FOCUS QUESTION:
The Roman general Scipio Africanus wrote, “I am never less at leisure than when at leisure, nor less alone than when I am alone.” What do you think he meant? How does this apply to the story?
PERSONAL RESPONSE:
Did you find this story to be humorous or serious? Or was it, perhaps, a little of both? Explain using examples/support from text. Include any personal connections you might have.
Personal Response-
ReplyDeleteI think that this story is a little bit of both. More serious than humorous to me. I can connect to this because in the story, he went canoeing and I have been canoeing. I have also been fishing, but not as serious about fishing as him. In the text, they mentioned a covered bridge, and in Iowa we have them in Winterset. They were the a river, and I have been in a river swimming, kayaking, and canoeing. They went to a party (narrator and Sheila) and I have been to a party. I can connect to this story very well, so I'm perceiving this story as a little bit of both.
-Klay Evans
Personal Response:
ReplyDeleteI found this story to be kind of both serious and humorous. Sometimes the characters would be funny or try to be, and other times they could be serious. When they talked, they sounded a little more serious than humorous depending on what they were talking about. Other times, their attitude could've made you laugh or smile. It said at the end of the story, "You're a funny kid, you know that?" so that could be humorous by what the character said.
Personal Response:
ReplyDeleteI found the story to be a little of both; humorous and serious. In ways it was funny with the attitude that was portrayed. But, the way things worked out, and ended, was also a serious side. The things he gave up for this girl who didn't even care about him, was sad and serious. But, the way the story ended; it was trying to set a humorous tone. He (the author) tried to make it be funny with the way he talked about her attitude, and looking back at things.
Personal Response:
ReplyDeleteI think that it was serious. He had to learn a hard life lesson. He may have been lovestruck, but he needed to wake up and see the facts. He had a serious mood in general. It may have been funny at times for us to read, but it wouldn't seem very funny if you are experiencing it. He gave up the bass and still lost Sheila as well. He didn't get either of the things that he wanted.
Personal Response:
ReplyDeleteI thought the story was a little of both, but was supposed to be focused on the more serious part of things. At some points, like when they were in the boat, and he was trying to focus on two problems at once, it seemed funny, but in the beginning and at the end, things tended to be on the more serious side. The author showed many informative text parts too. When the boy was describing her to the people reading the story, it was very funny, because he seemed like he was so focused on her, and stalker like. So, I think the author wanted to tell a story that showed us the importance of some experiences, with some humor added in along the way.
Personal Response: I thought that the story was humorous in spots, but in other spots it was a little serious. The way that he described her was a little humorous because of how detailed he was, and the little things that he happened to notice. Though, at the part when she ditched him to go with the other boy, that was not funny at all. When he was describing her to the readers, I couldn't help but think to myself how ridiculous he was sounding. If he would have said that to Sheila's face, she either would have thought that it was really sweet, or she would have laughed at him. It's just, that no one ever talks like that. People would think that the kid was weird if he talked like that all the time. So, that was a little humorous to me. At different parts I thought differently about the tone of the story. When she was being so rude and mean to him, it was serious because that happens in real life. All of us know of the kid that went after the girl that was way out of his league and gets shot down. That is serious, though some people might view that has comical, I did not.
ReplyDeleteFocus Question:
ReplyDeleteI think he meant that while one may be at rest, you are never really at rest, because you are always thinking, always analyzing, always there. So, it is hard for one to be at leisure, because you are always thinking. When you are alone, you can be alone, or you could be in a crowd of people and be alone. Completely alone. It happens to almost everyone, the fact that you are surrounded by people, yet you are always alone.
This applies because he was alone with Sheila. He was with her, and never truly alone, but he was alone, because they were not enough alike to be together and really be together. While she was talking, he always felt alone, without someone, because she didn't get him, and he didn't get her.
Personal Response
ReplyDeleteI found this to be a little of both. There were more humorous parts though. He wanted to take the prettiest girl he's ever seen to a band out of anything else. And on top of that, he took her in a canoe! Even worse, he was more focused on the fish than her! Some serious parts though, he did manage to take Sheila out on a date. I don't have any personal connections.
Personal response:
ReplyDeleteI think that it was a little bit of both, but more serious. The boy was in love with the girl, but it seemed that he was way to young for her, and the fact that she left with someone else. The most serious part was that he let the fish go when he cut it off. It could've been a really good catch, but he let it go because of a girl. And, the girl didn't do anything and left him for another boy. I think that the more funny part was that he would watch every move that he would do, which is a little creepy. But the memories as the boys life probably would be is that I would remember that catch forever, and Sheila Mant.
Personal Response;
ReplyDeleteI took this story as a serious story. I didn't find any of it to be humorous. The boy really liked her and all he wanted was one chance. She didn't treat him very well. At the end of their first date she said, "I'm going home Eric Caswell." That could have hurt him. That is serious, not funny. If I go somewhere with my friends and they ditch me, I feel like they don't like me or don't want me around. I wouldn't want to be laughed at.
PERSONAL RESPONSE:
ReplyDeleteI found this story more serious than humorous. The boy in the story was dealing with a serious matter. He was dealing with something he loved and cared about. Though, it was kind of funny he didn't quite know what he had those strong feelings for. The didn't know if he loved Sheila Mant or the big fussy bass better. Sheila Mant might have called this neither serious nor humorous, she would probably call this story stupid.
PERSONAL RESPONSE: I Think That This Story Was Made To Be Serious. Since The Story Was Told In Third Person, It Made It A Lot Easier To Judge This Topic Because Of The Opinions. In The Story I'm Writing, It's A Lot Like This Based On The Opinionated And Observant Character. I Think That The Way He Described Sheila Mant, Sometimes It Was Supposed To Be Somewhat Humorous. No, I Don't Think That The Entire Story Was Humorous Because You Could Feel The Connection Between Him And Her, Based On What He Was Telling Us About Her. And That Connection Was, Inferring From His Description, Very Serious.
ReplyDeleteFocus: He is saying that when he is liesured and supposedly relaxed that he really isn't. Not in his mind at least. The author of the quote more than likely has too much to think about and a restless conscience. The reason you can't be less alone than when you're alone is because there is no other way to define it. Alone and by yourself is just that, and you can't get more alone than alone if you are in fact ALONE.
ReplyDeleteI found the story to be a little of both serious and humorous. At parts it could be serious like when the kid had the big bass on the other end of his land because I felt for him, but in my case I would have pulled up the fish because you will remember it forever, and you will forget about a girl in a week. Well it depends on the girl. It was funny when he was describing her appearance because I thought it was funny because thats not the kind of girl I look for.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a little humorous and serious because he was really trying to get a date with this girl. And the part about the big bass was pretty serious to him and having to try so hard for her not to see it. And he had a very serious decision to make about either to let the fish go or let the girl go. Yet it was humorous because he tried to make a canoe ride romantic but she was just like whatever. And trying to impress her by swimming laps and doing dives to try to impress her is kinda funny/lame. Cause he never really tried to talk to her before the date he just would constantly stare and observe her. So the story had its serious and humorous moments. which made it interesting to read.
ReplyDeletePERSONAL RESPONSE:
ReplyDeleteI think that this story is a little serious and humorous. Forst off I think it is serious because hes in a boat with that girl who hate fishing, but there is also a big bass on his fishing line. If i was him I would have pulled up that fish even if he didn't like fishing. we all have our own opinions. thats something you really want and have been waiting for. There are other girls out there anyways and he could tell she wasn't into him. She was out of his league that why I found it funny. SHe was way too old for him. She was 17 and he was 14. He was a little bit to stalkerish. If I was her I would be interested in him either because he was weird and to young.
Personal Response
ReplyDeleteI think that this story was written to give a helpful hint at life, but to do so in a funny and humorous way. When something bad happens in your life you might hear we will have a good laugh about this in a few years, that is what I believe happened to the author. He had a bad experience when he was a child and is now looking back at it on a humorous note. He used humor to tell a story about his life and provide a meaning beyond the story.
Personal Response:
ReplyDeleteI found this story to be a little bit of both serious and humorous. The situation with the bass and Sheila Mant was serious. Although, now he probably looks back and thinks its humorous. It was also humorous because she was a little bit "out of his league". At the end of the story when she says that he is a cute kid, it seemed to be more in the humorous tone. Most of the bad experiences I have had in life, I usually just look back on them, laugh, and think well I learned from that one. At the time of the story to story was more serious.
PERSONAL RESPONSE: I thought it was both humorous and serious. It was humorous when he talked abou the bass and how it was more important than the girl he was "in love with". Then It was serious when he talked about how he thought about the girl and how he admired her. He looked at her all day and learned her moods. So, it is both serious and humorous both at the same time.
ReplyDeletePersonal Response:
ReplyDeleteI believe that the story was meant to be a little of both. There are some more humorous parts of the story, but I believe it has a serious meaning behind it. It's about a boy who loves fishing more than anything, but chose a girl over a large-mouth bass, and realizes that it wasn't his best choice. The funny part is about how he thinks about Sheila Mant and the fish, how he reacts, and what she says to him. The serious matter is the meaning behind it. He got his heart broken by a girl and lost the fish all in one night.
Personal
ReplyDeleteI feel that it is kind of both. Reason is that he first lost the biggest fish he will probably ever catch which is so humorous. Then he lost his first crush and made a huge fool of himself which is still humorous. But the serious thing is that he learned one of life's lessons. The first love is not always the last. So the story was quiet humorous and serious at the same time.
Personal
ReplyDeleteI thought that this story was supposed to be serious, but at some points, it made me laugh. The setting was pretty serious, and so was the plot line. This boy is infatuated with this girl, and he lets his prize fish go in order to keep his prize girl. That is the serious part. I thought that his obsessive stalkish tendencies were kind of funny. It says that he "had learned all of her moods" and that that "his longing was like a madness that he couldn't stop.". It just seemed strange to me, and kinda creepy, and it just mad me laugh.
Focus question:
ReplyDeleteHe is saying that he is resting, he is as restful as if he was in a battle. His mind, full of thoughts from a previous battle, or maybe full of thoughts of his family, never resting. His mind was always at work, even if his body was at peace.
When he speaks of being alone, he means that he is as alone in an empty room as a crowded town square. This can be doubly meaningful, as he could mean that he truly feels lonely in a full room, and I know how this feels. It is a terrible feeling. Alone, yet not alone. He could also mean that when he is in an "empty" room, the room isn't as empty as it may seem. There may be demons and poltergeists, and many of them. I feel both of them to be true, but the second to be what he meant. There are more beings in the room than you can see. There are beings that you can only feel, if you concentrate.