Chosen Song

I selected a song for my mother and it is titled “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men. This song has always been special to me because I love my mother very much and she pushes me to strive for the very best. My mother believes in everything I do and will always be by my side no matter what the situation. I am blessed to have such an amazing mother and father in my household who have taught me many life lessons and channeled me in the right direction so when I am alone I can continue forward, steadfast, and hold myself high in the Lord.

The Perks End--Part II

Part II: Quotes

1. “I would die for you. But I won’t live for you” –  This quote from the book not only illuminates the overall literary work, but it shows how Charlie needs to live his own life and be less passive when it comes to important decisions and things he wants in his life, for example the love of Sam.

2. “We accept the love we think we deserve.” – This specific quote from the novel illustrates that Charlie may not feel like he is deserving of true love. In a broader sense people feel like they are undeserving of love or cannot be truly loved because of who they are, for example, appearance, race, education, etc.

3. “Sometimes people use thought to not participate in life” – This quote from the story is very saddening, by showing how people, such as, Charlie use their own thoughts whether they be good, bad, or both to not participate in everyday life. Another perspective that could be taken from this quote is suicide. Many people give up on life because they allow their thoughts to take control and see the worst in things and feel no need to continue on.

The Perks End--Part I

Part I: Plot

 

         “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is an exhilarating spot-on story of what it is like to grow up in high school. The unique letters from Charlie are vibrant and relative to real world circumstances. Through his letters to an unknown “friend”, the reader relates and shares the same world that Charlie describes. The ending of the novel by Stephen Chbosky is very appropriate to conclude the literary masterpiece, brought to the reader through the letters from the teenager Charlie. The conclusion is both surprising and devastating, but ultimately shines a light on what the story as a whole was trying to convey. This included friendship, coming of age, love, family, sex, and drugs, which may very be the equivalent of an average complex teenage life. As a reader, one must realize that this novel is about life…real life. One must also comprehend that this dramatic conclusion is not confined to a book, but rather an everyday occurrence with some teenagers just like Charlie. Overall the culmination of the literary work was fulfilling and inspirational, expressing not only emotions of sorrow, but urging the reader to make a difference by noticing all the wallflowers whom exist that are just like Charlie on their search to feel infinite.

Playlist

They Don’t Know by Jon B. - I  enjoy the beat and how the lyrics reflect the viewpoint that no one    knows about how someone truy feels and loves someone.

Healing by Jagged Edge - I enjoy the beat and the lyrics  of the song.

Knockin’ Da Boots by H-Town - I enjoy the beat of the song.

Bad Habits by Maxwell - I enjoy how the tone and melody match with the lyrics and really tell a story.

Lost Without You by Robin Thicke - I enjoy everything about this song and how the lyrics relate to people in life and how you care for them.

Everyone Hurts by Kirk Franklin - I enjoy everything, but what stands out the most is the message being ministered through the songs lyrics.

Thank God I Found You by Mariah Carey - This track is enjoyable because not only is there a nice beat, but through its lyrics you understand how much you are blessed to have someone you love. To me not even neccessarily a girlfriend, but anyone in general.

You Rock My World by Michael Jackson - I enjoy this track because I like Michael Jackson music.

Diamonds by Robin Thicke - I enjoy every aspect of this song and it really speaks to me through its lyrics.

They Don’t Know by Jon B. - I enjoy the beat and how the lyrics reflect the viewpoint that no one knows about how someone truy feels.

 

Perks Questions

Who is the protagonist? How would you characterize him?

 Charlie is the Protagonist. He is always analyzing and using his head to think things through. 

 

 Which characters are round and flat?

Patrick, Sam, and Charlie’s sister are flat characters, but Charlie and Brad are definitely round.

 

Examine the family dynamics in "Perks". Would you classify Charlie's parents as good or bad? What textual evidence do you have to support this?

I would classify Charlie’s parents as decent parents, they try to support their children and keep them safe from harm. From their own experiences they want to raise their kids better than what they were, for example, the dad pledges never to hit his children because his father hit him when he was little.

 

What point of view is used and what style? Why would the author choose this method? How is it effective?

This story is told from Charlie’s point of view and written in a personal first person since it is in diary form. The author found this method most effective because it connects the reader to the events taking place in the book and can personally connect to the characters and Charlie.

 

What conflicts exist in this novel so far?

Some conflicts include the sister and the boy who hits her and the hidden homosexuality between Brad and Patrick.

 

What do you notice about the exposition of this story? Does it grab your attention? How?

In the beginning he talks like he is writing to another person who can listen to him. It grabs my attention because I want to know who he is writing to.

 

Which chapters apply so far?

Some application would include bad communion.

Some Point of View Types

1st Person-  point of view in which an "I" or "we" serves as the narrator of a piece of fiction. The narrator may be a minor character, observing the action, or the main protagonist of the story.

3rd Person Omniscient-   a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story.

3rd Person Limited-   a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented only externally. Third person limited grants a writer more freedom than first person.

3rd Person Objective-   the narrator only knows what someone watching would know. They don't know people's thoughts, but rather actions and words.

3rd Person Collective- a method of storytelling i which there is more than one narrator

Point of View

Point of View Alteration of Popular Mechanics

Early that day it was very chilly and I turned and noticed that the luminous white fluff on the window was melting into what seemed to be dirty water. Streaks of it trickled down from the little shoulder-high window that faced my family’s backyard. Some of the white fluff sort of slushed by on the blacktop outside, where it was getting very dark and daunting. But it was getting dark on the inside too, my parents were upstairs.

I heard many items being slung around, when my mom went to check on dad. The screaming I heard short after made me uneasy and I threw up onto the living room floor. All I heard was my mom’s curdling voice, “I’m glad you’re leaving!” There was no response, as I continued to hear such items slung into something.

My mom began to scream at my father once again, I was deeply frightened. There were many words I could not make out that my mom kept repeating over and over again. I finally heard a faint murmur of my dad’s voice; “Bring that back.” is all I could make out. As she came down the steps, her face red with anger and eyes filled with tears, she was fearfully grasping hold of a frame that had a picture of what so closely resembled me. She noticed the mess I had previously made in the floor and picked me up and took me into the kitchen.

My dad was quick to follow her down the steps, as he switched off the lights upstairs; he was holding a large case of something and was wearing his gigantic coat. My mom held me in the doorway of the small kitchen, watching my father with intense eyes. I tried to call for him, he did not answer.

I remember seeing my dad’s brow start to curl as he said, “I want the baby.” At first I was .pleased as if he wanted to hold me, but his face was not inviting. I began to cry.  “Are you crazy?” my mother queried.

My parents began to bicker and yell once again; I cried even louder. My mother, uncovered the blanket covering the top of my head. “Oh, oh” she said, looking me directly in the eyes.

Dad moved toward me and my mom. She screamed for God, while taking a step backwards almost dropping me in the floor. “I want the baby.” said dad. “Get out of here!” exclaimed mom.

She turned with me in her arms holding me in the corner of the stove. Suddenly I felt a harsh grasp around me, I looked up, and it was my father. He reached across the stove and tightened his hands on me. I tried to free myself but I could not.

My parents both had me in their hands, shouting at one another. “Let go of him”, “Get away, get away!” was a concurrent tone. My face was burning and I was screaming, I could not move, I was being dictated by my own two parents; I became a doll to them. While the two were tugging me they knocked down my favorite feature of the entire house, the beautiful flowerpot that hung behind the stove. Oh how I loved that flowerpot.

Things had become much worse, my father crowded mom into the wall, trying to break her grip from me. I was just hoping that the unbearable pain would go away from my benign body. The grip of the two was becoming even harsher as dad held on to me while pushing with all his weight to release me from my mother’s slipping hands.

Pulling me even harder my skin began to ache, “Don't”, she said,” You’re hurting the baby.” “I'm not hurting the baby”, declared my dad. The two bickered on but without regard to me, their son.

There was no light shining through the window and it was completely dark inside the kitchen when my dad tried to unwind mom’s fisted fingers from my body with one hand, while holding me tightly with the other. I began to scream like no other.

For a brief moment I felt a relaxation because my mom’s fingers were plying open, by this time I did not care what happened, I just wanted to be free of the severe pain from the pulling on my body.  

“No!” my crying mother screamed as her hands came loose from my elongated arm. She would not let me go! In a split-second she grasped my other arm. She tightly locked her hands around my wrist and leaned back. My dad would not give in; he pulled back suddenly very hard. The tugging of my undermined flesh became unbearable.