"English Sem" is a two-semester course for 1 high school credit and an opportunity for six college credits open to seniors.
First semester covers readings from exploration and colonial days to the Civil War. Second semester encompasses authors from the Civil War to the present. Students are required to do college-level writing and literary interpretation throughout the year.
Explain the final sentence of the story. (interpret what? to or for whom?) Is this an indication of hope and meaning, or is this an indication of hopelessness and meaninglessness?
The people from the boat can now be the interpreters of the sea and wind to those that have not traveled through storms. I think this is an indication of hope and meaning.
If they are interpreting the sea and the winds, what will they say? How has this experience enabled them to hear and understand a "language" that others cant'?
In the line, "When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on the shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters," the men felt that they could be 'interpreters' for the ocean after being on there for days. They have felt that they had finally understood the sea as they 'heard' the sounds of the sea. This is an indication of hope and meaning. The mean had once saw the sea as relentless and unforgiving, but now that they are on land they see the sea in a different light.
They understood that the difference between land's welcome and sinister hospitality of the ocean is the watery grave. They can understand the sea better now because they were on that edge between dying and living at the 'hands' of the water.
I think this last line is more linked with hope and meaning. Through the whole story they were at war with nature essentially and now most of them lived to tell about it. It is a life lesson to the men that nature is more powerful than they are. Nature took the life of the oiler. Instead of having hope and meaning I think it may be more of an understanding of nature.
Interesting wording in your response. The man are battling and they sea the ocean as the enemy. Is the ocean also battling against them? Are the men the enemy of the ocean?
"When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters."I don't really think this is a meaning for neither hope and meaning nor hoplessness and meaningless. I think it just simply is stating that they were happy to be on shore and safe, but the amount of time that they spent out at sea, with the waves and the creatures that lurk underneath, they could interpret every single thing that the ocean does. The words "sea" and "wave" are brought up 83 different times, so the fact that the crew had so much experience with the ocean at that time, they could predict what the ocean would be doing when and interpret what the ocean was trying to do/"say".
I feel as though the last sentence actually can show some hopelessness and meaningless through the eyes of the three men who survived. Hearing the noise of the wind on the sea and the roar of the crashing waves is most likely pretty traumatizing after the experience they had. They would likely be interpreting their experience and the new emotions and moments they connect with the "language" of the ocean and all its sounds and creatures. Their whole time at sea filled their heads with hopelessness, and made many of them feel like their lives were meaningless (and they are, according to nature), so now whenever someone asks them to tell them about their experience, it brings out that hopelessness that has been placed in their hearts.
The people from the boat can now be the interpreters of the sea and wind to those that have not traveled through storms. I think this is an indication of hope and meaning.
ReplyDeleteIf they are interpreting the sea and the winds, what will they say? How has this experience enabled them to hear and understand a "language" that others cant'?
DeleteIn the line, "When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on the shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters," the men felt that they could be 'interpreters' for the ocean after being on there for days. They have felt that they had finally understood the sea as they 'heard' the sounds of the sea. This is an indication of hope and meaning. The mean had once saw the sea as relentless and unforgiving, but now that they are on land they see the sea in a different light.
ReplyDeleteWhat understanding have they come to? What has this experience enabled them to understand that others could not?
DeleteThey understood that the difference between land's welcome and sinister hospitality of the ocean is the watery grave. They can understand the sea better now because they were on that edge between dying and living at the 'hands' of the water.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think this last line is more linked with hope and meaning. Through the whole story they were at war with nature essentially and now most of them lived to tell about it. It is a life lesson to the men that nature is more powerful than they are. Nature took the life of the oiler. Instead of having hope and meaning I think it may be more of an understanding of nature.
ReplyDeleteInteresting wording in your response. The man are battling and they sea the ocean as the enemy. Is the ocean also battling against them? Are the men the enemy of the ocean?
DeleteIs the sea evil? Is their message that the ocean = death and land = life?
ReplyDelete"When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters."I don't really think this is a meaning for neither hope and meaning nor hoplessness and meaningless. I think it just simply is stating that they were happy to be on shore and safe, but the amount of time that they spent out at sea, with the waves and the creatures that lurk underneath, they could interpret every single thing that the ocean does. The words "sea" and "wave" are brought up 83 different times, so the fact that the crew had so much experience with the ocean at that time, they could predict what the ocean would be doing when and interpret what the ocean was trying to do/"say".
ReplyDeleteI feel as though the last sentence actually can show some hopelessness and meaningless through the eyes of the three men who survived. Hearing the noise of the wind on the sea and the roar of the crashing waves is most likely pretty traumatizing after the experience they had. They would likely be interpreting their experience and the new emotions and moments they connect with the "language" of the ocean and all its sounds and creatures. Their whole time at sea filled their heads with hopelessness, and made many of them feel like their lives were meaningless (and they are, according to nature), so now whenever someone asks them to tell them about their experience, it brings out that hopelessness that has been placed in their hearts.
ReplyDelete