Week 6, Post B

Week 6, Post A

Week 5, Post B

Week 5, Post A

Pages 184 - 229.

VOCAB.

mirth (p. 204) amusement or laughter: He was unable to conceal his mirth.
apprehension (p. 204) anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE.

Week 4, Post B

RESPONSE.

(Letter written From Jacob to August)

Dear Diar--... I mean August,

Ok I'm sorry but you have some personality issues you have to take care of. I mean what the hell one minute you're the most charming man in the world with Marlena, making her home meals, calling her pet names, taking all of us out for dinner, etc. Then the next minute you're cutting horses throats, beating a dumb elephant until she's trembling with fear, and threatening to fire all of us while screaming potentially offensive obscenities.

Are you mad at the world? Dead end job getting to you? If Al wasn't such an arrogant jerk and ran things like a decent manager, you would be long gone my friend. You can't keep abusing your power. You are digging yourself into a hole that can't be escaped by saying, "I'm sorry," whenever you come out of your prolonged crazy episodes. You will eventually lose everything, which is probably all Marlena. She is a person of great understanding, but at the same time down-to-earth and realistic. If she comes to her senses in time she will leave you. Get it together boss.

I'm wise enough to not give this letter you... Or perhaps I'm just a spineless jellyfish who can't stand up to his boss, but either way I predict you will come to understand what I've mentioned in the near future. I hope it clicks before you lose everything, or go completely crazy. With the crazy side of you I've seen, we'll probably be putting you in a cage along with the Freaks.

Best wishes,
Jacob

Week 4, Post A

Pages 138 - 183.

VOCAB.

(page 143) inquisitive: unduly or inappropriately curious; prying.

(page 146) obelisk: a tapering, four-sided shaft of stone, usually monolithic and having a pyramidal apex.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

(Quote on page 145) "A longer pause.
'Jacob?'
'Yeah?'
'You can call me Walter if you want.'"
This is quote is a symbol, because "Walter" more commonly known as "Kinko" is a midget-clown with an attitude. Basically he goes only goes by Walter to his friends, which is interesting because he hardly ever becomes close to anyone. He doesn't seem to trust anyone, so allowing Jacob to call him Walter is a symbol of Kinko's trust. This is also foreshadowing because I predict that he and Jacob will become friends and fight the battle of the circus life more as a team.

(Quote on page 148) "'Jacob?'
I watch Rosie for a few seconds longer and then turn to face him.
'Look here,' says August, scrubbing the toe of his boot in the dirt. 'I know I've been a bit rough on you the last couple of days.'
I'm supposed to say something here, something to make him feel better, but I don't. I'm not feeling particularly conciliatory.
'What I'm trying to say is that I went a bit far. Pressures of the job, you know. They can get to a man.' He holds out his hand. 'So, friends again?'"
This quote describes the split personalities of August. So, this entire quote is once again another example of a symbol. It symbolizes August's split personality of sometimes being the nicest man in the world, and sometimes being a complete asshole boss with serious anger issues.

THEME.

The theme of this section of pages is acceptance and forgiveness.