5. Generate Questions

1. Should Ray's perseverance and motivation to complete his task change differently than it did in your opinion? Why?
2. Would you have continued and persevered with this journey if it was presented to you? Explain.
3. What did you learn about perseverance from Ray and the other characters, including the antagonists, after reading this novel?
4. Do you think that if a similar situation arose again for Ray and his family, everything would turn out alright again? What are some more likely outcomes?

4. Defining a Theme

Perseverance

Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

     This theme can be found all throughout my novel. It is found mainly though, in the middle of the story when Ray is travelling around the country fufilling the requests of the mysterious voice.

     From my novel, I think that it is saying that persevering through the toughest of times in your own journey will eventually lead to a sucessful ending. Ray Kinsella stuggled through many obstacles in his journey such as financial dept, building and tending to a baseball park and travelling across the country. He did all of this in pursuit of his goal of having his father play with the 1919 Chicago White Sox. Ray persevered and stuck to his goal, in dispite of nearly losing his farm several times, and eventually achived a sucessful end to his journey.

3. Justice or Injustice

     A situation of justice found in my novel Shoeless Joe is when Shoeless Joe Jackson appears in left field of Ray's baseball diamond. This is a situation with justice because earlier in the book a promise was made by a mysterious announcer. "If you build it, he will come." (Kinsella 3). That promise was fulfilled later when Ray build the left field section of the baseball diamond and Shoeless Joe appeared one night.

     The character, Ray, learned that the announcer, whoever or whatever it may be, is telling the truth and Ray should listen to it. I don't believe that there is really anything that can be concluded about justice here, except maybe that promises made should be promises kept. That seems more like a moral lesson in this situation though.

    

2. Elements in my Novel

5 Main Elements

1. Foreshadowing

2. Point of View

3. Setting

4. Suspense

5. Trap/ Obstacle

     Foreshadowing is often not the most important element in a novel for me to enjoy reading, but in Shoeless Joe, I find that it plays an important role in the storyline. So far, foreshadowing has been used twice to show how the story will play out. The first time it was used was at the very beginning of the story to set up the main objective (so far) for the main character, Ray. The foreshadowing vaguely tells the reader what Ray's goal is and what the reward is. The second time that foreshadowing is used, it was harder to understand what was meant until explicitly stated by Ray.

     The foreshadowing in this book is important because it sets up events to happen later in the book, I think. It also makes the reader think about what is happening and the possibilities of what may happen.

 

"... when a voice clearly said to me, 'If you build it, he will come.'" (Kinsella 3).

 

     This is the first example of foreshadowing. It seems unclear at the moment of what "it" and "he" are, but as the story progresses they are revealed. "it" is a baseball diamond, and "he" is Shoeless Joe Jackson. Of course, Ray must set out and build this baseball diamond, which is his first obsticle or challange, and the outcome is foreshadowed in the above quotation. 

 

ENG 2D Post 1.

     I am Justin Horne and this is my blog. I prefer to read books that are usually non-fiction. I also like science fiction and some fantasy books. Occasionally there are books from other genres that I have read that      I have really enjoyed. Suzanne Collins is the author of the one of my favourite series of books, The Hunger Games. 
     The last book that I fully read was the final book of The Hunger Games, Mocking Jay. I also read the previous book, Catching Fire. Catching Fire is a continuation of the first book in the series. I found that it was very well written and and great way to lead into the final book of the trilogy. It was full of action, suspense and surprise, and I enjoyed that. Mocking Jay to me wasn't as exciting as the other two books. It did have a great final ending, but little action leading up to that. Overall, still a great series. 
     To date, I think that my favourite book is The Hunger Games. I really got into this book, unlike most before. I feel that I could relate to this book because of the character that it focuses on, not because of their situation but rather because their age was close to mine. Also, the book was totally different than any that I had read before. It is set in a post apocalyptic future where kids are sent into battle to fight to the death. It sounds really violent, and at times is, but the central focus wasn't on death. It was on survival and hope. This made for a perfect mix of action filled scenes and times where things are slower. That is why it is my favourite book that I have ever read. 

8. The Ordinary World

      The protagonist in my novel is Percy Jackson. His ordinary world is not like the usual happy and comforting type usually seen in most media. Percy's ordinary world is in New York. It is more specifically in various schools that he has been kicked out of including Yahnze Academy and his apartment building where he lives with his mother and step-dad. Percy doesn't like the schools that he goes to and never does well in them so that is a bad thing about his ordinary world. Another bad thing about his ordinary world is his step-dad. Percy really hates his step-dad. He is always rude to Percy, he takes Percy's money to gamble and is a slob. The only good thing about Percy's ordinary world is his mother.



      I chose this picture to describe Percy's ordinary world because I think that he feels that the world is dull and grey and not in his favour. The only positive in his life seems to be his caring mother. This direct quote is when Percy gets home from the Yahnze Academy and his step-dad, Dave, gives him an unpleasant welcome.

      " 'Where's my mom?'

      'Working,' he said. 'You got any cash?'

      That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you. How has your life been the last six months?" ( Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, 31).

Corrin, Dwight. "Up the Alley - Black and White - Cityscape & Urban Photos - Life on the Prairie." Life on the Prairie - Photography from Wichita, Kansas, United States. Dwight Corrin, 10 Feb. 2009. Web. 06 Dec. 2011.