Motif analysis- Zhongyi

Motif Analysis
– Cigarettes

1. Is the motif a noun, a verb or an adjective?
The motif is a noun.

2. How does it come up in the novel, and how does it impact what is going on? What happens immediately preceding or immediately following a mention or discussion of this motif?
The cigarette appears whenever something has gone wrong or is about to go wrong. It had the effect of providing Holden with temporary relief from unpleasant situations before something worse happens – the cigarette almost always appears between two stages in an unpleasant situation.

3. What mood/emotion would you associate this motif with? Is this mood consistent with every incidence of this motif?
The mood associated with this motif is one of desperation and uncertainty. This mood is very much consistent with every incidence of this motif – Holden asked Ackley for cigarettes after fighting with Stradlater over Jane, he smoked after being cheated by Sunny and Maurice and he smoked when making the disastrous date with Sally Hayes.

4. Is Holden alone when this motif occurs? With whom is he interacting? How would you characterise that interaction? Is there a connection to be made?
Holden is usually with other people when cigarettes appeared. Some people that he was interacting with when he smoked include Stradlater, Ackley, Mrs. Morrow, Sunny and Mr. Antolini. These people all had one common aspect: they provided Holden with a chance to relax for a short period of time before causing him to be in a worse situation.

5. What does this motif tell you about Holden in a “big picture” way? Does this suggest anything about his personality? His weaknesses or strength? His sense of himself?
This motif revealed that Holden was not as strong as he pretended to be – he needed rest in between episodes of misfortune. He sought relief from time to time, each time represented by mentioning or smoking cigarettes. His “sense of himself” is greatly weakened by this, as it is clear that he needed to resort to other people for comfort and support.

6. Did any pattern emerge? Write a single sentence that sums up what you’ve discovered. Write three or four sentences supporting your thesis sentence.
The cigarette symbolised temporary relief for Holden before a situation deteriorates. When Stradlater asked Holden for cigarettes to bring on his date, little did Holden know he was to destroy Jane’s innocence; Holden was able to talk with Sunny openly with a cigarette but he was to be cheated at the end; Mr. Antolini gave him cigarettes and provided him with shelter for the night but made him having to flee the house. All these events in which cigarettes appeared allowed Holden to escape from his everyday worries for a short time but were then followed by more problems that he had to face himself.

Summary: Chapter Six

Stradlater comes home from his date with Jane, reads through the composition written for him by Holden and is clearly frustated with how irrelevant the piece is to the set assignment.

-"No wonder you're flunking the hell out of here," he said. "You don't do one damn thing the way you're supposed to. Not one damn thing."

Agitated by Stradlaters response to his work- most likely due to it's close link with a fond memory of his brother, Allie- Holden rips the paper to pieces. This can indicate his regret at sharing what can be seen as something truly important to him, and only have it be criticized, and worse- rejected; specially by a person who he finds worthless. Holden throwing the pieces in the wastebasket symbolizes his insecurity with both the composition and himself.

Holden then questions Stradlater in regards to his date with Jane. When Stradlater nonchalantly refuses to tell Holden any details, Holden attacks him physically. Holden's sudden desperation for at least the most miniscule sort of contact with Jane can indicate his desire to feel connected with someone else.

Holden ceaselessly insults Stradlater;

-"Why should I?" I said - I was practically yelling. 'Thats just the trouble with all you morons. You never want to discuss anything. That's the way you can always tell a moron. They never want to discuss anything intellig-"

After which Stradlater breaks Holdens nose. When Stradlater exists the room, Holden expresses his fascination at the bloodied mess which is his nose.
"
-It partly scared me and it partly fascinated me. All that sort of made me look tough. I'm not too tough. I'm a pacifist, if you want to know the truth.

This statement is, juxtaposed with Holden initiating the fight between himself and Stradlater and also shows Holden's inner conflict with his own identity at this period of time.

The chapter ends with Holden escaping into Ackley's room.

-"It always had a funny stink in it, because he was so crumby in his personal habits."

Holden's continuous foray into and out of Ackleys room can indicate his discomfort with his insecurities and he therefore interacts with someone he pities (Chapter 5, last 3 lines. That guy had just about everything... you had to feel a little sorry for the crazy sonuvabitch.) in order to assert some superiority and remind himself that he is, indeed, still worth more than someone else.


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Am I meant to put this here? If not, sorry? Hehehe...
Excuse any english-ey errors or sentences that make no sense.

I lost my Sheet

That title is pretty self-explanatory, I need someone to give me the question and possibly answers plzthnx.

I NEED HELP NOWWWWWWWWW

ms race or anyone in our class thats reading this,
is 'character modifying' a theme ?
i have no idea and if it is i want to use it in the essay
but obviously i cant use it if its not a theme.
i dont even know what themes i can use argh.
setting and form is themes yeah?
and guilt? what about like the natural and unnatural?
are those all themes?
please reply back cause i am dying.
thank you :)

Kurosawa and context

Here's a couple sites that have some info on Throne of Blood. I also have an excellent article that I will photocopy for you guys.
http://www.geocities.com/ccupitt.geo/tob.html

http://www.cinemaroll.com/Drama/Akira-Kurosawas-Throne-of-Blood.397113

READ THESE!!

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Throne of blood images

Lady Macbeth Character
Macbeth Character

Witch