Hi, for starters I really liked the connection you made between the themes of your books and Chinese New Year— it was creative and unexpected. I also liked your tweets and the influence of McCarthy’s background, including his poverty as well as the birth of his son, on his writing. In your presentation, I thought the “which is better” activity you included was an effective demonstration of McCarthy’s style—it also shows how it may have been frustrating to read at first because of the lacking punctuation but how, after you get used to it, it does help move the plot along. Another point I found interesting in your presentation was McCarthy’s use of first person narrative to tell Child of God. In my books, Khaled Hosseini also uses first and third person narrative for various effects but, in my opinion, it was most effective in building sympathy—who would’ve thought that you could be sympathetic towards a murdering necrophile? It was also interesting that you talked about each of McCarthy’s three genres as most authors specialize in a single genre or subject matter. From your poster, I liked the quote “Keep a candle burning, however small, however hidden” (McCarthy) and thought—based off of your presentation-- it epitomized the writing style and thematic elements of McCarthy’s writing. Overall I found it interesting that a self-proclaimed pessimist could write about such depression but maintain optimism throughout.
First off, I loved the name of your presentation. It has a hint of irony as pessimism is usually seen as something dark, yet you portrayed it as a type of light. Anyways, a question came to me during your presentation but I didn't get the chance to ask. You mentioned in the info about McCarthy that he had three wives in his lifetime. Also, suffering was the main theme you focused on, so do you think there is a connection between McCarthy's writing about loneliness/suffering and the fact that he could not keep a marriage? Maybe McCarthy's failings in love caused him loneliness and grief. Perhaps the sort of shunning that Lester Ballard received from society mirrors the separation that McCarthy experienced in his real life, except exclusively in his love life rather than with society as a whole. Also, McCarthy's simple language seems to universalize the themes present in his writing even more because this causes a unique sort of characterization. It's almost like the characters in The Road could be anyone, and I think that's the frame of mind McCarthy is aiming for.
Good presentation, Derek! I have actually read the book, The Road, before so I understood everything you meant, and agreed! Cormac McCarthy was certainly a dark man and a dark writer, which you conveyed well and I especially liked that you dressed for that theme. When I first read the novel I didn't see it as deeply as you did, with the quest for light. But thinking back on it, it's definitely present. And your textual examples are what highlighted that for me.
Both of your poems were perfect for the themes in The Road. The Emily Dickinson one worked so well because of the Anaphora you mentioned. It really conveys the monotony seen in The Road and how they are simply persevering through dark times and surviving. I, too, noticed the interesting and unique style McCarthy took with his dialogue. Although it got hard to follow, it made it a fast read and got right to the point. McCarthy had that in common with Hemingway. You may want to include more about the other novel you read because I didn't see much in the presentation. But overall, I thought you did a great job!
I've seen the film version of The Road and have been interested in reading the novel. I really liked your analysis of McCarthy's writing style, the emphasis on his different dialogue style and his vague characters whose names we never even learn. I feel like I understand The Road and it's inspirations a little better now, I never knew McCarthy had a son and that this was his main reason for The Road, and I found it interesting that he doesn’t use quotation marks.
It seems to me at least that our authors have a little bit in common, mostly that both write novels with a little darker themes, and that neither are afraid to shy away from using horror and violence in their writing. Obviously The Road and All Quiet on the Western Front are completely different books, but still, I think there are at least some similarities.
By second bell, I'm sure this will be posted. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi, for starters I really liked the connection you made between the themes of your books and Chinese New Year— it was creative and unexpected. I also liked your tweets and the influence of McCarthy’s background, including his poverty as well as the birth of his son, on his writing. In your presentation, I thought the “which is better” activity you included was an effective demonstration of McCarthy’s style—it also shows how it may have been frustrating to read at first because of the lacking punctuation but how, after you get used to it, it does help move the plot along. Another point I found interesting in your presentation was McCarthy’s use of first person narrative to tell Child of God. In my books, Khaled Hosseini also uses first and third person narrative for various effects but, in my opinion, it was most effective in building sympathy—who would’ve thought that you could be sympathetic towards a murdering necrophile? It was also interesting that you talked about each of McCarthy’s three genres as most authors specialize in a single genre or subject matter. From your poster, I liked the quote “Keep a candle burning, however small, however hidden” (McCarthy) and thought—based off of your presentation-- it epitomized the writing style and thematic elements of McCarthy’s writing. Overall I found it interesting that a self-proclaimed pessimist could write about such depression but maintain optimism throughout.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I loved the name of your presentation. It has a hint of irony as pessimism is usually seen as something dark, yet you portrayed it as a type of light. Anyways, a question came to me during your presentation but I didn't get the chance to ask. You mentioned in the info about McCarthy that he had three wives in his lifetime. Also, suffering was the main theme you focused on, so do you think there is a connection between McCarthy's writing about loneliness/suffering and the fact that he could not keep a marriage?
ReplyDeleteMaybe McCarthy's failings in love caused him loneliness and grief. Perhaps the sort of shunning that Lester Ballard received from society mirrors the separation that McCarthy experienced in his real life, except exclusively in his love life rather than with society as a whole.
Also, McCarthy's simple language seems to universalize the themes present in his writing even more because this causes a unique sort of characterization. It's almost like the characters in The Road could be anyone, and I think that's the frame of mind McCarthy is aiming for.
Good presentation, Derek! I have actually read the book, The Road, before so I understood everything you meant, and agreed! Cormac McCarthy was certainly a dark man and a dark writer, which you conveyed well and I especially liked that you dressed for that theme. When I first read the novel I didn't see it as deeply as you did, with the quest for light. But thinking back on it, it's definitely present. And your textual examples are what highlighted that for me.
ReplyDeleteBoth of your poems were perfect for the themes in The Road. The Emily Dickinson one worked so well because of the Anaphora you mentioned. It really conveys the monotony seen in The Road and how they are simply persevering through dark times and surviving. I, too, noticed the interesting and unique style McCarthy took with his dialogue. Although it got hard to follow, it made it a fast read and got right to the point. McCarthy had that in common with Hemingway. You may want to include more about the other novel you read because I didn't see much in the presentation. But overall, I thought you did a great job!
I've seen the film version of The Road and have been interested in reading the novel. I really liked your analysis of McCarthy's writing style, the emphasis on his different dialogue style and his vague characters whose names we never even learn. I feel like I understand The Road and it's inspirations a little better now, I never knew McCarthy had a son and that this was his main reason for The Road, and I found it interesting that he doesn’t use quotation marks.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me at least that our authors have a little bit in common, mostly that both write novels with a little darker themes, and that neither are afraid to shy away from using horror and violence in their writing. Obviously The Road and All Quiet on the Western Front are completely different books, but still, I think there are at least some similarities.