John Updike And Oscar Casares Essay

1. What piece of paper did the author’s mother carry for twenty years, and why did she carry it?

In the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to the idea of flashbacks, which remain short and are intertwined seamlessly within the text. The readers learn to be active when reading, and also pay close attention to the details within the flashbacks to learn more about the characters that their past lives.

Parenting played a big role in shaping the two boys lives. Having a parental mentor is important because they assist and guide children to take the right decisions about their lives. The author had his two parents at the beginning of his life. Also, the author’s parents, especially his mother, tried to raise him in an effective way wanting him to know the right from wrong at an early age. “No mommy loves you, like I love you, she just wants you to do the right thing” (Moore 11). This quote was a live example of the author’s life with his parents. It reflected the different ways his parents used to teach him “the right thing.” Though his mother was upset from his action toward his sister, his father

The story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce uses techniques such as flashback and ethos, or emotion, to show that life isn’t as fair as some believe. Bierce uses flashback when Peyton Farquhar, the main character of the story, is being hanged. His

The relationship between the two fathers and the two sons is a very important theme in this book. Because of their different backgrounds, Reb Saunders and David Malters approached raising a child from two totally different perspectives.

both explicit and implicitly; the son does not forget that his mother has the ultimate say in what

In “Heroes” by Robert Cormier, Francis, the main character, is out on a mission to kill his enemy, Larry LaSalle. “Heroes” uses flashbacks consistently to develop the plot and keep the reader’s attention. If it were not in the story, the story would be bland and boring overall. Foreshadowing plays a huge role in the story and creates suspense throughout the book. For example, in the beginning of the book, Francis states, “Then I am filled up with guilt and shame, knowing that I have just prayed for the man I am going to kill.”

In his short story "A & P" John Updike utilizes a 19-year-old adolescent to show us how a boy gets one step closer to adulthood. Sammy, an A & P checkout clerk, talks to the reader with blunt first person observations setting the tone of the story from the outset. The setting of the story shows us Sammy's position in life and where he really wants to be. Through the characterization of Sammy, Updike employs a simple heroic gesture to teach us that actions have consequences and we are responsible for our own actions.

The importance of Toni Morrison using flashbacks for technique is great to build up the character's personality and how they develop.

Gazing at beauty does inexplicable things to the human mind, it is uncontrollable and difficult to maintain stability. In the story A&P by John Updike, Sam and his co-workers are engrossed by the three girls in the grocery store. One could say, the opposite sex holds the power of desire.

In A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, Bartolomé de Las Casas vividly describes the brutality wrought on the natives in the Americas by the Europeans primarily for the purpose of proclaiming and spreading the Christian faith. Las Casas originally intended this account to reach the royal administration of Spain; however, it soon found its way into the hands of many international readers, especially after translation. Bartolomé de Las Casas illustrates an extremely graphic and grim reality to his readers using literary methods such as characterization, imagery, amplification, authorial intrusion and the invocation of providence while trying to appeal to the sympathies of his audience about such atrocities.

     David Berkowitz was one of the most feared killers in New York City in the 1970's. His crimes caused the death of six people, and the injuries to seven others. His crimes became legendary because of the bizarre content in the letters that he wrote to the police and the media and his reasons for committing the attacks. David Berkowitz, better known as Son of Sam, is a man with a troubled childhood and upbringing. From his many “Parental Figures” to believing that dogs were telling him to kill. During his reign of killing the police felt the pressure to catch David. "Operation Omega" was formed, which was comprised of over 200 detectives – all working on finding the Son of Sam before he killed again.

During the 1930's American citizens witnessed a breakdown of the Democratic and free enterprise way of life. The government saw that the free enterprise system was failing. The New Deal increased the government's regulation and intervention and the economic system, thus temporarily abandoning the capitalism system and turning toward socialism to find the answer. The answer... the New Deal. Socialism is usually thought of as a form of government that advocates public ownership and public control of wealth (Britannica Jr. Encyclopedia 1980, p.231).

The author creates themes of commonality that are relatable to many in this story story. There is a crucial moment in rebellious child’s lives that pushes them to act out. For Lola this happens to be her mother and her battle with breast cancer, “with her cancer there wasn’t much she could do anymore” (Diaz 5). Lola,

Yet in telling a story in this way, the reader think that just when you think things couldn't get any worse, they do. Along with this style of writing the author had to make sure that the reader would pay close attention to details in order to catch on. Morrison had the idea that if the reader would be lost in what was happening in the book, then finally had a moment of clarity when the flashback gave insight on the unknown pieces of the characters background. As a reader, this style of writing is effective in telling a story because of all the powerful and vivid images that the flashbacks bring. It reminds me of a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder flashback in which Sethe feels like she is reliving the most terrible times.