"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.
"The injured captain,lying in the bow, was at this time buried in that profound dejection and indifference which comes, temporarily at least, to even the bravest and most enduring when, willy nilly, the firm fails, the army loses, the ship goes down"(pg.342). This quote shows evidence of how even those who would expect to be most successful in finding meaning are unable to do so and end up in a harsh state.
Yes, and think about that expression "willy nilly." It's not used much any more, but it basically means something happens by chance, without it's being expected. So the dejection comes when a person sees something fail and it can't be explained or attributed to human error.
On page 342 the description of the Bronco provides evidence as to why searching for meaning is a futile exercise. The Bronco is related to the boat as a whole, then the work of the Bronco is explained. The key component is that as the Bronco is always working but never reaches it's goal. Just like the Bronco the crew is always working to get past the next hurdle and find the answer as to whether the refuge house will have a crew or not. This is shown clearly when the oiler states, "We're not they're yet". The symbol implies they will never reach their goal. Which means trying is then futile, because the results will never come.
"When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him" (353).
This quote shows the narrator realizing that nature just does not give a darn about mankind, so what would be the point of searching for meaning anyway because the universe will always think that you are nothing! Cheery, right?
"If I am going to be drowned-if I am going to be drowned-if I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods, who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees? Was I brought here merely to have my nose dragged away as I was about to nibble the sacred cheese of life" (351)? This quote shows the men asking some really deep questions about why they are having to go through this experience. We never find out the answers to these questions and a metaphor about cheese, and neither do the men in the boat. These questions highlight the absurdity of asking questions that we will never have the answer to.
The correspondent did not try to fully understand the glances the others were making. His "mind was dominated at this time by the muscles, and the muscles said they did not care" (356). The correspondent did not try to focus on everything that was going on around him. He was only focusing on what he was doing. He probably figured it would have been pointless to focus on why crew members were giving such looks whenhe should really be rowing the boat and making progress.
"If this old ninny-woman, Fate, cannot do better than this, she should be deprived of the management of men's fortunes. She is an old hen who knows not her intention.(348)" The captain accepts that men are controlled by fate and then claims that fate does not itself know it's intentions. In other words, fate does not have know why it controls life the way it does. If the force that controls men does not know why it controls men, how are men supposed to figure out why fate controls them? If no answer is available how are men to find it? It is futile to search for a non-existent answer.
On page 348 "'Fate cannot do better than this, she should be deprived of the management of men's fortunes. She is an old hen who knows not her intention.'" This quote shows that what is the point of trying to find any meaning in life when at any moment it can just disappear. The idea that fate doesn't even know her own intentions show that it is very unpredictable so what is the point of trying to find meaning.
"The plan of the oiler and the correspondent was for one to row until he lost the ability [. . .] The oiler plied the oared until his head drooped forward, and the overpowering sleep blinded him. And he rowed yet afterward" (351).
"In the shallows, face downward, lay the oiler. His forehead touched sand that was periodically, between each wave, clear of the sea" (358).
The first quote shows how the men are trying to row their way to safety. They are trying to reach some destination. They are searching for something. Later, the oiler's search proves futile as he is dead. Everyone dies. So it goes.
On page 352, the correspondent was the only one awake on the boat when the shark began to circle. Searching for meaning is pointless because in that moment, the shark could have tipped the boat and had quite a nice meal. In the end, everyone dies, so what's the point. Right?
"The injured captain,lying in the bow, was at this time buried in that profound dejection and indifference which comes, temporarily at least, to even the bravest and most enduring when, willy nilly, the firm fails, the army loses, the ship goes down"(pg.342). This quote shows evidence of how even those who would expect to be most successful in finding meaning are unable to do so and end up in a harsh state.
ReplyDeleteYes, and think about that expression "willy nilly." It's not used much any more, but it basically means something happens by chance, without it's being expected. So the dejection comes when a person sees something fail and it can't be explained or attributed to human error.
DeleteOn page 342 the description of the Bronco provides evidence as to why searching for meaning is a futile exercise. The Bronco is related to the boat as a whole, then the work of the Bronco is explained. The key component is that as the Bronco is always working but never reaches it's goal. Just like the Bronco the crew is always working to get past the next hurdle and find the answer as to whether the refuge house will have a crew or not. This is shown clearly when the oiler states, "We're not they're yet". The symbol implies they will never reach their goal. Which means trying is then futile, because the results will never come.
ReplyDelete"When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him" (353).
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows the narrator realizing that nature just does not give a darn about mankind, so what would be the point of searching for meaning anyway because the universe will always think that you are nothing! Cheery, right?
I know. It's a good thing the sun is shining today because this story is not exactly uplifting.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"If I am going to be drowned-if I am going to be drowned-if I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods, who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate sand and trees? Was I brought here merely to have my nose dragged away as I was about to nibble the sacred cheese of life" (351)?
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows the men asking some really deep questions about why they are having to go through this experience. We never find out the answers to these questions and a metaphor about cheese, and neither do the men in the boat. These questions highlight the absurdity of asking questions that we will never have the answer to.
This is also the part I would have chosen for evidence. It is as if they wish they has died in the beginning rather than go through this struggle.
DeleteThe correspondent did not try to fully understand the glances the others were making. His "mind was dominated at this time by the muscles, and the muscles said they did not care" (356). The correspondent did not try to focus on everything that was going on around him. He was only focusing on what he was doing. He probably figured it would have been pointless to focus on why crew members were giving such looks whenhe should really be rowing the boat and making progress.
ReplyDeleteNotice how the story comes down to some basic biology, the physical aspect of the sailors.
Delete"If this old ninny-woman, Fate, cannot do better than this, she should be deprived of the management of men's fortunes. She is an old hen who knows not her intention.(348)" The captain accepts that men are controlled by fate and then claims that fate does not itself know it's intentions. In other words, fate does not have know why it controls life the way it does. If the force that controls men does not know why it controls men, how are men supposed to figure out why fate controls them? If no answer is available how are men to find it? It is futile to search for a non-existent answer.
ReplyDeleteWOAH, that made my head hurt.
DeleteOn page 348 "'Fate cannot do better than this, she should be deprived of the management of men's fortunes. She is an old hen who knows not her intention.'" This quote shows that what is the point of trying to find any meaning in life when at any moment it can just disappear. The idea that fate doesn't even know her own intentions show that it is very unpredictable so what is the point of trying to find meaning.
ReplyDeleteYes. We could do a little feminist criticism and wonder why Fate is made female, but that's a topic for another discussion.
Delete"The plan of the oiler and the correspondent was for one to row until he lost the ability [. . .] The oiler plied the oared until his head drooped forward, and the overpowering sleep blinded him. And he rowed yet afterward" (351).
ReplyDelete"In the shallows, face downward, lay the oiler. His forehead touched sand that was periodically, between each wave, clear of the sea" (358).
The first quote shows how the men are trying to row their way to safety. They are trying to reach some destination. They are searching for something. Later, the oiler's search proves futile as he is dead. Everyone dies. So it goes.
On page 352, the correspondent was the only one awake on the boat when the shark began to circle. Searching for meaning is pointless because in that moment, the shark could have tipped the boat and had quite a nice meal. In the end, everyone dies, so what's the point. Right?
ReplyDelete