Prediction of Diction

When reading Erich Maria Remarque's epigraph, one picks up a tone of bluntness. Straight and to the point, Demarque tells the reader what will not be found in his novel, All Quiet on the Western Front. It can be predicted that this novel will contain valid facts and details from war. No bias or blame toward either side will be included for the book is "neither an accusation nor confession" (Remarque Epigraph). Death will be a theme, for the book claims to be a story of death, and a hardened tone will persist throughout. Remarque fought during World War I and wrote his novel with the intention of concentrating on the inhumanity of war. During combat, he was injured several times. If his descriptions sound insensitive, it is because he has seen them first hand and has been hardened by their brutality. Remarque knows the horrors of war, making All Quiet on the Western Front a true story "of a generation of men, who even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war" (Remarque Epigraph).

Source: All Quiet on the Western Front: About the Author

The Politics of War

"Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed" (Mao Tse-Tung 1893-1976)

This statement on war breaks the concept of fighting down to its simplest. The definition of war is a state of armed conflict. Before those involved become armed with weapons, there is simply a conflict. In conflict there is disagreement, argument, different opinions and sides. These concepts are what make up both politics and war, with the only difference being that war involves the killing of those in opposition. By taking away our weapons in war, we are left with are words and political opinions. By adding weapons to politics, war and bloodshed are created because the disagreement has moved beyond a level that can be debated. This statement can reveal the truths of the American Revolution. At the point that the American colonies decided to declare war against Great Britain, Thomas Paine's Common Sense stated that the time of debate was over and that open arms were the only resort. Politics and war are the same, they just function with different methods.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

When I think of home, I think of my family: my mother, my father, and my dog. No matter where I've been or how long I've been gone for, they are always there to welcome me back. When I think of being home, I think of tall, wooly slippers because our house is always too chilly to wander the halls with bare feet. In the summer my house smells of flowers and heat from open doors, with the slightest sound of the trickling creek in the backyard. In the autumn, cinnamon scented candles burn as a tea kettle shrieks and spits steam on its practically permanent place on the stove. The smoldering fireplace becomes the center of every evening in the winter, and when spring arrives the windows are opened again as my mother pursues spring cleaning. All year round, a fruit basket filled with seasonal treats sits on the table next to a vase of seasonal flowers. A loaf of the week's bread is chipped away at from Monday to Friday. Riding boots and chaps can always be found in a nearby corner. When I am away from home, I miss the comfort and simplicity. I miss small meals thrown together on the pan and quiet evenings spent reading or watching a film with the family. Cultured and cultivated, home is where the heart is.

A Friend is a Friend, Until the End

“The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.” - Mark Twain

The relationship of some friends is so strong that it can withstand even the strongest storm. Powerful emotions bind friends together through a lifetime, however those same emotions also hold the potential to violently rip friends apart. In order for a friendship to be enduring enough to last, a fierce sensitivity and emotional bond must be involved. Unfortunately, while a bond that strong can be durable, it can also be more breakable than the weakest of relationships because of the emotions involved. When creating the friendships and relationships in Wuthering Heights, I think that Emily Bronte had a similar idea in mind. All of the relationships that connected the characters were extremely passionate. A perfect example is the relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine, whose relationship is so passionate and emotionally heated that it can almost be described as “make or break”, where the action of one person can either strengthen or completely destroy the bond. 

Themes and Motifs

A story’s theme is a main idea or message that is stressed by the author throughout the novel. These are different from a story’s motifs, which are recurring repeated ideas in the novel. For my life story, an appropriate theme would be that when you push yourself to try harder, you are success. In everything I do from studies, to creative work, to even my own small goals, I find that when I push myself to go that tiny, and sometimes uncomfortable extra step, I am highly satisfied with the result. The motifs that can be found intricately laced within my life story often show themselves in the form of rewards that follow an achievement. One common motif is a well-deserved vacation after a grueling school year. Another could be a delicious night out after a week of hard work. 

Last year, when reading To Kill A Mockingbird, a common motif that was noticed was birds. Bird references appeared in instances such as the book’s title and the last name “Finch”. The theme of the novel was learning to stand up for what you believe is right. Harper Lee expressed this message through the lessons Scout learned growing up as the daughter of a lawyer who fights for what he feels is justice. 

The PSAT: Things to Remember...

As the PSAT rears its head, there are a few very important points to keep in mind. Being more informed aids in relieving PSAT-related stress because it makes one realize that with the proper preparation, there is no reason to be fearful. Something I was unaware of is that when a junior, the PSAT should not be taken as a practice, for it can actually earn you a scholarship if you do particularly well! Although it is rather unexpected, a student should skip a question that they cannot confidently answer because you will lose more points for being incorrect than for not giving an answer. One does not need to get every question right in order to receive a perfect score- the way to get a perfect score depends on whether you get enough questions right rather than how many you get incorrect. The PSAT does not asses a student’s knowledge, it assesses reasoning and logic, basic skill level and critical thinking. It is made so that anyone, regardless of academic background, could be successful. By keeping these important facts in mind, the PSAT can become a mountain to climb rather than an obstacle to dodge.

Wuthering Heights: More Than Victorian Literature...

While commonly characterized as Victorian, Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heightscan also be classified as Gothic literature. Prevalent traits of Gothic literature that are exhibited in Wuthering Heights are sinister buildings, extreme weather, mention of the supernatural, and revenge. Heathcliff’s home, Wuthering Heights, is described as being subject to “the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather” (Bronte 2). The reader receives an example of the tumultuous weather when Mr. Lockwood returns to visit Mr. Heathcliff for the second time and is forced to spend the night due to the “bitter whirl of winter and suffocating snow” (12).

A censored topic of the Victorian period but frequently used in Gothic literature, Emily Bronte introduces the idea of the supernatural in her novel when Mr. Lockwood sees the ghost of Catherine. Occurring on the same night of the violent storm, Mr. Lockwood’s sighting of the ghost is preceded by ominous wind that forces a “branch” to knock on his window. Revenge, another common theme in Gothic writing, also plays its role in the novel. Throughout his life, Heathcliff is filled with vengeance and is constantly plotting to get back at those who have wronged him. Wuthering Heights itself is also a symbol of Gothic literature because of the eerie way it is described. With no signs of warmth in the building, it gives off a sinister air found in all aspects of the novel. These omens not only foreshadow the events to come but help to classifyWuthering Heights as Gothic literature.

I am Heathcliff

By confessing “I am Heathcliff”, Catherine is revealing a deep part of her soul that has not been seen by the reader. She is implying that it is not that Heathcliff makes her happy, but that the two of them are so alike that they can understand each other better than anyone else. She loves him so strongly and feels so connected to him that it is as if they are the same person.

Catherine has entered into an agreement with Edgar because of the love she feels for Heathcliff. She predicts that if she were to spend the rest of her life with Heathcliff, both of them would lead a life of poverty and misfortune. If she were to marry Edgar, Catherine would be guaranteed a comfortable living filled with wealth. Her plan includes not only building a luxurious life for herself, but a life for Heathcliff that is free of hardship. She claims that she can “aid Heathcliff to rise” (Bronte 76) and remove him from under Hindley’s power. Viewing the situation from Catherine’s perspective, I can understand her reasoning. If I were in the same predicament, I would not marry someone who I was not in love with simply for security. A decision like Catherine’s is one that she may regret later on down the road. Living with remorse is not a worthy price to pay for a comfortable life. Since Catherine’s period is a time of change in where women stand in society, I would prefer to work hard with my husband to earn our family a life we can be proud and thankful for.

Dreams

It is when I am in a deep, well-needed sleep that my mind plays host to dreams. At times, the dreams are familiar, giving the feeling of a déjà vu. Never, however, have I experienced a recurring dream. Occasionally, if a dream touches me in a certain way or includes memorable happenings, I will awake the following morning and recall what occurred. Sometimes the memories are strong and vivid, while other times they are vague and confusing. Often the people in my life will appear in my dreams. At times their roles are switched, such as film or novel characters replacing my parents and friends. When feeling emotional, whether ecstatic or morose, I can sometimes find the reason for these feelings in my dreams. When unsure of why or what I am afraid of, dreams will give me the answer. They may also bring different thoughts into my mind, like ideas or answers that have never occurred to me. I believe that the source of dreams is not what mainly occupies one throughout the day, but the deep thoughts and ideas that linger quietly in the back of one’s mind.

Before drifting to sleep, Mr. Lockwood reads journal entries and names that give him insight into the lives of those inhabiting Wuthering Heights. He falls asleep tracing the names Catherine Linton, Catherine Earnshaw, and Catherine Heathcliff. His nightmare is a direct inspiration from what he has read. Mr. Lockwood’s dreams reveal a curiosity that is lurking in the back of his mind about Catherine. They also show a bit of fear and suspicion about Wuthering Heights and its previous inhabitants because of the eerie manner in which they come to him. Since Mr. Lockwood’s dream about Catherine knocking on the window implies that she was “lost” (either by death or literally lost), it foreshadows Mr. Heathcliff’s devastated behavior when he hears her name mentioned. The source of Mr. Lockwod’s dreaming can be found in his own realization that he has entered a world with a complicated and deep history. His act of cruelty towards Catherine’s ghost in the dream shows the harsh impact that Wuthering Heights has already had on his once kind demeanor. Perhaps he has realized that the same fear and coldness that inhibits the people of Wuthering Heights has already instilled itself in him.