***SPOILER ALERT*** in the middle of the post
This book is very unique. Setting wise, and in general because there are many different settings and two indivisual stories in it! I know this sounds weird but it's true! The story follows a teenage ailen who came onto earth trying to be a part of saving his species in the last book and in this one. But in this book, the author transfers back and forth from the story of another ailen that is the same species as the other main character, John. The other ailen's name is Marina, and she is trying to find John, thinking he is an ailen like her. So far the two characters haven't met or got involved yet, but I think they will later on in the book.
First I am going to talk about Marina's "setting." She lives in a church in Spain. Her protecter, called a Cepan, name's is Adelina and the two of them have been trying to find homes since they arrived on earth and the only people that would help them was the sisters at the church, so that is where they stay now. This setting is significant because without it, Marina won't be the same person, she wouldn't have her cave to hide in when she feels isolated from the world, and she wouldn't have the personality she is, she wouldn't be that independent girl who knows how to fight for herself. Also, the church is a really important setting in this book, because since there are so many rules there, it makes Marina seem even more of a rebel with her sneaking out all the time, getting up after hours to see if there are any news about John, etc. The setting shows how much Marina changed since she arrived on this planet, and more importantly, Adelina.
Adelina is another important character in this book because of the role she plays as a Cepan. She has been "brainwashed" by everyone in the chruch, she is actually convinced that they need to be on god's side and not on Lorien's side. She thinks she doesn't need to protect Marina anymore, she thinks it's not worth it. Adelina has that sort of aftermath where you end up hating the situation. The situation Adelina is in is like when a child found out he or she is adopted. Sometimes they feel left alone and that their parents didn't want them, so they don't want to find them. Adelina somewhat feels like that. She thinks the people of Lorien just dumped them on earth to defend for themselves without any information at all about when they can go back home, or where they are specifically, so she thinks she doesn't need to help them, since they didn't help her. In a way, she is the shapeshifter in Marina's "setting." Adelina will think she doesn't need to protect Marina anymore now that she's almost an adult, but when Marina really gets harmed, she doesn't want to help, she needs to.
Now onto John's setting(s). Right now, John, Number Six, and his best friend Sam are in an abandoned house in North Carolina. I guess since they move around from place to place, they don't really have one specific setting, but for now I am going to focus on the house. The house I think really symbolizes freedom. The three teens are off on their own, in hiding, in a abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. I think this shows how independent they are. They can deal with being hunted down by the FBI, but also The Mogadorians as well! In the house they do regular teen stuff, but they also have to train just in case The Mogadorians attack! The house represents freedom because in a way, I think it is freedom. When you think of it like a house that is left alone in the woods, but is still there standing tall and "alive", the house kinda shows how strong it is, and how it can never be broken down, it seems like it's independent and free from the world.
In conclusion, all these settings are very important. These settings make up the story and the characters. Without it, there won't even be a story!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Blog Post #7: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore- Archetypes in the story
The hero in this book, is most likely one of the main characters, John. In this book, John is one of nine ailens who came to earth after their home planet have been destroyed by their enemies, The Mogadorians. Each of the Ailens get a number in which it is the order they are hunted and killed by The Mogadorians. John is a Garde, he is kind of a "kid ailen." John is number 4, so in this book, he is the one being hunted. And also, every Garde, gets assigned a Cepan (a guardian to protect them on earth.) In the last book, I AM NUMBER FOUR, something happens to John's Cepan Henri, and in this book, John is left all alone with his 2 friends, Number 6 and Sam. Which makes John more independent. He definetely shows courage, because in the last book, he left the ones he loved in Ohio, where he was hiding then, and he leaves all his loved ones in Ohio, for their own safety. He didn't want them getting killed by The Mogadorians too so he had no choice but to leave. In the last book, he definetely went through a loss of innocence which is another reason why he is the hero. He loses his Cepan, he barely has any knowledge about their home planet, and The Mogadorians. He also grows up in that book, he gets his powers (his "legacies") and learns how to use them.
The Mentor in this book would definetely be Number 6. She lost her Cepan 3 years ago, and she has been alone since, well, until she found John and Sam. She has a knowledge about their home planet, Lorien. She also knows a lot about their legacies too! She has experienced what John is about to go through, so she guides him throughout his journies. She teaches him to fight, she teaches him about themselves and their powers, but also, she teaches him about The Mogadorians. Also, sometimes, in battles, Number 6 will fight for John and defend him.
The Shadow in this story are The Mogadorians. Of course The Mogadorians are the shadow, they are the dark side, they are trying to kill off the entire Lorien ailen population. They create the tension in the book because they are "evil." John, Number 6, and Sam are running from The Mogadorians, they killed John's home planet, and are the reason why he never feels safe anywhere.
The shapeshifter in this book, would be...I would say Sam. He doesn't shape shift in a bad way. He's not one of those evil characters who only stick around because they are benefitted in some way. He just shape shifts because he has abandoned everyone he loves back home in Ohio, to go on adventures with John and Number 6. His parents nor anyone in Ohio knows where are they and what they are doing, and everytime on of their faces pop up in the news (since they are being hunted down by the police too now because they think they are terrorists) Sam has the urge to return home and tell his whole family the stories. But everytime he is in a situation like that, he reminds himself he made a commitment to John and Number 6 and he is going to stick to it!
These are all the Archetypes in the book so far, since I just started reading it. But one character I am more curious about is Marina. In the beginning of the book they start of with her journey in hiding from The Mogadorians since she is too, a Garde. But then, in one of the chapters, they change back to John's situation. So it makes me wonder if they would ever collide in the story again. Marina has been searching for John because she believes he is one of them. And soon on in the book, I will find out what's going on!
The Mentor in this book would definetely be Number 6. She lost her Cepan 3 years ago, and she has been alone since, well, until she found John and Sam. She has a knowledge about their home planet, Lorien. She also knows a lot about their legacies too! She has experienced what John is about to go through, so she guides him throughout his journies. She teaches him to fight, she teaches him about themselves and their powers, but also, she teaches him about The Mogadorians. Also, sometimes, in battles, Number 6 will fight for John and defend him.
The Shadow in this story are The Mogadorians. Of course The Mogadorians are the shadow, they are the dark side, they are trying to kill off the entire Lorien ailen population. They create the tension in the book because they are "evil." John, Number 6, and Sam are running from The Mogadorians, they killed John's home planet, and are the reason why he never feels safe anywhere.
The shapeshifter in this book, would be...I would say Sam. He doesn't shape shift in a bad way. He's not one of those evil characters who only stick around because they are benefitted in some way. He just shape shifts because he has abandoned everyone he loves back home in Ohio, to go on adventures with John and Number 6. His parents nor anyone in Ohio knows where are they and what they are doing, and everytime on of their faces pop up in the news (since they are being hunted down by the police too now because they think they are terrorists) Sam has the urge to return home and tell his whole family the stories. But everytime he is in a situation like that, he reminds himself he made a commitment to John and Number 6 and he is going to stick to it!
These are all the Archetypes in the book so far, since I just started reading it. But one character I am more curious about is Marina. In the beginning of the book they start of with her journey in hiding from The Mogadorians since she is too, a Garde. But then, in one of the chapters, they change back to John's situation. So it makes me wonder if they would ever collide in the story again. Marina has been searching for John because she believes he is one of them. And soon on in the book, I will find out what's going on!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Blog Post #6: Mockingjay- How does the text make you think about justice in the world?
In Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, Justice is one of the big themes in the book. The rebels are wanting justice in the book. They want everyone to be treated fairly and equally. They don't want the Capitol to have all the power, so they can do whatever they want.
So far in the book, justice is not served. If justice was to be served, The Capitol will to have a "fair" government, where the Capitol's power is limited, and so are the citizens', so they are both equal. In the book, the power in the society of Panem, isn't like the organized, fair government we have today. In Panem, the Capitol has all the power and can do anything they want to the citizens, at least until the citizens rebeled. And in my opinion, justice needs to be served, because it is "fair" to the citizens, that the Capitol gets to make all the decisions, and that they can have something as cruel as The Hunger Games, where people are getting killed for no reason!!! They should be trying to save humanity instead of getting rid of it! There is only one continent in Panem, and The Capitol is practically endangering the human species!
I don't think anyone, or any side, in the book represents justice. The rebel side, is wanting justice, but The Capitol is resisting it. There is not really anyone who is representing it, there is no one that is sort of the "peacemaker" in the book. Most readers will probably think Katniss represents justice because she is the main character in the book, but she doesn't really see eye to eye. She doesn't think The Capitol is ever right in this situation. One moment when Collins really tricks you into thinking that Katniss is the peacemaker, is when the guy from the Nut, is holding a gun to her head and she says he has every right to kill her. But the reason why she isn't the peacemaker is because she was looking through the eyes of a citizen of Panem, even though that citizen is from a district that kisses up to The Capitol, it is still an innocent soul. That moment really makes you think about the plot.
The Capitol blocks justice. They don't want justice because they want power. Power is the thing that motivates them. The Capitol craves power, I think they are savages. Power has taken over their minds, and now people in The Capitol, for example, President Snow, have courpted minds, and will stop at nothing to get power. But the question in this situation, is why do they want this power? Personally, I think The Capitol abuses their power and responsibles, they feel like since they are on the top, they can do anything, but they can't because there are always boundaries. They don't treat all their citizens fairly, and they don't really protect them. They force them to kill each other once a year, and they watch it on television like it is a Olympic Game! But I think the people in The Capitol want power, just because it is power. If you have it, you have a huge honor. If you have power over someone or something, you seem like you are the strongest, you feel honored and respected when you have power.
If rebellions like this were to happen in the real world, both sides would somehow find a compromise, or one side would win and the other side would just have to go on with the rest of the world. I think this would happen because it has happened in the past with wars. For example, The Revolutionary War. The rebels (Americans) won, because of the battles, and how people worked together. The French worked with the Americans. But what really ended it was the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the Britians and American made a compromise, and split the land in America equally, and that Americans can be their own nation.
So far in the book, justice is not served. If justice was to be served, The Capitol will to have a "fair" government, where the Capitol's power is limited, and so are the citizens', so they are both equal. In the book, the power in the society of Panem, isn't like the organized, fair government we have today. In Panem, the Capitol has all the power and can do anything they want to the citizens, at least until the citizens rebeled. And in my opinion, justice needs to be served, because it is "fair" to the citizens, that the Capitol gets to make all the decisions, and that they can have something as cruel as The Hunger Games, where people are getting killed for no reason!!! They should be trying to save humanity instead of getting rid of it! There is only one continent in Panem, and The Capitol is practically endangering the human species!
I don't think anyone, or any side, in the book represents justice. The rebel side, is wanting justice, but The Capitol is resisting it. There is not really anyone who is representing it, there is no one that is sort of the "peacemaker" in the book. Most readers will probably think Katniss represents justice because she is the main character in the book, but she doesn't really see eye to eye. She doesn't think The Capitol is ever right in this situation. One moment when Collins really tricks you into thinking that Katniss is the peacemaker, is when the guy from the Nut, is holding a gun to her head and she says he has every right to kill her. But the reason why she isn't the peacemaker is because she was looking through the eyes of a citizen of Panem, even though that citizen is from a district that kisses up to The Capitol, it is still an innocent soul. That moment really makes you think about the plot.
The Capitol blocks justice. They don't want justice because they want power. Power is the thing that motivates them. The Capitol craves power, I think they are savages. Power has taken over their minds, and now people in The Capitol, for example, President Snow, have courpted minds, and will stop at nothing to get power. But the question in this situation, is why do they want this power? Personally, I think The Capitol abuses their power and responsibles, they feel like since they are on the top, they can do anything, but they can't because there are always boundaries. They don't treat all their citizens fairly, and they don't really protect them. They force them to kill each other once a year, and they watch it on television like it is a Olympic Game! But I think the people in The Capitol want power, just because it is power. If you have it, you have a huge honor. If you have power over someone or something, you seem like you are the strongest, you feel honored and respected when you have power.
If rebellions like this were to happen in the real world, both sides would somehow find a compromise, or one side would win and the other side would just have to go on with the rest of the world. I think this would happen because it has happened in the past with wars. For example, The Revolutionary War. The rebels (Americans) won, because of the battles, and how people worked together. The French worked with the Americans. But what really ended it was the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the Britians and American made a compromise, and split the land in America equally, and that Americans can be their own nation.
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