...Summary and Personal Response- Draft Version This is a summary and personal response to essay “ Farm Girl” by Jessica Hemauer. This is a story about a girl who’s childhood was spent working on her parents farm, while most of her friends enjoyed their childhood playing sports, watching TV and socializing with other kids. Even though she spent her time working on the farm, this experience was very valuable to her. It thought her to be responsible, that helping your family is very important and that “fitting” in is not always the best thing. Main points Each child in the family had their responsibilities in the barn. They all helped each other with their duties and Jessica being the youngest child had a duty of feeding the newborn calves. This was her favorite chore as it made her feel like she was taking care of someone, just like everyone else took care of her. After completing the chores they cleaned up, ate and went to school. Once they were in school, they would have been up for hours doing chores, while their classmates just got up and came to school. Jessica’s day went by fast and she didn’t have time for any before and after school activities like other kids. She had to worry about her chores at the farm. She would spend her lunch listening about everyone else’s plans and activities and wishing she was able to do the same. In eight grade she was finally able to join the basketball team and felt like she was a part of conversations now. She still kept her farm duties...
Words: 767 - Pages: 4
...uses for me and that dirt bike. It was around that age my father started waking me up early summer mornings and taking me to the barns with him to feed and water the animals. He explained to me that the animals were our life and there life was ours. If the animals got sick, wasn’t fed or watered then all the things we love and enjoyed at the house would not be there such as my new dirt bike. So making sure all the animals were healthy was the first and foremost most important thing on the farm. After many years of taking care of the animals, some do get sick no matter how well they are taken care of. Spending hours in a pen with a sow till she gives birth was boring yet exciting at the same time. Then taking care of them, watching them grow you start getting attached to the animals. It was hard at a young age to care for and love the animals to watch them grow and let them go. The lessons I was taught living on the farm were harsh. I get attached to animals I took care of for years knowing that they were food and what kept our family alive. Even knowing that did not make things any easier the day my father took me to the part of the barn that was off limits. It was were other farmers would come and take live stock and where my father would bring more live stock in. well that’s all I thought was involved in that section of the barn. I was really attached to a certain hog that I raised since he was born. He was smaller than the rest and...
Words: 766 - Pages: 4
...beautiful landscape that my dad and I installed. Next, comes the front yard which is about half an acre. To most this might seem big but growing up on a farm it is quite small. Past the front yard is one of our hay fields that are typical of the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania. This hay field goes down into a valley before coming to a stop by the road. On the other side of the road is a small hay field. There is a small creek that goes under the road and runs along this small hay field. This side of the farm is where the most beautiful views take place. The first view that catches my eyes is our three barns which contain our hay, tractors, and other equipment. Two of the barns are newer but the biggest barn and most beautiful one was built in the late 1800’s. The barn has an older look to it and used to be used as a dairy barn where they milked the cows. By these barns is a pond which brings back so many memories from going swimming at family reunions, and going fishing with my grandpa. I can imagine the sun glistening off the water when the sun hits it just right. Above the pond and to the right of it is our pasture field where we keep our beef cattle. The pasture goes right up to the property line on that side of the farm which is enclosed by an electric fence. My most favorite view of all time is in the spring time watching the newly born calves run around and play. Watching their little tails flip all around while they drink milk from their...
Words: 373 - Pages: 2
...strong underlying meaning that is brought out by a few lines within the middle of the poem. The quote goes from line 5 till the end of line 8. The quote has some serious power behind it and brings the whole meaning of the poem together. It develops the idea that if one were to die that it be a noble and honorable death as if you were to die a hero. If a hero were to die that is exactly the way there would go out, holding their head high and proud. McKays poem develops the idea of a hero and if one were to die a hero that they would let it be a nobly proud and honorable death. When the poem is first read it is vague exactly what McKay is referring to. But after rereading and analyzing specific parts of the poem lots of conclusions can be derived. Certain lines in the poem are what can make the argument so strong. The main quote that allows one to believe in such argument is on line 5 through 8. “If we must die—oh, let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy, Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!”(CITE***) This quote has a lot of meaning behind it in the sense that it highlights the main idea of the whole poem about noble and honorable death as a hero. There are certain word within the quote that help defy the main idea of the poem. They are certain words that really exemplify the main meaning of the poem as a whole. Mckay clearly chose words and phrases especially in the quote chosen, to develop and connect back...
Words: 743 - Pages: 3
...the Athenian citizens, as they were mostly poor. However, it also meant that he had to follow through with his promise otherwise he would have the citizens against him and his regime. In order to make sure that no one else could seize tyrannical power, new cults and military functions increased the unity of the new tribe. The loyalty of the new tribes was now to Attica and not to the noble families as they were grouped into three areas of Attica. The basis of the Boule was strengthened making it more difficult for ambitious tyrants to take power. Breaking up the demes broke the power of the nobles and the old ionic tribes they had dominated. Also, the Boule of 500 became open to all over 30, except thetes and was most likely selected by lot which gave no advantage to the aristocracy. They served for one year and reappointment was allowed once but not in consecutive years making it hard for individuals to dominate. The nobles had reduced power of patronage when citizenship of valid males were admitted at 18. The Strategoi were directly elected by the people, yearly and they tended to come from noble or wealthy background. There were 10 of them, one from each tribe and were eligible for another election the next year but were held accountable to the people rather than to an area or faction. When ostracism was...
Words: 1024 - Pages: 5
...Jaleel Ritchwood Dr. Angela Elliot Introduction to Literary Analysis ENG1005A Breaking Free William Faulkner’s story “Barn Burning” seems just to be about an oppressive father and a son who is in the grips of that oppression. I think Faulkner explores at least one important philosophical question in this story where he asks at what point should a person make a choice between what his parent(s) and/or family believes and his own values? The main character and protagonist in this story is a boy named Colonel Sartoris, who is nicknamed Sarty. In this story, Sarty is faced with the decision of both going along with the views and actions of his ethically challenged father or assert his own ethics and independence by running away and leaving his family and his pain behind. In William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”, Sarty and his father Abner struggle with internal emotions dealing with their way of life. The antagonist in the story is Abner Snopes. Abner is a very angry and inconsiderate man who has hate and abomination for almost anybody who is not “blood-kin”, and he portrays that hatred and disapproval throughout the story. This story follows the typical format and is narrated in the third person. In the exposition, Faulkner’s skill as a writer is established through the way that he uses details to draw the readers into the story. Also, in the first paragraph we are introduced to the main character and protagonist in the story, Sarty. The setting in which Sarty’s conflict is...
Words: 919 - Pages: 4
...HUMANITY There are many aspects pertaining to literature that cause readers to consider it good literature. Some may analyze the plot, setting, narrative structure, character, mood, or theme. Others may choose to analyze or focus on literary techniques such as imagery, hyperbole, personification, or irony. Though we may choose to focus on any of these facets, as well as many more, the one condition that we all seem to be looking for in literature is connection. We want to be able to relate to the characters in the works we read. We want to read stories that we can comprehend and identify with; stories that allow us to associate ourselves with the characters, see the story through their eyes, put ourselves in their shoes, feel their pain, and celebrate their victory. Good literature fully explores the depths and aspects of humanity through empathy, morality, madness, vulnerability, and pride. The White Troops Had Their Orders, but the Negros Looked Like Men by Gwendolyn Brooks exemplifies empathy through the white troop meeting the black troops, likely slaves, for the first time. The poem starts us off by showing how the white men had been trained to look at the black men. They had been given the formula on how to treat them until their empathy sets in after seeing the black troops for the first time. “But when the Negros came they were perplexed. These Negros looked like men” (Brooks, 2495). In fact, they appreciated the similarities so much, they didn't have the time or frame...
Words: 3199 - Pages: 13
...visibility and tangibility there is empathy, said to be one of the most important “skills” humans can possess. Empathy involves an individual recalling their own personal feelings of a situation they have been through and making them relevant to that of another individual’s situation- it, unlike sympathy, requires first and foremost an understanding of the emotions of someone else while vicariously feeling these same emotions in concordance with that individual. For example, children look to their parents when they come upon various trials and tribulations, and parent(s), with far greater life experiences, are expected to have an understanding of their child’s feelings- they are expected to possess the ability to empathize. In his short story, “Barn Burner,” William Faulkner emphasizes the importance of the presence of empathy in individuals by creating Abner Snopes, a man that spends his life making a conscious refusal to feel empathy towards society, and more specifically toward his youngest son, Sarty. Through the continuous use of diction with a negative connotation to...
Words: 952 - Pages: 4
...to engage the reader into a story. This is also the case in “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner. Faulkner’s two major characters in “Barn Burning,” could easily fall into the categories dynamic, round, static and flat characters. Although Faulkner has several minor characters that add to the story as well, we will only be taking a look at his two major characters. Colonel Sartoris Snopes, or “Sarty,” would be our dynamic, round character. Abner Snopes, our other main character, would be our flat, static character. Often times a major character will fall into a couple different categories of character types. Sarty can also be classified as both a dynamic character (one that changes throughout the story), and also a round character (one that acts from varied, often conflicting motives, impulses, and desires). Throughout the story Sarty has to struggle with following the teachings of his father, regarding family loyalty vs. his own inner moral judgment. There is a trial going on at the opening of the story, where Sarty’s father is on trial for burning down his employer’s barn. Sarty is called to the stand, but then removed before having a chance to testify against his father. Later his father confronts him, asking “You were fixing to tell them. You would have told him.” To which Sarty replies, that he would have. He later of course, does side with justice and warns Major De Spain that is father is planning to his barn. Arriving at the De Spain home for the first time, is a crucial...
Words: 710 - Pages: 3
...First Draft Barn Burning is a short story that was written by an American author- William Faulkner. Faulkner has brought out a mysterious characterization of Snopes. It is a story that has ten year old Sarty Snopes as the main character who is faced by a conflict. Sarty’s father is a barn burner and he is divided as to whether he should let it to the judges that his father faces on two different occasions. In the first case, his father is taken to court and charged with burning Mr. Harry’s barn. Even though he is guilty, he walks away scot free and the bad thing about it is that it is not the first and is not going to be the last barn he burns as we see in the story later. It is an injustice and he wishes that he could stop it, but on the other hand, he should protect the family name. this brings out the basis upon which the story rotates. The stor’s main theme is a conflict in which Sarty has to find which one among his family and his community he should identify with. Abner Snopes, Sarty’s father keeps on reminding him that family relations are very important and that “he was getting to be a man. He got to learn to stick to his own blood or he wont have any blood to sticking to him” (Main story: p 3) the major theme in the book is about finding one’s identity, or choosing what to identify with. There is constant identity crisis. Sarty is caught off guard this time by his father’s intension to burn Mr. de Spain’s barn. He even tries to delay his plan by suggesting the sending...
Words: 1015 - Pages: 5
...1 A Strong Bond The theme in “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner revolved around the strong bond of a family. The main character has to make a decision between what is right and wrong. This drives a wedge between him and his family. The rest of the family believes that blood is thicker than water and that you should stick with your own kin. In the story the strong bond of a family causes conflicts within the main character. Faulkner starts “Barn Burning” with a view of a small courthouse. Sarty sits outside as his father, Abner, argues with the Justice of the Peace. This shows just how little respect Abner has for the law. Abner is being accused of setting someone’s barn on fire. The Justice rules that Abner should pack his belongings and leave the country before dark. Abner and his sons then head out to the wagon where the rest of his family awaits. They ride for a while before camping out in some trees. The next day they arrive at the house and begin unpacking. Then Abner leaves and sets route to the De Spain’s house. Upon arrival he barges through the door and calmly wipes his feet over the expensive white carpet. He has no respect for others or their belongings. A couple hours later a man arrives with the rug and tells Abner to clean it. He does not only clean the rug, but he also sets it on fire to prove that he is above the law. After getting in trouble with the Justice of Peace again Abner prepares to set fire to the De Spain’s barn to show that he is above everyone...
Words: 811 - Pages: 4
...In William Faulkner’s story, “Barn Burning”, a young man, Colonel Sartoris, struggled with the relationship he had with his father and his own conscience. Sarty, the young man, develop into an adult while dealing with the many crude actions and ways of Abner, his tyrannical father. Sarty was a puzzled youth faced with the decision of either going along with the views and actions of his morally challenged father or asserting his own morality and individuality by running away and leaving his family and his pain behind. His struggle dealing with the reactions that were caused by his father’s action resulted in him thinking more for himself throughout the story. Sarty knew he “smelled cheese, and more.” He smelled the “fierce pull of blood,” his father’s blood, the blood of the family name, Snopes. Sarty knew he was also the son of the “barn burner.” A name he heard hissing as they passed by boys in town. Sarty fought to defend his father, but when hurt; he seemed to need the blood to remain for a while as a reminder of why he stayed with his father. Sarty viewed his father at times as “bloodless” and cut from “tin.” Sarty could usually convince himself why his father was this way. The fact that he had to be a horse trader for four years, hiding from the blue and the gray armies to exist by stealing or “capturing” as he called it, horses caused Sarty to view his father the way he did. “Barn Burning” was a sad story because it not only showed the classical struggle between...
Words: 1075 - Pages: 5
...Barn Burning William Faulkner is concerned with the south and its problems with black slavery. The issues in Barn Burning deal with the conflict between father and son. The theme of this story focuses on justice. The boy, Sarty, objects to his father burning barns and wants people to be treated fairly. His father, Abner, believes his son should respect and support kin. Abner thinks family is right no matter what. Faulkner's intent is to show that choosing between one's own family and justice is very difficult to do, and in the end justice must prevail. The theme is best illustrated by its point of view, its characterization, and setting. Faulkner represents his point of view using both first and third person to translate his theme. The story is being told by Sartoris Snopes who is a boy at the time the story takes place. Throughout the story he shifts from first to third person narrative voices. At times in the story he would speak as only a child would, then something would be said by him which was too knowledgeable for a boy his age to know. This gives an impression that he is older and is remembering things of his past. Switching between first and third person shows that the choice he made greatly affected him. The way the characters are portrayed remarkably depicts Faulkner's theme. The two conflicting characters are described in similar ways to show their differences. Abner is described by how people see and think about him. From the beginning...
Words: 947 - Pages: 4
...marketing specialty home products William-Sonoma, I believe will continue to grow as it is betting on its online expansion venture of moderate price West-Elm chain to revive growth. The key I think is with diversification and understanding the different economic housing markets. In some states where housing market is high with Foreclosures and declining home purchases the process of exploring strategies targeting retails in remodeling is significant in future success. These strategies of old will support growth to an extent but needs to evolve over time. The company used the primary selling channels of retail and direct to customer channel. The retail consisted of four means to deliver products which were through Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Hold Everything. The Williams-Sonoma brand of providing home goods, decorative accessories, and more importantly children market is expected to grow because of the expectations in birthrates. The competition in this market will continue to grow and startup companies are flooding the retail market to get its share of the pie. Today’s market involve new technologies and companies are continuously seeking methods to get there products to the customer faster and at any time. With this understanding Williams-Sonoma should continue to seek and build upon its strategies in order to be ahead of their competitors and new business ventures. Another aspect to consider for the company and where it will be in the next 5 years is to monitor...
Words: 374 - Pages: 2
...XXX XXX English 232-10 19 March 2014 The Misguided Motives and Redeeming Qualities of Abner Snopes In William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning,” Abner Snopes is portrayed to be an unpredictable predator who ruthlessly burns the barns of his enemies over minor disputes and terrorizes his family into submission. Abner is described as “tin-like” throughout the story to signify the coldness that he shows towards humanity. This makes Abner appear almost inhuman, as he seemingly lacks the human quality to feel emotion. Given the misdeeds that Abner commits in the story, it would be very easy to think of him as the tin-like monster that the narrator portrays him to be. However, like the “dynamic shapes of tin cans” that are mentioned in the opening paragraph, Abner has a dynamic past that has led him to view the world in a different light than society. In Abner’s eyes, he is the hero and the wealthy citizens and the justice system are the villains who are out to take advantage of the poor. When the story is looked at from this point of view, many of Abner’s seemingly negative traits become admirable. Although Abner is still a flawed character, his ability to resist oppression and protest the corrupt social system, his determination to see that justice is served, and his love and loyalty to his family are worthy of respect. In order to understand why Abner has come to develop his hatred towards society, his past and current situation...
Words: 1562 - Pages: 7
