Unit 2: HTRLLAP
By: Syed Zubyr Hussain, Neal 2nd, AP English 4
Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness
Figure out Harry Potter’s scar. If you aren’t familiar with Harry Potter, select another character with a physical imperfection and analyze its implications for characterization. Discuss the implications in Frankenstein.
In Chapter 21 Foster discusses the symbolic importance that physical marks or deformities take on in literature. Physical imperfections are not only just imperfections, they tell us something about the character's uniqueness or even of the prevailing social and political thought of the time. Individual markings each tell their own unique tale but all ultimately point to uniqueness in character. These physical deformities indicate psychological and moral values. They play a significant role in how the character represents a characteristic, how this mark could foreshadow an event, show a mental state or even describe the past as well as show how the character can overcome certain obstacles.
Harry’s scar in the Harry Potter series symbolizes the tragedy of his past. His scar indicates that he survived his “early” death, the sacrifice his parents made as well as a connection to the antagonist.
The physical deformity of Frankenstein's creature is his entire body, his whole physical appearance. The creature's body is immediately resented by those who first see this creature. The people who see this creature have a wrong misconception and therefore over judge the situation. This symbolizes misunderstanding and the extent to which people attribute such errors, especially in sight. This misunderstanding, formed by his physical deformities, ignites him to show hatred towards the world because of how he was treated and how people saw him only externally.
Chapter 22: He’s Blind for a Reason, You Know
Recall a character’s blindness in a work of literature. What may that blindness symbolize or emphasize? How does his or her blindness provide for the theme of the piece?
In Chapter 22, Foster discusses that there is an importance to the introduction of a blind person in a story. The author introduces this person to emphasize the level of blindness and sight of which this character will play a role in the story. This blindness is not necessarily physical but also metaphorical such blindness to the truth or unawareness that plays a role in conveying tone, mood or the plot of the story as it progresses. There is also irony in the sense that the blind characters can “see” more than the other characters with vision, so therefore represent unawareness in the situation. This blindness can also give the blind one other enhanced senses rather than sight as a means of giving a lesson. This blindness could influence the attitudes as well as beliefs of the other characters. In being a side character, These blind ones (physically) are portrayed as having more knowledge in the sense of the plot or a foreshadowing. In the aspect of the blind one being the main character (metaphorically), they may be blind to a certain aspect of a plot that will be eventually covered and this is the reason the main character isn't able to progress through his own “success” or venture.
In Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner, the main character of the story was blind himself. Amir was not physically blind, but he was blind to the truth behind the place he calls home and to the important things in life, the things that bring the happiness he strives for. Hosseini’s reason for creating such a character was to introduce him as someone who is lacking sight, but gains it little by little as the story grows. As he gets older and time passes, he learns more and more about the terrible things about his motherland that were hidden from him for many years.
Chapter 23 and 24
Recall a character who dies of disease in a literary work. Consider how this death reflects the “principles governing the use of disease in literature.” Discuss the effectiveness of the death as related to plot, theme, or symbolism.
In Chapter 23, Foster explicates the idea that when an author brings heart problems into the writing, it’s not just simply a heart illness. This sort of illness can depict sadness, isolation (loneliness), a heartbreak, or simply any other emotional pain. In chapter 24, He also emphasizes on the different principles of these diseases, stating that 1.) not all diseases are created equal: some are used often in more works than others due to the effect of that disease, 2.) The disease should be picturesque, meaning that the reader should visualize the character suffering with this disease., 3.) It/s origin should remain unknown so this adds suspense to the plot, and 4.) The disease should have symbolic possibilities and its characteristics should symbolize something in the story.
An example is Arthur Golden’s novel Memoirs of a Geisha. As youngsters, Sayuri and her sister Satsu knew their mother was very ill.She had high fevers and her condition worsened by the day. Their father did his best to treat and help her but it was of no use; he knew she was going to die soon. Knowing that he couldn't take care of his children, his inability to continue with his job and that his wife was not going to recover, he sold them away to a rich family in the city. The family consisted of three women, being a Geisha house, and Sayuri was separated from her sister who was working in a different house. The mother’s death followed shortly after as well as their father’s. Sayuri and her sister Satsu were planning to run away to go back to their home, and after hearing of their parents death, they knew it wasn’t possible. The mother’s death was significant because had she been well, Sayuri and Satsu would have never been sold to another family. Their lives would have been much different. They would have been together, and with their family. Sayuri would have never had to become a Geisha, and she would have lived a much different, but poorer, life like she and her sister did when they were young. All of this would have happened if the sisters’ mother would have been healthy.
Chapter 25: Dont Read With Your Eyes
After reading Chapter 25, choose a scene from Frankenstein. Contrast how it could be viewed by a reader from the twenty-first century with how it might be viewed by a reader contemporary to the work. Focus on specific assumptions that the author makes, assumptions that would not make it in this century.
One scene that is of significant importance is the confrontation of Victor and Justine as Justine was about to get hanged. As per the author, Victor knows that he cannot help Justine because no one would believe him if he said that he created a monster that was responsible for the death that Justine was accused of. He indirectly killed his own brother, William. If Frankenstein hadn’t killed William, Justine wouldn't have been executed. If a reader viewed this scene from the time period when the book was written, he/she would completely agree on the view that Victor couldn’t help Justine because there isn’t any proof that Justine didn’t do it and the evidence that they had of William’s death was in Justine’s possession; this was all the proof the townspeople needed. In contrast, someone from the 21st century would agree on the view that Justine would have been saved if Victor had lived in a modern society where there were advancements in technology that would’ve proven Justine’s innocence. What differed in both reader’s viewpoints was the difference in time period which meant variability in ideals, norms, values, beliefs, systems, different advancements in technologies, and most important of all authority that indicate a different way of life. The author spoke of a situation in which Victor couldn’t help Justine prove her innocence as compared to if this situation was played out in today’s world in which Justine would have gone several interrogations as well as fully fledged investigations before she could be proven innocent. A reader from back in the day would see it as normal when the townspeople took authority over the case and dictated the approval of her judgement as compared to a reader today who would see better sense if Victor had informed the designated authorities, being the police, about the case (if they were present in that society).
Works Cited
Witt, Trevor. Harry Potter's Scar. Digital image. Odyssey. Magnus Bartlett, 2 Dec. 2014. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.
Blind Man Walking. Digital image. MyVisionTest. MyVisionTest, 21 July 2008. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.
Cyber, Dante. Rotting Heart. Digital image. Deviant Art. Deviant Art, 1 Dec. 2012. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.
Hughes, Tom. An Old Man To The Gallows. Digital image. Blogger. Pyra Labs, 3 Oct. 2011. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.