Heriloom

What is an heirloom and how does Reema Keswani’s presentation connect to the topic of family heirlooms and heritage?

A heirloom is an object passed down from your family that holds some significance or memory in your family. It may represent an idea that your family holds strong belief in or something that represents the culture of your family. Reema Keswani's presentation showed that the rich families in India passed down their jewelry from generation to generation.

List 10 or more ideas for family heirlooms in your family which reflect heritage (ask family members for ideas)

- English dictionary

- photographs

- last name

- clothes

- calligraphy

- paintings

- watches

- jewelery

- necklaces

- money

After reading “The Inheritance of Tools,” post your thoughts on how effectively the author conveys the importance of the hammer as a family heirloom in his life which is reflective and significant in his personal view of his heritage.

The author of "The Inheritance of Tools" explains the entire history surrounding the hammer, and how it played a role to his father, to himself, and even to his children. Because of this, this object has become much more important and meaningful, it is a memento of his father and of his love for the author which is shown by teaching him how to handle tools.

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

1. Equiano describes many of the horrors involve with the slave trade. Choose one passage from the narrative that had the biggest impact on you. Be prepared to discuss your choice.

"Happily perhaps, for myself, I was soon reduced so low here that it was thought necessary to keep me almost always on deck; and from my extreme youth I was not put in fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. " I think this passage had the biggest impact because it clearly shows how the slave traders treat the slaves as livestock. The idea of keeping someone just barely alive, just so they could survive and be sold for money is really cruel.

2. What do you think motivates the slave traders to behave so cruelly?

I think that they behave cruelly for their profit. If they behaved nice, and offered extra food and space, they sacrifice money, and even space for more profit. Behaving nice might also suggests weakness, which might encourage the slaves to revolt. Another reason about why they behave so cruelly might be that they no longer see the slaves as human. Because of being in the slave trade for so long, and treating humans as livestock everyday, the slave traders may have forgotten the worth of human lives.

3. Although terrified as a captive on the slave ship, Equiano's curiosity still surfaces. What marvels does he encounter, and how do they affect him?

The marvels were how the ship worked. Equiano had believed it was done by magick, and that the white people were spirits. I think Equiano's curiosity had helped him survive the misery. Because of his curiosity, Equiano may have been distracted from the horrors of the ship. Equiano's belief of the white men's use of magic may have also made Equiano acknowledge the vast difference between the whites and the blacks. Because of this, Equiano kind of treats the white men as a difference entity, always referring them as if they were "they" and referring to blacks as "we".

4. Equiano suggests that the cruelty he and his fellow captives experienced are "hardships which are inseparable from this accursed trade" of slavery. What do you suppose he means by this.

Maybe it means to show that although the slave traders benefited greatly from the slave trade, there is always another perspective, and in this case, the slaves perspectives. It suggests that we cannot just focus on the benefits, and sometimes we must face the "hardships" and the bad side of everything.

5. Surviving in such harsh circumstances is difficult, and many African captives died aboard the ships. What have you learned about Equiano that may have helped him survive his ordeal?

I think that it was his curiosity that kept him alive. Because of his age, he is still very curious and enthusiastic and therefore, never gave up. Equiano spent his time thinking about the mysteries of the ship and the white people, instead of spending his time dreading and sulking. Therefore, he wasn't as badly affected as the others, which helped him survive.


6. As a free man, Equiano became an abolitionist and worked to end slavery. If he could travel in time and see American society today, what would he say? what would he take pride in? What would he want changed.

I think he would be very pleased with how America turned to become. He would take pride in the fact that black people have become so recognized, and that even a black guy is running for president. However, I think that as a African, he would be disappointed to find that most African Americans have become Americanized, and have lost the tradition and culture of Africa.

Everyday Use by Alice Walker

1. Write five adjectives that you would use to describe Dee. Then write five adjectives to describe the narrator and five to describe Maggie.

Dee: Stubborn, prideful, fortunate, educated, selfish
Maggie: Humble, shy, obedient, loyal, scared

2. What is the significance of the title "Everyday Use"?

I think that the title "Everyday Use" suggests the difference in attitude between people who kept their traditions and culture, and people who have left it. In the story, the narrator and Maggie treat the old quilts as just quilts, something to be used everyday. This shows that the quilt, which symbolizes their tradition and culture, are still part of their everyday lives. However, Dee sees the quilts as a memory of the traditional life she used to have. Although both Maggie and Dee came from the same culture and family, the way they look at their own culture is so different.

3. What do you think is the purpose of Dee's visit with her mother and sister? Explain.

I think the reason for Dee's visit was to collect items from her past culture and tradition. This can be evidently seen when Dee's first action was to take a picture of the narrator, Maggie, a cow, and the old house which she despises. Dee was also very persistent in trying to take the old quilts which her grandma stitched. However, Dee also changed her traditional name into a very foreign one; which suggests that Dee is only collecting items out of a minor interest of her origin.

4. What do you think the narrator realizes about herself during her argument with Dee over the quilts?

I think the narrator realizes that she hasn't be too fair as a mother. The narrator has always given in to Dee's requests, and throughout the story, the narrator constantly remarks the little details that will displease Dee. At the very first line, it is shown that the narrator and Dee cleaned and yard just for Dee. However, in the end, when the narrator looks at Maggie and realizes much Maggie has stayed with the narrator all these years, and that she hasn't abandoned their traditions. Because of this realization, the narrator begins to appreciate Maggie as well.

5. How does cultural heritage play a part in the interactions between Dee and her family?

Dee comes to visit to rediscover her cultural heritage. However, she only treats it as the past, not the present, as if Maggie and the narrator no longer play an important part in her present life. Therefore, their interactions are limited.

Learning Style

Style Scores
Visual
13
Social
15
Physical
11
Aural
9
Verbal
5
Solitary
5
Logical
12

I agree with the results except that I'm more solitary than my result shows. Sometimes, I find that studying alone is more beneficial and effective for me. However, I find that group work is more interesting and fun.

Other than that, this analysis is pretty accurate. The analysis says that my verbal skills aren't too great compared to my logical skills. This is quite true, as I usually do better at math/science courses than English/language courses. Some of the grammar rules in languages and stuff seem, illogical to me, and I find them hard to understand.

As for my visual skills, I really like art, so don't be alarmed to find a few doodles on each homework. I find diagrams and pictures to be very helpful and clear.

I also think that taking notes aren't too helpful for me. When I take notes, I concentrate too much on taking the actual notes, and don't really listen and take in the content. So I find that concentrating on the lecture is more effective.

Discussion Group

Summary: The Year’s End, is about a college student, Kaushik, who has a hard time getting over his mother’s death and dealing with his father’s new wife and his two new step sisters. Throughout the story, Kaushik expresses dislike for his new step mother and felt like she was replacing his mother. Nevertheless, Kaushik liked his two step sisters, whom he took out to play and such. However, when the two step sisters uncovered a stash of Kaushik’s mother’s pictures, he loses it and openly expresses his dislike for their mother. After scolding the two step sisters, Kaushik’s relationship with the two sisters deteriorated. However, in the end, Kaushik becomes grateful that Chitra, his step mother, came into his life.

Excerpts-
-Kaushik said "Well, you;ve seen it for yourselves, how beautiful my mother was. How much prettier and more sophisticated than yours. Your mother is nothing in comparison. Just a servent to was my father's clothes and cook his meals. That's the only reason she's here,the only reason both of you are here" (page 286) : This quote was chosen because it was what Kaushik said here that separated him from the two stepsisters. Because of this, Kaushik further distanced himself his father's new family, and ultimately, began to like isolation.

- "I knew we were both thankful to Chitra for chafing under whatever lingered of my mother's spirit in the place she had last called home and for forcing us to shut its doors." (Page 293): This except shows that Kauhisk finally let go of his mother's death. The except also suggests that Kaushik is also slowly accepting Chitra into the family, and acknowledges the hard work she has done for the family and his father.

- "I had never traveled alone before and I discovered that I liked it. No one in the world knew where I was, no one had the ability to reach me. It was like being dead, my escape allowing me to taste that tremendous power my mother possessed forever." (Page 290): This except suggests that after being burdened with the responsibility of caring for his mom, and then his dad (after the mom dies), and also of taking care of his two new step sisters, and dealing with a new mom, Kaushik escapes these responsibilities and stress. Now that Kaushik has escaped, he feels the freedom and slightly envies his dead mother, who has this freedom forever.

Questions:
Do you think that it was a good idea of Kaushik's father to remarry?
Would remarrying be a disloyal decision to make?
How does Kaushik feel towards Chitra in the end? Was she able to replace his own mother?
Why does Kaushik's father decide to remarry with someone so traditional?
In the story, a nurse says that the time before the death is the worst part, instead of the actually death being the worst. Do you think this is true?
Did Chitra successfully bring the family closer? If so, how did she?

Symbolism:

“I looked above the table at one corner of the ceiling and saw that it was discolored by a leak.” (pg.260) Although this was insignificant in the story, because the author deliberately chose to add this in, shows that this line is symbolizes something greater than a leak. This leak may symbolize the condition in which the family was in after Kaushik’s mother’s death. Like a pipe system missing a part, thus resulting in a leak; the family was missing a mother, and therefore, resulted in its ruin.

“We are both moving forward, Kaushik,” my father told me after the ceremony. “New roads to explore.” (pg. 293)

“New roads” symbolizes that Kaushik has placed his mother’s death behind him, and can finally continue down in the road.

Unaccustomed Earth Questions

5. When Sudha was born, their parents had not settled down in America yet, and therefore, did not offer as much care and time as they did when Rahul was born. Being the eldest, Sudha also had to take on a lot of responsibility for Rahul, and to help out their parents. Because Sudha did not have such a great childhood, she had helped make Rahul's childhood great however jealous she was of it. Rahul and Sudha both reacted differntly to the "perplexing fact of [their] parents' marriage" [p/ 137]. Sudha had worried over their lack of emotion and interaction between their parents while Rahul had remained distant and impartial. Sudha is attracted to Roger because he is responsible and mature, a reflection of her own personality; while Rahul is attracted to Elena because life with her is risky and exciting, a reflection of his own personality.

6. Sang is just about the complete opposite of Paul. Instead of spending her time studying or working, she spends it socializing. She lives in a different world than Paul, instead of worrying over her studies, she worries over relationships, and constantly receives marriage proposals. Therefore, Paul became intrigued by Sang, who lived a life Paul didn't have. I think that Paul got involved with Sang's relationship with Farouk just because he really wanted to help Sang. Otherwise, he would have told Sang about Deidre right away instead of trying to hint it and ease it into her. Lahiri used the title "Nobody's Business" to show the Paul's dilemma of whether to get involved or not. To me, this title shows that although other people's business may be "Nobody's Business", because we are all in some way or other connected/influenced by each other, involving ourselves to other people may not be such a bad thing.

Day One Posting#2 Lahiri's Opening Statement

Lahiri's opening statment suggests that children should not be raised in the same enviroment of the parent. This is metaphorically represented in the quote by potatoes being planted and replanted in the same soil, they wouldn't flourish. Although the children may still be protected and guided by their parents, they will still be exposed to a different enviroment/culture and therefore, flourish.

Day One Posting#1 What summer memory or experience

Yawn* "What time was it?" I slowly pulled my body up from its vegative state of exhaustion. I had been up till 4:00am last night chatting with friends, and now, I was feeling the consequences. I looked up at the clock, which showed 1:15pm. 1:15pm! I had SAT prep class at 1:00pm, I was already 15 minutes late. I threw some clothes on and ran out the house. By the time I got there, it was 1:30pm. Nervous and scared, I tip toed down the hallway towards the classroom. Each step I took, filled me with dread. I slowly turned the knob and stepped in. Weary students were scattered across the classroom, each minding their own businesses. Some were plugged into Ipods, others, blatantly put down their heads to sleep. Even the teacher was putting in a weak effort into the class. This was SAT prep. I had nothing to worry about, I stepped into the classroom, sat in my chair, and retreated back to slumber.