Summary:
In the falling action of The Chocolate War, Leon is taking the sales and the people that are associated with them too seriously. For instance, if someone has sold 47 chocolates, he is excited to acknowledge that, that person only needs 3 more to meet their share of the quota. He would make a commotion when one actually does meet the 50 chocolate bars that they must sell. Leon persists calling on Jerry, and as usual, Jerry says that he will take no part. When it is inquired of Brother Leon by a boy named Harold why jerry refuses to sell chocolates, they claim that everyone has the right to know. Jerry tries to retalliate by claiming that he lives in a free country, however, Brother Leon does not deem that as a legitimate answer. Jerry reaches the conclusion that selling chocolates is voluntary in its entirety. Janza tried to provoke a fight and insults from Jerry; Janza wanted a pretext other than the fact that Jerry was refusing to sell the chocolates to beat him up. When Jerry was accused of being in the closet, he called Janza a SOB; before he knew it, they were on him.
Quote:
"Mainly, he didn't want to fight for the same reason he wasn't selling the chocolates—he wanted to make his own decisions, do his own thing, like they said" (Cormier 211).
Reaction:
This is the theme that is discussed in previous chapters about Jerry being an existentialist, and most people oppose his decision. The narrator says this when Janza is touching Jerry on the cheek and trying to provoke a fight by insinuating that Jerry is a homosexual. Jerry claimed that he was feeling capable of beating Janza in a fight, but was negligent to engage in it.I found out that Jerry paid physically for his refusal to sell the chocolates.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Cocolate War (Pgs. 150 to 201)
Summary:
This portion of my reading (Chapters 22-29) opens up by talking about the chocolate sales once more, and how the sales are dropping significantly. Just when Jerry thought that the Goob, the football team, and him were clicking, Goober decides to quit. Goober's pretext for quitting the team was that there was some bad omen in the school, and Jerry suggested that, that omen might be The Vigils; Goober concurs. Tension rises between Archie and Brother Leon because the quota about doubled from the previous year. Brother Leon wants to use Archie because it is in his best interest to do so, since he is twenty grand in debt to the school. Leon suggests that Archie make The Vigils make Jerry sell his chocolates, and ultimately threatens him and The Vigils, that if the sales fall, then The Vigils will fall. Jerry was summoned and enticed some chocolates, Archie ended up assigning him to say yes during the roll call and accept the chocolates.
Quote:
Reaction:
This quote jumped out at me primarily because I strongly agree with it and I believe that what it says is very true. However, Archie says this when he comes to the realization of as to why Jerry is being so adamant about not selling chocolates. This quote and the events that follow also revealed to me that Jerry is an existentialist. He had chosen to not take and sell chocolates, stuck with that decision, and at the end of the day he acknowledged that life was absurd. He made another choice as well, he decided to call all the Barrets in the phonebook in his endeavor to talk to that pretty girl. Nevertheless, he had made the call, taken a step, broken teh routine of his days and nights" (Cormier 177).
This portion of my reading (Chapters 22-29) opens up by talking about the chocolate sales once more, and how the sales are dropping significantly. Just when Jerry thought that the Goob, the football team, and him were clicking, Goober decides to quit. Goober's pretext for quitting the team was that there was some bad omen in the school, and Jerry suggested that, that omen might be The Vigils; Goober concurs. Tension rises between Archie and Brother Leon because the quota about doubled from the previous year. Brother Leon wants to use Archie because it is in his best interest to do so, since he is twenty grand in debt to the school. Leon suggests that Archie make The Vigils make Jerry sell his chocolates, and ultimately threatens him and The Vigils, that if the sales fall, then The Vigils will fall. Jerry was summoned and enticed some chocolates, Archie ended up assigning him to say yes during the roll call and accept the chocolates.
Quote:
"Everybody has to do things in this world they don't want to" (Cormier 172).
Reaction:
This quote jumped out at me primarily because I strongly agree with it and I believe that what it says is very true. However, Archie says this when he comes to the realization of as to why Jerry is being so adamant about not selling chocolates. This quote and the events that follow also revealed to me that Jerry is an existentialist. He had chosen to not take and sell chocolates, stuck with that decision, and at the end of the day he acknowledged that life was absurd. He made another choice as well, he decided to call all the Barrets in the phonebook in his endeavor to talk to that pretty girl. Nevertheless, he had made the call, taken a step, broken teh routine of his days and nights" (Cormier 177).
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Chocolate War (Pgs. 102 to 149)
Summary:
Chapter fifteen starts out with some dialect between Archie and Emile about a picture that, unknown to Emile, does not exist. Archie had been using the non-existing picture of a seemingly ridiculous situation to blackmail Janza. Brother Leon and Caroni are discussing Caroni's F when Brother Leon calls Caroni by his first name—David. It was unsual to see Brother Leon call him 'David,' as he seldom referred to any of his students by their first names, or else, in so doing he would be crossing the 'invisible line between teacher and student.' Ultimately, Brother Leon and Caroni end up talking about the chocolate sales and Leon demands to know why Jerry had not been selling chocolates. Caroni informs Leon that Jerry was doing it in behalf of the vigils and that he was protesting it for 10 more day, of which the tenth day happened to be the following day. Brother Leon hoped that Jerry would pick up on selling chocolates on the eleventh day, but apparantly, Jerry had different plans. Jerry decided to not sell chocolated after serving the 10-day term assigned by The Vigils because it had become personal to him.
Quote:
I believe that this quote is true, however, I do not think that Leon is flexible enough with this standard. Although he was referring to Caroni by his first name that time, he was doing it for the purpose of giving Caroni false hope, or to toy with his mind. I can draw a distinction from this quote—we BPS kids NEVER call our teachers by their first names. While I can live with this form of respect and formality, I believe that having more intimate relationships with teachers is in everyone's best interest. If calling someone by their first name increases intimacy, ultimately, this quote led me to think why children don't call their parents by their first names; there is certainly a contradiction here.
Chapter fifteen starts out with some dialect between Archie and Emile about a picture that, unknown to Emile, does not exist. Archie had been using the non-existing picture of a seemingly ridiculous situation to blackmail Janza. Brother Leon and Caroni are discussing Caroni's F when Brother Leon calls Caroni by his first name—David. It was unsual to see Brother Leon call him 'David,' as he seldom referred to any of his students by their first names, or else, in so doing he would be crossing the 'invisible line between teacher and student.' Ultimately, Brother Leon and Caroni end up talking about the chocolate sales and Leon demands to know why Jerry had not been selling chocolates. Caroni informs Leon that Jerry was doing it in behalf of the vigils and that he was protesting it for 10 more day, of which the tenth day happened to be the following day. Brother Leon hoped that Jerry would pick up on selling chocolates on the eleventh day, but apparantly, Jerry had different plans. Jerry decided to not sell chocolated after serving the 10-day term assigned by The Vigils because it had become personal to him.
Quote:
"There is an invisible line between teacher and student, he [Brother Leon] always said, and it must not be crossed" (Cormier 108).Reaction:
I believe that this quote is true, however, I do not think that Leon is flexible enough with this standard. Although he was referring to Caroni by his first name that time, he was doing it for the purpose of giving Caroni false hope, or to toy with his mind. I can draw a distinction from this quote—we BPS kids NEVER call our teachers by their first names. While I can live with this form of respect and formality, I believe that having more intimate relationships with teachers is in everyone's best interest. If calling someone by their first name increases intimacy, ultimately, this quote led me to think why children don't call their parents by their first names; there is certainly a contradiction here.
The Chocolate War (Pgs. 39 to 101)
Summary:
Chapter six opens up by describing Brother Leon teaching personality. For instance, he would use some vulgar words in an attempt to shock, but also to look offensive; although he looked inoffensive, students later found out that he wasn't. Archie told Emile that he was beautiful, as in special. Archie was perhaps one of the few peole that Emile respected, and maybe even feared. In my reading, Jerry also recollects his mother's illness and her death. She was a very hard worker. Upon her death, Jerry and his father grew distant from each other, and he recalls them mourning over his mother at the funeral. The Chocolate sales begin and Brother Leon is taking a liking to being in charge and enjoying himself. Students must keep track of the number of boxes of chocolate that they sell. Mean while, the next morning in Brother Eugene's room Brian Kelly's chair collapsed when he touched it.
Quote:
Reaction:
The question that Leon wanted an answer for was, "Why do you find it necessary to cheat?" (Cormier 42). Leon suggests that 'earning' A's is a sign of perfection, a feat that only god is capable of. However, how does Leon explain diligence and studying? Leon also implies that only Geniouses were capable of performing at such a level, and was pondering if Bailey was a genious, and that eventhough he looked like one, Leon doubted that he was. Of course, eventually, Leon was putting on an act all along. he established that Bailey's classmates were the feeble minded ones and the cheaters. I'm surprised that the class didn't realize these false accusations earlier. The only person that did protest, did so too weakly and to late.
Chapter six opens up by describing Brother Leon teaching personality. For instance, he would use some vulgar words in an attempt to shock, but also to look offensive; although he looked inoffensive, students later found out that he wasn't. Archie told Emile that he was beautiful, as in special. Archie was perhaps one of the few peole that Emile respected, and maybe even feared. In my reading, Jerry also recollects his mother's illness and her death. She was a very hard worker. Upon her death, Jerry and his father grew distant from each other, and he recalls them mourning over his mother at the funeral. The Chocolate sales begin and Brother Leon is taking a liking to being in charge and enjoying himself. Students must keep track of the number of boxes of chocolate that they sell. Mean while, the next morning in Brother Eugene's room Brian Kelly's chair collapsed when he touched it.
Quote:
"Brother Leon whirled around. "Are you perfect, Bailey? All those A's—that implies perfection. Is that the answer, Bailey?" (Cormier 44).
Reaction:
The question that Leon wanted an answer for was, "Why do you find it necessary to cheat?" (Cormier 42). Leon suggests that 'earning' A's is a sign of perfection, a feat that only god is capable of. However, how does Leon explain diligence and studying? Leon also implies that only Geniouses were capable of performing at such a level, and was pondering if Bailey was a genious, and that eventhough he looked like one, Leon doubted that he was. Of course, eventually, Leon was putting on an act all along. he established that Bailey's classmates were the feeble minded ones and the cheaters. I'm surprised that the class didn't realize these false accusations earlier. The only person that did protest, did so too weakly and to late.
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