Literature
George William Gordon’s approach to injustice
George William Gordon was a rich business man and land-owner. He owned several properties in different parishes and was very weathy. However, unlike most of the rich people in his day, he was a fighter for the poor. George William Gordon arranged the Underhill Meetings where the letter by Dr. Underhill was read out to the people. This letter was to the secretary of state and spoke about the poor living conditions for the lower class people. George William Gordon believed in fighting with letters to the Queen and with petitions, the exact opposite of Bogle’s approach.
Paul Bogle’s approach to the injustice
Paul Bogle was a Deacon in the Baptist church. He was a favorite among the people. Paul Bogle like George William Gordon was very must against the injustice. However, he went about it in a whole different manner. As we quote from the text “George William Gordon fought with letters to the Queen while Paul Bogle fought with muskets”. Paul Bogle raised a congregation who followed him to Spanish Town to talk to Governor Eyre
George William Gordon as a victim of the injustice (he tried to fix)
George William strongy disliked both Governor Eyre and the Custos. He was persistent in trying to fix injustices of the poor by meetings, petitions, but was accused by Governor Eyre of being a “” and plotting rebellions against him which was entirey untrue but nevertheless, George Willliam Gordon was conned out of being
Grandpa’s Approach against Bogle
Grandpa was very against Bogle and his ways. He said that ‘he would walk 10 miles with G.W.G …but he wouldn’t walk 10 metres with Paul Bogle. Along with this Bogle was a Baptist while Grandpa was a strong beleiver in the Church of England (Anglican). Grandpa believed that Bogle should fight with more petitions instead of violence and was going about it all the wrong way. During the story, numerous times, Grandpa gave Bogle a lot of advice. First, at the beginning of the story Grandpa meets Paul Bogle with a musket and asks him if this is the answer to the injustice
Injustice in Sixty-Five
1. Governor John Eyre would not listen to the people’s problems and take action to solve them.
2. The poor wages that the farmers received in turn for their services to the rich plantation owners
3. The rich planters hogged the crown lands so that the people did not get any to buy and plant to provide for themselves.
4. Rich planters were allowed to run their cattle through the lower class peoples gardens.
5. Innocent people would be jailed and gaoled for crimes that they didn’t commit.
6. The people were unfairly tried as the jury were made up mostly of the rich planters who were very bias.
7.
Deception in Sixty-Five
1. The Queen’s representatives in Jamaica didn’t send the petitions to England (to the Queen) and instead discarding them.
2. The Hayfield Maroons did not stay on Bogle’s side as Grandpa predicted and instead betrayed them and went to the stronger side (that of the English)
3. When Grandpa went to Bogle’s Sermon on the mount with a musket behind his back
4. The Maroons used hiding in the forests and comunicating with nature signals as a way of hiding themselves from the Redcoats. (also ambushing)
5. When Paul Bogle’s men snuck Charlie out of the jail and hid him from the court
6. When Grandpa pretended that he was an old man with his grandson instead of people from stony gut.
7. When they took Grodaon from his home saying that someone wanted to see him when really they wanted to lock him up.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Summary of: Macbeth
The play begins with the brief appearance of a trio of witches. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will be made thane of Cawdor and eventually king of Scotland. They also prophesy that Macbeth’s companion, Banquo, will beget a line of Scottish kings, although Banquo will never be king himself. The witches vanish, and Macbeth and Banquo treat their prophecies skeptically until some of King Duncan’s men come to thank the two generals for their victories in battle and to tell Macbeth that he has indeed been named thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is intrigued by the possibility that the remainder of the witches’ prophecy—that he will be crowned king—might be true, but he is uncertain what to expect. He visits with King Duncan, and they plan to dine together at Inverness, Macbeth’s castle, that night. Macbeth writes ahead to his wife, Lady Macbeth, telling her all that has happened.
Lady Macbeth suffers none of her husband’s uncertainty. She desires the kingship for him and wants him to murder Duncan in order to obtain it. When Macbeth arrives at Inverness, she overrides all of her husband’s objections and persuades him to kill the king that very night. He and Lady Macbeth plan to get Duncan’s two guards drunk so they will black out; the next morning they will blame the murder on the guards, who will be defenseless, as they will remember nothing. While Duncan is asleep, Macbeth stabs him, despite his doubts and a number of supernatural portents, including a vision of a bloody dagger. When Duncan’s death is discovered the next morning, Macbeth kills the chamberlains—ostensibly out of rage at their crime—and easily assumes the kingship.
Fearful of the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will seize the throne, Macbeth hires a group of murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. They ambush Banquo on his way to a royal feast, but they fail to kill Fleance, who escapes into the night. Macbeth becomes furious: as long as Fleance is alive, he fears that his power remains insecure. At the feast that night, Banquo’s ghost visits Macbeth. When he sees the ghost, Macbeth raves fearfully, startling his guests, who include most of the great Scottish nobility. Lady Macbeth tries to neutralize the damage, but Macbeth’s kingship incites increasing resistance from his nobles and subjects. Frightened, Macbeth goes to visit the witches in their cavern. There, they show him a sequence of demons and spirits who present him with further prophecies: he must beware of Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who opposed Macbeth’s accession to the throne; he is incapable of being harmed by any man born of woman; and he will be safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth is relieved and feels secure, because he knows that all men are born of women and that forests cannot move. When he learns that Macduff has fled to England to join Malcolm, Macbeth orders that Macduff’s castle be seized and, most cruelly, that Lady Macduff and her children be murdered.
When news of his family’s execution reaches Macduff in England, he is stricken with grief and vows revenge. Prince Malcolm, Duncan’s son, has succeeded in raising an army in England, and Macduff joins him as he rides to Scotland to challenge Macbeth’s forces. The invasion has the support of the Scottish nobles, who are appalled and frightened by Macbeth’s tyrannical and murderous behavior. Lady Macbeth, meanwhile, becomes plagued with fits of sleepwalking in which she bemoans what she believes to be bloodstains on her hands. Before Macbeth’s opponents arrive, Macbeth receives news that she has killed herself, causing him to sink into a deep and pessimistic despair. Nevertheless, he awaits the English and fortifies Dunsinane, to which he seems to have withdrawn in order to defend himself, certain that the witches’ prophecies guarantee his invincibility. He is struck numb with fear, however, when he learns that the English army is advancing on Dunsinane shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood. Birnam Wood is indeed coming to Dunsinane, fulfilling half of the witches’ prophecy.
In the battle, Macbeth hews violently, but the English forces gradually overwhelm his army and castle. On the battlefield, Macbeth encounters the vengeful Macduff, who declares that he was not “of woman born” but was instead “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Though he realizes that he is doomed, Macbeth continues to fight until Macduff kills and beheads him. Malcolm, now the king of Scotland, declares his benevolent intentions for the country and invites all to see him crowned at Scone.
Lady Macbeth suffers none of her husband’s uncertainty. She desires the kingship for him and wants him to murder Duncan in order to obtain it. When Macbeth arrives at Inverness, she overrides all of her husband’s objections and persuades him to kill the king that very night. He and Lady Macbeth plan to get Duncan’s two guards drunk so they will black out; the next morning they will blame the murder on the guards, who will be defenseless, as they will remember nothing. While Duncan is asleep, Macbeth stabs him, despite his doubts and a number of supernatural portents, including a vision of a bloody dagger. When Duncan’s death is discovered the next morning, Macbeth kills the chamberlains—ostensibly out of rage at their crime—and easily assumes the kingship.
Fearful of the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will seize the throne, Macbeth hires a group of murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. They ambush Banquo on his way to a royal feast, but they fail to kill Fleance, who escapes into the night. Macbeth becomes furious: as long as Fleance is alive, he fears that his power remains insecure. At the feast that night, Banquo’s ghost visits Macbeth. When he sees the ghost, Macbeth raves fearfully, startling his guests, who include most of the great Scottish nobility. Lady Macbeth tries to neutralize the damage, but Macbeth’s kingship incites increasing resistance from his nobles and subjects. Frightened, Macbeth goes to visit the witches in their cavern. There, they show him a sequence of demons and spirits who present him with further prophecies: he must beware of Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who opposed Macbeth’s accession to the throne; he is incapable of being harmed by any man born of woman; and he will be safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth is relieved and feels secure, because he knows that all men are born of women and that forests cannot move. When he learns that Macduff has fled to England to join Malcolm, Macbeth orders that Macduff’s castle be seized and, most cruelly, that Lady Macduff and her children be murdered.
When news of his family’s execution reaches Macduff in England, he is stricken with grief and vows revenge. Prince Malcolm, Duncan’s son, has succeeded in raising an army in England, and Macduff joins him as he rides to Scotland to challenge Macbeth’s forces. The invasion has the support of the Scottish nobles, who are appalled and frightened by Macbeth’s tyrannical and murderous behavior. Lady Macbeth, meanwhile, becomes plagued with fits of sleepwalking in which she bemoans what she believes to be bloodstains on her hands. Before Macbeth’s opponents arrive, Macbeth receives news that she has killed herself, causing him to sink into a deep and pessimistic despair. Nevertheless, he awaits the English and fortifies Dunsinane, to which he seems to have withdrawn in order to defend himself, certain that the witches’ prophecies guarantee his invincibility. He is struck numb with fear, however, when he learns that the English army is advancing on Dunsinane shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood. Birnam Wood is indeed coming to Dunsinane, fulfilling half of the witches’ prophecy.
In the battle, Macbeth hews violently, but the English forces gradually overwhelm his army and castle. On the battlefield, Macbeth encounters the vengeful Macduff, who declares that he was not “of woman born” but was instead “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Though he realizes that he is doomed, Macbeth continues to fight until Macduff kills and beheads him. Malcolm, now the king of Scotland, declares his benevolent intentions for the country and invites all to see him crowned at Scone.
Marassa and Midnight- Review - Pt.1
Book Facts
Author
Morna Stewart
Illustrator
Janina Ede
Publisher
Heinemann Educational Publishers
Year of Publication
1966
Genre
Historical Fiction
Tense and Point of View
The story is written in the past tense. It is written in the third person point of view.
Setting (Time)
The story begins in January of the year 1791, in the midst of the French Revolution.
Setting (Place)
The story takes place in two prime locations. First, we encounter the country of France, where Marassa is sold and shipped as a page to a French marquis. We then go back to San Domingo, Haiti, where Midnight is living as a runaway slave.
Plot
Marassa and Midnight is a story of two twin boys who work on slave plantation in Haiti during the French Revolution. When the twins are eleven years old, they are separated when Marassa is sold as a page to a French Marquis. Moons upon moons pass by, and the twins worry if they will ever see each other again. Finally, after many trials and tribulations, the twins find each other once again in what is a heartfelt reunion.
Special Point of Concern
My special point of concern is the ending of the story. As I have elaborated on in my critique, the story centers on Marassa and Midnight and their struggle to reunite, having them miss each other by just a wrong turn of fate, giving the story a sort of pre-climax at every couple of chapters. Finally, when the twins do manage reunite, the novel hurriedly ends. I think the author should have extended the story longer, stating what happens after their reunion.
Main Characters
Marassa
Marassa, the twin of Midnight, is an eleven-year-old Haitian slave boy. Although Marassa and Midnight are twins, they are completely different. The name Marassa means “twin”. Marassa is tall, strong and thin. He is also gentle, obedient and polite. Marassa is the twin that is sold as a page to a French marquis. However, as time goes on, and more and more moons without his brother pass, Marassa grows to be violent, rude and ungrateful, but he then remembers his manners.
Midnight
Midnight is the twin who remains in Haiti. He is called Midnight because that was the hour the twins were born. Midnight is the clever twin. He is also more forward and fierce. He is also the faster runner of the twins. He suffered grievously from the loss of Marassa.
Tir nan Og
Tir nan Og is a kind Scottish Highlander who rescues and nurses Marassa back to health after he finds him near death after his master left him, then takes him to Haiti. Marassa calls him by the name of his estate - Tir nan Og, which is very like the name of the Creole god, Ti nan Ogoun. He becomes somewhat of a mentor and friend to Marassa.
Papa Doctor
Papa Doctor is a friend of the Beke’s (cruel name for English slave masters, but throughout everything the wise old Papa Doctor stands out as the voice of tolerance and a figure of hope. He meets Midnight one night, and becomes to him what Tir nan Og is to Marassa. He later discovers that Papa Doctor is the twin’s uncle, the brother of their father. Papa Doctor lived with his wife and two young sons in a little house on the edge of his Beke’s estate.
Themes
Injustice
Injustice was a very strong theme throughout the Marassa and Midnight story. It was shown throughout the whole Slave Trade around that time, when slaves were beat by their white Bekes. Black slaves were treated very unfairly. Injustice was also shown when Marassa was mistaken for the runaway Midnight, and the white Beke Milord dragged Marassa on the back of his carriage, while whipping him. However, even though the white Bekes treated the black salves unfairly, when the black slaves revolted against them, they responded with an even fiercer attitude. They slaughtered all the white people mercilessly, showing that even slaves can portray injustice, even though it was for revenge.
Love/Loyalty
Love was shown by the story’s main characters, Marassa and Midnight, throughout the whole story. They were truly the mascots of brotherly love. When they became separated, you truly saw how much they loved each other. Throughout the whole story, their love for each other is shown as they faithfully try to reunite with one another, but are separated by a mere plot of land. After much suffering, the twins are finally reunited, and their love for each is shown more then ever.
Hospitality/Helpfulness
Hospitality is another major theme in this story. It is shown by Papa Doctor, who helped Midnight and acted as a sort of mentor and friend to him. It was also shown Tir nan Og, who helped to restore Marassa back to health when he found him sick in France, He then traveled to Haiti with him, and helped him to find his brother. Papa Doctor also showed hospitality to Marassa and Tir nan Og when he met them, and provided them with shelter while they stayed in Haiti.
Bravery
Bravery was also a theme illustrated in the text. It was shown by Midnight, when he went into the Twin Mountains by himself, even though it was believed they were haunted by the spirit of Ogoun.
Respect/Authority
Respect is shown in the story by all the black salves, who are of African descent. Because of their African descent, they worship the god Ogoun, and fear him. They dare not disrespect him, for this shall have dire consequences. Also, in the same way, authority is shown by the white Bekes. The slaves, although they may not respect them in a good way, they respect them because they have the power to flog them whenever they like.
Author
Morna Stewart
Illustrator
Janina Ede
Publisher
Heinemann Educational Publishers
Year of Publication
1966
Genre
Historical Fiction
Tense and Point of View
The story is written in the past tense. It is written in the third person point of view.
Setting (Time)
The story begins in January of the year 1791, in the midst of the French Revolution.
Setting (Place)
The story takes place in two prime locations. First, we encounter the country of France, where Marassa is sold and shipped as a page to a French marquis. We then go back to San Domingo, Haiti, where Midnight is living as a runaway slave.
Plot
Marassa and Midnight is a story of two twin boys who work on slave plantation in Haiti during the French Revolution. When the twins are eleven years old, they are separated when Marassa is sold as a page to a French Marquis. Moons upon moons pass by, and the twins worry if they will ever see each other again. Finally, after many trials and tribulations, the twins find each other once again in what is a heartfelt reunion.
Special Point of Concern
My special point of concern is the ending of the story. As I have elaborated on in my critique, the story centers on Marassa and Midnight and their struggle to reunite, having them miss each other by just a wrong turn of fate, giving the story a sort of pre-climax at every couple of chapters. Finally, when the twins do manage reunite, the novel hurriedly ends. I think the author should have extended the story longer, stating what happens after their reunion.
Main Characters
Marassa
Marassa, the twin of Midnight, is an eleven-year-old Haitian slave boy. Although Marassa and Midnight are twins, they are completely different. The name Marassa means “twin”. Marassa is tall, strong and thin. He is also gentle, obedient and polite. Marassa is the twin that is sold as a page to a French marquis. However, as time goes on, and more and more moons without his brother pass, Marassa grows to be violent, rude and ungrateful, but he then remembers his manners.
Midnight
Midnight is the twin who remains in Haiti. He is called Midnight because that was the hour the twins were born. Midnight is the clever twin. He is also more forward and fierce. He is also the faster runner of the twins. He suffered grievously from the loss of Marassa.
Tir nan Og
Tir nan Og is a kind Scottish Highlander who rescues and nurses Marassa back to health after he finds him near death after his master left him, then takes him to Haiti. Marassa calls him by the name of his estate - Tir nan Og, which is very like the name of the Creole god, Ti nan Ogoun. He becomes somewhat of a mentor and friend to Marassa.
Papa Doctor
Papa Doctor is a friend of the Beke’s (cruel name for English slave masters, but throughout everything the wise old Papa Doctor stands out as the voice of tolerance and a figure of hope. He meets Midnight one night, and becomes to him what Tir nan Og is to Marassa. He later discovers that Papa Doctor is the twin’s uncle, the brother of their father. Papa Doctor lived with his wife and two young sons in a little house on the edge of his Beke’s estate.
Themes
Injustice
Injustice was a very strong theme throughout the Marassa and Midnight story. It was shown throughout the whole Slave Trade around that time, when slaves were beat by their white Bekes. Black slaves were treated very unfairly. Injustice was also shown when Marassa was mistaken for the runaway Midnight, and the white Beke Milord dragged Marassa on the back of his carriage, while whipping him. However, even though the white Bekes treated the black salves unfairly, when the black slaves revolted against them, they responded with an even fiercer attitude. They slaughtered all the white people mercilessly, showing that even slaves can portray injustice, even though it was for revenge.
Love/Loyalty
Love was shown by the story’s main characters, Marassa and Midnight, throughout the whole story. They were truly the mascots of brotherly love. When they became separated, you truly saw how much they loved each other. Throughout the whole story, their love for each other is shown as they faithfully try to reunite with one another, but are separated by a mere plot of land. After much suffering, the twins are finally reunited, and their love for each is shown more then ever.
Hospitality/Helpfulness
Hospitality is another major theme in this story. It is shown by Papa Doctor, who helped Midnight and acted as a sort of mentor and friend to him. It was also shown Tir nan Og, who helped to restore Marassa back to health when he found him sick in France, He then traveled to Haiti with him, and helped him to find his brother. Papa Doctor also showed hospitality to Marassa and Tir nan Og when he met them, and provided them with shelter while they stayed in Haiti.
Bravery
Bravery was also a theme illustrated in the text. It was shown by Midnight, when he went into the Twin Mountains by himself, even though it was believed they were haunted by the spirit of Ogoun.
Respect/Authority
Respect is shown in the story by all the black salves, who are of African descent. Because of their African descent, they worship the god Ogoun, and fear him. They dare not disrespect him, for this shall have dire consequences. Also, in the same way, authority is shown by the white Bekes. The slaves, although they may not respect them in a good way, they respect them because they have the power to flog them whenever they like.
Marassa and Midnight- Review - Pt.2
Summary
This is a novel that takes us into the heart of the French Revolution. The story is of two eleven year old twin boys, Marassa and Midnight, who are slaves on the Caribbean Island of Haiti. They become separated, and they try to find each other again.
Marassa is sold as a page boy to a French Marquis, and is taken from Haiti to the France. On one sad day, his master flees France because of the French Revolution, abandoning Marassa in the process. Marassa is dangerously ill, and alone in a foreign country. He is found and nursed back to health by an exiled Scottish highlander and his servant. Marassa calls him by the name of his estate - Tir nan Og, which is very like the name of the Creole god, Ti nan Ogoun. Marassa and Tir nan Og become friends, and when Marassa is back to good health, he begs his protector to take him back to San Domingo, or Haiti as the Creoles call it, so that he can be reunited with his brother Midnight. Tir nan Og agrees. There is nothing for him in France now and he cannot go back to Scotland.
Meanwhile, back in Haiti, Midnight is devastated by the loss of his twin. It has been thirteen full moons since Marassa has been gone. Midnight begins to keep himself separated from the other slaves. Three days after Marassa had gone; Midnight had tried to run away in hopes of finding the marquis who had bought Marassa. He failed, and was found by a white overseer and was brought back to the plantation where he was branded. Because of this, the slaves were even more restricted, and they all hated him for this. Partly because of this he becomes involved in the plotting of the slave revolution, he once again runs away from the slaves, and is now a Maroon.
During this revolution, there are two different parties involved. There are the savage, cruel forces of the god Ogoun. They will alert their followers by messages sent by drums. But when he hears the drums Midnight knows it is a trick. He knows there is a place in the hills where there is an echo. It is not magic; it is the echo which sends the sound of the drums over the whole island. And the Great One is not the god Ogoun but a leader of the Maroons.
Opposed to this combination of bad Negroes and Maroons is the clever and kind old Papa Doctor. He says that hatred is poison. One night he visits Midnight and they take a liking to each other; Papa Doctor calls him the Prince of Dahomey. Papa Doctor warns him of danger, and assures him that he and Marassa will one day be reunited. Papa Doctor sends secret messengers to keep in touch with Midnight. Their password is Feraille.
The next day Marassa and Tir nan Og arrive on the island and find that Midnight has run away, and also that Tir nan Og’s love had moved to the Americas and married a rich American gentleman. They set out to try and find him.
Marassa is mistaken for Midnight, and is captured by a cruel Beke, Milord, and his sons, who tie him to the back of a carriage and drag him across the street, while severely flogging him. Papa Doctor and Tir nan Og, with word from Christopher, Papa Doctor’s messenger, come to save him. For compensation for mistreating Marassa, Tir nan Og is allowed to buy Midnight, with Papa’s Beke as his “banker”. Tir nan Og then meets Papa Doctor, and Papa’s Beke takes them all back to Papa Doctor’s house. Papa nurses the nearly unconscious Marassa.
That same night, as Marassa sleeps under a mango tree at Papa’s house, an unexpected storm hits the island. Flames leap up and he sees the Beke, Papa Doctor and Tir nan Og run into the stables to run all the horses out. While attending to dinner and wounds, Papa remembers Marassa and goes back, finding him asleep in the kitchen. He recalls for Marassa his encounters with Midnight. He finds that Marassa has branded himself with Mama’s fault-iron, just like Midnight’s brand.
The storm sounded like a hurricane to Midnight as well, but he hugs Dove and Diamond for safety, saying that Papa Midnight will protect them. The sides of the cave of the mountain begin to fall in. The gale strikes at them from two sides at once. Midnight realizes they are trapped, and that the rest of the cave must fall in to, hurling them into a gully. Suddenly, a flash of lightning reveals man-made stirs in the ground. He goes down this stairway, which leads him and his hounds up another stairway, which lead them to the top of King’s Mountain.
The next morning, suddenly, Midnight feels Marassa come back to him and feels a sudden new determination to find him. Meanwhile, Marassa, Papa Doctor and Tir nan Og go to Milord’s plantation to make Midnight’s sale official. After that Marassa and Tir nan Og set out to find Midnight. The journey is long and tiresome, and Marassa begins to lose faith. At the bottom of King’s Mountain, Marassa sees Midnight’s footprint and then nothing, and they conclude that he is dead, but Marassa does not want to believe it. Marassa calls for him, but Midnight does not hear because, by ill fate, he is underground looking for food.
Midnight continues to walk, and finds himself looking at his old slave plantation from the trunk of a tree. He sees Marassa from afar, but does not know it is he. Once again, the twins are so close, yet so far away. On the night of their twentieth moon of separation, a fire of a sugar plantation breaks out. The rebellion begins with the Night of Flames. From a hiding place, Midnight sees the slaughter and butchery of the whites and realizes that Papa Doctor is right.
After the flames have all died, the next day Midnight went back to the plantation, to find his old Beke and his sons murdered. All the Bekes were killed, but few Negroes. Midnight knows that the whites can be very cruel but he had not known that the Negroes can be cruel too. Before, he had wanted a few supplies but he would feel ashamed taking anything from that place and so he left. When he reached the tunnel where he told his friends to wait for him, he finds that the place is flooded out and almost drowns, but is saved by Dove and Diamond.
Midnight awakes and stares at a nearby Maroon settlement for the third time. He is amazed at the tranquility and how much different their lives are from his. Midnight goes and gets his hounds and goes back to his look-out. A few hours later he finally decides to approach them. He speaks to them of the Feraille, asking them for food. The people of the village are frightened; they believe that he is Ogoun and begs him to eat their food. He tries desperately to tell them that he is just a boy of their race, but finally gives up and feeds his dogs and leaves. He goes back the next day at noon, but it is no different but because they had insisted, he took a red belt. That night Midnight went back into the underground staricase and found some gifts that he could give to the over friendly Maroons. The Maroons liked them and shared them among the people. Midnight wathced them with envy of their life. He wished he could be one of them
Marassa and Midnight - Review - Pt.3
Critique
I think that ‘Marassa and Midnight’ is an exciting account of the slave revolution in Haiti. The fact that it is told round the lives of two little slave boys ensures that the reader becomes actually involved. The slave revolt in Haiti may well be something which young readers have not heard about before, but the book is written in such a way that one can understand it without any prior historical knowledge.
This novel is truly one of excitement, and pure anticipation, that will keep you guessing until the end. It warmed my heart when the twins reunited in the end, and it was revealed that Papa Doctor was their uncle, the father of their brother, as I am sure it will to any reader. What truly warmed my heart was the unmistakable love that the twins shared for each other. It was remarkable how hard they tried to find each other, and how much each suffered. When Marassa branded himself so he could be just like Midnight, it really showed you how much he missed his twin.
Many children, adults as well, will no doubt identify with Marassa and Midnight, as I have been able to. I have grown, while reading the ten or so chapters in this novel, to care for the twins.
The true cruelty of slavery is clearly brought out but so is the horror of the revolt, showing that white slave owners were cruel, but Negro slaves could be cruel too, shown when they mercilessly killed the white Bekes; these were the bad Negroes.
One negative point I must state, however, is that the story was very “drawn out”, so to speak. The author took an extremely long time to reunite the twins, and when they were finally reunited, the story was cut short. The story should have been extended to tell what happens after the twins were reunited, and how the French Revolution ended. Also, some parts of the story were difficult to interpret, especially as the end result was not made very clear.
I do not have a favourite character; however I especially liked Midnight because I came to care for him very much because of how much he grieved for Marassa. He was left all alone in Haiti with no one to comfort him, and I felt very sorry for him. I also liked him because he was very clever, reminding me of myself. However, I tended to gravitate towards Marassa more, because he was not as fierce and forward as his twin, he was more polite and obedient.
Although this genre of novels, historical fiction, is not one of my favourites, Marassa and Midnight’s tale is one well worth reading, and I rate this novel a nine and a half out of ten.
I think that ‘Marassa and Midnight’ is an exciting account of the slave revolution in Haiti. The fact that it is told round the lives of two little slave boys ensures that the reader becomes actually involved. The slave revolt in Haiti may well be something which young readers have not heard about before, but the book is written in such a way that one can understand it without any prior historical knowledge.
This novel is truly one of excitement, and pure anticipation, that will keep you guessing until the end. It warmed my heart when the twins reunited in the end, and it was revealed that Papa Doctor was their uncle, the father of their brother, as I am sure it will to any reader. What truly warmed my heart was the unmistakable love that the twins shared for each other. It was remarkable how hard they tried to find each other, and how much each suffered. When Marassa branded himself so he could be just like Midnight, it really showed you how much he missed his twin.
Many children, adults as well, will no doubt identify with Marassa and Midnight, as I have been able to. I have grown, while reading the ten or so chapters in this novel, to care for the twins.
The true cruelty of slavery is clearly brought out but so is the horror of the revolt, showing that white slave owners were cruel, but Negro slaves could be cruel too, shown when they mercilessly killed the white Bekes; these were the bad Negroes.
One negative point I must state, however, is that the story was very “drawn out”, so to speak. The author took an extremely long time to reunite the twins, and when they were finally reunited, the story was cut short. The story should have been extended to tell what happens after the twins were reunited, and how the French Revolution ended. Also, some parts of the story were difficult to interpret, especially as the end result was not made very clear.
I do not have a favourite character; however I especially liked Midnight because I came to care for him very much because of how much he grieved for Marassa. He was left all alone in Haiti with no one to comfort him, and I felt very sorry for him. I also liked him because he was very clever, reminding me of myself. However, I tended to gravitate towards Marassa more, because he was not as fierce and forward as his twin, he was more polite and obedient.
Although this genre of novels, historical fiction, is not one of my favourites, Marassa and Midnight’s tale is one well worth reading, and I rate this novel a nine and a half out of ten.
Q&A from Lochinvar by Sir Walter Scott
1. What do learn about Lochinvar from the first verse? From the first verse, we learn that Lochinvar had just come out of the West and had a good steed that served him throughout his long journey on the Border. We also learn that he had no weapons besides his broadsword, he was riding unarmed and all alone and he was faithful in love and dastardly in war.
2. Read the lines that tell you Lochinvar was in a great hurry. What was the cause of the hurry. The lines that tell you Lochinvar was in a great hurry are: “He staid not for brake, and he stopp’d not for stone, He swam the Eske river where ford there was none.”
He was in a hurry to get to Netherby Hall.
3. What was happening at Netherby Hall? The wedding for Lochinvar’s love – Ellen was happening at Netherby Hall.
4. Why did the bride’s father question Lochinvar as he did in lines 17 and 18? The father questioned Lochinvar as he did in lines 17 and 18 because the bridegroom hadn’t said anything and the father wanted to know if Lochinvar was there to watch the wedding in peace, if he had come to make a fuss and ruin the wedding or if he had just come to dance and enjoy himself.
5. What did Lochinvar say he had come to do? Was he speaking the truth or was he being careful not to give the bride’s father a direct answer? Explain. Why do you think he rode he rode all unarmed and he rode all alone?
Lochinvar said he had come to dance one dance and have one cup of wine. He was being careful not to give the bride’s father a direct answer because he knew the brides father would not approve of his plans and would kick him out of the wedding right then. I think he rode unarmed and alone because he was not going to the wedding to fight but instead wed and he was alone because he didn’t need anyone else to ride with him and because he was going about his private love life.
6. How do you think the bride felt about Lochinvar? Read the lines which tell you.
I think the bride felt the same way Lochinvar felt about her. She loved him just as much but didn’t show it as he did. The lines which tell me are : “ She look’d down to blush, she look’d up to sigh, With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye”.
7. What were the different onlookers doing while Lochinvar danced with the bride? What did he do with the bride?
While Lochinvar danced with the bride, the bride’s mother was fretting and her father was very angry, the bride’s rightful groom was simply shocked and the bridesmaids were wispering about how they didn’t think Lochinvar was the right choice for the bride. Lochinvar quickly ran out of the hall and mounted upon his steed with her.
8. Who are Grames, Forsters, Fenwicks and Musgraves?
The Grames, Forsters, Fenwicks and Musgraves were all different families that had gone to see what was happening and who chased Lochinvar to try and get him to return the bride.
9. What happened at the end?
In the end Lochinvar eluded all the people who were chasing him and finally got to be with his true love Ellen.
2. Read the lines that tell you Lochinvar was in a great hurry. What was the cause of the hurry. The lines that tell you Lochinvar was in a great hurry are: “He staid not for brake, and he stopp’d not for stone, He swam the Eske river where ford there was none.”
He was in a hurry to get to Netherby Hall.
3. What was happening at Netherby Hall? The wedding for Lochinvar’s love – Ellen was happening at Netherby Hall.
4. Why did the bride’s father question Lochinvar as he did in lines 17 and 18? The father questioned Lochinvar as he did in lines 17 and 18 because the bridegroom hadn’t said anything and the father wanted to know if Lochinvar was there to watch the wedding in peace, if he had come to make a fuss and ruin the wedding or if he had just come to dance and enjoy himself.
5. What did Lochinvar say he had come to do? Was he speaking the truth or was he being careful not to give the bride’s father a direct answer? Explain. Why do you think he rode he rode all unarmed and he rode all alone?
Lochinvar said he had come to dance one dance and have one cup of wine. He was being careful not to give the bride’s father a direct answer because he knew the brides father would not approve of his plans and would kick him out of the wedding right then. I think he rode unarmed and alone because he was not going to the wedding to fight but instead wed and he was alone because he didn’t need anyone else to ride with him and because he was going about his private love life.
6. How do you think the bride felt about Lochinvar? Read the lines which tell you.
I think the bride felt the same way Lochinvar felt about her. She loved him just as much but didn’t show it as he did. The lines which tell me are : “ She look’d down to blush, she look’d up to sigh, With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye”.
7. What were the different onlookers doing while Lochinvar danced with the bride? What did he do with the bride?
While Lochinvar danced with the bride, the bride’s mother was fretting and her father was very angry, the bride’s rightful groom was simply shocked and the bridesmaids were wispering about how they didn’t think Lochinvar was the right choice for the bride. Lochinvar quickly ran out of the hall and mounted upon his steed with her.
8. Who are Grames, Forsters, Fenwicks and Musgraves?
The Grames, Forsters, Fenwicks and Musgraves were all different families that had gone to see what was happening and who chased Lochinvar to try and get him to return the bride.
9. What happened at the end?
In the end Lochinvar eluded all the people who were chasing him and finally got to be with his true love Ellen.
Gifted Hands - Respect and Authority
In the first five chapters respect and authority is mostly played by Ben’s mother. Ben and his brother Curtis respected their mother. She was a hard working person determined to get where ever she wanted to reach. She played a great role in this entire book under the theme “Respect and Authority”. Ben admired her for this because he trusted her. There are many incidents under this theme. Ben’s mother Sonya Carson gained respect from her children by telling them that they can do what ever they want to do with God’s help. One incident was when Ben’s father got divorce and left home. Ben’s mother kept him from knowing what was happening and later on in life Ben respects her for that. She gained authority over Ben. Another incident was when Ben was getting low in school and people used to call him an idiot. His mother was the only one to actually believe he could do it with God’s help. Ben respected her for later on in life he became the top of his class and even later on he became the first doctor to separate stymies twins. Ben also got some respect. When he was getting low at school and the kids called him an idiot, after his mother influenced him to get high in school and after a while he did, the students started to regret they had said what they said and started to respect him. Another incident with Ben was at Hunter junior high when Ben used to here out of style clothes. The guys started teasing him about his clothes and started capping on him. He ignored it for a while but I guess he could not take it so one day somebody capped on him and he said something worse back to them. After that day the students respected him and they never dare to cap on him.
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