by bmccarey99 @ 2008-11-25 – 12:55:19
Today we looked at close comparison and expressing original ideas. Please post you analysis as a comment on this...
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2008-11-25 @ 13:20:57
ReplyDeleteAmy S and Jodie write:
In 'Superman', Plath presents childhood as being an idyllic and blythe time;
'All night i dreamed of flying'
This suggests that the child feels liberated from the world's worries and is defying gravity, feeling carefree.
The word "flying" creates an image of desperation to escape reality, which links with the use of Cary's word "sitting" to describe Kate ("She was sitting on the swing, leaning against a rope, with her head down, apparently deep in thought"). The word "sitting" suggests that childhood is a time of feeling terrestrial; bound to the earth unable to escape reality. The fact that she was "deep in thought" demonstrates that she was surrounded by the worries of the world and is unable to dream; the way the little girl does in 'Superman'
bmccarey99
ReplyDelete2008-11-25 @ 13:21:55
Some really interesting ideas on this one. I would like to see an alternative interpretation of the second quotation however as, being deep in thought, could also be interpreted as "dreaming" so, whilst "sitting" and "head down" seem quite mundane and terrestrial physically, her mental state could be elsewhere entirely
Jack and Charlotte (Visitor)
ReplyDelete2008-11-25 @ 17:50:44
In both 'Growing up' and 'Superman...', the authors Cary and Plath use a combination of linguistic and structural devices to create a naive, malicious and animalistic perspective of childhood.
An example of this is Cary's use of the character Jenny. Cary uses the character of Jenny to anthroporphise the animalistic nature of children;
'Here eyes were wide and glaring, her lips were curled back to show all of her teeth.', Cary uses this to illustrate the inate tendencies of schadenfreude, displayed by children. Cary's imagery of the eyes- portayed as 'wide and glaring', expresses a lack of control and possible a vendictive intention.
In 'Superman', Plath also uses the imagery of the eyes in the children's confrontation,
'a strange joy flickered in the back of their eyes.', this links back to schadenfreude as the children enjoy their spiteful attack on the narrator. The use of the phrase;
'...in the back of their eyes' suggest the children are seemingly possessed by the joy of someone elses despair, this also gives a sense of realisation as the narrator realises how barbaric childhood is.
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Amy Maggs. (Visitor)
2008-11-25 @ 18:14:00
Both Plath and Cary show childhood to be a time of realization and hidden rage. In "superman" the narrator says "the groans of thirsty, starving men, but I could not tear my eyes away". The use of the word "tear" with the word "eye" shows that the dreams and innocence of childhood has been torn away due to the sudden visual realization of the hatred and pain beyond childhood. Interestingly the word "tear" has the same spelling as the word "tear". This shows that the narrator has an urge to show childish emotions but is unable to as the images of starving prisoners has forced her into an early maturation. Plath clearly feels that adulthood and maturity is found through pain and suffering.
In "growing up" however, Cary shows childhood to be entirely filled with rage and hatred. In "growing up" the children say "kill him, scalp him, torture him". The use of the word "torture" shows previous thought and a hidden desire for schadenfreude. The children have clearly thought in detail about causing great harm and distress to the dog, Snort. Instead of just wanting to "kill" the dog, causing it little or no amounts of pain, the children then wish to "torture" Snort and in turn, causing him high amounts of escrutiating pain and suffering. Cary demonstrates that as children progress in childhood so does the amount of rage and hatred stored within them.
In conclusion Cary feels that adulthood is a quick progression of pain and suffering, whilst Plath shows childhood to be a slow, slight building time of pain, rage and hatred. As the narrator said in "superman", "I can't make it any different".
2008-11-26 @ 18:04:22
ReplyDeleteThis really is some of the best analysis and comparison I have ever read. The confidence and originality are there in bucketloads. Never be afraid to take a risk like Amy's analysis of "tear" in an exam situation- this is exactly what examiners are looking for in order to award top grades (so long as you keep it relevant to the essay you are writing).
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Gemma and Emma (Visitor)
2008-11-25 @ 20:35:44
In both 'Superman' and 'Growing Up', the authors use skin colour to exaggerate the characters personality. For example "nobody on our block really liked her because she was bossy and stuck up, with pale skin". Plath uses the paleness of Paula's skinto descrive her and make her seem cold and unkind to the other characters. However, the narrator is calling Paula 'pale' to make the reader instantly dislike her. Simularly, in 'Growing up', the children shout at their father "yes, yes- paleface". Carey uses the childrens chants to make their rather seem inhumane, almost like 'cold black stone', as written is 'Superman'. By using skin colour, Careymakes the reader see the father in a different way as paleness is portrayed negativly in both stories. Therefore both authors show childhood as a cold and judgemental time as the children from both stories describe people negativly.
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Becca North&Nycole Scourfield (Visitor)
2008-11-26 @ 17:16:52
The writers present their views of childhood as being influenced by others around them.
“He used to pull the wings from flies and the legs of grasshoppers”.
This reveals that children do not like individuality because they may have lived and suffered from a cruel and unkind childhood. As a result of this, are left feeling isolated and afraid of being bullied. Therefore, the author portrays a disliking of individuality.
Similarly in “Growing up”, Cary also portrays a sense of disliking individuality:
“Kill him-scalp him. Torture him.”
This highlights a sense of violence which could have been inflicted through studying others actions.
Both Cary and Plath have a view of childhood which is violent. This may be a result of being unable to be their true selves during their childhood.
The use of the quotes, “Pull the wings” and “Scalp him” imply a sense of suffering, which suggests that both authors similarly had a childhood where they had to be the same as everybody else.
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bmccarey99
2008-11-26 @ 18:08:42
An interesting idea here. I'd like to see a bit more explanation as to how their cruelty comes about as a result an innability to fit in with others. You could also make the point that, whilst Sheldon Fine has been shunned by other children and therefore ends up taking pleasure in act of cruelty, Kate and Jenny have not been shunned as such, but simply left to their own devices (as respresented by the state of the garden). Despite this difference however, the net result is the same: schadenfreude.
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Nycole Scourfield (Visitor)
2008-11-26 @ 21:53:36
Okeey Dokey (:
We will do that next time.
x
Dan H & Dan J (Visitor)
ReplyDelete2008-11-26 @ 17:35:35
In both "Superman" and "Growing up" the authors use individual words and linguistic devices to portray the contrasting sides of children. In "Superman" Sylvia Platt portrays children to be vindictive,inconsiderate and malicious. "But after a while, he became an expert in inventing tortures and even carried them out in private,beyond the game." Notably, Platt uses the word "expert" to sugest that Sheldon indulged in the acts of schadenfreude and is not just doing this as a one off situation. Similarly in "Growing up" Joyce Cary also demonstrates that children have an evil and vindictive nature. "Kill him, scalp him, torture him" Cary uses the word, "torture" to express an exaggerated sense of hatred, evil and disgust. This can also be linked to the word schadenfreude as it means; taking pleasure in ones pain. Alternatively, the children carry out these acts whilst in a world of imagination, which stereotypically is portrayed as a world of happiness, innocence and joy. Furthermore, Platt shows Sheldon to be taking these games too far in a virtual sense of reality whereas the girls in "Growing up" still have not realised that they are in a vicious world of reality, and life is not a game.
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Nycole Scourfield (Visitor)
2008-11-26 @ 21:55:03
Oh and I'm just reading the Katie Price book (:
ahaa
x
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Daniel Howlett (Visitor)
2008-11-26 @ 22:05:10
The Katie Price book, which she didn't write and probably hasn't and can't even read herself. I might buy Lord of the flies of amazon for 74p I feel like reading it now
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bmccarey99
2008-11-28 @ 12:55:04
ReplyDeleteAmy F writes:
What View of Childhood do the Authors Portray?
In the stories ‘Superman’ and David Brown’s New Snowsuit’ by Sylvia Plath and ‘Growing Up’ by Joyce Cary, both show how children have a cruel and inductive influence over each other but do not face, or they hide from, the end result.
In the story ‘Superman and David Brown’s New Snowsuit’, the author Plath shows how a once oblivious boy, now finds enjoyment from cruel and torturous treatment of insects and bugs. “At first we had to prompt Sheldon in his part” (line 41). The word ‘prompt’ shows how he was unknowing in the violence and evil ways of childhood imagination and play, and how he was pushed into it from others’ existing enjoyment of it.
From the story ‘Growing Up’, the quote ‘Jenny gave a yell and rushed at her (Snort, the dog)’ she fled yelping. At once Kate jumped up, seized another bamboo and threw it, shouting “Tiger, Tiger” (lines 74 – 76). The author, Cary, shows how, even knowingly, children can influence others towards a violent and cruel nature.
‘At once Kate jumped up’ shows her actions are not thought out and are done through wanting to be part of the action, and not thinking about what could be the eventual ending or the actions involved to reach it.
The continuance of the sentence ‘At first, we had to … ‘ used earlier, shows how continuing exposure to violence leaves an imprint, of sorts ‘but after a while he became an expert on inventing tortures’ (lines 41-42). This sentence shows how the influence from others have affected the ‘innocence’ he once had from the evil and after repeated exposure, the violence has ‘infected’ him, and he can now find enjoyment in what he once never did.
Further on in the story ‘Growing Up’, the violence has also ‘infected’ the two girls ‘it seemed to him that both the children, usually so gentle, so affectionate, had gone completely made – vindictive’ (lines 92-93).
The violence from before, has taken over their actions. What was once simple fun, has ‘over powered’ their usual nature and taken control, changing their view of fun and the consequences of their actions.
‘David and I never played with Sheldon except at recess. After school we left him to his Mama, his bon bons, and his helpless insects’ (lines 45-46). From these final sentences on their childhood adventures with Sheldon, Plath shows that children avoid the consequences and blame for their prior actions and the resulting actions of others. Also, how they do not see the evil and malice in their original actions, and seem to find others to blame.
“Oh, she’s bitten you, look Kate”. Kate rolling off his legs, came to her knees, “so she has, bad Snort” (lines 108-109).
After the violence has come to an end, Cary shows how the children look for someone or something to blame for the resulting injuries, and settle on the dog.
The children use the blame, almost as an escape route from punishment and their own consciousness.
Bryony Price (Visitor)
ReplyDelete2008-12-01 @ 23:45:24
What does schadenfreude mean again i want to use it? =]
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bmccarey99
2008-12-02 @ 07:09:21
"Schadenfreude" is from German meaning literally pain-joy. A character who displays schadenfreude (or a schadenfreudic attitude) is one who takes pleasure in the pain and suffering of others.