First, read Anthony Doerr's essay "Thing with Feathers That Perches in the Soul."
Then, answer these questions . . .
1. What is the effect of breaking the essay into sections and then numbering each section. Why might Doerr want to organize his essay in this manner?
2. Why have section five be composed of a series of questions? Why might Doerr want to pose questions instead of writing statements?
3. Why use an Emily Dickinson poem as the source of the title and as a running thread through the essay? Why would he want to refer to and quote this poem?
4. Near the end of the essay, Doerr writes, "What does not last, if they are not retold, are the stories. Stories need to be resurrected, revivified, reimagined; otherwise they get bundled with us into our graves: a hundred thousand of them going into the ground every hour." What is one story from your life you will retell in the future (to your friends, lovers, children)?
ReplyDelete1. Doerr’s essay is separated into different sections in order for the essay to be organized in the sequence things or events occurred. It’s an essay that has flash back of events and then flash forwards of events of his life.
2. Posing question instead of statement allows the reader to think of the situation. For example, “does she hear in her memory the Latin of Irish priests… utterly different from every face she had known before?”, this question make me as the reader think of a situation when I felt out of place and everything seemed new to me. Having questions instead of statements allows the reader to relate or understand what Doerr is trying to state in our way with our own situations.
3. “Things with Feathers That Perches in the Soul” is a strong title it makes the reader think of what things are like feather that somehow perches into our souls. It also makes the reader think of things that are small but somehow have a big impact in their lives. Referring to the poem supports Doerr’s ideas that he is trying to get across in his essay.
4. One story that I always to tell my daughter is moving to the United States at the age of four, it was a life changing event for myself. At the age of four my family and I left what we called home for a better future, which was Guerrero, Mexico. To me what I call home now was a strange place at one point in my life, and to my daughter what was once new and different to me is the only thing she has known to be her home.
1. An essay is broken into sections in order to break the subject into segments for easy understanding, and to show connectivity. The numbering is for easy reference.
ReplyDelete2. Doerr used questions because he wants to awaken our imagination, that part of the story was not told; therefore, he is using the questions to help us visualize and reconstruct those experiences as they might have happened.
3. I guess he used the quote because it was written in a tone that fits his story; also, the language is particularly memorable, and added some liveliness to the story.
4. One story I will like to retell is the story about my dad’s life. Maybe because he died young somehow we do not talk about him very much, and my kids are beginning to ask about the “other grandpa”. I will like to tell them a lot about him, so his story can live on.
1. The numbered sections act as substories/tangents that when pieced together form an entire essay. Each of the substories can stand alone as its own story outside of the main essay. In this way, Doerr uses them as if they are anecdotes to his main story.
ReplyDelete2. Section five is composed of questions to engage the reader. Questions draw readers in.
3. The poem serves to weave the underlying theme of hope throughout the essay. Each substory contains an element of hope which is related to the essay as a whole. The title of the essay is a clear way of relating that the theme is in fact about hope, and not biographical.
4. I'm not fond of telling stories from my past for personal reasons, but if pressed to identify one that I'd be willing to share it would probably be about my education. It's taken quite a bit of tenacity to get to the point where I'm currently at with my education, and I may share that story with my younger children someday as an example of not giving up when you want something.
1. As a writer it is important that you retain and maintain the focus of your readers. By breaking up an essay into sections it helps to make sure there is a flow of order occurring. As for the numbering it is an easy way to refer back to sections of the essay and help organize where each paragraph belongs in the essay.
ReplyDelete2. Doer's question give readers a change of thought. We begin to think, rethink, and possibly overthink. This give readers a chance to reevaluate and think what have we done or what will we do. When we are given questions instead of a story we reevaluate everything and make us not so sure anymore. Questions is a type of attention grabber strategy that Doer uses in a proficient way.
3. It is important to use supporting details and develop a strong foundation throughout our essay. Doer does this in the sense of using Emily Dickinson's poem. The vibe and tone he is trying to express is given from his supporting sources.
4. A story I would express to everyone is the struggle of being the oldest of five children. It is hard to set an example for those when it wasn't provided for me. Yet, through all the struggles and hard work I have put in, there is great outcomes. Not only have I showed my brother and sisters how to get what you want and need it hard work, but there is sacrifice with all that is done.
The separated sections allow for an easy understanding of the story. Along with the numbering, it allows for an organization of the story
ReplyDeleteWhen Doerr asks questions, he is asking his readers to think and question themselves. It also previews to the discussion that will come.
The poem may have been used to tie the substories together. The stories are all about hope and having a quote that speaks about hope as a header, ties the stories together
From the previous posts, it seems we share similar stories so I well tell a funny one. A story I would retell would most likely be how last summer, when I was going through a rough time, I was able to watch 6 season of Pretty Little Liars, 2 seasons of Arrow, 1 season of Flash within 3 weeks while I cleaned every inch of my apartment and how I ate a whole banana cream pie in a day all by myself as a reward! :)
1. The effect of breaking the essay into sections it to show a sequence of events occurring and the numbering is for organization of the essay.
ReplyDelete2. Section 5 is composed of a series of question for the reader to possibly relate to the story and have an open imagination about it.
3. Using “Thing with Feathers That Preaches in the Soul” as the title helps set the tone and theme of the essay which is about expectations and desire.
4. One story that I would retell is going to Mexico for the first time. Even though I was born in Mexico, I was brought to the United States when I was two. I had no memories of being over there and everything over there seem so new to me. It was a memorable experience meeting my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and my cousins for the first time it is definitely a moment I will never forget and I hope to return very soon
1. Breaking up the Essay into sections and numbering them allows the reader to understand clearly the shift in narrative.
ReplyDelete2. By having questions, Doerr is asking the readers to think critically about his story, and their own stories. These questions actually tie in to the closing section of the Essay, and are linked with the overall theme of Hope.
3. Hope is the theme of the Essay and the point of using that quote. Hope to not be forgotten, to live happily, or to believe that no matter what hardships you are facing now, there is hope that it will get better.
4. Many of the stories that I will tell my children will revolve around the fact that being in a relationship with someone from another country can cause many funny situations. In one such situation, I made a traditional birthday soup for my then boyfriend (keep in mind I was 18 and still living at home). My husband was an international student and had no family. The soup is traditionally served on the morning of a birthday. The soup is called seaweed soup, and has just a few ingredients. However, I did not know there were different kinds of seaweed, and actually made the soup with what you would wrap sushi rolls in. Needless to say the meal was an epic failure, and my boyfriend was laughing hysterically at me when I served it. Now, it is one of my daughter’s favorite foods, so I cook it weekly.
1. Breaking the essay into sections allows the reader to understand better, and its shows event after event rather than it being scattered.
ReplyDelete2. By asking questions, this allows the reader to become more in depth with the story. It makes the reader put in more thought.
3. It is important to use details in our essay so using previously written poetry or essays allows our work to expand.
4. One story I would speak about would be about my whole education experience. It has been a long journey for me and basically is my life, so it would be one story that I would never forget and always cherish.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. The effect of breaking the essay into sections and numbering provides the reader to focus on the specific topic and understands the importance of that section. Doerr organizes his essay this way to provide clarity and helps reader capture meaning of each individual topic, then putting it all together.
ReplyDelete2. Section five is composed of a series of question to provide a unique difference to essays. Doerr pose questions instead of writing statements to capture the attention of the reader. It grab the reader to keep reading until the question is answered; however, the curiosity continues.
3.He uses a stanza from Emily Dickinson’s poem to present the meaning of believing and hope. Faith guides one to continue to believe in themselves; continually it gives you hopes for a positive outlook prospective. He refers and quotes this poem to help readers seek hope in every situation they will encounter.
4. Stories that I will retell in the future includes a variety. One important story I would retell to my friends, lovers, children or etc. is the stories of my parents, but mainly my dad. The stories of my dad includes cooking, dancing in the kitchen, and animals; in general, the hard working father.
1. The effect of breaking the essay into sections is to organize ideas/topics and don’t write a big paragraph because it can confuse the reader and the numbering in each section helps for organization and makes it easier for the reader to refer back to it.
ReplyDelete2. Doerr used questions because he wants the reader to think about the questions he asked, and to make the reader keep on reading to find the answers and clues to the questions been asked.
3. Emily Dickson’s poem may have been used to support Doerr’s ideas and make everything of what he said a stronger argument.
4. A story I would love to tell my children is the day I went to Mexico for the first time to go meet my grandma. I would love to tell my children how I felt that moment and describe her and describe the placed where she lived her entire life.
1) Breaking the essay into sections allows the reader to focus on each part and gain a better understanding of the separate topics. The numbering allows for organization of the events
ReplyDelete2) The questions in section five draw the reader in and allow them to be part of the story in the thought process.
3) The poem is used as representations of hope and faith in the writing. He uses it in the title in order to set a tone for the essay.
4) The story I will likely tell is about my father and his death. His death is what pushed me further down the path of medicine and solidified my choice of being a nurse.
1. The numbering and headings divide the essay up into special parts because each header holds a significant part in the story. Headers such as: “The House”, “Boise Before Boise”, “Home”, and “What Lasts” hold a large part in the essay. After reading the story and looking at these headers I immediately am able to remember what that chapter was about, which I believe was Doerr’s goal in separating the story.
ReplyDelete2. When one is asked a question, there could be different possible answers that come to mind. I believe Doerr wanted to fill this chapter with questions to have the reader think for themselves of the different possibilities of what really happened in the past. So this chapter allows one to think and believe their own thoughts of what Mary O’Farrell went through.
3. The poem he chose is one that holds a very strong meaning and forces the reader the think more in depth to what it may mean. This poem made a thread throughout the story that made the reader really think about what he was saying about these people’s past and what they had gone through.
4. The only story that gets retold that comes to mind at the moment would be the story of how my boyfriend and I met. We had the same group of friends but we had just never talked to one another. Then apparently, I don’t recall it happening like this, a few of us were standing by a bar and when the others walked away and it was just him and I, he tried saying hi and asking how I was. In his remembrance, I walked away from him not even answering him. Though in my view of that moment, I don’t think he said anything because I didn’t hear him and I thought it was just awkward silence happening so I walked away. I guess there’s no knowing as to what really happened.
1. Breaking Doerr’s essay into sections and numbering them individually are indirectly connected by a profound reasoning of his past. This gives the reader’s an easier understanding that something has happened and we are told in order of events.
ReplyDelete2. Section five is composed of questions because Doerr wants to connect with the readers. He wants us to be more in thought about what is going on and imagine how we think of it ourselves.
3. Using “Hope” is actually the main argument from the meaning of the birth of a child and the standards of guardians, future and society.
4. I will discuss to my friends, lover, and children the dark times I went through and had to hide from my family and friends, because I'm tired of the pain I endured alone.
1. The numbered sections are for easy understanding and organization.
ReplyDelete2. Doerr is asking question instead of writing a statement because it allows the reader to engage more in the story.
3. The writer referred to an Emily Dickinson poem through the essay to pull in readers who have already read the Dickinson’s poem. Also, it ties in all of the sub stories because the underline theme is hope.
4. The only story I can think of is the story my mother use to tell us every night about the weeping women ( a scary story ).
1.The effect of breaking an essay into sections is to brainstorm and be organize. It helps the writer to knowing exactly what he or she wants in each paragraph. It gives them a “blueprint” on how they plan to structure the essay and make it flow.
ReplyDelete2.Having a series of questions makes the think about the questions and how to answer them. It gives them a way to be more focus and involved with the writing.
3.Doerr probably wanted to use Emily’s title “Thing with Feathers That Perches in the Soul” because although a feather is light, it can still have a huge impact on souls. The irony.
4.A story that I will certainly tell my children, significant other, friends, or anybody close would be the time I went to Philippines for my grandparents’ 50th golden wedding anniversary. I remember every little detail about that day and it was just so perfect in its own way.
1. The effect of breaking the essay into sections gives the reader the ability to focus and fully understand the topic of each of these sections. Each section the author is demonstrating a significant event that occurred in the past. The effect of numbering each section helps the reader understand the order the events occurred and helps the author with organization. Doerr might want to organize his essay in this manner to provide clear understanding of important topics and for putting the essay together.
ReplyDelete2. The questions in section five asked by Doerr are used to re grab the reader’s attention. Section five is well into the essay therefore the questions asked allows the reader to be interested and curious to what the possible answers are. They also allow the reader to continue reading. Doerr might want to pose questions instead of writing statements to allow the reader engage to the essay and think about the possibilities of the answers.
3. The use of Emily Dickinson poem as the source of the title and as a running thread through the essay is used to link the overall theme of each sub story, hope. He uses Emily Dickinson’s poem to also give the reader’s the tone of the essay and expectation of having hope in all situations.
4. One story I will retell in the future to my friends, lovers, and children is my experience and journey of moving away for college. Considering I have about a week and a half left of college, my story is still being written. I want my story to be a lesson and a goal for my future children. There has been a lot of sacrifice and it is important to be open about the pros and cons of moving away at a young age.
1. Numbering the sections allows the reader to know when Doerr is switching topics (and sometimes time periods), which allows the reader to fully soak in the message of the last section before moving on to the next. This results in an enriched understanding of the material.
ReplyDelete2. Section five is reflective of the inner turmoil Doerr faced in section four, making it completely about the potential internal dialogue of Mrs. O'Farrell is a way of relating to his wife and her possible response to the baby related gifts he had bought while she was gone. Also illustrating his fear of the possibility that she will reject these gifts, and questions are a great way to subconsciously make the reader contemplate an answer for themselves rather than consciously decoding statements made by the author.
3. The Emily Dickinson poem serving as both title and quotations perfectly exemplify one of the primary themes of the piece: Leaving a legacy. The quotes he uses from the poem amplify the theme in sections 4 and 7 titled "Hope" and "Probably I'm Wrong About a Lot of This" respectively. In section 4 the knowledge of his wife's pregnancy is the song that never stops, and the start of his desire to give his children a life that'll be worth the hardships. Section 7 uses the quote to relay that the O'Farrell family may have been an unhappy one, while keeping a glimmer of hope by referencing their obituaries in the newspapers of that time. Overall the title oozes hope that is reinforced with each quotation and signifies that a life is always worth living when you listen to and sing the song of that feathered thing perched in your soul.
4. The story I may find myself telling friends, colleagues, my children and wife is the tale of Spring quarter in my Freshman year in College. That's when I figured out that I wanted to be a writer and from that epiphany found paths that I've nearly finished walking in this, my final quarter at CSUB.
1. “Things with feathers that perches in the soul” is broken down into sections to give the reader a better understanding of the essay. The numbering help to be organized and transiting to the next paragraph.
ReplyDelete2. Having questions within the reader help the reader question what they are reading. Also, questions help to see if the reader comprehends.
3. Using Dickinson’s hope brings a little meaning of hope and also backups Doerr’s ideas.
4. A story that I can retell would be when my brother would pull pranks on me since I was younger than him and I always did what he told me to do because I wanted to hang out with him all the time no matter what pranks he did.
1. What is the effect of breaking the essay into sections and then numbering each section. Why might Doerr want to organize his essay in this manner?
ReplyDeleteThe effect of breaking this essay into sections seems clear that it is for organization purposes. It allows for us to see the focal point of each section before we enter into it. Doerr may have done this to draw our attention to important matters before we are introduced to them. Therefore, we pay more attention to what Doerr wants us to rather than things being left more to interpretation.
2. Why have section five be composed of a series of questions? Why might Doerr want to pose questions instead of writing statements?
Breaking this section into questions allows for the reader to be curious about each thing. It creates an allusion towards the mysterious parts of what Mary is thinking. Doerr may have done this to allow for readers to think and draw their own conclusions. It sparks a sort of interest that may not be present if the reader were told exactly what to think.
3. Why use an Emily Dickinson poem as the source of the title and as a running thread through the essay? Why would he want to refer to and quote this poem?
It relates to the emotion and expression Doerr is putting into his work. When he quotes the poem and then relates back to it saying “sore must be the storm indeed” we realize that he uses this poem to support his storyline. It allows for visual description and motif within the essay.
4. Near the end of the essay, Doerr writes, "What does not last, if they are not retold, are the stories. Stories need to be resurrected, revivified, reimagined; otherwise they get bundled with us into our graves: a hundred thousand of them going into the ground every hour." What is one story from your life you will retell in the future (to your friends, lovers, children)?
When I was fourteen I wrecked my dirt bike and broke my nose and collarbone hitting a jump and overshooting it. Directly after having reconstructive surgery on my nose and everything healing I wrecked once again. I was going way too fast and acquired third degree burns from road rash on an old highway. This story is something I tell quite often to my friends and will tell because of the scars it left on my arm and legs. It also explains why I no longer ride motorcycles whatsoever which was something I was very passionate about.
First, read Anthony Doerr's essay "Thing with Feathers That Perches in the Soul."
ReplyDeleteThen, answer these questions . . .
1. What is the effect of breaking the essay into sections and then numbering each section. Why might Doerr want to organize his essay in this manner?
It seemed to me that he broke the essay into there sections to give a special emphasis on the parts of the essay that had great meaning to him and to help organize the essay in a particular order.
2. Why have section five be composed of a series of questions? Why might Doerr want to pose questions instead of writing statements?
Perhaps Doerr was asking these questions rather then writing statements because he wasn't sure of the answers or he wanted to give emphasis on the question he wants his readers to be asking.
3. Why use an Emily Dickinson poem as the source of the title and as a running thread through the essay? Why would he want to refer to and quote this poem?
He used emily dickinson's poem as the source of the title and as a running head throughout the poem to help set the tone he was trying to make with his essay and helps to give emphasis to the story he is trying to tell.
4. Near the end of the essay, Doerr writes, "What does not last, if they are not retold, are the stories. Stories need to be resurrected, revivified, reimagined; otherwise they get bundled with us into our graves: a hundred thousand of them going into the ground every hour." What is one story from your life you will retell in the future (to your friends, lovers, children)?
One story from my life that i will retell to my friends, lover, and children would be how I let nothing stop me from pursuing my dream to become a nurse and how i let not obstacle take me down.
!. The effect Anthony Doerr is trying to achieve using numbered parts/sections is to organize time and topics. This technique helps the reader distinguish what is being talked about and what time the story is set in.
ReplyDelete2. The questions in section five engage the reader to feel the state of worry Mary is possibly going through.
3. Emily Dickinson's poem serves as a metaphorical explanation for the struggle of John and Mary; who are early pioneers of the state of Idaho. Doerr uses Dickinson's poem to illustrate the bitter-sweetness of life, especially Mary and John's struggle into moving away from Ireland and into the United States.
4. I would tell the Story of my parent's struggle immigrating to the United States. My parents have way more interesting stories than mine. The most interesting story I have is winning second place at my high school talent show.
1. It seemed to me that Anthony Doerr broke up the essay into sections in order to give organize the essay into section, similar to giving a short essay a title.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that Doerr composed section five with a series of questions in order to make the essay bit more interesting. Asking questions that the reader can think about makes the reader more intrigued into the various answers the reader can come up with and also because asking questions can be similar to making statements.
3. l think Doerr used the the poem in order to give capture an emphasis throughout the story and keep the reader to continuously related the story to the title.
4. One story I would retell in the future to my friends, lover and children would be how I explored in order to find out what I was meant to do and how sometimes it takes making mistakes in order to return to the path once guiding you.
1. I think Doerr breaks the essays into sections in order to give the essay structure and make it easy to follow for the reader. This is especially important since he jumps back and forth in time throughout the essay. The reader is able to easily follow the essay and Doerr keeps the reader intrigued.
ReplyDelete2. I think he does this in order to invite the reader on an imagination journey with him. We can’t possibly know all the details of Mary O’Farrell’s childhood but we can plausibly assume and imagine what her immigration and childhood circumstances must have looked or felt like. By making the sentences questions instead of statements, it leaves the reader open to wonder.
3. I think Doerr is using the poem as a way to establish (through the title) and emphasis (by using it throughout) his emotion and tone of the essay. The poem is a way to expand on the feelings and themes of the essay.
4. My mom was killed when I was 15 years old. I currently have a 3-year-old son who she was never able to meet. I will tell him many stories about her in order to keep her love and memory alive. One of my favorite stories is from when I was in 6th grade. My mom was the hip mom that all my friends wanted to be around (myself included), so naturally sleep overs usually happened at my house. During one of the sleep overs my girlfriends and I thought it would be a great idea to toilet paper one of our friends house. My mom took us to our garage where she had a big pack of Costco toilet paper. We all put on our black ninja outfits on and headed out. In the middle of our toilet paper adventure, the front porch light turns on. Everyone (including my mom) darts as quickly as they can to the car which is parked one house down. We all pile in car, huffing and puffing, and my mom speeds away. It was one of the most fun nights I have ever had. I will never forget it.
1. I think Doerr breaks the essays into sections in order to give the essay structure and make it easy to follow for the reader. This is especially important since he jumps back and forth in time throughout the essay. The reader is able to easily follow the essay and Doerr keeps the reader intrigued.
ReplyDelete2. I think he does this in order to invite the reader on an imagination journey with him. We can’t possibly know all the details of Mary O’Farrell’s childhood but we can plausibly assume and imagine what her immigration and childhood circumstances must have looked or felt like. By making the sentences questions instead of statements, it leaves the reader open to wonder.
3. I think Doerr is using the poem as a way to establish (through the title) and emphasis (by using it throughout) his emotion and tone of the essay. The poem is a way to expand on the feelings and themes of the essay.
4. My mom was killed when I was 15 years old. I currently have a 3-year-old son who she was never able to meet. I will tell him many stories about her in order to keep her love and memory alive. One of my favorite stories is from when I was in 6th grade. My mom was the hip mom that all my friends wanted to be around (myself included), so naturally sleep overs usually happened at my house. During one of the sleep overs my girlfriends and I thought it would be a great idea to toilet paper one of our friends house. My mom took us to our garage where she had a big pack of Costco toilet paper. We all put on our black ninja outfits on and headed out. In the middle of our toilet paper adventure, the front porch light turns on. Everyone (including my mom) darts as quickly as they can to the car which is parked one house down. We all pile in car, huffing and puffing, and my mom speeds away. It was one of the most fun nights I have ever had. I will never forget it.
Extremely educational post! There is a great deal of data here that can help any business begin with a fruitful informal communication fight!
ReplyDeletecustomwritings