Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Job #5

There are a few things I noticed in the writing styles of Irving vs. Bierce. I first thought how Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" was almost overly descriptive and too long of a short story for my attention span. Of Course, this has nothing to do with how good the story is. I’m sure it's very enjoyable to a reader who has a good vocabulary.

On the other side of the creek, so to speak, I thought it was easier for someone of my reading level to enjoy "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" because It was easier to picture. For instance, having read my share about the Civil War period, I could picture slaveholders wanting to do anything within their power to prevent the emancipation of the slaves whose labor had provided for them; and that makes me wonder if I wouldn't have done the same thing were I in his shoes.

Job #4

Why had the cannoneer fired a last shot when Farquhar was on the shore, far from the bridge and "behind a projecting point which concealed him from his enemies"?

Job #3

dignitary- Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him.(ch 1)

knell-Its recurrence was regular, but as slow as the tolling of a death knell.(ch 1)

imperious-Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with the gallant army...and he chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the release of his energies, the larger life of the soldier, the opportunity for distinction.(ch 2)

report-Suddenly he heard a sharp report and something struck the water smartly within a few inches of his head, spattering his face with spray.(ch 3)

martinet-The officer," he reasoned, "will not make that martinet's error a second time.(ch 3)

note: The reason I did the word report was because it was used in an unusual way, even though the definition may be the same.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Job #2

An idea from this story can also be seen in the movie "Inception". Though this movie has many ideas related to dreaming, It gives the idea that when a person dreams, time slows down; and his mind speeds up. This was certainly what happened in Farquhar's case (although with him it was more of a daydream). In some of chapter 1 and in most of chapter 3 this really fast dreaming occurs in the form of Farquhar's "escape".