Animal Farm Chapter 1-2

Robby Treadwell

11/29/12

Chapter 1-2

Period 4

Summary: In the beginning Mr. Jones the owner of the farm is drunk and when he goes to bed forgets to lock up all the animal houses. All of the animals then go to the barn where Old Major the prize boar speaks to them about how crappy their lives are. Later Old Major dies in his sleep and we are introduced to three pigs named Snowball, Napolean, and Squealer. Mr. Jones is a heavy drinker

Quotation: "Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings?"

Quotation Significance: It took the animals this long for one of them to realize that their lives are bad because of the humans. Old Major shows some intelligence in this by teaching the other animals of what he has observed in his long life. 

Reflection: This book is much easier and much more fun for me to read than the victorian novels. The language and story it self are easier for me to understand and follow what is going on. I like this book already because it is entertaining to read about what the animals have to say. It is funny just to think of what the movie would be like and see the animals talking. I think that animals are going to show a big rebellion led by the three pigs. Mr. Jones being a heavy drinker and always forgetting to do things will also play a big role in this book I think. That also offers some foreshadowing that he always forgets to do thing because he is drunk most of the time. 

Discussion Question: How is animalism going to affect or change the story?

Tale of Two Cities "Track of the Storm" Chapters 13-15

Robby Treadwell

11/26/12

Period 4

Chapters 13-15

Summary: Carton goes to Darnay's cell and switch clothes with him, and Darnay was taken back to Telson's. Carton was now going to be the one killed. Then Madame Defarge goes to Lucie's apartment and demands to know where Lucie is. Madame Defarge and Miss Pross get in a fight and Miss Pross shoots Defarge. In the last chapter Carton is killed, but has very interesting and nice final thoughts.

Quotation: "I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, . . . I see the evil of this time . . . gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out."

Quotation Significance: This quote goes to show the love Carton has and sacrifice. He says after his death that there will be no more evil, and a beautiful city with beautiful people. This also shows a lot of optimism for Carton. 

Reflection: These chapters were very interesting to read but it was very sad to read about Carton's death. I was also very proud at the same time for Carton though. I thought he has changed from bad to good throughout this book. It was very nice to read at the end about how Carton pictured things after he died. When he talks about how Darnay and Lucie are going to have a kid named after him was a good way to end part of the story. By Carton sacrificing himself, he says that it will be better for everyone else. If I was Darnay I would be speechless and I bet it would be hard for him because there is no way that he can think Carton.

Discussion Question: Was Carton drunk when he decided to make this decision? Or did he really care that much? Did the story end in a happy or sad way?

Tale of Two Cities "Track of the Storm" Chapter 5-8

Robby Treadwell

11/19/12

Chapters 5-8

Period 4

Summary: In the beginning Lucie stands in the street looking through a window trying to see Darnay every day. Manette tells Lucie that the Darnay's trial will be tomorrow. At the trial we find out that Manette is Darnay's father-in-law and that Darnay had renounced his title out of disapproval of the aristocracy’s treatment of peasants. Then soldiers show up at the house and take Darnay because he is wanted for sacrifice by Madame Defarge. Lastly, we learn that Solomon was the man that accused Darnay of treason.

Quotation: "ask no more. If the Republic demands sacrifices from you, without doubt you as a good patriot will be happy to make them."

Quotation Significance: In this quote the soldiers are talking to Darnay and Manette. They are saying that the Republic request Darnay's sacrifice and you must respect that. Later they go on to figure out that Defarge wants his sacrifice. 

Reflection: In these chapters it is interesting to read about the whole Darnay situation. It surprised me when I read that Manette is Darnay's father in law and I never would have expected that. I was a little bit confused about how Darnay had renounced his title out of disapproval of the aristocracy's treatment of peasants. It was sad to read that soldiers showed up to pick up Darnay because he was going to be killed. I also thought it was nice how hard Manette tried to get Darnay out of the trial, but then he was going to be sent to trial again after all his hard work. Lastly, while I was reading I also wondered why Solomon was the one that accused Darnay of treason.

Discussion Question: Why does Madame Defarge want to kill Darnay?

Tale Of Two Cities Chapters 22-24

Robby Treadwell  likes men

11/14/12

Chapter  22-24

Period 4

Summary: In the beginning Madame Defarge and a women set out to find and capture Foulon a wealthy man. They are successful and kill him. In the next chapter we meet more people named Jacques and they later set the castle on fire. The last chapter there is three years later. Lorry receives a letter addressed to Marquis which is actually Darnay. It is from Gabelle begging  the new Marquis to return to France and save him. 

Quotation: "Tonight?" said the mender of roads. "Tonight,: said the man, putting the pipe in his mouth.

"Where?"

"Here." (230-231)

Quotation Significance: In this quote the Jacques are talking about their plan to set the castle on fire. They join together to conclude that tonight is the night that they were going to. 

Reflection: The first chapter I believe they are still in the war that they were in the previous chapters. They are chasing after a tough and wealthy man Foulon. They tried to hang him twice but the rope broke but they killed him on the third time. This might symbolize something about the man himself saying that he is tough or hard to bring down. While I was reading this I was wondering why they called each other Jacques and if it had any relation to the Jacques from the wine shop.  If so these group of men might continue causing corruption throughout this book. I was also confused why Darnay is actually Marquis. I thought he was going to reveal his real name the morning of the day of the wedding. 

Discussion Question: Are the jacques that set the castle on fire related to the jacques from the wine shop?

Tale of Two Cities Chapter 18-21

Robby Treadwell

11/13/12

Chapter 18-21

Period 4

Summary: In the beginning Darnay and Lucie are married and go on their nine day honeymoon. Manette also seems to be feeling sick. In the next chapter Manette goes to join Darnay and Lucie but while he is gone Lorry and Miss Pross burn the shoemaker's bench and bury the tools. When Lucie and Darnay return home Sidney Carton is their first visitor and apologizes for being drunk at the trial and asks for friendship and forgiveness. Lastly, the book jumps far ahead, and Lucie has a baby that dies young. The book later jumps to the storming of the bastille in Paris. 

Quotation:“If you could endure to have such a worthless fellow . . . coming and going at odd times, I should ask that I might be permitted to come and go as a privileged person."

Quotation Significance: This quote is from the part of the book when Carton is apologizing to Darnay and Lucie. Carton has come along way as a character in this story, he is no just asking to be one of those people that come and go and stop by.

Reflection: In the beginning it is interesting and a little bit confusing to read about how Manette was sick or didn't feeling good. I didn't understand what was wrong with him. Also, it was confusing to read about the tools and why Miss Pross and Lorry destryoed the shoemaker's bench. I thought it was nice of Sidney Carton to come and apologize to Darnay and Lucie. It showed a lot about his character. It was mean of Darnay to be so snobby about Carton's apology. Lucie thought it was nice of him but I think Darnay was just jealous of Carton because he used to like her. Lastly, it is sad to read the Lucie's baby died so young but I think that was common back in that era because they didn't have much medicine.

Discussion Question: Why did Lorry and Miss Pross destroy the shoemaker's bench?

Tale of Two Cities Chapter 10-13

Robby Treadwell

11/7/12

Chapter 10-13

Period 4

Summary: One year later Darnay is teaching in London goes to Manette's houses and expresses his love for Lucie. Darnay promises to share his real name on the day of the wedding. The same night while Sidney Carton and Stryver are working, Stryver announces that he intends to marry Lucie which upsets Carton. On Stryvers way to propose to Lucie he sees Lorry and Lorry says that he should wait until he knows she will say yes. Lastly Carton goes to the Manettes and night and talks to Lucie alone. He says he will give anything for her including his life.

Quotation: "For you, and for any dear to you, I would do anything." (147)

Quotation Significance: In this quote Carton is expressing his love for Lucie to her. He says he will do anything for her. This tells a lot about the character of Carton.

Reflection: These chapters were interesting to read. Lucie is in quite the predicament, and I feel bad for her because of all this stress put on her shoulders. Darnay sounds like a pretty nice guy when he tells Dr. Manette his love for Lucie and it shows he really cares. Stryver sounds pretty confident when he says to Carton that he intends to marry her Lucie. Lorry tried to say to Stryver in the nicest way possible that Lucie does not want to marry him and her family doesn't want him to marry her as well. I start to like Carton a lot more at the end of these chapters when he talks to Lucie alone. He shows a lot of compassion for her and it says a lot when he says he will even give up his life for her. It will be interesting to keep reading about the three of them and which one Lucie will choose.

Discussion Question: Who will Lucie choose, Darnay, Carton, or Stryver?

Tale Of Two Cities Chapters 7-9

Robby Treadwell

11/6/12

Chapters 7-9

Period 4

Summary: In the beginning we meet Monseigneur who is a great lord in the royal court. Then a carriage runs over a child and kills him. Then Marquis Evremonde serves as a lord in a small village with very poor people. Then we find out that Charles Darnay is the nephew of Marquis and they have been doing harsh things to people. Marquis is found dead in the morning with a knife in him that has a note attached. 

Quotation: “Drive him fast to his tomb. This, from Jacques.”

Quotation Significance: This is what was on the note which was on the knife that was in Marquis. Jacques obviously killed him and did a good deed for all the harsh things that Marquis has done. He also says get him out of here as soon as possible. 

Reflection: These chapters seemed sort of random to the story for me. Its like we meet two brand new characters in the first chapter and where are the other main characters. We meet Marquis who is actually doing bad things and was punished by Jacques for doing them. When we read about how Monseigneur is praised it tells a lot about the society that they were living in and that they love their leaders and are patriotically. This book just seems to get more and more confusing for me and it is hard for me to pay attention to.

Discussion Question: Where are Sidney Carton, Lucie, and Lorry in these chapters. 

Tale Of Two Cities Chapter 5-6

Robby Treadwell

11/5/12

Chapter 5-6

Period 4

Summary: Chapter five is mostly a conversation between Sydney Carton and Stryver about what happened at the court. Carton later goes on to talk about Lucy's beauty, and Stryver starts to wonder about his true feelings for her. In the next chapter we meet Miss Pross and Lucie's brother Solomon Pross. Solomon stole from Miss Pross and left her in poverty. When Darnay finds the word dig on a wall on the prison he starts to dig and finds a letter. 

Quotation: "Well then! Pledge me to the pretty witness,” said Stryver, holding up his glass. “Are you turned in a pleasant direction?”

Quotation Significance: In this quote Carton is talking about Lucie when he says pretty witness. This goes to  show how interested he is in her when he wants to change the topic and start to talk about her. 

Reflection: The first chapter was fairly short but it was interesting to read about the conversation between the two. While you read this you can get a really good understanding for how Carton feels towards Lucie. I was a little confused at the end of chapter six. It talks about how Darnay dug up the letter from the ground but then it doesn't say anything after that. Its like the letter was not important at all, and that part of the story could have been left out. This may lead to something later in the book though as well. I am interested to keep reading to see what happens with Carton and Lucie. 

Discussion Question: What is going to happen with Carton and Lucie? Is it going to be like Rochester and Jane?