If I Were A Hostage

If I were a hostage, I would be very sad. That would truly be a difficult thing to deal with. But, I would not consider it to be a blessing from God, such as some Puritan authors put it in their recollections. I would make  sure that I did not thank anyone, including Jesus. Jesus putting humans and such through such horrible things is no blessing! Why would you think that, Puritan people?! You are not intelligent for thinking such things.
People who hold other people hostage are mean. I do not think that this is something that anyone could possibly enjoy. I also do not understand this journal, because how else would I react? Of course I think that it is awful, I mean there is really no other side to it. I guess I could talk about it being a blessing from a sarcastic standpoint. I would find it to be amazing if I could become a hostage to the Indians. It would be difficult, but the Lord would prevail! Praise that Lord, for I am created in his image! Hallelujah. If I were a hostage, it would not really matter because all that I really need is my faith. I could go through torture and pain, but who cares!? I love God, and that is all. I do not even need proof to know that, because my superiors told me, and I cannot really think for myself anyway.
But, all sarcasm aside, I really do have respect for these hostages from this time. If religion was what got them through with optimism, then power to them! They made it, so I offer my congratulations to them. I personally would look to the realistic positives, instead of creating my own false beliefs to keep me looking forward. I could probably never convince myself that being held hostage somewhere under the control of the Indians was a good thing. I find that difficult to imagine. 

A Comparison of Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet's Puritan Writing Style

How do the writings of Rowlandson and Bradstreet reflect the qualities of Puritan writing? 

The major thing that stood out to me in comparing these two stories was that both of the writers saw a divine blessing in their hardships, even if really, it was not there at all. They both believed that earthly pleasures were being taken away from them for the sake of appreciating God and nothing else. In a sense, they are basically saying if they find something pleasurable, it is a blessing from God, and if they find something horrible, it is also a blessing from God. It is a fool-proof belief system developed by early Puritan churches, and more likely by Christians before that. Christians still believe these same things today, just not to such an extreme level.

In Mary Rowlandson's recollection, she talks about the good in the people that rescued her, but completely misses the fact that hundreds of people died during this time and, to put it bluntly, she was just one of the lucky ones. Of course there is a way of justifying this in the Puritan faith. "The Lord dealt mercifully with me many times, and I fared better than many of them (Rowlandson 85)."  And although she regards that she was one of the luckier people, she is almost bragging about her blessings to the people who were not so lucky, in my opinion. 

Blessings from God are the theme that is consistent in both pieces of literature. Anne Bradstreet also talks about her losses being just a blessing on her. "A price so vast as is unknown yet by His gift is made thine own. There's wealth enough, I need no more (Bradstreet 91)." It almost sounds like she has to try and convince herself of this. Her house has just burnt down and she acts as if she could not care about it less. According to my interpretation, she needs a way to cope with such a difficult loss, and according to the Puritans, that meant turning to God and looking at the negatives as a blessing. This makes no sense to me, but I suppose if you had nothing left, a human would need something to keep them from going insane. I find this coping method to be unrealistic and sort of silly. I do not mean to offend anyone by showing that opinion, but that is what the assignment is. If you believe in religion, I have great respect for that.

When reading, someone like me notices the way that no matter what happens to a person, no matter how horrible, somehow God is involved in a positive way. I really just do not understand how this is constantly justified. It has gone on for long enough, in my opinion, and people need to face facts. Back in the sixteen hundreds, particularly during war, people were constantly turning to religion for guidance or reasoning. The Puritan writing style often, if not always, reflected back to God in some way. Both of these pieces deal with despair and total loss, but somehow it is always God who prevails.  (Yaddayaddayadda).   

     Bradstreet, Anne. "Upon The Burning of Our House." Glencoe Literature. Student ed. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009. 91. Print.

     Rowlandson, Mary. "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs.Mary Rowlandson. "Glencoe Literature. Student ed. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009. 82-85. Print.

Francis Marie, The Little Piggy

There once was a small rodent, specifically a Guinea Pig, named Francis Marie. She had an itch on her booty that consistently continued throughout her life. She absolutely could not resist scratching her little baby rodent booty. She would parade around town with pride and she embraced her itch. Constantly scratching the itch, many other animals were sincerely concerned, especially regarding the balding spot on little Franny's bum. When they found out that Francis Marie was supporting her itch, which was something she saw as a part of her, they did not appreciate her difference from them.
The people who knew her were extremely cruel to her.  They made fun of her often, and would not allow her to partake in any of their Guinea Pig games, including the famous Water Polo Championship. This was something Francis Marie was waiting for her whole life. She had been practicing forever, and who were they to tell her that she could not play and compete for the gold?
When they announced the teams for the Water Polo Championship, little Franny was no where to be found. Everyone searched and searched, wanting to make sure that she was okay, but they simply could not find her. One young piggy, named Oliver, had a secret crush on her. He was so worried, but he was embarrassed to speak up. Really, he was the one who knew where she was hiding.
The very moment that school got out that day, because that was where they were, he walked straight to the pond where she often played. There she was, and he wanted to help her. He said hello, and she was very excited that he came to see her. They talked and she agreed to go out and hear what the people had to say.
She walked out and joined a crowd of searching people. They hugged her and apologized for making her feel sad. She said that they were forgiven, and agreed to be on the winning team for the Water Polo Championship.

How The Rhino Got His Horn

Once, long ago, rhinos were hornless beings. Of these beings one was much different from the others. His name was Chip, and he had a small lump on his nose. He was criticized by his unfortunate flaw, as they called it. "You are strange!" said Phil. "I don't want to play with you." All the rhinos were considered the same, except him. Poor Chip wanted only to be happy with the other rhinos, so he felt worthless when he could not fit in.
Even his parents found him to be abnormal. They did not like him. They said that he was not allowed to party with the other rhino babies. If not for their obligation to care for him, they would have given him away long ago. If anything, they were at least proud of his quiet behavior and studious tendencies.
One day, Chip was taking a very long romp through the waterhole when suddenly, a lovely lady appeared drinking water from the pond. She was the epitome of beauty, and Chip knew he had to have her. Suddenly, he saw her lift her head from behind. He quickly dipped his horn down in the mud before she could see his ghastly embarassment. He was ashamed of his face, and that night, he tried to run away.
He walked all the way back to the watering hole that night. He looked around only to see the beautiful rhino looking into the water. She was crying. Chip approached her cautiously. "Excuse me, Miss. Are you alright?" He looked at her reflection in the water. Wait, could it be? Is that... A horn?!
Just then she looked up into his eyes. He was right! It was a horn. He'd never seen anything so gorgeous.
She said that her name was Becky, and that she was upset that she had a horn, too. Then, it really didn't feel so bad anymore. There were two of them, together at last. They ran away together that night. These two started what is now known as The Protruding Nasal Horn Revolution, where horns were soon accepted and appreciated throughout the land. Who knew that one day, rhinos without horns would be called hippos, a very derogatory term from that time.
The End.

The Old Man and The Sea - Analysis of the Ending

When I initially read the ending to this book, I was really sad.  This poor old man spends so much time and effort attempting to catch a fish. and it is eaten by a couple of hungry sharks (Hemingway 56).  I was so confused.  I was trying to understand, but it was really depressing to me.  Maybe I'm just overemotional towards literature, but I cannot help it!  I suppose this was the reason that the book has such an important message to it, but it is still sad.  
I believe that the most significant part that the conclusion was showing was the old man's ruthless endurance and dedication.  The entire time he is on that boat, he is spending it enduring horrible pain and a zero hours of sleep.  Also in the end, he is able to endure the loss of his marlin brother.  Even after all that, picks himself up, goes home, and makes plans to go out fishing once his hands heal (Hemingway 59).  The story would be nearly meaningless if the old man would have given up after the sharks devoured he marlin.  The story is worth reading because the old man never gives up.  
The end is not all bad, anyway.  Some good comes out of it.  Santiago is able to earn the respect of the other fishermen in town because of the skeleton he brings back (Hemingway 58).  Of course they respected him then. he caught the massive all on his own with no help whatsoever.  Also, the boy agrees to fish once more with the old man afterwords (Hemingway 59).  This is a plus because the old man really wished that the boy was with him while he was out at sea.  It is good that he gets to have something to look forward to.  
Sure, a happy ending to a good book would have been nice, but if you look at it optimistically, you'll see that this was a good ending.  The old man has respect from everyone, a great best friend, new memories to learn from, and a massive skeleton of the prize fish that he took down alone.  His struggles are finally over and they will not be missed.  

Hemingway, E. The Old Man and The Sea. New York, NY: Scribner, 1980

The Old Man and The Sea - Symbolism in the Marlin

I know I already posted a little about symbolism, but I wanted to elaborate on that a little more than I did previously.  I only wanted to elaborate because I feel the need to emphasize the symbolism behind the marlin. I feel that the marlin could very well represent conflict and struggle in the old man's mind.  
First off, when the fish lurches forward, the old man's hand is cut open (Hemingway 30). The old man's job is already difficult as it was, the fish was only making it even worse.  This fish is obviously being used to accentuate the conflict and make the situation even more difficult.  
Another instance where the marlin worsens the struggle is when the old man is attempting to stop his hand from cramping up.  After he has been doing this for quite a while, the marlin leaps out of the sea (Hemingway 33).  The old man sees the fish for the very first time, yet he is already struggling to get his hand working again.  I think that the fish appears then because the old man is going through such a difficult time.  The fish symbolizes his challenge.  
As the giant marlin decides to start jumping out from the water, the fishing line is ripped from Santiago's hands so quickly that each of them are cut wide open (Hemingway 41). Now the left hand has been cut once, and the right hand has been cut twice, making the struggle even more difficult.  The conflict is now intensified due to the marlin, once again.  
The symbolism in the marlin is especially apparent when it starts to circle the boat.  Each time the fish takes a turn about the boat. the old man finds it harder and harder to stop himself from giving up (Hemingway 46).  He starts off strong, but at the fish continues to pass it becomes more difficult for the man to move on.  The symbolism is obvious here because the fish keeps the reader locked on the page as the suspense grows.  He represents the old man's struggle.  
In then end, the fish is only a skeleton, nothing but bones on  the beach.  He is no longer (Hemingway 59). To me, this represents Santiago letting go of this huge struggle and moving forward with his life.  

Hemingway, E. The Old Man and The Sea. New York, NY: Scribner, 1980

The Old Man and The Sea - Character Analysis: The Marlin

I know that it is sort of odd that a marlin is such an influential part of the story, but I genuinely thought of him as just another character.  I know he is not really the typical character, but I think that he deserves to be thought of as one, so I only think its fair to give him a character analysis.  
A character is defined as something with physical characteristics as well as emotional characteristics.  The easier one to describe would be the physical characteristics.  Obviously, the fish is massive and incredibly strong. He was a total of eighteen feet long (Hemingway 58).  He also had a long sword-like snout and a gigantic tail to go along with it.  The old man describes him as beautiful (Hemingway 45), and from what I hear, I have to agree.  And of course the old man thinks the fish is beautiful, it is what he has been waiting for for nearly three months.  
The fish had a brain, therefore it had some sort of emotions.  Also, the old man describes the fish as having emotions, so I think that he does, too.  Santiago says that the fish is not only calm, but also noble (Hemingway 45).  This makes the old man see the fish as a worthy opponent for his battle.  The fish is able to pull the man steadily along for a number of days.  This causes the old man to describe the marlin as "so fearless and so confident" (Hemingway 42).  The old man almost develops a relationship of sorts with the large fish.  He even feels distressed when the sharks eat the marlin, and apologizes for going out too far to actually catch him (Hemingway 55).  Even if these traits were not real, he still sees the fish that way and gives it his respect for having them.  
Because this is a work of fiction, the fish can have whatever traits the author decides it will have.  Sometimes. authors exaggerate their characters to make a specific point.  In this book, I think that the fish was given such a strong character because it was needed to show the amount of respect that the old man had for the fish, and  that he was capable of giving his respect to any deserving thing.

Hemingway, E. The Old Man and The Sea. New York, NY: Scribner, 1980

The Old Man and The Sea - Character Analysis: Manolin

Although the boy is not in the story all that much, I still believe that he plays a significant role in it.  The young boy is the old man's real source of hope all the way through the book, from beginning to end.  The old man's life would have been totally different if he had not had the boy as his friend.  Manolin's high amount of confidence and hope for the old man gives him the strength to do what he does.
The book starts off very dark and dreary feeling before the old man starts talking with the boy.  As the old man begins to converse with the Manolin, we begin to feel the tone light up a little.  The boy helps the old man even before they set out fishing.  The book even states "His hope and his confidence had never gone. But now they were freshening as when the breeze rises." (Hemingway 13). The boy's optimism rubs off on the old man and the next morning he sets out fishing with confidence in himself and nature (Hemingway 18).
At another point in the book, the fish is jumping out of the water and the line begins to cut Santiago's hands apart.  Then old man then decides that if the boy were there with him, he would help.  Afterwords, he finds that his hands were not really hurt so bad and that it was good that the fish jumped out of the water (Hemingway 42).  I feel like just the thought of Manolin made the old man happier and his confidence then grew higher.  
My last example occurs when the old man finally arrives back to shore at home.  At first, he says that "they beat me," but in the end, the old man has made plans to go out fishing with the boy the next day (Hemingway 58-59). The confidence in the boy gives the old man confidence in himself.  I find that this is the best kind of friendship that two people can have.  If you are able to build off each other, you can accomplish a lot more than if you were working alone.

Hemingway, E. The Old Man and The Sea. New York, NY: Scribner, 1980

The Old Man and The Sea - Tone

*I didn't like The Moon Is Down very much, so I'm going back to The Old Man and The Sea.
I really liked the style in which The Old Man and The Sea was written.  In the book, Hemingway sort of jumps from idea to idea in whatever order they are thought of by the old man while he fishes, making him very relatable.   even before his fishing trips, it seems like the old man is constantly thinking as many thoughts as he could possibly think up!  Reading his train of thought over such a long period made the book all the more interesting to me as the reader.  
As the old man talks with the boy after they have eaten dinner, their conversation changes topic many times in a swift manor.  They talk about baseball, then people who play baseball, then randomly Africa, then right back to the baseball players (Hemingway 16).  This conversation is just the same style as the thoughts of the old man.  He elaborates on a topic a bit, then changes the topic, then goes back to the original topic.  Another example of this is when Santiago thinks about the Portuguese Man-of-Wars.  He goes from thinking about how much he cannot stand them, to how he loves turtles (Hemingway 22).  His thought processes make the book so awesome! I love reading about how people think and react to things with those thoughts.  
I also noticed that the way the book is written has the old man thinking between his actions while fishing.  For example, the old man spends four hours being pulled by this massive fish, and he begins to feel some discomfort.  Once you read this, you read on to the thoughts of the old man.  He begins wondering how large the fish could be.  First the book talks about the old man's actions, then what he thinks of them (Hemingway 26-27).  The way the book is put together adds to the reader's interest.  I always find a book to be much more fascinating when you get to read into people's thoughts.  Another good example of this is when the old man is just about to pull the fish out of the water.  The book tells his every action, followed by what he is thinking at the time (Hemingway 43-45).  This consistent pattern keeps your mind locked on what will happen next and made the book all the better.

Hemingway, E. The Old Man and The Sea. New York, NY: Scribner, 1980

The Moon Is Down - Tone

The tone of The Moon Is Down is rather depressing.  It made me feel really sad through the whole thing.  I wish Colonel Lanser would have not been such a downer.  He is the whole reason that everyone was so unenthusiastic and scared through the entire book.  There is not one real moment of joy through the whole book.  Everything seems so dark and ruined.  I think this book would have been better if there was some kind of source of happiness, although that probably would not have been historically accurate.  I know that it really would not be possible to change something like that now, but that is something I probably would have included if I were writing a book set in the World War Two era.
Everything also is very secretive.  Like the way that Joseph is always seeing things happen in the mayor's house, but keeps it to himself (Steinbeck 31), or how Annie is a quiet activist for the resistance (Steinbeck 21).  Everyone is constantly keeping secrets because everyone is constantly listening!  That is just the way that war is.  Rights are gone, laws are gone, values are gone.  Everything is back to basic essentials during war, which feels wrong to me.  The whole book is a foreign concept in my mind, which makes it difficult to relate to for me.  
Overall, the tone is simply depressing.  I felt sad reading it, and no one really likes feeling that way over a book, or at all for that matter.  This made the book difficult for me to get into because I did not like feeling that way.  Although some parts were good, and the books was extremely well written, I just could not get comfortable reading about such awful things.  I am glad that I do not have to read that book anymore, because feeling that way is not something I much enjoy.  Although these feelings were awful, I suppose I am glad I got through the book and learned something new.  It is good to leave your comfort zone sometimes for the sake of understanding.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - General Opinion

To be completely honest, I really did not like The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck very much.  I respect the author and the time period quite a lot, but I just did not find my mind engaging in it as much as I would have enjoyed.  I sort of had to push myself to keep reading from time to time.  War is not my particular favorite topic to talk about, I dislike things of such a cruel nature.  Like I said in a previous blog, I find that historical fiction books are a bit of a contradiction in and of themselves.  
The whole book made me feel dirty, like I should bathe or something.  Reading about war makes me uncomfortable.  Even though it is good to learn about those things, and this is really the only way to do that, I still do not enjoy putting my mind is situations like that.
However, there were some parts that I did enjoy reading.  I liked reading about Annie a lot.  She was sort of a humorous aspect to the story.  I literally laughed out loud when I read about her throwing the boiling water because the men were looking at her (Steinbeck 17-18).  I liked her probably the most of all the characters because I found her persona to be entertaining.  Other people in the book seem so serious, and while she might not realize it, she is quite comical.  I like that about her.  Even though she is going through some of the most difficult times of her whole life, she is still radical self from beginning to end.
Although there were a lot of boring parts to the story, I still found that overall, the book was not that bad.  I feel like I learned about what it would have been like during World War Two living in a small town, which is something a lot of people do not know about today.  I would recommend this to people who know that they like historical fiction upfront.  I feel like this would be enjoyable to people who know that already.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 8

8) How accurately does this novel reflect events in history?  What responsibilities does the author believe exist between various groups in society, such as workers and bosses, men and women, blacks and whites, etc.?  What people, ideas, and events probably influenced this author?

I feel as though the book reflects history with excellence, especially going back to the known fact that this book is technically considered to be in the genre of historical fiction.  In all honesty, historical fiction is definitely not my favorite genre of all time.  I either want to read something historical, or I want to read something fictional.  I feel as though putting together is a bit of a contradiction, but sometimes that is just the way it has to be.
So, even though I do not really enjoy historical fiction, this book did a very good job of being exactly that.  The story is set during World War Two, not a pleasant time, I might add.  This was a time when everything was chaotic in America, and a person's role in society was barely significant.  To me, it seemed like unless you had an official position (i.e. "Mayor" or "Colonel"), you were just a citizen exposed to the hardships of war in America.  I feel like the mayor was the man in charge, he was the one who fought for his people no matter what.  "First, I am the Mayor." (Steinbeck 48).
Obviously the war had a great impact on the author, and the influence shows through his writing.  The whole book is about how the town copes with a German invasion. It could not have been an easy task, especially considering the fact that they had a traitor on their hands.  You would want everyone to be united during a time like this.  George Corell made life so much worse for these people, so he is later treated poorly by the townspeople (Steinbeck 103).  His social role is changed because of the war, but most everyone else's stays about the same.  I prefer to think of them not as individuals, but as one mighty force against the German menace.  This makes the book's chaos easier for me to comprehend.  I like that the roles in this book are not gender specific as well, that made me happy.  They say that war brings out the worst in people, but I tend to disagree with that statement.  I think that even though times might be rough, it makes us grow stronger as people and brings out a lot of good through the bad.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 7

7) What techniques does the author use to engage the audience and make the story effective?  Give examples to support your analysis (mystery, humor, symbolism, suspense, etc.).

In The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck, many literary techniques are used in order to create feelings in the reader throughout the story.  One of the major techniques that I noticed is suspense.  Many times through the book, you find yourself waiting for something to happen, and tension builds and builds higher and higher until you just cannot take it anymore.  A lot of tension is built when Mayor Orden and Colonel Lanser are arguing about what the mayor can and cannot do for his town during the invasion (Steinbeck 43).  The tension here is completely undeniable.  When reading this particular passage, you cannot help but get a little anxious.  You can feel the tension rising as they fight it out, and you have to know what happens next or else you are just simply going to explode right then and there! (That escalated quickly).
Anyway, throughout the book, you are continually waiting for something new and drastic to happen.  There is constantly that inescapable feeling of tension that you just really cannot get rid of.  World War Two was obviously a war, and wars are definitely times of great suspense and tension.  Honestly, that was sort of an uncomfortable feeling for me, as it should be.  That is truly what makes the story effective.  You are not supposed to be happy when reading about this topic, and I felt what the characters were feeling.  That is how books like this are supposed to be written, and Steinbeck did a wonderful job of making me feel uncomfortable.  "Yay" for historical fiction! 
Most of the time, I was just trying to figure out what was actually going on.  I just wanted to understand one character, but third person omniscient point of view does not allow for that.  I feel as if the whole point behind him using this point of view was to create a chaotic feeling in the reader, which is something he did without fail.  I felt a powerful feeling of chaos through most of the book.  These techniques are things that he must have done on purpose to create specific feelings in the reader.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 6

6) Why do we still read this book?  What is so timeless about its message and characters?  What can we learn from reading this novel?

History is important.  That seems blunt, but it is true.  I know it has to be true because I have spent my entire summer reading about United States history, and if it is not important then I would feel very wasted.  Anyway, I would say the the importance of this book is the fact that we can learn not only about our country's history but also about how to handle situations like this and how to avoid them in the future.  The lessons portrayed through the story will always be applicable to human life in the world we are living in.  Humans will always be humans, even if that means war and death.  That is the depressing truth.
On a lighter note, at least we have books like The Moon Is Down to teach us about the past, how to react, and what to do if these things were to occur.  There will always be people like Alex to commence the revolts, but it is up to us to use lessons that we've learned through life to decide and react (Steinbeck 111).  I am glad that books like these exist, because otherwise, we would not really know what the people were doing through times like this.  Yeah, you read about wars in your history books and its bad and everything, but you never get to read what it was like to be in that situation in a history book.  Those thoughts can only be found in stories and journals.  That is where the beauty of literature is.  The relation you can make with the characters and situations is much more powerful than a book spitting facts at you as you try to fathom what it would have been like.  I think that things like this are why we continue to read this book today.  We have to be able to picture things and feel things to truly believe and appreciate them, including things like the hardships of war.  That would not be an easy thing to imagine if not for people like John Steinbeck.  These thoughts make you step back to realize what exactly you are reading about and why it was important.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 5

5) How does this novel reflect the history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting?  What is this book's symbolic and thematic significance?

Considering the fact that this book comes from the "historical fiction" genre, I am pleased to say that this book is in fact, quite historically accurate.  You see, this story is set in the World War Two era, and not a pleasant era, at that.  Although this era sucked, it was vital to our country's history, and the book reflects it quite well.  Obviously, during that time, things were quite a bit different.  People did not behave the same way we do here, today.  People were more frightened during the attack, and they really had no idea what to do at all.  I feel like now we would have a better plan than they did.  Because they had no clue as to what to do or how to react, they reacted with fear and confusion.  When all of that was sorted out, they were able to revolt a bit, which is where the whole thematic unity thing comes to play.  Alex plays a large roll in the rebellion, being the one to really initiate the whole thing (Steinbeck 53).  He is the one who brings everyone together against the invaders, which is something I admire.
Overall, the book creates a feeling of what it would have been like to endure an invasion during the civil war, which is exactly what the story was meant to do.  I feel as though that is a very good way of saying that it is quite historically accurate.  There is not too much symbolism that I noticed, but the time period that the book is set in plays a major roll in the theme, of course.  Everything seems like it goes back to the idea of unity, which was something that was needed during this time.  Without unity, I do not even want to know where we would be right now.  Things would certainly not be the way they are now.  While unity is not always a great thing (i.e. German invaders),  it is still a vital system for the world we live in today.  Groups are everywhere for a reason, and the reason is humanity.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 4

4) Who is the "hero" in this book and what are some of his/her traits?  What does he/she accomplish, and how is he/she portrayed?  Does the hero represent an abstract idea such as goodness, truth, courage or evil?

I feel like each of the characters in The Moon Is Down is a hero in his/her own different way, but the real hero in my eyes was Mayor Orden.  As his duty states, he really stepped up to help his town through such a difficult time.  He is respectful and kind to his people, and he truly cares about what he is supposed to be doing.  Another thing that I liked about Mayor Orden is that he is very observant.  He knows that Colonel Lanser needed to have an eye kept on him, or else he would end up causing trouble; an accurate prediction considering the rest of the story (Steinbeck 17).  He had all the characteristics needed to do his job correctly.
His initial goal was to keep the people safe and united, which could or could not have been accomplished, depending on how you think of it.  I have come to the conclusion that he did what he could, when he could, with what he had, and that is all that could possibly be asked of him.  Although he is portrayed as a kind, gentle old man longing for peace, he would do whatever he needed to to get through the hardships of war.  A good example of this is when he intimidates the Colonel (Steinbeck 111).  He knows what he needs to do, and he does it, which is something that I admire about this character.  
One of the things that I love about the mayor is that he never backs down from anything.  He protects his people as best he can, and is not afraid to use all the help he can get.  I also noticed that he was never cocky, and he was able to choose his battles effectively.  I just like that he did everything in his power to save his town and that nothing stopped him from doing so.  He did not leave them in time of need, nor was he apathetic by any means to the situation.  Everything that he did, he did with care and caution.  This character is without any doubt the hero of the story.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 3

3) What universal themes does this book address?  What does the author understand about human nature?

I think that the main universal theme in The Moon Is Down is unity.  People are uniting left and right throughout the story.  The invaders are united, the townspeople are united, the people at war are united on both sides.  Unity is everywhere.  I do not think that anyone would have survived World War Two if not for unity.  It might seem like an obvious thing to point out, but unity is an unavoidable thing among humans.  It is natural for us to want to work together through situations.  It is quite simply what people do in times of need or crisis.  Unity was apparent throughout the book, but the people of the town made an especially large improvement from hardly speaking to coming together against a common enemy (Steinbeck 74).  
The people were making no mistake to come together in that way.  The plans of the invaders ended up backfiring because of their ability to work together.  Relationships are formed along the way.  Even if the people were scared (they were), they still had the ability to overcome that with a little help.  I noticed a sudden change when Alex killed an invading officer (Steinbeck 55).  Everyone took his courage and passion and built upon it until they became an unstoppable force.  
Steinbeck really does understand one of the most important things about humans: you sometimes have to take them out of their comfort zones to make their original comfort zones more comfortable.  This might seem confusing, but it is something that I have thought about outside of this assignment quite a lot.  This means putting someone in a situation they might not like in order to make them happier in the long run when they are back in their normal situation.  This has happened to all of us at one time or another, but this book is a good example of that.  The people are happy in their little town, then the invaders come and tear their lives apart.  They then have to unite and come together to overcome, and new-found relationships and much more power comes with unity.  My point is that if you aren't happy in a situation, you have to leave your comfort zone sometimes to fix it, and it will always get better in the long run.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 2

2) What are the causes, gains, and losses of the conflict dealt with in this book?

The central conflict in The Moon Is Down is very simple but complicated at the same time.  I could simply state that the conflict here is that there is a small town being invaded, by what I presume to be Germans, during World War Two.  But of course it is never that simple, even if I wish it was.  Especially because this blog has to be three-hundred-fifty words, but that is beside the point.
The intention of the invaders was to search for coal in the town, and apparently they did not want to get in the way of anyone.  They just wanted some coal!  They did not mean any harm.  They even say in the book that they only chose that town because it was quiet and small (Steinbeck 15).  Even if they did unintentionally harm the town, it did not hurt them much in the long run because they grew together through the whole process.  This goes back to the whole "unity" thing in my last post.  Getting through hard times with the help with someone else strengthens your relationship.  Thus, the whole town coming together to get through the problem made them grow stronger as a unit!
The conflict brought the whole town together, which is a major gain.  But I feel as though the losses outweigh the gains because innocent lives were lost through this story, and that is not worth the unity of a small town.  Overall, gains and losses are unimportant when thinking of how  the people all grew as human beings.  Yes, lives were lost, which is awful and unnecessary, but at least they were all able to learn valuable lessons from it.  Even if this story is fictional, we can all still learn about making the best of a conflict through this book.  Although our situations are not quite this drastic, I am sure that we can all relate in some way or another.  The people could simply not escape the situation, so they made the best of it, which is something I am sure we all have at least attempted to do in the past at some point.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

The Moon Is Down - 1

1) What does the writing reveal about the author's values and attitudes?  From what perspective does he/she write?

Steinbeck writes The Moon Is Down from an third person omniscient point of view.  This means that the narrator can see everything that is going on in everyone's mind.  This is not my personal favorite perspective because there is no real mystery as to what is happening with the characters, but that is alright.  I did not mind very much for some reason in this book.  I find that the book style and plot shows the Steinbeck did not appreciate World War Two, but who would?  It shows that his attitude was very dark towards that era, and it shows that he values unity against a common enemy and freedom as people.
In the book, many people in the town have no clue what is about to happen to them, especially during the invasion in the beginning (Steinbeck 20).  Although none of them really know what is actually happening, they all are still together as a community (except an unnamed traitor).  Even if they were not able to actually do anything about the German (I'm assuming) invaders, they still stayed united for the most part and did all that they could for their freedom.  Even the people who would not have necessarily came together with others before such an event were able to pull through and help unite.  They did whatever they could.
He also valued peace, which was reflected by many of the characters throughout the story.  Obviously the characters wanted peace during war.  I especially noticed this in Mayor Orden, who would have done anything to keep his people safe throughout the war.  this was not easy for him to do, but he did everything in his power to do just that.  
This war was a very dark time for everyone, and even though it is considered historical fiction, the attitudes expressed in it are very similar to those of people that this actually happened to.  Although this was not my favorite book, I do very much respect what the people of this era went through.  I think that is part of what makes this book so timeless.  

Steinbeck, John. The Moon Is Down. New York: Viking, 1942. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 - Character Analysis: Beatty

Is it not ironic that someone much like Beatty, who seems to be quite thoughtful, is highly against books.  I do not understand how he could know exactly the purpose behind burning books, and still want to do it.  My theories may not be correct, but I have a couple.  It could be one, the other, both, or neither.  
The theory that seems the most accurate is that he wanted control and power over people by depriving them of knowledge.  In modern times, controlling people's thoughts is impossible, especially if they are properly informed.  But if one is able to take the thoughts away from people completely, then they are simply waiting around to be instructed.  One problem with this theory is the question of why he would want the power if the humans were no longer needed for anything.  Also, why would someone who wanted to kill himself want power over others?  Would that not be useless to him?
The other theory is that Beatty simply hated most everyone in the world.  He speaks with a sort of disgusted tone when talking about people through the story (Bradbury 61).  I think that he likes feeling superior to people, even if is through lowering them instead of heightening himself.  This way, even is he has guilt and knows what he is doing is wrong, he can still always know that he is better than the other thoughtless beings.  This theory makes more sense to me, because this would explain why he wishes so much to commit suicide (guilt),  and it also explains his superiority complex.  
I often questioned through the book why he would want to kill himself.  I feel like it is most definitely because he knows what he is doing is wrong, yet he has dug himself into a hole that he cannot get out from.  He hates himself for that, so he continues to burn wonderful books so he can at least keep what he sought out for in the first place, which is power.  I sort of feel bad for him at this point, because it would be awful to be in a situation like that, and I understand why he would want out.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1952. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 - General Opinion

Fahrenheit 451 was my favorite book of the reading list for this summer.  From the writing style to the themes, from the characters to the symbols, it was definitely the book that made the most sense to me.  Everything fit together extremely well, in my opinion.  Overall, I think the thing that made the book for me was Clarisse and how much I can relate to everything she said and did.  I feel as though if I were to be put into that same situation, I would have acted exactly how she did in every scenario.  This book was so awesome to me because of her.  

My favorite part of the book was when Montag first met Clarisse.  It was almost as if he has this wall built and she just completely broke it down right then and there.  The way she questioned him and why things were happening around them struck him, and he actually listened to her (Bradbury 32).  I loved that about her, and I was automatically able to relate to her right then and there.  I even found myself reading on just to read more about Montag's experiences with her, as if the book revolved around her instead of him.  The fact that Bradbury was actually able to come up with such amazing character made my respect for him grow even higher.  

Even without her though, the book was still pretty relatable to me.  The attention paid to small detail and the vivid descriptions create feelings in the reader that they themselves do not even realize until they take a step back to think about it.  I noticed it particularly when reading about the smile disappearing from Montag's face, and how he wanted it to go (Bradbury 12).  I thought about what was happening and realized that I genuinely felt what he was feeling for a second, and that is how you know you're reading a truly good book.  

This was a seriously great book, and I would recommend it to anyone I know.  It has such great values and lessons to teach that anyone would do good to read it.  This piece of literature deserves respect from all.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine, 1952. Print.

Fahrenheit 451 - Writing Style

This is probably a bit strange, but I really love analyzing the the author's writing style.  For example, a good amount of authors utilize similes and adjectives, which is a great technique for creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind throughout the whole story.  In a reader's head, many pictures move through as they read, and using these techniques help shape those pictures.  Ray Bradbury is one of the authors who uses those very same ideas to put a clear picture in your mind. 
I noticed that Bradbury tends to use quite a few metaphors when writing.  Being my honest self, I have to say the the metaphors confused me occasionally.  Leading up to Montag's poetry reading to Mildred's friends, the book says “he was all fire,” and “they sat in the middle of an empty dessert (Bradbury 99).” Here we see two metaphors in only one sentence alone.  When Montag is able to describe the machine that pumped out Millie’s stomach, he thinks it to be “a hungry snake (Bradbury 44).” Clarisse’s face is “fragile milk crystal with a soft and constant light in it (Bradbury 7).”  The metaphors are useful because they have the ability to create a solid relation in the reader.  A simile would not have the same effect, in my opinion.  
I love Bradbury's use of adjectives throughout the novel.  One particular part that caught my eye when reading is when Montag meets Clarisse for the first time, and he is describing her.  “It was a look, almost, of pale surprise; the dark eyes were so fixed to the world that no move escaped them. Her dress was white and it whispered. (Bradbury 5).”  The words feel very dreamy to me.  The passage shows extremely great use of adjectives.  Reading the poetry to Millie's friends, Bradbury describes his speaking.  “Then he began to read in a low, stumbling voice that grew firmer as he progressed from line to line, and his voice went out across the desert, into the whiteness, and around the three sitting women there in the great hot emptiness (Bradbury 99).”  This gives a very clear feeling of the exact atmosphere in the room through his reading.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - Character Analysis: Granger

I found a couple of the thoughts through the story made zero sense in my mind, and each of them were from Granger.  When Granger is speaking to Montag, Granger states that Montag is not really significant, and that the books they were memorizing would end war, in good time (Bradbury 163-164).  I tried to understand these ideas and they just do not make sense, so once again, I will now attempt to make sense of them, or I will just end up making a fool of myself on the way.  Both options are likely.
I disagree with the thought of telling someone that they are not important as a person.  A person who finds himself to be unimportant is never going to be truly happy, that would make a person feel worthless and insignificant, leading to even more depression among the people of that time.  Also, would not the people remembering the great books be considered the most important in the story?  If one of them died or could not remember, the losses would be tremendous.  The books that these men were remembering were the most important things to them, especially considering that someone could have spent their whole life writing something like that.  I have decided that the people remembering the books are to be rightfully recognized as the most important people of the given situation.  
I also do not understand how books could end up being the end of war, if anything, they were an aid to it, which does not make them a bad thing.  Many books encourage war, such as The Prince, by Machiavelli.  This book was mentioned by name in Fahrenheit 451 (Bradbury 152).  I think that if any book was ill-suited for bringing war to an end, it was certainly that one.  I guess that Granger thinks that reading books could possibly force war out of reason in the mind of a common person.  I do not agree.  Many people pay close attention to books nowadays, and many people take the time of day to wonder about things, but war has always been a regular occurrence if you think about it, even in a small way.  This makes me disagree with both of Granger's statements, although I must say that I do respect the man.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - Tone

Generally, I found that the tone of this book was a little bit dark when I think of the entire book as a whole.  It could just be that the events and situations were so depressing that it made the rest of the book seem sad, I'm not sure.  I would like to prove myself wrong, so I am going to try and do that not.  I am just going to write my entire thought process of deciding below.
So after a lot of pondering and reading random passages, I have come to the conclusion that my original thought was correct, this book is rather dark.  The whole book is rather tense, like there might be something you're missing and it sort of makes your brain hurt.  “The perspiration gathered with the silence and the subaudible trembling around and about and in the women who were burning with tension. Any moment they might hiss a long sputtering hiss and explode (Bradbury 95-96).”  That sentence is just an example of how tense the whole book is, its building suspense for something that will happen soon after.   Only a few paragraphs later: “The room was blazing hot, he was all fire, he was all coldness; they sat in the middle of an empty desert with three chairs and him standing, swaying, and him waiting (Bradbury 99).”  The references to heat build this inescapable feeling of constriction in the reader.  
When describing Montag or Mildred, the tone becomes increasingly more sad instead of dark.  “He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out (Bradbury 12).”  There is just something about that that brings me down.  It numbs you, you can relate for a moment.  “Her face was like a snow-covered island upon which rain might fall, but it felt no rain; over which clouds might pass their moving shadows, but she felt no shadow.”  This sentence also makes me feel quite numb, like I should not care about my surroundings.  The whole book is thought-provoking in this way, which makes the tone seem sad and dark.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - Character Relationship Analysis: Montag and Mildred

When reading, I decided that the relationship between Montag and Millie was something that caught my interest.  While he knows that his wife is basically a slave to televised media and concludes that he does not really love her, he reveals his books to her risking everything he has and attempts to get her to read them all.  Also, I find it odd that he felt it significant to remember when and how they first met even though he does not even love her.
Montag is aware that Millie is mentally empty for the most part, and knows that he could not love her (Bradbury 44).  I find it ironic and interesting that he gets so upset at the thought of not crying when she dies that he actually ends up crying (Bradbury 44).  I think this is upsetting because he wants to love Mildred, but he cannot bring himself to.  My thought is that he truly wants to feel some sort of emotion towards his wife, which he attempts to do through showing her his books.  He wanted to share what he knows with her so that maybe she would realize that things were wrong and he could relate to her, eventually loving her again.  He wanted to love the real Millie, whoever that is, not the thoughtless being that lived in his house.
It stood out to me how Montag could not even remember how he and Mildred met, but he desperately wanted to.  We are human, it is not natural to forget how you met the person you are spending your entire life with.  I think that Montag does not like the idea of Millie being unimportant to him because he knows that she could and should be a large part of his life.  Through that logic, he finds it important to remember how they met.  Millie even admits that she does not find it important to remember when they met (Bradbury 43).  This is an example of a relationship that is broken beyond repair.  They let society get the best of them.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - Character Analysis: Clarisse

Clarisse was my personal favorite character in the story.  She is very much different from the other people living in her world, she is both youthful and thoughtful.  When Millie told Montag about Clarisse getting hit by a car, I was a mess (Bradbury 78).  That was one of the hardest things to read in the book because I found Clarisse so relatable to myself.  I cannot get over how the way she acts in the story is just the same as the way I would act in a situation like that.  
Clarisse is a refreshing dose of sanity in the beginning of the story when everyone seems rather brainwashed.  In a world like the one described in the book, there is not much life or beauty, but she gives attention to smaller beauties like dandelions and rain, which makes the reader feel a bit of comfort in such an uncomfortable idea (Bradbury 21).  No one takes notice of the small things the way she does, which is something that I tend to to as well.   I really enjoy her character because of the way she does not really care about what society says the norm is, she just thinks for herself and believes what she feels is right to believe, this being another thing I can relate to.  I find her to be so relatable, which is why she is easily the best character (to me) in the entire novel.
She is also in the habit of taking time to truly think about specifics (Bradbury 23).  From what I've read, this is an extremely unique characteristic among people of the world she lived in.  Actually, not just in the book.  This is unique in the world today.  Come on people!  Think about what you're looking at!  I also noticed that she really dislikes people in her class, and I do not blame her (Bradbury 30).  All the people in her class are crazy, I would never go back to school.  Her curiosity was prominent to me, too.  Every time Montag passed by her, she was always observing things (Bradbury 28).  Her curiosity shows that she was interested in learning, and she wanted her  questions answered.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - 8

8) How accurately does this novel reflect events in history?  What responsibilities does the author believe exist between various groups in society, such as workers and bosses, men and women, blacks and whites, etc.?  What people, ideas, and events probably influenced this author?

I feel that the author believes that responsibilities really do exist between certain groups in society.  I also believe that Bradbury had a deep passion for literature, and it was a real concern to him as to where the world was going with it.
My reasoning behind the thought of the author's belief in group-specific responsibilities is the fact that in the story, books are made illegal because they could potentially be considered offensive in some form (Bradbury 57).  It might seem wrong, but I feel like sometimes a person needs to be offended in order to make them think about what they're doing.  Living in a world without differences in opinion is unnatural, we need to think for ourselves.  When no one disagrees and everyone is quiet, there is a good chance that something might be wrong.  It is a citizen's constitutional and human right to speak and think freely, even if it offends someone.  Lack of free speech is the reason behind most of the problems in the book, like the extensive list of prohibited books (Bradbury 34). Although being offended might not be the most pleasant thing, it is a part of life that we have to deal with.  
Bradbury ultimately wrote this book because he simply loves books, and he really does not want anything to happen to them.  It is often taken for granted that we can read whatever book we want, whenever we please.  A story like this one provokes the reader to go out and read whatever they can get their hands on, just out of respect for the fact that they can do that! The author sincerely loves literature, and this book makes others stop to find that they probably feel the same.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - 7

7) What techniques does the author use to engage the audience and make the story effective?  Give examples to support your analysis (mystery, humor, symbolism, suspense, etc.).

One of the biggest aspects of Fahrenheit 451 that keeps the audience reading is the suspense he adds.   People might also keep reading it because of the way that our future could potentially look.  Everyone wonders about their future at one point or another, which is why these possibilities are so interesting to readers.  
As soon as Montag starts talking to Clarisse, be begins to adopt some of her individualism and deep-thinking tendencies.  He pays special attention to the things that she mentions in conversation (Bradbury 28) and he also really begins to wonder about the books that he is burning(Bradbury 33).  He simply cannot be both a fireman and someone with opinions against it,  and he begins to realize this(Bradbury 24).  The suspense majorly comes into play when the reader begins to wonder which side he will choose, even if it is obvious.  Finally, he is able to decide that he cannot go against what he believes, which puts him in a dangerous position in society, which quite obviously has no problem harming the people who disagree, for example, the woman who was about to be set aflame before she did it herself (Bradbury 38).  The suspense is then focused on whether Montag will get away.
Bradbury finds a way to create a setting that is unfortunately quite possible, even now.  Today, everything must be finished swiftly and much time is spent in front of the television, much like the book, where people sit in rooms with television screen walls (Bradbury 20).  It is ridiculous how many people today will not even pick up a book for the sake of learning, let alone recreationally.  This idea makes the story not seem quite as ridiculous and spark the reader's curiosity. 

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - 6

6) Why do we still read this book?  What is so timeless about its message and characters?  What can we learn from reading this novel?

I believe that Fahrenheit 451 is still being read today because it has such a relevant message to our time. It reminds us to really think about what we do with our lives instead of skimming past without a care. Without a reality check now and again, I have no idea what our world would look like today. I do find it ironic, however, that the author actually wrote a book about ruining books.
I find it fascinating that Bradbury knew that we would end up taking everything we have for granted.  It just amazes me that he somehow predicted that we would one day make it our goal to get through life as quickly and easily as possible. He had to have put a ton of thought into this novel because he even predicted, in an exaggerated way, how influential television would become.  I know that this book did not change everything, but I have to wonder what people would be like today if a book like Fahrenheit 451 was never written.
Reading this book make me really wonder what it would be like in a world where books were not only readily available, but they were even illegal.  A thought like this is not a pleasant one.  While this book really emphasized the problems and dangers that could possibly come up, it also made me appreciate the books that i have read in the past.  Books, in my opinion are the best was to learn.  If not for books, our world would have non record of anything, history would be a shot in the dark.  Books have the power to change people, they have influence on the reader's deepest thoughts and ideas.  Books help people decide what they believe, what to remember, how to deal with certain situations.  They make people who they are!
Fahrenheit 451 makes you want to really think about what you're doing with your life and where this world is going.  You have to really slow down to wonder about things like this.  Besides the two nuclear wars, the author was pretty good at predicting what would happen to this world (Bradbury 73).  There is no question as to why this book is still read today, the message it conveys is so significant.  It always will be.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - 5

5) How does this novel reflect the history, behavior and social issues of the time period and setting?  What is this book's symbolic and thematic significance?

The time period that Bradbury has created could not be easier to analyze.  The fact of the matter is, in a world where no one really thinks, no one has the ability to create an issue.  There quite simply are no real issues.  There are hidden, unobserved issues, which is where the whole story comes from.  Behavioral issues, on the other hand were all over the place.  Suicide is found left and right.  No one values anyone else's lives, or even their own, for that matter.  As Clarisse shows, the world they live in is filled with violence and instability (Bradbury 30).  Her classmates kill each other, and no one gives it a second thought!  
People need to think about what is happening around them.  If we cannot think for ourselves, how are we expected to function?  The thought of having no thought makes me sick!  In order to form our own opinions, we must have the option to disagree.  The world is being run in the wrong way through this book.  The fact that people are so ridiculously unhappy that they just kill themselves on random occasion shows that something is up.  Millie attempts suicide, and wakes up the next day as if it never happened (Bradbury 13).  The people who came to help her say that those sort of "problems" come ten times a night (Bradbury 15).  Obviously there is something up.  Ten suicide attempts each night in one area?  That is just not right.  
Another thing that stood out to me was the fact the people hate their own children.  A friend of Mildred's talks about how she is happy that her kids are gone (Bradbury 99). What kind of messed up place is this where everyone despises their kids and cannot wait for them to leave for nine days out of ten at a time?  I truly do not understand how a bond does not exist between mother and child.  Reading passages like that made me sick, and I was so glad that Montag felt that same way.  He knew that things like that were completely and totally wrong.
I noticed symbolism in two instances through the book.  One was in the technology used.  Often the technology was compared to small creepy animals and insects (Bradbury 55, 72, 73, 101).  The earphones were compared to a praying mantis, and the stomach pump was compared to a snake, even the hound is like a spider with it's eight legs.  I found this interesting because things like this are almost like parasites, and technology is like a parasite in Bradbury's eyes.  I could be thinking too much into it, but I feel like that is a valid comparison.  And the other symbolic reference I came up with was when the city was exploded/when Montag cleansed himself in the stream (Bradbury 189).  It was almost as if Montag's slate was being cleaned, and everything that happened ended instantly.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - 4

4) Who is the "hero" in this book and what are some of his/her traits?  What does he/she accomplish, and how is he/she portrayed?  Does the hero represent an abstract idea such as goodness, truth, courage or evil?

The protagonist in Fahrenheit 451 is definitely, by definition, Guy Montag.  Guy Montag is individual, free-thinking, open-minded, brave, and respectful of literature.  The individualism of Montag is not as prominent as the story commences, but as you follow his thoughts and actions, you begin to see that he is not as much of a follower as you might have thought.  He listens and adapts to Clarisse's individualism, which brings his open-mindedness up from the darkness (Bradbury 73).  As he takes in information from Clarisse and other characters, thoughts are provoked and he begins to ponder what his life and world is really coming to.  These thoughts bring out his free-thinking trait.  More and more ideas and questions come up in his thoughts.  He obtains information through observing people and situations, and he knows that this world is wrong.  He finally cracks, and the bravery that I mentioned earlier is finally revealed!  He rises up, takes down Captain Beatty and the others and escapes the town that once held him back (Bradbury 185).
Everything he did was out of respect for literature.  As soon as he found out that the books actually meant something, he was sure that what those men were doing was wrong.  All that he is able to accomplish comes from this respect.  He is essentially able to free himself of his binds which conform him to society's wrongdoings and rise against it.  He is portrayed as the man who is about to start a revolution.  Although he does not represent an abstract idea, he is inspirational in that same sort of way.  
One of the traits that is often overlooked in Montag is that he is very passionate and even sensitive.  He tends to get irritated rather easily.  He becomes irritated when his wife asks about his happiness (Bradbury 10).  He even gets so frustrated at the women's ignorance during their gathering that he begins to read them poetry (Bradbury 100).  Due to his passion and intense questioning of society, being discovered was inevitable.  His feelings were so strong that he just could not let them go, which is something that I admire very much about him.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - 3

3) What universal themes does this book address?  What does the author understand about human nature?

I think that the central theme in Fahrenheit 451 is honoring the value of literature and on a broader level, individuality.  Another theme could be finding the ability to think for one's self, instead of taking what you hear and never questioning it.  I find that these themes a significant reason as to why we, as humans, still read this book to this day.  These are both important lessons to think about and live by.  We have to make sure that we are not taking what we have for granted in this day and age.  Just because something new and cool comes out does not mean that we should ever leave what is important to us behind.  We should accept the positives of both the old and the new and create a balance, that way we never have to worry about losing ourselves.
I would like to think that something like this story would never really occur, but that just is not realistic.  This sort of situation was a serious concern for many people of that time, not just Ray Bradbury.  When this novel was released, many people had to rethink what they were doing.  I feel as though this book may have actually changed what was happening in that era.  Television is far more used today than books, but at least we are all somewhat individual about it.  We are not sitting in front of TVs all day, or at least I'm not.  And we most certainly still use books in school and in many lines of work.  Even still, the possibility of technology overtaking the world as we know it still remains, and it always will.  We must always remember to manage what we have and keep thinking for ourselves.
We as people are meant to have opinions.  We are not meant to mindlessly take in information without thought (Bradbury 95).  This whole book reminds me of Disney's Wall-E.  Everyone just goes through the steps and never questions the past.  Ideas like these make me fear what our world could possibly come to.  I appreciate that people like Ray Bradbury were around to question the system, and have had influence on people today.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954

Fahrenheit 451 - 2

2) What are the causes, gains, and losses of the conflict dealt with in this book?

The conflict in Fahrenheit 451 is actually between Montag and what seems like the entire current world that he lives in.  At first, he really does not know what he thinks about the world's current situation.  The way he sees it, he has a job burning books, and that keeps bread on the table.  He never really gives anything a second thought (like most of the people during that time) to anything happening until he meets Clarisse.  Clarisse is basically considered to be mentally unstable because of her curiosity and abnormal behavioral tendencies (Bradbury 47).  We know that something is a bit abnormal in Montag because of the way he accepts her thoughts and finds himself becoming like a father figure of her's (Bradbury 75).  He begins to question his line of work.  He does not understand why they no longer want books.  When he finally gets some answers, conflict becomes obvious.  He does not agree with what these people believe, and he values literature, as he should.
Through the conflict, he gains knowledge about himself.  He learns what he needs to know and how he really feels about the world's issues, and he does what he has to.  The climactic point of the book is at the beginning of part three when he has to burn down his own house (Bradbury 113).  What I love about this is that this should be considered a loss, but it really is not!  He feels relief as he scorches his meaningless material possessions.  The only true loss through the conflict is when he burns the books, but he is used to that.  He has been doing that all along anyway.  Sure he has no shelter, but fate falls on his side when he run out of town just as a nuclear bomb is dropped and destroys everything else (Bradbury 176).  He finds Granger and his men, which is the most significant gain because of the possibilities unlocked with them on his side.  Overall, the gains outweigh the losses in this story heavily, and I would like to imagine that there would be more gains to come if the book were to continue.  

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1954