Monster Book Comments #3 Due by midnight Wednesday 1/7Three sections
* Label your response to this section 3a
Briefly explain any changes in the monsters, beast, or demon since your first comment. How are the changes in the monster, in the monster's experiences, or in the monster's situation significant? (A paragraph: 7+ sentences.) I'm not looking for plot summary; I'm looking for connections to and development of the monster theme. Along the way convince me that you understand how the monster's situation has developed since "Comments #2" which were due before the holiday break.
*Label your response to this section 3b
Respond to someone else's comment about the book. If no one else is reading your book then compare your thoughts about your monster to someone else's thoughts about the monster in her or his book. Write at least seven sentences.
*Label your response to this section 3c
Write another journal entry as if you were the monster of the book. Write in the monster's voice about the monster's experiences and situation. Convince me that you understand the monster's situation and feelings about the situation. Use at least three details from the last section you have read. Mark the details (1), (2), (3). Write at least seven sentences.
Monster Book Comments #2 Due by midnight Wednesday 12/11
Three sections
* Label your response to this section 2a
Briefly explain any changes in the monsters, beast, or demon since your first comment. How are the changes in the monster, in the monster's experiences, or in the monster's situation significant? (A paragraph: 7+ sentences.) I'm not looking for plot summary; I'm looking for connections to and development of the monster theme.
*Label your response to this section 2b
Respond to someone else's comment about the book. If no one else is reading your book then compare your thoughts about your monster to someone else's thoughts about the monster in her or his book. (A paragraph.)
*Label your response to this section 2c
Write a journal entry as if you were the monster of the book. Write in the monster's voice about the monster's experiences and situation. (A paragraph.)
Monster Book Comments #1 (300+ words) Due by midnight Wednesday (12/10)
Using the definitions of “monster,” “beast,” and/or “demon,” explore how the theme of monstrousness is developed over the first 100+ pages of the book you have been reading.
You might begin by showing how a character or entity fits a particular definition or set of definitions. But do not limit yourself to proving that so-and-so is a monster. Also, do not merely summarize all of the “monstrous” or “beastly” or “demonic” events in the book. That is plot summary. Instead, write an exploratory, explanatory, expository essay.
Show how the author explores ideas about monsters. Here are some possibilities:
- physical monstrousness can be used as a (false?) projection of man(un)kind’s internal monstrousness,
- external beauty (or success, or noble words, or other facades) can mask monstrosity,
- humanity’s inner nature can be seen as naturally and unavoidably “beastly,”
- our intellect (theory-making, pattern-making, meaning-making, civilization-building) can be seen as the source of monstrousness,
- fictional monsters can be interpreted as projections of human fears (about scientific or other progress, about our own inner desires, about nature’s senselessness, about the fragility of our existence, etc.),
- monsters can be used as a way of defining what is human (humane) and what is not-human (inhumane, beastly),
- overcoming monsters (or monstrousness) can be used as a way of defining human heroism, nobility, and even goodness,
- monsters (or monstrous behavior) can be used to explore the issue of nature (innate characteristics that humans are born with) versus nurture (learned behavior): is the monster born or made?,
- monsters can be used as a way to explore the effects of isolation, rejection, exclusion, etc.,
- monsters can be used as a way of exploring whether good and evil are absolute or whether they are only a matter of perception (Hamlet says, “nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so,”
- and on and on and on…
10 comments:
In the book, In Cold Blood there are two different monsters. The book does not have the stereotype of a typical monster. A monster’s stereotype being scary looking and isolated from the world. Instead one of the monsters is an average guy who lives in a normal town. His name is Perry. He grew up being in a harsh household, which caused him to react in revenge and become a criminal. Perry was born and surrounded by mean people and without any rules. This cause him to grow and become what he had learned a person should be. In the previous novels that I have read, the monster usually rebels because of some sort of jealousy. In this book, the Clutter family was an ideal family, which Perry envied. He wished that he could have the intelligence that Mr. Clutter had. Perry could be defined as a demon because he has evil in his mind. He wants to murder for his own personal pleasure. Also, his partner in crime, Dick, influenced Perry. Dick was the man who knew all the steps to commit the murder. Dick planned and organized for the murder he and Perry were to commit. Dick thought even to buy black stockings to cover their faces so there would be no witnesses that saw them. Dick is a demon because he is evil. In his mind he made the arrangements to end an innocent family’s life. Even though the men were not scary on the outside they both have a lot in common with a monster. They do not feel any remorse towards the people they hurt. Both these men are monstrous because of the lack of care for other people. Even though they looked to be normal humans, their actions made them out to become evil humans.
In Cold Blood an interesting and slightly horrifying book, speaks about everyday monsters. Monster that walk the earth known as humans. It's a story about a man named Perry who is the person that portrays a monster. Perry was raise in a town in Kansas surrounded by mean people with no boundries and rules what so ever. Not to stick up for his wrong doing, but because of what he was exposed to all his life (evil and no rules) he turned into a monster and lashed out so to speak. It was all he knew he was simply a product of his own environment. However another character comes into play named Dick. Dick seems to plan everything and almost seems to give Perry that little extra push to commit the crime of murder. They are both demon like, both evil, both commiting crime. Killing an innocent family for their pleasure. Killing people that Perry seems to be jealous of wishing he could be like Mr. Clutter (the father of the family they killed). It's sad how people who seem so normal and functional can be so cruel and have so much anger and rage inside of them, and have disturbing thoughts, also to beable to plan such a hateful act. They are both demon like and monsterous, both guilty and disturbed.
In the novel In Cold Blood there are no real monsters. There are people that act like monsters and seem demon. It is the way that people act that creates them like this. It also has to do with what they had done with there life. Perry for instances is a monster for having gone to jail then would come out and try to change but then got sucked back in another jail guy talked to him into it. A monstrous person is always good at talking people into doing things that they want them to do. For instances Dick he would pretend to be Perry’s friend just because he thought that Perry was a natural killer and he needed Perry’s help with something. Also when a person is a demon they are very good at conning people out of things so then they can go sell those items to get money. They like to lie to people to get what they want. For instance when Dick would lie to the clerk just to get the suites and then go and sell it. Another demon feature is the looks of people. For instance Perry he had a big torso and small legs all because of a motorcycle accident. Another big demon thing is tattoos because it makes a person look ruff. In real life you never know if a person is a demon or not so it can be hard to trust the world. The Clutter family was a well liked family and four out of the six of them would get murder in there own home. The town they live in is a trustworthy town and yet people had the courage to break the trust and kill them. Murders are usually normal people until one horrible event has occurred. The two main monstrous people is Perry and Dick and the way that they are going now in life seems like they will never be able to fix what they had done.
In the book In Cold Blood there is two different monsters. In this book it doesn't stereotype any monsters. One monster is Perry when he was growing was very harsh household and this caused him to become a criminal . Mr. Clutter was the other monster that was made look like a monster. They are criminal because they are planning a murder. so all in all this is what happens in the first 50 pages of In Cold Blood.
(2a) Perry is starting to change his ways of being a monster. He keeps bring up what they had done. It sounds like he is starting feel bad about what he had done. Then when Dick and Perry where hitch hiking back a guy had picked them up. Perry was ready to belt the guy because of his laugh it reminded him of somebody. Perry just had to wait for the right moment when Dick gave the signial. Perry was going good but then back to bad. Dick was kind of getting scared of Perry so was becoming frighten but still planed all the schemes.
(2b) I have to agree and disagree with Manuela. I agree with the fact that this is not a typical monster story with there not being a beast and all but the two people do act in monstrous ways. I do not agree with her when saying that Perry was brought up in a harsh household. Yea the family had some difficulties like the mother taking the kids away from their father and moving. Also the mother did leave the children alone. In the end the father would come and rescue Perry from his mother and have the rest of the children go to the state. The way that Perry's dad brought him was to face his problems and to take the consequences that is given. The people and the society would be the things that would create Perry to become a monster. For instance when Dick persuades Perry to help him with the murder. I think that the monsters are created by society.
(3b) Dear Journal,
Dick is a very intelligent man. He always has a plan for things. For instance how we are going to hitch hike and then high jack a car. I will kill the driver by strangling the person with a belt. I feel like I can trust him and that he is a true friend. Even though I keep bringing up what happen and then Dick gets mad at me for bringing it up. I feel somewhat bad for what had happen though and it can be hard to express it since I can not bring it up. I just hope people realize that I am not a bad person that I only had some bad influences in my life.
(2A) The murder has changed from the last time I have blogged. He has now committed the murder of the whole Clutter family. Before he was so certain of his idea to kill and had no feeling that it was wrong to do. Now after the murders were made he felt a sense of regret. He keeps talking about the murders and how it was made. The murders were somewhat scared after the murder.
(2B) I agree with Courtney when she said that the murders are “everyday monsters”. Both these guys are men you would not expect harm from. I also agree when she said that he grew up with no rules or boundaries. Perry was brought up with not knowing a sense of right and wrong. “”He was simply a product of his own environment” I agree completely that he became what he grew up around and what he learned.
(2C) Dear Journal,
I have been thinking about what I have done a lot lately. I do not know if what I did was right but I trust Dick and his decisions. He has been there for me with planning the murders and reassuring me that everything will go right. He has been there for me throughout all my doubts. I just do not understand why he hates when I bring up what we have done. I need to talk about it but he will not let me. Even though I sill am very lucky to have him as a friend. I could not see myself doing this without him.
(3A) Since the last time I have posted there have been a plentiful amount of events going on. The monsters have not changed much in how the feel but their situation has worsen. The monster roam from town to town without any money or idea if things will get better. The idea of suicide has been thought about and Perry is not finding it easier to move on from his crime. The guilt has reached an all time high for how Perry feels. After being caught by the police after some evidence, they men were questioned. Dick blamed the whole killing on Perry and has now befriended him. Perry did not want to confess until he heard a story from the cop that only Dick would know of. He confessed in deep detail and the monsters are now in a cold cell in jail.
(3B) I have to agree with Angela on her last post. Monsters are created by society and the type of life that surrounds them. She states that “The people and the society would be the things that would create Perry to become a monster” I completely agree that someone’s surrounding can cause a person to act a certain way and how they have became as a person by what they believe good morals and values are. I also agree when she says that Perry did this cause he was easily influenced by Dick. Perry became a monster by trying to help a what he thought was a good friend.
(3C) Dear Journal,
I have been having such a hard time dealing with the guilt from the crime I committed. (1)I wish I never let Dick pursue me into his plot to harm and steal from people. (2) I cannot handle what I have done and I sometimes believe suicide is the only answer.(3) After basically raising myself, all I wanted was a friend. One that I believe cared about me and would never sell me out. I was so wrong about Dick. He blamed the whole thing on me. I have to now go to jail because I tried to help a friend out or what I thought was a friend. I still cannot believe that he told the cops it was all my idea, I mean I don’t think I could ever think of something like that on my one. My stupid actions cause for server consequences and I have not only ruined my life but the lives of an innocent and kind family. I am deeply ashamed of what I have done.
3(a) Criminals are consider monsters especially people who murder. Perry is still a monster even though at one point he had felt bad for what he had done. As of now Perry is a monster and he would try to convict Dick for two of the murders in his confession when he found out that Dick had sold him out. After that Perry viewed Dick as a coward. Dick would become a big monster because he would rat Perry out saying that he had convicted all the murders at the Clutter’s home. That was a jerky move that was made by Dick since they had been together all this time. The tides are turning for them because they got caught.
3(b) I have to agree with Manuela when she said they “murdered the whole Clutter family.” Perry had kept bring up what they had did but Perry did not tell what they had done. He had foreshadowed what he had done. It had seem like the guilt was building up in Perry that he had to keep bring him up. That the murders new it was wrong but they just could not stop. It all has to do with the environment that they grew up in. Even the environment cannot explain their doings. I agree with Manuela when she talks about how the killers kill but then feels regret afterward.
3(c) Dear Journal,
The police caught me in Las Vegas. When riding back to the jail in Kansas I was surprised to find out that 1. Dick had blamed the whole Clutter murder on me in his conviction statement. Right then finding out about that made me mad. I just want to get back at him. Then I told the detective that 2. Dick had killed two of the Clutters. Then I go to the jail cell that I am in now. Except that the cell that I am in is the women cell. 3. They wanted to keep me and Dick separated. I guess they did this so then we could not make a story. Which in a way for them is good but the only problem is that I am lonely. I do not have anyone to talk to beside Mrs. Meier and the squirrel that I made friends with. I wish I never did this in the first place because then I would not be in this mess.
3a) Nothing has really changed all that much. The murders have been commited and the men seem to go from town to town. They are in fear and regret what they have done. Perry seems to be the one "cracking" the most. He can't move past the crime and has thought about suicide off and on. The most interesting part that has happened is that the cops got clues on the men and questioned them. As you would probably expect Dick turned his back on Perry and blame everything on him. The men are in their rightful place, a jail cell.
3b) I agree with Angela, I notice that Perry had started to change as well after they commited the murder. His fear has set in, it's like the murders are stuck in his head and keep playing over and over making him feel the need to speak of them. I found it strange in the story how Dick was starting to fear Perry when Perry was no different then Dick however.
3c) Dear Journal,
I am struggling on moving past the murders. I have thought of doing some horrible not to other people only but also to myself. I have been caught and questioned by the police I'm sure they know it's. 1. I found out that Dick has tried to blame the murders on me. The jerk thinking he can just get off easy, and leave me behind in a cold cell. Well I wasn't about to let him off that easy out of my feeling betrayed by my single friend I got back at the sucker and told the police everything.....the truth.2. I'm in a jail cell now all cold. What cracks me up is it's actually a women cell.3. They wanted to keep us seprated probably for our statements, but I think it's smart cause I might have hit him if I saw that backstabber. The only probably is is that I hate being alone I guess you could say I've been depending on Dick, I'm used to having him there with me and not going through stuff alone. Man I regret all of what I've done this did not go as planned.
3a. Since the last time I have posted there have been a lot of events going on in the book. The monster hasn't changes but the situation has got worst with the murders. Dick and Perry are the killers and perry is trying to put the whole thing on dick like he didn't have anything to do with the killing. so now there are sitting in a jail cell were they both belong.
3b. I agree with manuela and angela posts. That the murders new that what where were doing but they still killed the clutter family with was a important family in there town.
3c. Dear Journal,
the police got me in Las Vegas and Dick is trying so hard to pin me only me to the clutter murder when he was a big part in it to don't get me wrong i did my fair share but Dick was the major player in this one. I am a horrible person for what i have done i never though in my life i would be a killer well i have to go the guards are coming and it is after lights out so until next time.
Post a Comment