Fahrenheit 451 question #6

We still read "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury for several reasons. These reasons would be the message the book shares, the characters, and the lessons we can learn from reading it. Like I said, the message is a big factor to what makes this book timeless. After reading this book, I have concluded that the message is that literature and knowledge is a great value, and what keeps us informed enough to think for ourselves and be our own person. In this book, the people are completely controlled by the government. The government rules through fear and violence so the people are too afraid to act differently. The few people who do think for themselves are Clarisse, Professor Faber and the main character, Guy Montag. This message about self knowledge, value, and individuality is something that can be applied through the years. That's what makes it so timeless. Another timeless aspect of this book would be the characters. A few characters I think are timeless would be Clarisse and Mildred. Clarisse is kind of your teenage girl that is not afraid to be herself and could care less what people think of her. Mildred is someone who tries to avoid the problems and escapes through drugs. "The small crystal bottle of sleeping tablets which earlier today had been filled with thirty capsules and which now lay uncapped and empty in the light of the tiny flare" (Bradbury, 13). Both characters are common in society today. Lastly, the lessons learned are timeless as well. From this book, one can learn the effects of a society without literature and books. The people in this city really did not think for themselves, but because they did not have history in books or other resources they did not know any better. It also shows the loss of individuality when a government controls every aspect of your life. All of these aspects together prove why this particular book is timeless and can be read still today.

 Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 question #5

The book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury does a good job at reflecting the history, behavior, and social issues of the time period and setting. The time period of the story is not specific. It only implies that it takes place a few generations in the future. The setting is also not specified. The book simply says that it is an American city. We learn about the history of this futuristic time period through the characters and what they talk about. Examples of this would be what Faber tells Montag about the past, what Clarisse tells him about her family and their experiences, and then what they read in books. The behavior of this time period and setting is also reflected in the book. Through the setting, we can easily learn that the behavior of this society is futuristic. We know this through all of the technology. Examples of this would be the seashell radios, the parlor walls, and the robotic hound dog. Other behaviors are reflected through the characters of this time period. One behavior I noticed the characters do not act with is love. It seems almost non-existent. Examples of this would be the way the women talk about their husbands and will not think twice about if they died. Social issues are also reflected in "Fahrenheit 451". The number one social issue is obviously the books and the need to burn all of them in existence. This was what Guy Montag's job was. "With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came  next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black" (Bradbury, 3).  The book's symbolic significance I think would be the control of a government and taking away the freedoms of its people. The thematic significance I think would be the value of literature and the need for it in society.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 question #4

The book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury is full of great characters. The main character of this story is Guy Montag. The question asked to name the "hero" of the book ,but I would not consider Guy Montag heroic. But since he is the protagonist of the book, I am obligated to write about him. The reason I say he is not much of a hero is because he does not really have the character traits of one. When I think of heroic I think of someone who is confident, strong, brave, and put together. Guy Montag is pretty much the opposite of this. Montag is not really brave because bravery is something that really does not exist in this society. The government runs and rules through fear. He does become brave later in the book though by standing up for what he believes in and acting on it even though his life will be endangered. As for strength, I am sure he is strong physically since he is a fireman, but he is certainly not mentally. Guy tends to let his emotions get the best of him. Examples of this would be when he tells off the women in his house and also when he kills Beatty with his flame thrower. As far as put together, Montag does not really have a plan. He kind of just reacts to what life throws at him. He had a plan with Faber at one point, but his emotions kept him from fulfilling it out. In this book, Guy accomplishes realizing in the value of books and literature. He also accomplishes escaping the hound and the cops while also remembering the book of  Ecclesiastes. " 'The Book of Ecclesiastes would be fine. Where was it?' 'Here.' Montag touched his head" (Bradbury, 150). Guy Montag is portrayed as any other fireman, who in a way, becomes a hero. I think Guy Montag represents the abstract idea of enlightenment in the way that he realizes the truth and the value of books and because of this, he changes his way of living.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 question #3

The book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury addresses many universal themes. A few of these would be literature, technology, and individuality. The first one is literature. In this book, literature is illegal and the fireman's jobs are actually to burn books. This is what the main character Guy Montag's job is. The reason the government does not want the people reading is because they really do not want them thinking for themselves and books can make them ask questions. If they are not thinking and reading, they have more time to do what the government wants them to do, like listen to their shell radios or be in the parlor with the "family". Literature and the knowledge learned from it though is so valuable and can keep history from repeating itself. Another theme addressed is technology. Technology is kind of what the government uses to replace the literature and control the people. Types of technology they use are the parlor walls and the seashell radios. This basically just keeps them distracted and gives them less time to think. Thinking less and doing pointless things though can eventually lead to depression. An example of this would be Mildred who becomes suicidal and overdoses on sleeping pills. One last theme addressed is individuality. Individuality is something the government does not want existing. People who are different are looked down upon in this society. The reason the government does not want individuality is because it is risky and not as easy to control. The people in this society do not have freedom of speech because the government speaks for them. They are afraid to think and read for themselves because of the severe consequences. Some people who have gone against this and are their own individuals would be Clarisse, Montag, and Faber. Because of this decision, they are either dead, on the run, or in hiding. They have definitely had to suffer the consequences ,but in their eyes it is worth it. I think Bradbury understands the human nature to want to be your own person. It can be tough though because you want acceptance as well. This applies to the book and also real life. The people in the book are not accepted at all and are threatened with their lives. In real life you want to be accepted for who you are just the same.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 question #2

The book "Fahreheit 451" by Ray Bradley has an interesting conflict. Guy Montag, a man who has been a fireman for as long as he can remember, is changed when his  new neighbor Clarisse makes a lasting impression on him. He becomes interested in books and there is a part of him that cannot dare to see them burn anymore. When his secret library is discovered, Montag becomes a man on the run with the help of Professor Faber. The first event that really causes what this conflict leads up to is when Guy Montag meets Clarisse. He can tell that she is different from the moment he sees her and has no idea the influence this one teenage girl will have on his life. She asks him a question that really makes him evaluate his life. "Then she seemed to remember something and came back to look at him with wonder and curiosity. 'Are you happy?' she said " (Bradbury, 10). Another cause is later in the book when the hound is after Guy. The hound was on his trail to Faber's house, but becuase of the precautions they took such as burning stuff he touched, having the sprinklers on, and such, the hound was thrown off course and neither Faber or Montag were discovered. I felt like there were few gains in this book. I guess the main gain which was really the only thing gained for Montag was his new knowledge he learned in the books. Another gain could be his friendships. If it was not for Professor Faber or his new friends he meets in the woods, he would have been caught by the hound for sure. Losses were more common in this book. One of the first losses he experiences is the loss of the girl who changed his mind, Clarisse. Other losses he experiences happen after his secret library is discovered. He loses his wife Mildred after this. He also loses his job, obviously, his home, and his safety.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 question #1

The book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury does a good job at revealing the author's values and attitudes. One thing that I think Ray Bradbury values, which is shown through this story, is books and literature. This is kind of an obvious value since this is what the plot revolves around and what causes the dilemma. In this novel, books are very rare and illegal so to have one could be very valuable later. Being a writer, and the author of this book, I am sure that Ray Bradbury values books just like how the main character Guy Montag learns to value them. Another thing I think Ray Bradbury values is individuals. I believe he values this because of the way he wrote several of his characters who have this trait. At the beginning of the book, Guy Montag really was not an individual. He was just like all of the other firemen and never questioned it. It was not until he met Clarisse, who was like no one else he has ever met because she was such an individual, that his eyes were really opened. "What a strange meeting on a strange night. He remembered nothing like it save one afternoon a year ago when he had met an old man in the park and they had talked..." (Bradbury, 10). Faber was also an individual compared to the rest of the world. He secretly still reads and writes books and tries to make a difference. He does not do this first hand though, he uses Montag to do what he is too cowardly to do himself. One last thing I think "Fahrenheit 451"  reveals about Ray Bradbury's values and attitudes is his attitude towards outcasts. I think he admires their independence and strength. At the end of the book, Montag runs into these outcasts who live outside of the city in the woods along the rail road tracks. Bradbury wrote them to be very accepting, intelligent, and kind. The book "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury is written in third person. I thought this was a good choice because it makes the book more about the story and does not show just one person's perspective.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Rey Book, 1991. Print.

Review of The Moon is Down

I think "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck was a very interesting book. I  enjoyed this book more than "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway. One of the things I really liked about this story was the plot in general and the time period of it. I never really thought about the early days of World War II and what that would have been like, I only think of the actual war itself. It was cool seeing this perspective of it. Another thing I enjoyed were the characters. I liked that there were a lot more characters than the "The Old Man and the Sea" because I think it just makes the story more interesting. My favorite character was probably Molly Morden. I liked Molly first off because she is a woman, and I also like her character traits. I like the fact that she is independent, which she proves by standing up to the mayor about why her husband Alex should not be shot, and also taking care of herself with the whole Lieutenant Tonder situation and killing him out of revenge. Another character that I really admired was Mayor Orden. I liked his character because of his good nature and genuine care for his townspeople. Examples of this would be how he treated Alex during his trial and kissed him on the cheek goodbye, how he had someone comfort Molly after he was shot, how he talked to the men leaving to get them weapons, and how he told off the Nazis even though he knew he was going to be killed. Another thing I liked about "The Moon is Down" was the length. The main reason I enjoy reading shorter books is because they are more convenient since you can finish them in fewer sittings. I was able to read the entire book in one afternoon and it was great. There really was not anything I did not like about this book, and I think it is an overall good read.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

Review of The Old Man and the Sea

I personally think "The Old Man and the Sea" was an okay book. There were things that I enjoyed and things that I did not. One of the few things that I liked about the book was the length. It made me very happy when I first picked up the book. A great thing about smaller books, is that they are easier to understand, since the story is not crazy long, and they are very convenient for a busy reader, like myself, because I am able to finish the book in fewer sittings. Another thing I liked about "The Old Man and the Sea" were the characters. I did not particularly like that there were so few characters and no female characters, but the characters that were used portrayed admirable traits. Santiago was a well written character I thought because of his characterisitcs. I liked the fact that he was pretty much the definition of determination. Examples of this would be how he fought for three days trying to reel in the marlin, and that he fought off the sharks with all his strength until there was nothing left to fight for. A trait I particularly admired from Manolin was his loyalty. Manolin was loyal to Santiago throughout the entire story. Even though he did not know if Santiago would be back or ever come back, he still visited his shack every morning in wait for his return. I also admired that he genuinely cared and loved Santiago, which he demonstrated through his actions. One thing that I did not enjoy so much about the book "The Old Man and the Sea" was how slow the beginning was. To me, the introduction and first part of the story was very boring and uneventful. Once it got to the meat of the book, however, I did enjoy the rest of the plot and how it ended. Overall, I think "The Old Man and the Sea" was pretty good and I do not think reading it was a waste of time.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.

Blue Parachutes

A little over half way through the book "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck, there seems to be a somewhat of a turning point. I am referring to when the blue parachutes arrive. Up to this point there really was not a lot of success with revolting against the Nazis. They did have a few victories such as Molly Morden when she murdered Lieutenant Tonder and some people had managed to escape, but really nothing major. They were kind of stuck because they really did not have the resources to do something big against their oppressors. " 'We want to fight them and we can't.' Orden said. 'They're using hunger on the people now. Hunger brings weakness. You boys are sailing for England. Maybe nobody will listen to you, but tell them from us-from a small town- to give us weapons' " (Steinbeck, 83). These blue parachutes were exactly what they needed. These blue parachutes were delivered by planes and floated down to this small coal-mining village. They were small and were easily spotted against the snow. They landed all over; in the fields, in the trees, in the streets. Each blue parachute contained chocolate, and a tube of dynamite with a piece of writing that told the finder exactly what to do with it and how to use it and where to use it. The townspeople were not hesitant to collect them. They even got their children in on the hunt. The kids would find them, eat the chocolate, hide the dynamite, and then go back to their parents to tell them where they put it. The soldiers on the other hand were much more cautious. At first, they thought the tubes were time bombs and would not go near them. When they found out what they really were, they were angered and brought them to the Colonel. They then tried to find them before the townspeople got to them, but they were not as good at finding them as the children were. With this precious gift, the townspeople planned to make their attack. Towards the end of the book, you read about the dynamite going off and destroying the Nazis rail road tracks.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

first conflict in The Moon is Down

The book "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck is full of conflicts. These conflicts are climatic and eventually lead up to the beginning of the revolt and the explosion of the dynamite on the Nazis rail road tracks. The first main conflict is what I feel starts the domino effect and what gets the townspeople tipped over the edge. The conflict I am talking about is the conflict with Alexander Morden and Captain Bentick. This conflict occurred when Alex was complaining about wanting to quit his job in the mines. Captain Loft was currently on duty and ordered him to get back to work. Alex has a very short temper and defending his freedom, came at him with a pick and in the process killed Captain Bentick who was on his way to replace Loft. He was then captured and put on trial. Before his trial, his wife Molly came to Mayor Orden and pleaded his case and how he does not deserve to be shot because he is a respected man. Mayor Orden does not want Alex to be shot any less than Molly does, but it is out of his control. Alexander  Morden is then shot in a public execution. This does not go over well at all with the townspeople. Lanser predicted that it would not too. " 'So it starts again. We will shoot this man and make twenty new enemies. It's the only thing we know, the only thing we know' " (Steinbeck, 38). This was really the first main threat of the Nazis on the townspeople. Even during Alex's trial, someone had thrown something to make the window glass crash inward and it ended up wounding Lieutenant Prackle's shoulder. It is also because of this event that causes Molly Morden to grow bitter and later murder Lieutenant Tonder. This to me was like a drop in a pool of water and it just keeps rippling and causing after effects. Later in the book the townspeople work towards a revolution that I am sure would have made Alexander proud.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

irony in The Moon is Down

Irony is a great technique I think can really add more interest to any book. "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck is no exception to this. I really like books with irony especially when it is humorous and can break the tension. There are three types of irony: verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony. Only one of the three types of irony are used in this book. This would be dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is when the reader or audience knows something that is going to happen that the characters in the book do not. There are three specific situations that I recall in "The Moon is Down" that uses this irony. The first situation was between Molly Morden and Lieutenant Tonder. This is the part of the book where Lieutenant Tonder visits Molly in attempt to start a friendship with her. Molly is at first scared that he is there to take advantage of her, but she realizes soon that this is not the case. Molly knows she has control over him and uses this to her own advantage. When she hides the scissor shears in her dress to kill Tonder, only the reader knows what she plans on doing, leaving the lieutenant clueless that he is about to be murdered. Another situation where dramatic irony is used is when the blue parachutes first arrive. The townspeople are not hesitant at all to pick them up and so the reader knows what is in them and their purpose but the soldiers do not. They are very hesitant to even go near them and think they are bombs at first. "One of the little parachutes came down in the street ahead of the patrol and the sergeant said, 'Careful! It's a time bomb' " (Steinbeck, 90). This gift leads to my last example. At the very end of the book, when they are talking to Mayor Orden, and they think if they kill the mayor, the townspeople will stop. What the readers know, but the soldiers do not, is that the townspeople are already in action and then they hear the sound of the dynamite going off.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

tone of The Moon is Down

The tone of a book really effects how the reader will receive the book and the story. The tone used in "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck is very serious, narrative, and climatic. I think the tone is more a serious tone because of the lack of humor. I was kind of expecting this though considering the setting and the serious plot. The plot of this book is about a group of Nazis that invade a small coal-mining village somewhere in Europe and try to take over and control the people, while the townspeople try to maintain their freedom and begin to revolt. The time period that this all takes place in is the early days of World War II so it was stressful and uncertain times that were not full of a lot of joy and humor. I think Steinbeck did the right thing by keeping the tone serious in a way to respect the events and capture what it was like during this part in history. Another tone that was used in "The Moon is Down" is narrative. I think this tone fit well with this type of book. The reason I say it is like a narrative is because along with the history of the beginning of World War II, there is a story going on in this book. The story has great characters, an interesting plot, and is what really makes the history with it, easier to understand and relate to. Lastly, another tone that I think is present in "The Moon is Down" is climatic. This is something I think is used through the entire book up until the very end. Examples of this tone would be before and during the trial of Alexander Morden. It was very sad and led up to a dramatic death by public execution. Another example of this I thought was used was during the part of the book where Molly visited with Lieutenant Tonder. This part of the book made me anxious and it led up to the murder of the lieutenant.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

Lieutenant Tonder from The Moon is Down

Lieutenant Tonder is another character in the book "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck. In "The Moon is Down", there are really two sides. These two sides would be the oppressors, who are the Nazi soldiers, and then the ones being oppressed, who are the townspeople of the small coal-mining village that the Nazis take over. Lieutenant Tonder is a part of the oppressors side because he is one of the Nazi leaders. Being the rank of Lieutenant, Tonder plays an important role for this side. Lieutenant Tonder is described as being the romantic of the group of Nazis. He is a poet and a bitter one at that who dreams of perfect love. He later recites a poem by Heine for Molly when he is trying to start a friendship with her. "Your eyes in their deep heavens Possess me and will not depart; A sea of blue thoughts rushing And pouring over my heart" (Steinbeck, 76). The book talks about him being a dark romantic. Lieutenant Tonder is also described as being young and sentimental. Along with Lieutenant Prackle, they were "snot-noses, undergraduates, lieutenants, trained in the politics of the day, believing the great new system invented by a genius so great that they never bothered to verify its results" (Steinbeck, 21). When Tonder first arrived, he thought the townspeople would be very accepting of him and even said how he would like to settle in the village possibly with four or five beautiful farm houses. He is then hit with the reality of the situation. Later in the book, Tonder becomes very lonely. He then seeks Molly Morden for friendship and someone to simply talk to. In the end though, he is murdered by her out of revenge for her killed husband. I think Lieutenant Tonder was a good character and represented the sensitive side of the soldiers. I think John Steinbeck used him to show that soldiers are still humans too and have needs and human desires just like anybody else.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

Alexander Morden from The Moon is Down

Alexander Morden is a very important addition to "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck. Although his character is not in the entire book, he still affects the story later on because of his death. Alex Morden is one of the workers in the small coal-mining village that the Nazi soldiers take over. He is also the husband of his pretty wife, Molly Morden. He is known for having a quick-temper, but besides that he is a good and respected man in the village, who has never broken a law. He is described as being a big, young man with a wide forehead, mouth, and shoulders, deep set eyes, and a long sharp nose. (Steinbeck, 51) Alexander, being a miner that is now forced to mine for the Nazis, understandingly wanted to quit work. Captain Loft was present and was ordering Morden to get back to work. Now, Alexander Morden, being the short tempered man that he is, was not going to let this soldier take away his freedom. Yelling that he was a free man, he came at Captain Loft with his pick and when Captain Bentick tried to interfere, he was killed. He was then captured to be tried and shot. His wife tried to plead his case to Mayor Orden and the mayor himself did not want to see Alex killed, but it was out of his control. Mayor Orden, however did show that he cared. Examples of this would be how he let Alex sit in a chair during the trial, kissed him on the cheek goodbye, and sent Madame to comfort Molly. The death of Alexander Morden was not wasted though. I think this act was what would start the revolt and the Nazis knew so too. " 'So it starts again. We will shoot this man and make twenty new enemies. It's the only thing we know, the only thing we know' " (Steinbeck, 38). His death affected the townspeople without a doubt. Molly was especially affected and it was because of his death that she later kills Lieutenant Tonder out of revenge.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

Molly Morden in The Moon is Down

Molly Morden is one of my favorite characters in the book "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck. Molly is described as being about thirty years old and very pretty. She dressed plainly, but neatly. Molly was the wife of Alexander Morden and had glasses that she only wore when she had to.  I especially enjoyed Molly's character because of her character traits. One of the first reasons would probably be because she is a woman like myself, so I am able to relate more easily to her than say one of the male Nazi soldiers. Molly is also very independent, which is an admirable trait as well. Molly displays her independence and confidence in numerous occasions. One of the first would be when she goes to confront Mayor Orden about the execution of her husband, Alexander Morden. Alexander Morden was going to be publicly executed for the murder of Captain Bentick. He was talking about quitting his job, and when commanded to go back to work, Alex stood up for himself and his freedom and attacked Captain Loft, but in the process accidentally killed Captain Bentick. Molly then went to the mayor to help his case. " 'Alex is not a murdering man,' she said. 'He's a quick-tempered man, but he's never broken a law. He's a respected man' " (Steinbeck, 44). After the death of her husband, Molly once again had to be independent and take care of herself. An example of this would be when Lieutenant Tonder came to visit her. Molly was able to handle the situation and ultimately had him under her control even if he was not aware of it. Another trait about Molly is that she is loyal. She is loyal to the townspeople and never becomes involved with the Nazi soldiers. She was also faithful to her husband while he was on trial and faithful to him even after he was gone. She shows her faithfulness by not letting Lieutenant Tonder take advantage of her and revenging Alexander by killing Lieutenant Tonder with shears from her scissors.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #8

I think the events in "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck reflect events in history very well. This book was written in 1941 and published in 1942. The main historical event going on during this time period is World War II. This was a major influence on the story and what the plot is based off of. One way the book represents this event in history is through the characters. Colonel Lanser, Captain Bentick, Major Hunt, Captain Loft, Lieutenant Prackle, and Lieutenant Tonder are characters in the book that represent the Nazi leaders and soldiers from World War II. Another way history is reflected in this book is simply through the plot and conflict. The plot and conflict of this book takes place during the early days of World War II and is about when a group of Nazis invade a small coal-mining village in Europe and its townspeople, while the townspeople try to maintain their freedom and begin to revolt. I think Steinbeck did a very good job reflecting this event in history and it was not difficult to understand that he is referring to World War II. Responsibilties I think John Steinbeck believed existed in this society were between the Nazis and the townspeople, or the oppressors and the oppressed. As I said, the Nazis in this book were the oppressors and they used violence and punishment in attempt to control the townspeople. An example of this would be when Alexander Morden was publicly executed. Alexander was standing up for himself and his freedom and when told to go back to work, he attacked Captain Loft and in the process, killed Captain Bentick. Another responsibility Steinbeck believed existed, I think was between men and women. I think this because of the opposite roles the men and women in this book played. All of the men in the book were soldiers, or a Mayor, or workers while all of the women in the book seemed to be more of home workers. An example of these would be Lieutenant Prackle, Mayor Orden, and Alexander Morden, and then Annie, Madame, and Molly Morden. I think the people, ideas, and events of World War II was what had the most influence on John Steinbeck.


Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #7

In the book, "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck, Steinbeck uses many techniques to engage the audience and make the story effective. A few of these techniques would be suspense, deceit, and rebellion. These are a few of the techniques used that make "The Moon is Down" that much more interesting for the reader. As I said, suspense is one of the techniques Steinbeck uses. An example of this that first comes to mind, is the situation between Molly and Lieutenant Tonder. "Before she could get to her chair, there was a knocking on the outer door. She crossed the room and said to herself, 'I wonder what she forgot' "(Steinbeck, 73). When Annie leaves Molly's house and then there is a knock at the door, I knew something was up. I figured it would be a group of soldiers coming to take advantage of Molly. The mood of the chapter was mysterious and suspenseful as well and it made me anxious to see who was at the door. This suspense added interest to the book and made me want to keep reading. Another technique used was deceit. An example of this would be George Corell. George is the town store keeper, but he is really working for the Nazis as a spy and is a traitor to his own townspeople. This adds a twist to the book and makes it more interesting as well. One last technique used in "The Moon is Down" is rebellion. This is pretty much what the plot of the story leads up to. Smaller individual examples of this would be when Annie throws the boiling water on the soldiers and when Alexander Morden stands up for himself and accidentally kills Captain Bentick. Another example would be when Molly Morden kills Lieutenant Tonder. One last example and I think the strongest of all of them would be the blue parachutes and the destruction of the Nazis rail road tracks. These all add to the story in the way that the events are exciting and make the plot more effective and realistic.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #6

"The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck was written in 1941 and published in 1942. That means this book has been around for seventy years exactly. There must be a reason we still read this book today, and there is. I think the main reason this book is still read today is because of its historical plot. The plot in this book is about World War II and the early days of what was going on in the 1940s. "The Moon is Down" is about a group of Nazis who have invaded a small coal-mining village and their control over the townspeople, while the townspeople try to maintain their freedom and begin to revolt against their oppressors. I think the message of this book is that unity can be one of the most powerful things. I got this message from the way the townspeople reacted. Individually, the townspeople were struggling with over coming their oppressors. An example of this would be Alexander Morden. Alexander's attempt in sticking up for himself and his freedom was a failure which resulted in his public execution. His death, however, was what kind of brought everyone together. When the townspeople came together though through this, and also with a great help from the blue parachutes with dynamite, they had more success. The unity of everyone working together is what gave them the opportunity to take on the Nazis and destroy their rail road tracks, thus beginning their revolution. Another reason I think this book is still read is because of its timeless characters. A few of these would be Mayor Orden, Molly Morden, and Lieutenant Tonder. Mayor Orden was an enjoyable character because of his actions. He was just a good, noble man and can relate to people through the years easily. Then there is Molly. I really enjoyed Molly's character because of her independence as a woman. I admired that she did not give up when her husband was killed and could take care of herself and then later revenge him. Lieutenant Tonder was also a timeless character. I think his sensitivity and honest nature makes him likable and shows that the soldiers are humans too.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #5

The book "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck reflects history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting very well. The period in which this book was written is 1942 during the early days of World War II. The setting of "The Moon is Down" is in a small coal-mining village somewhere in Europe. The actual country in Europe that this story takes place is never specifically mentioned. The book describes the history of this very well simply from the plot of the story. This plot would be how the invaders, which are the Nazis, take over this small coal-mining village and the townspeople in it, while the townspeople struggle to maintain their freedom and begin a revolt. Another thing that represents the history of the war happening in this story is the characters. The stronger of these characters would be the "invaders" including: Colonel Lanser, Captain Bentick, Major Hunter, Captain Loft, Lieutenant Tonder, and Lieutenant Prackle. They reflect the history of the war because they are the enemy. Behavior and social issues of this period and setting would be the way the invaders treated the townspeople. The Nazis used violence and punishment to control them and although effective at first, it would only make things worse. An example of this was when they executed Alexander Morden. " 'So it starts again. We will shoot this man and make twenty new enemies. It's the only thing we know, the only thing we know' " (Steinbeck, 38). The symbolic significance of "The Moon is Down" I think would obviously be World War II. It is what the book symbolizes and what the plot is about and based off of. I think the thematic significance of this book would be the strength of overcoming your oppressors. This is a theme that is shown through the entire story. Examples of this would be when Annie throws boiling water on the soldiers, when Alexander sticks up for himself, when Molly kills Lieutenant Tonder, and then of course the destruction of the rail road tracks.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #4

I do not think there is a particular hero in "The Moon is Down", but if I had to choose any of the characters to fit this category, it would be Mayor Orden. I would say this because he is the most influential of the townspeople and all of the Nazi leaders and soldiers, although powerful, are more of enemies than heroes. At the beginning of the book, Mayor Orden is characterized as rather childish. He acts in this manner when his wife has to help him get ready and the way she orders him around. He is very caring though and genuinely loves the townspeople. An example of this is the way he is anxious when he hears that some of them have escaped. Another example is how he truly does not want Alex to be shot and the way he is concerned for Molly when the Lieutenant visits her house. Another trait of Mayor Orden is that he is brave and professional. An example of this would be how he is always calm with the Nazi intruders. He also never acts cowardly. Even when he knows he is about to be executed, he does not give in with what he believes. " 'You see, sir, nothing can change it. You will be destroyed and driven out' " (Steinbeck). In "The Moon is Down" the mayor himself, does not accomplish much since he is pretty much controlled by the Nazis. However, Mayor Orden represents the townspeople, and the townspeople do accomplish some victories. They accomplished killing two of the soldiers, and later accomplish blowing up the Nazis' rail road tracks with the dynamite they were given. Mayor Orden is portrayed as a good old man who really does care about his townspeople. Even though he may not seem like the most well fit for being the mayor at first, he really was a great mayor for the town. I think an abstract idea that would represent Mayor Orden would be goodness.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #3

"The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck addresses several universal themes. I think two of these would be strength and unity. The conflict dealt with in this book is that Nazi's are taking over and trying to control the townspeople, but are struggling to do so while the townspeople are doing their best to maintain their freedom and revolt. During this struggle, the townspeople  have great strength and fight as best they can, against their oppressors. One of the first signs of fighting back was through Alexander Morden. Alexander stood up for himself and defended his freedom and in the process, killed Captain Bentick. Another form of strength shown was through Molly. Molly, out of revenge for her husband, was able to take another soldiers' life, Lieutenant Tonder. The theme of strength is universal because it applies to so much. It may not be as great as being oppressed by Nazi's, but it could be applied to simply being strong in a tough situation, such as a divorce, a hard practice, or the loss of a loved one. Another theme is unity. Unity is what made the townspeople's revolt a success. The main key that unified them was the parachutes. This gift gave them the courage they needed and the resources they lacked. Working together, they were able to successfully blow up the Nazi's rail road tracks and begin their revolt. John Steinbeck understands a lot about human nature. The two main points he writes about is the nature for freedom and the nature for love and family. The nature for love and family is shown through the soldiers. One example of this would be when they talk about how they wish to go home for Christmas. Another example would be when Lieutenant Tonder explains his feelings for Molly." 'You are so beautiful, so warm. Your hair is bright. Oh, I've seen no kindness in a woman's face for so long!' " (Steinbeck, 75). The nature for freedom is shown through the people. An example of this would be when Alex attacks Loft and the townspeople's attempts to revolt.


Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #2

There are many causes, gains, and losses, dealt with in "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck. The main conflict of the story is that the Nazi's are taking over but struggling to control the townspeople and the townspeople are working to revolt and over take them without being shot themselves. The cause of this conflict is simply because it is war. It is also because of the Nazi's cruel desire for control and the townspeoples' natural resistance to being controlled by others. The Nazi's try to dictate their control through threats and punishment. A great example of this is Alexander Morden. Loft was demanding Alexander to get back to work when he was wanting to quit. Alexander already had a short temper and shouting that he was a free man, he came at him with his pick. When Captain Bentick tried to interfere, he was killed. Alexander was then sentenced to trial and was shot in a public execution. A gain dealt in this conflict would be the soldiers power. Because of their weapons and such, it seemed almost impossible for the townspeople to have a chance, but a gift they receive completely changes the playing field. Later in the book, the townspeople gain courage from a small gift sent from above. "They landed in the white fields and among the woods of the hills and they landed in trees and hung down from the branches" (Steinbeck, 90). These would be the blue parachutes dropped from the planes. These parachutes contained chocolate, dynamite, and directions on how and where to use it. This gave the townspeople a fighting chance against the Nazi's and the courage to revolt. Because of the gift of the dynamite, the Nazi's suffered losses. The first to go, was their confidence and they became worried and angry about the parachutes being received. Another loss dealt with was the loss of soldiers. One of them was Lieutenant Tonder, who was killed out of revenge by Molly. One last loss was the rail road tracks. With the help of the dynamite, the townspeople were able to destroy the rail roads and begin their revolt.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

The Moon is Down question #1

The writing "The Moon is Down" reveals a lot about John Steinbeck's values and attitudes. One of the things the book reveals about what John Steinbeck values would be courage. I feel like courage is shown through the townspeople and especially towards the end of the book. At the end of the book, plans of revolt start to form. The first real act of revolt I think was when Molly kills lieutenant Tonder when he comes to visit the second time. Her bitterness for him because of the death of her husband Alex was too much for her to forgive and she took her revenge. This is also displayed when the Anders boys flee and then when the planes carrying the parachutes are sent. These blue parachutes were just what the townspeople needed to get the ball rolling. These gifts contained chocolate, dynamite, and directions on exactly what to do with it. "They went to them and picked them up. They saw the gift and suddenly each finder grew furtive, and he concealed the long tube under his coat and went to some secret place and hid the tube" (Steinbeck, 90).The townspeople needed to have courage in order to pull this off and they did. "The Moon is Down" also revealed the authors attitudes. This story I think reveals John Steinbeck's attitude about World War II and this attitude being that he does not agree with Germany and is celebrating their defeat. This idea is displayed by the way he wrote about their revolts and victories. These would be when Molly kills Lieutenant Tonder. It was also shown by the parachutes and their success in blowing up the Nazi's rail road tracks. "The Moon is Down" by John Steinbeck is written in third person. I think this was a good choice for this type of book because it does not tell the story from a certain side. It is written in a way that the reader does not see the story from the Nazi's or townspeople point of view, but simply how it is.

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck,... Stockholm: Continental Book C°, 1949. Print.

Marlin in The Old Man and the Sea

The marlin serves a great role in "The Old Man and the Sea". This character, although not a human character, makes up the other half of the story along with Santiago. The marlin is what makes the story interesting. Without this character, the book would just be about some old guy that is out at sea for five days doing nothing. The marlin in "The Old Man and the Sea" is described as being massive. We learn at the end of the book that the marlin is eighteen feet long. The fish is also described as being purple and silver striped. "The fish had turned silver from his original purple and silver, and the stripes showed the same pale violet colour as his tail" (Hemingway, 96). Now Santiago did not intentionally set out to sea in hopes of finding this marlin, he was just fishing where the big fish promised to be. The fight between the marlin and Santiago lasted three full days. During these days the marlin fought to stay alive while Santiago fought for the biggest catch of his life. The marlin was very strong and swam pulling the old man and his skiff for a long time before deciding to swim with the current. At the end of the three days the great marlin grows tired and eventually starts to circle and is then killed by Santiago. Even after its death, the fish continues to cause problems for the old man. His scent attracts sharks and in the end there is nothing left of him except for his carcass. I think in this book, the marlin represents your goal. In "The Old Man and the Sea" , Santiago's goal was to catch the marlin. This can teach the reader to never give up and fight until your goal is achieved even if you must go through some hardships to get it. I think the marlin could also symbolize the ideal opponent. The marlin was a great opponent for Santiago because he brought out such great characteristics in him. These included respect, strength, love, and determination.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.

Irony and tone of The Old Man and the Sea

"The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway is a very informative book, and Hemingway uses different techniques in this story to make his writing more effective. One of these techniques is irony. I personally like reading stories with irony and I think the correct use of it can add interest to a book and make it more enjoyable. One of the things I found ironic at the beginning of the book was the fact that Santiago had such a shockingly long streak of bad luck with fishing. I found this ironic because I figured the story being called "The Old Man and the Sea" meant that the main character would be a master at fishing. I was not expecting Santiago to be at such an unfortunate state. Another use of irony was the fact that the sharks completely devoured the entire marlin. After such an epic battle, I was surprised when I read about the numerous shark attacks. I was definitely not expecting such a heavy loss after Santiago's victory of catching the great marlin, especially since it took him an entire three days to reel him in. I think this added interest to the story and I personally was anxious as to what the outcome of the attacks would be. One last use of irony used is at the very end of the book when the spectators see the skeleton of Santiago's enormous fish. They have no idea that the skeleton belongs to a marlin and mistake it for a shark. It is ironic because sharks are the reason the fish is a skeleton. " 'I didn't know sharks had such handsome, beautifully formed tails.' 'I didn't either, ' her male companion said" (Hemingway, 127). Hemingway did a nice job of adding irony to the story and I think it was a positive add to the book.The tone used in "The Old Man and the Sea" is very straight forward and informative. There really is not any humor used and Hemingway wrote it very seriously.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.

Manolin from The Old Man and the Sea

Manolin, although not the main character of "The Old Man and the Sea", still serves an important role in this book. Manolin is a young boy who is Santiago's apprentice in the story. It says in the book that Santiago first took Manolin out fishing when he was just five years old and they had been together ever since. After Santiago's bad luck and streak of eighty-four days without a single catch, Manolin's parents refused to let Manolin continue fishing with him. Nevertheless, Manolin disobeys his parents to stay loyal to Santiago. Santiago is a mentor to Manolin and his teachings will live on in Manolin even after he dies. Some characteristics I would use to describe Manolin would be youthful, caring, loving, and loyal. Manolin is very youthful and is a great apprentice for Santiago. Santiago says aloud multiple times how he wishes the boy was with him to reel in the great marlin. Being youthful, Manolin will be able to learn a lot from Santiago before he passes away and then be able to keep Santiago alive through his teachings that will live on through him. Manolin is very caring and comes every morning to Santiago's shack and always does whatever he can to help him. He is loving as well. Not only does Manolin visit him daily, he also makes sure he always has a blanket and helps keep him fed as well. While reading, their relationship reminded me of a father and a son in the way they would talk about baseball together and really cared for one another. Lastly, Manolin is loyal. Manolin is there for Santiago through everything. He was there for him even in his streak of bad luck and there for him waiting for him to get home. Manolin was so devoted and as the reader, I really appreciated his character. Like I said, Manolin waited five days for Santiago's return. When Manolin found him in his shack in the morning, he cried. "He went out very quietly to bring some coffee and all the way down the road he was crying" (Hemingway, 122). After crying, he immediately went to tend for him, bringing him coffee, a clean shirt, food, and the newspaper. Throughout the entire journey, Manolin had never left his mentor. 

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.

The Old Man and the Sea question #8

I think "The Old Man and the Sea" reflects events in history quite accurately. Although the book is pretty straight forward just about Santiago's epic journey on the sea, we can still get a peek at the history going on around him through the setting and such. "The Old Man and the Sea" was written in 1951 and published in 1952. To kind of get a glimpse at what times were like during this period you can look at what Hemingway wrote about the setting. This story takes place in a small fishing village in Cuba and then the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Back then, resources were not as plentiful and a lot of people had to provide food for themselves and their families by catching or growing it themselves. This is what Santiago did. One of the struggles with this is that if you cannot provide for yourself, then you simply would not eat. This is what Santiago struggled with but luckily he had the boy, Manolin, who helped keep him fed. One set of responsibilities I think Ernest Hemingway believed existed was between workers and bosses. In "The Old Man and the Sea" this could apply to Santiago and Manolin. Manolin was very loyal and I think genuinely cared for Santiago. He came to him every morning and always did whatever he could to help him. Manolin stayed loyal to Santiago even when he was away for three days catching the marlin and came to his shack every morning to see if he had returned. "It was blowing so hard that the drifting boats would not be going out and the boy had slept late and then come to the old man's shack as he had come each morning" (Hemingway, 122). Something that I think definitely influenced Ernest Hemingway when he was writing was the fact that he had served in World War I and World War II, as well as witness the liberation of Paris and the argument in the Cuban Communist party in 1945. These events I'm sure influenced his view of defeat which he then displayed through this book.

 Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 1952. Print.