what they love, even if they have to do it in a warzone. Also that he is not afraid of death because he will be doing what he loves.

Emotion:

The emotion is a bit sad, as you know that he is going to die, but as you keep reading you realize that he has accepted it and he is okay with it and this makes you feel quite peaceful.

Craftsmanship:

The poet does this by creating an atmosphere where death is not feared but it is expected and inevitable and people just accept it.

Structure:

The poem is just in one large stanza.

Language:

The language in the poem is in older English, but it goes with the theme of the poem as it was written in a world war. The language also helps guide the emotion of the poem, as the language is not overly sad and it is more peaceful and calming.

Imagery:

There is an example of a metaphor in the line “My county is Kiltartan Cross,” this give a stronger connection to the word as you are saying that it is something.

The word fate has been used as a euphemism in the line “I KNOW that I shall meet my fate”, in this fate is used instead of the word death to give it a nicer meaning, but in a way that will still know what the poet is referring to.

Movement:

There is a sound feature where the word tumult is used in the line “Drove to this tumult in the clouds;” this word is used to explain the sound of the rapid shooting that was going on in the air. It gives you a sense of movement as you can imagine the shots being fired to the rhythm that the poem is being read at.

Sound:

There is an example of alliteration in the line “I balanced all, brought all to mind”, this gives the effect of a rhythm when you are reading or saying the poem.

The poem also rhymes every second line, which gives you a rhythm as you read a long, which makes it a lot more enjoyable to read.

Summary:

This poem is very impacting as it is quite different from other war poems which show the element of death being scary or feared, however within this poem death is embraced as the poet knows that it is inevitable and that if he dies doing what he loves then it will be okay. This also occurs with the mood of the poem as it is quite sad at the beginning, but as people adjust to the fact that death is going to happen either way the poem becomes quite peaceful and calming. 

Maus Chapter Review

Chapter Summary: Book 2 Chapter 5

1. Give a general overview (description) of what happens in this chapter.

In this chapter everything is resolved and the end of both stories resolved. You find out what happened at the end of the war and Vladek and Anja finally found each other again. You also find out what happened to Vladek at the end of his life and what Artie does.

2. Identify which main themes are seen in this chapter.

The main themes within this chapter are love, survival, family and journey.

3. Tell us what we learn about the main characters in this chapter.

There is not many new things that we learn about the main characters as it is the final chapter of the book. However we do learn that Vladek is in fact getting a lot sicker and eventually his body can’t take it anymore and he dies. We learn that Artie starts to care a lot more about his dad and is there a lot to be with him through his final days. We learn that it took a long time for Anja and Vladek to find each other again, and we learnt how happy they were.

4. Explain what Art Speigelman is trying to tell us about the main themes in this chapter (what is his message?)

Love: The theme of love is giving us the message of the love that Anja and Vladek feel for each other. The love powerful enough to get them both through being separated for that long with the horrible situation going on around them. It is also giving us the message of how much Artie actually loves his father even though he doesn't always show it.

Survival: The theme of survival is conveying the message of that feeling of accomplishment and happiness that they made it through the war and all the violence that they were lucky enough to survive when so many didn’t.

Family: The feeling of family that comes when you get through an experience like the holocaust and you want to be with people and your family. Also the way that family looks after each other and supports one another.

Journey: The journey that Vadek and Anya had to go through and the summing up of the whole traumatic experience that they had to go through, was like the end of the journey that the book portrayed.

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

·      Relationships/interactions between characters

·      Sequencing of events

6. Explain why/how these techniques are effective.

Speigelman uses the technique of relationships and the interaction between characters to help us understand the themes and characters in the book. The interaction between Anja and Vladek help us understand the themes of love and family and help us understand how much Vladek and Anja really love each other. Speigelman also uses the technique of sequencing of events as the constant flipping and changing of time periods helps sum up the journeys taken by the character and finishes both stories at once creating the sense of resolution.

Extended Responses

1. Uncle Jimmy is integral to Sophie’s emotional recovery. What does he do that helps her rebuild her confidence and find happiness?

By helping Sophie through her emotional recovery, Jimmy pushes Sophie to gain her back her confidence and find happiness again. Everyone around Sophie is scared she is going to break so they are always so cautious and careful around her, but Jimmy argues with her and doesn't care if he over steps the boundaries because he is not afraid of tip toeing around her. “You aunt is a bloody artist. You should be able to paint or draw or do… something. Yeah, I shot back at him, I should be able to dance like my mother and paint like my aunt, play soccer like my brother and cut out cancer from people’s guts like Dad! But I can’t do any of it. Sorry!”(p.236). This quotation shows how Jimmy has pushed Sophie and tried to argue with her so that she steps out of her comfort zone and says what she is really feeling, which is what she does in this quotation. Jimmy is very important in Sophie’s recovery period as he allows and pushes her to let her feelings out instead of keeping them bundled in.

2. Describe the character of Raymond and the dynamic between him and Fran.

Raymond and Fran have a very dynamic relationship because of the way that Raymond is portrayed. In the novel, when you are first introduced to the character Raymond he is very rude and bad mannered. But for some reason Fran is in a relation ship with him, this makes you think Raymond might only be nice to Fran because he likes her but he is rude to everyone else. “Do you have any idea how very talented your friend is? He said loudly to Amy, then he turned to glare with narrowed eyes at Geraldine. Your sister?”(p.182). This quotation highlights the rude and snarky attitude Raymond has towards others, but his attitude changes to be much more sweet and calm when he is talking to Fran. Fran and Raymond’s relationship is dynamic because of the way that the character of Raymond interacts with Fran and others.

Practice Essay

Essay Question:

Geraldine and Fran had events from their past that ruined their relationship as sisters. Explain what unfolded between these two women that led to their hatred of each other (include direct quotations). In your essay response, you should also consider whether only one character was in the wrong or both were to blame. You should also think about whether Geraldine should forgive Fran or whether it is right that she has held a grudge for all these years.

Re-Written Question:

This question is asking me to highlight the events from Fran and Geraldine’s past and how these events triggered their hatred for one another. You have to decide if only one character has started this hatred or if both of them contributed. You should also decide if Geraldine should forgive Fran and if she should have held a grudge for all these years.

Essay Response:

In the novel Chain of Hearts by Maureen McCarthy Geraldine and Fran have un resolved issues from their past, which has led to their mutual hatred of each other. Looking back at these issues and how they have shaped the two sisters relationship will give us a better insight about how this hatred first started and if both of the sisters are to blame for their hatred and if they should finally forgive each other.

One of the ways that the mutual hatred between Geraldine and Fran began, could have been because of the environment they grew up in. When Geraldine was a small child her father was always very strict towards her. “He was a good father, but distant and stern. At least in those early years.”(p.289). However when Fran was born she was treated a lot better by her father. “Fran had delighted her father. It seemed that the more violent her outbursts, the further she diverged from his own political views, the more he was interested in what she had to say.”(p.290). These quotations show how Fran was treated a lot better than Geraldine when they were younger. This could have been why Geraldine started hating Fran, because she thought her dad liked Fran better. At this point Fran may not have even realized that anything was wrong between them. But she could have started hating Geraldine because Geraldine hated her. Therefore Fran would not have hated Geraldine, until Geraldine made her hatred known to Fran. The way that Geraldine and Fran were raised and the environment that they grew up in could have triggered their hatred of each other.

The hatred between Geraldine and Fran could have also been developed because of how what happened with Geraldine’s relationship. When Paul broke of the engagement to Geraldine the night before the wedding she was so upset. Fran was very sad for her and wanted to help her through it. “What could she do? What could anyone do? She sat listening to her sister cry, feeling the blunt sense of disappointment grow steadily inside as the news sank in.”(p.35). When Fran went back to the city and she saw Paul Healey and he told Fran her true feelings for Fran and why she couldn’t marry Geraldine. “Because at that moment I was looking at you and thinking, I wish it was Fran. She’s the one I really love. I wish I was marrying Fran.”(p.59). After hearing this news Fran did not do anything with Paul. But Geraldine probably thought that it was all Fran’s fault and that she broke up her marriage, even though she did not have any feelings for Paul and even if she did she didn’t act on them. This is also an instance that Fran has done nothing wrong but Geraldine is still very mad at her because she thinks that she is purposely trying to ruin her life. Geraldine’s hatred towards Fran was built up because of why her fiancée broke off the marriage.

Geraldine and Fran’s hatred of each other is because of the issues that Geraldine has with Fran because she blames Fran for the issues that have occurred in her life, like her engagement being broken off and how she was raised as a child. However Fran has not done anything wrong and she only started to hate Geraldine because she had so much hatred for her and she did not know why. Therefore this whole feud was not Fran’s fault, instead it was Geraldine’s, and she should finally forgive Fran. This hatred between the sisters is because of the unresolved issues that Geraldine has placed upon Fran’s responsibility when it was not.

Chain of Hearts: The Narrative Structure

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

Sophie and Fran are the only people who speak in first person because they are the main characters and their personal perspective is what helps you get the main themes and ideas from the book, as they have the biggest connection to the readers. However when there are flashbacks to a different time period, especially in Fran’s case, they are in third person to give you a better idea of the full surroundings of the scene and what is happening so that you get the full idea instead of just her view of the situation.

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 do agree that Sophie is the main character because it is mainly her story that is being told, but Fran is also very important but her stories and her perspective help us understand and justify what is going on with Sophie so that we can see what it is actually happening, and not just the way that Sophie sees it. We hear Fran’s voice for almost the first quarter of the book because she is setting up the tension between her and Geraldine and then when it finally gets to Sophie’s perspective you can see how that tension has made its mark on Sophie and could have been part of the reason why she is the way she is. A quote to support Fran and Geraldine’s hatred for another is “I don't want any one least of all the teenage daughter of my enemy-sister! I’ll have to ring her back. Tell her in no uncertain terms. She hates me anyway, so why not?” (p.7). This quotation shows how Fran still hates her sister after all this time, and she also thinks that Geraldine hates her which may not be the case but because she thinks this she probably hates her more.

3. Are the voices of Sophie and Fran different? Can you identify language features in Sophie’s narrative that you do not find in Fran’s?

Sophie and Fran’s voices are quite different particularly because of their age and the era and environment they grew up in. Sophie’s voice is very informal and is not very sophisticated, she uses a lot of modern words and she swears quite a bit, she also really expresses her emotions and feelings. Fran’s voice is a calm and she has a vast range of vocabulary used in her expressions. In Sophie’s voice you can feel more of a relation and a connection to her as her voice has a greater impact because of the emotions and hidden messages flooding through it. Where as Fran’s voice you just hear the story through her ways of communicating it and it still has an impact but not as large as Sophie’s which I think the author was trying to do. However in the flash back chapters of Fran when she was back in different time periods of the past she sounded a lot more like Sophie, probably because she was a lot younger. However this helps you see the connection from Sophie and Fran because Fran has the same kind of voice as Sophie does and you can see how they are actually quite alike.

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?

All these significant and important to the books story line were written in third person so that the reader could actually understand what was going on more clearly and also so that the reader does not get a biased perspective or view of just one character. Also because the novel has switched in and out of third and first person with different characters, the author has probably written this section in third person because then the readers would not be so confused as to who was speaking when very crucial elements of the story are happening and the author does not want the readers to miss any key concepts of the novel.

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?

The effect of using present tense at the end of the novel is to show and communicate the idea that you have been on this journey with Sophie and you have watched her develop and grow and re-live memories, and now you are here at the Duong family with her. It also provides a nice ending and conclusion to the novel, because in the very beginning of the book it was present tense and then it is again at the end. So it helps the reader acknowledge that it is the end of the novel because the whole novel has been the reflection on her life at this moment in time.