Dr. Franklin’s Island by Ann Halam

n the story The reefs by Marcella Morris the theme of 'never give up.' is developed as a girl named Sophie who attends a school in new york feels she can solve an environmental issue but is rejected by her professors and isn't allowed to use the school lab, so she sets up her own in her aunts home to conduct research and experiments on the endangered species of the reefs. Throughout the story, she describes how her friend Sam helped her by using his humor to encourage her and was there when she found the solution. The climax sets in as Sophie hesitated to enter the door in fear that the scientists would laugh and ridicule her solution and because of Sam, she goes in. Sophie walks confidently to the front and begins her presentation, and at

Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat” and Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” include parallel ideas of Man’s hopelessness in the natural world. Through out both short stories the authors bring up questions of man’s fate and his relationship with nature as well as carry a theme of naturalism. When nature seems to repeatedly play against man, the reader wonders we whether nature is cruel and sinister, making it difficult for man to live. Evidence in the the two stories such as the animal’s presence, the environments, and the different human characters, in both stories leads one to believe that nature is not in fact out to get man, but it is a neutral, indifferent factor.

In “The Most Dangerous Game,” the conflict man vs nature is displayed very clearly. Nature is a big factor in Rainsford’s quest

While reading “The Raid” by Leo Tolstoy, one is instantly struck by the strong contrast between the peaceful nature scenes and the violent battle scenes. One minute the sounds of crickets and frogs are charmingly echoing through the night, and the next you can hear the “clang of a heavy gun” and the “sound of bayonets touching one another” (Tolstoy 20). In one scene, the generals and majors stand watching the gory battle below, yet they continue to discuss the beautiful nature around them as if nothing else could possibly be worth their attention (Tolstoy 25). However, upon closer readings, it becomes evident that the war and nature scenes are not as separate as they seem. As the story progresses, the two begin to weave together, until distinguishing them is nearly impossible. Indeed, this subtly merger can be seen throughout multiple scenes as the story evolves.

Where the Wild Things Are, a children’s book written by Maurice Sendak, is not only directed to young children, but has an underlying message that is intended for older generations to receive. This message, only used to enhance the meaning of the story, describes the addiction for one to have power and be in control. As the story goes on, the realization sets in that maybe the desire for power is not the best, at all times. The use of oppression becomes evident in this story, through Max, the main character, as he strives to control everything around him. Maurice Sendak uses repetition and parallelism in the imagery and text of Where the Wild Things Are to show Max’s progression to assume power and eventually discard it.

“But, I 'm already resigned to this fate / Looking over my life, I recall / If it hadn 't been / for the loneliness / I 'd have no companion at all. ” This stanza from “Loneliness”, by Lora Colon evokes the negative impact a lonely fate has on a person. Words like “resigned” and “loneliness” establish a sense of depression and resignation. During the times of the Great Depression, many people felt similar feelings of melancholy and stoicism. Jobs were hard to come by, and realistic dreams of success were scarce. John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, allows readers to see the life of the Great Depression. The two main characters, George and Lennie, search for jobs, like many other migrant workers. They dream of owning their own land, however, Lennie’s habit of getting in trouble prevents their dream from being reality. After he accidentally causes more trouble at their new job, George is forced to kill him out of mercy. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck shows that even if one meticulously plans out the road to their American Dream, fate will inevitably intervene and lead one to desolation and loneliness.

“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” by Pearl Poet sends a very strong message to the audience regarding the similarities that human beings have with animals, something that is often ignored. While it is undeniable that in terms of wisdom and characteristics, human beings are very much more dynamic and superior than any other animal, it is also a fact that there are many cases that can be named where other living beings displayed considerable similarities with human beings. In this work, the author tried to portray those similarities by stressing on the human and animal instincts and how each of these living beings try their best to save themselves from grave dangers. It is very much evident from this storyline that in terms of

Animals help humans in our lives for sharing their features. Every new experience can make a person change; sometimes the changes are positive, and other times it is negative. Either way, here is no avoiding change. Animals are kind, helpful, and playful.

In ‘Nickel and Dimed” by Barbara Ehrenreich, the main claim made by the author was that the low-working class are, in general, forced into an inescapable cycle of poverty. The low paying jobs they have to take are barely enough to pay rent, buy food, and other necessities. This doesn’t even include those in less favorable conditions than those Ehrenreich mimicked in her experiment. In general, Ehrenreich was trying to prove that the “living wage” offered by entry level jobs is not, in fact, “livable”. The significant supporting evidence provided in the book included Ehrenreich’s first hand experiences of mimicking (to her best abilities) what low-wage workers live everyday, as well as a plethora of supporting facts and statistics. All of Ehrenreich’s evidence was heavily supported with reliable resources. Based on the facts she presented, I agree with her claim that the majority of low-wage workers get stuck in poverty as a result of the entry-level workforce system as a whole. The evidence regarding statistics was very valid and well cited, and her first-hand experiences, while with possible flaws, only worked to further support what she was claiming. Ehrenreich’s methodology of obtaining evidence was very direct, and proved to show a plausible experience that most of the low-class would have in a best-case scenario. By that I mean in some of the best circumstances (no children, no serious medical needs, ect.), it is reasonable to assume that Ehrenreich’s experiences are

In the novel Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, the author goes on an experiment in which she moves to new towns and becomes a low-wage worker. In each town she has to find a place to live for the amount she can afford each month off of minimum wage jobs. She went undercover so she went into these jobs without showing her level of skills, college degrees, or writing skills she has. She spent a month in each town between the years of 1998 and 2000. Before starting her experiment she set rules for herself which were, “I had to take the highest-paying job that was offered me and do my best to hold it; I had to take the cheapest accommodations I could find, at least the cheapest that offered an acceptable level of safety and privacy”(Ehrenreich, Barbara (2010-04-01). Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America (p. 4). Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition). When she went on interviews and filled out applications she didn’t put any job experience down and described herself as “a divorced homemaker reentering the workforce after many years”

The idea of man versus something in the world is not foreign to most. A lot of the time a person can find another groaning or complaining about something going on or happening. When in true reality, there was nothing that person could do about it. The largest opponent that man has gone, and is going, against is nature itself.

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich is a book about trying to survive while living on a minimum wage salaryWhen first reading this book, I thought it was just going to be another book assigned that I just didn’t want to read After reading the first few pages, I was very intrigued, I began reading way ahead what was assigned for the week I 'm glad I actually got into this book because it made it so much easier to read She goes and starts her life over in different cities in order to see if it is possible to survive working at low paying jobs She starts with a small amount of money to start up and tries to get a job and a place to live She is not allowed to fall back on her bank account in order to pay bills or buy food unless she is at

Exploring the interaction between animals and humans, the poems “Traveling through the Dark” and “Woodchucks” both analyze this relationship with unique insightfulness. William Stafford, the author of “Traveling through the Dark,” depicts an accidental encounter with a dead deer on the road, while Maxine Kumin, the author of “Woodchucks,” invites the readers to witness a hateful holocaust against woodchucks. Although focusing on similar topics with regard to human’s reaction towards the death of animals, “Traveling through the Dark” and “Woodchucks” display a solid contrast of their use of syntax, distinguished by the complexity of their language, and the focus of their main themes, which reveals the two author’s different attitudes on men and the nature.

MAN VS. NATURE The imagery of the short story “The Birds”, by Daphne du Maurier, illustrates that nature will always defeat man no matter what. For example, when the birds weretrying to attack the children. “ Their came a second cry of terror this time from both children and stumbling in their room, he felt the beating of wings about him in the darkness” (53).

The chapter, A Day in Samoa, by Margaret Mead has a theme of leaders and followers. Young fishermen must bring “taboo fish to their chief” as a form of taxation. The Chief leads the village therefore is benefited with taboo fish. The men come to gather from “rhythmic sounds that [echo] through the village”. The men are gathered with digging sticks in their hand to start inland to the plantation. Samoan men are able to follow the rhythmic sounds as a group and start working. Leading and following builds an important structure to the daily life of Samoans.