Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor,
That shalt be king hereafter.
O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!
Chance may crown me,
If chance will have me king.
Is this a dagger which I see before me?
Or art thou but a dagger of the mind.
Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
If we should fail?
I am his kinsman and his subjuct.
As his host, not bear the knife myself.
Who dares to do more, is none.
We will proceed no further in this business.
Hail! The Prince of Cumberland!
Which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap.
Two truths are told.
She strike upon the bell.
It is a knell.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
1. Anadiplosis
"... the Blue Eagle, the Old One's words followed me, followed me all the way along the snow-dusted streets of Chinatown" (p133)
2. Anaphora
"... how to hold my elbows in; how to take a dive, his way; how to propel my fists with fake jabs; how to duck my head and aim my right into my opponent's glass jaw." (p126)
3. Alliteration
"... where I belonged, dressed perfectly, behaved beyond reproach, and was loved, always loved..." (p38)
4. Allusion
"I looked again into the hall mirror, seeking Shirley Temple with her dimpled smile and perfect white-skin features." (p41)
5. Apposition
"... and even Tarzan and his pet chimpanzee, Cheetah, should always politely knock first..." (p14)
6. Imagery
"... about how they worked, like demon dragons spewing flames for hundreds of feet in every direction." (p184)
7. Metaphor
"...staring back at me, stood Monkey, the Monkey King of Poh-Poh's stories, disguised as an old man bent over two canes." (p18)
8. Polysyndenton
"... Kiam and I carried Mrs. Chin's dump-truck delivery of firelogs and kindling up the slope of her back yard and stacked the wood in her shed of her." (p103)
9. Personification
"... a mountain, after much labour, yawning wide." (p 15)
10. Simile
"The old man's face was like no other human one we had seen before: a wide-eyed, wet-nosed creature stared back at us." (p17)
"... the Blue Eagle, the Old One's words followed me, followed me all the way along the snow-dusted streets of Chinatown" (p133)
2. Anaphora
"... how to hold my elbows in; how to take a dive, his way; how to propel my fists with fake jabs; how to duck my head and aim my right into my opponent's glass jaw." (p126)
3. Alliteration
"... where I belonged, dressed perfectly, behaved beyond reproach, and was loved, always loved..." (p38)
4. Allusion
"I looked again into the hall mirror, seeking Shirley Temple with her dimpled smile and perfect white-skin features." (p41)
5. Apposition
"... and even Tarzan and his pet chimpanzee, Cheetah, should always politely knock first..." (p14)
6. Imagery
"... about how they worked, like demon dragons spewing flames for hundreds of feet in every direction." (p184)
7. Metaphor
"...staring back at me, stood Monkey, the Monkey King of Poh-Poh's stories, disguised as an old man bent over two canes." (p18)
8. Polysyndenton
"... Kiam and I carried Mrs. Chin's dump-truck delivery of firelogs and kindling up the slope of her back yard and stacked the wood in her shed of her." (p103)
9. Personification
"... a mountain, after much labour, yawning wide." (p 15)
10. Simile
"The old man's face was like no other human one we had seen before: a wide-eyed, wet-nosed creature stared back at us." (p17)
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Boundaries Between Identity
The literature "The Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy illustrates a Chinese immigrant family in Vancouver Chinatown during the mid 1930's and 40's. The story is told through three children's perspective, who are Jook-Liang, Jung-Sum, and Sek-Lung. During their childhood, they have a much more complex and memorable experience than the other native children as a result to their incoherent identity.
The children attend to both English and Chinese schools where encourages them to be modern, and are affected by their Grandmother's ancient wisdom and tradition. They worship Shirley Temple, John Wayne, and Joe Louis, but also are attracted by the old fantasies like Monkey Man and the Fox Lady. The exclusion from the Chinese heritage and the hardship to assimilate into the western community can be seen the most through the third brother, Sek-Lung. He is constantly struggled between the borders that:
"even if I was born in Vancouver, even if I should salute
the Union Jack a hundred million times, even if I had the
cleanest hands in all of the Dominion of Canada and prayed
forever, I would still be Chinese".
The boundaries are set between identity, with lines that the children are told should not be crossed. Although Sek-Lung wishes to be completely a true "Canadian", he seems like the one who stops his family from anchoring to China. He understands that:
"Stepmother knew this and worried in her heart and feared
for me. All of the Chinatown adults were worried over those
of us recently born into Canada, born “neither this nor that,”
neither Chinese nor Canadian, born without understanding
the boundaries”.
Whenever Sek-Lung ais trying to identify where he belongs, whether Chinese or western, there are always resistance on either side. The child also witnesses the danger of self-definition when he is drawn unwittingly into the local tensions between Chinese Canadian and Japanese Canadians during World War II.
On the other hand, the Grandmother is a typical Chinese women with ancient cultural traditions. "But making her special ones caused dissension in [their] family, and some shame" is what she believes. In the family, she affects the children's emotions the most. However, she continues to do as she pleased, ignoring people and their reactions. She increases the hardship for the children to identify themselves, especially for Jook-Liang and Jung-Sum. The Grandmother repeatedly tells the girl how worthless she is, so it is important for a girl to be able to assess the value of what she has. Contrarily, she does not value her second grandson worthless, but rather different, that he is the moon and not the sun. Therefore he should not maintain a strong self-confidence and self-esteem in his mind. Through the quotes offered in the novel, the author illustrates a picture of three children who are attempt to sketch a detailed geography of identity, an identity that must be constantly surveyed, defined, and defended.
The children attend to both English and Chinese schools where encourages them to be modern, and are affected by their Grandmother's ancient wisdom and tradition. They worship Shirley Temple, John Wayne, and Joe Louis, but also are attracted by the old fantasies like Monkey Man and the Fox Lady. The exclusion from the Chinese heritage and the hardship to assimilate into the western community can be seen the most through the third brother, Sek-Lung. He is constantly struggled between the borders that:
"even if I was born in Vancouver, even if I should salute
the Union Jack a hundred million times, even if I had the
cleanest hands in all of the Dominion of Canada and prayed
forever, I would still be Chinese".
The boundaries are set between identity, with lines that the children are told should not be crossed. Although Sek-Lung wishes to be completely a true "Canadian", he seems like the one who stops his family from anchoring to China. He understands that:
"Stepmother knew this and worried in her heart and feared
for me. All of the Chinatown adults were worried over those
of us recently born into Canada, born “neither this nor that,”
neither Chinese nor Canadian, born without understanding
the boundaries”.
Whenever Sek-Lung ais trying to identify where he belongs, whether Chinese or western, there are always resistance on either side. The child also witnesses the danger of self-definition when he is drawn unwittingly into the local tensions between Chinese Canadian and Japanese Canadians during World War II.
On the other hand, the Grandmother is a typical Chinese women with ancient cultural traditions. "But making her special ones caused dissension in [their] family, and some shame" is what she believes. In the family, she affects the children's emotions the most. However, she continues to do as she pleased, ignoring people and their reactions. She increases the hardship for the children to identify themselves, especially for Jook-Liang and Jung-Sum. The Grandmother repeatedly tells the girl how worthless she is, so it is important for a girl to be able to assess the value of what she has. Contrarily, she does not value her second grandson worthless, but rather different, that he is the moon and not the sun. Therefore he should not maintain a strong self-confidence and self-esteem in his mind. Through the quotes offered in the novel, the author illustrates a picture of three children who are attempt to sketch a detailed geography of identity, an identity that must be constantly surveyed, defined, and defended.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A Maiden In The World of History
It is a sunny day. On the famous Yonge Street, a small white car is sprinting; as it approaches, people can hear the charming melody of classical music escaping out of the clear window. Finally, it stops in front of the Toronto Museum. While the shiny polished door opens by an elegant, long arm, a young women, wearing a pure white dress with very limited decorations, enters the field of vision. That is me, in the age of 25 years old.
I still remember the years when I was 18, enrolling in the University of Toronto. During those 4 years, I experienced happiness, sadness, pride, friendship, and many other commemorate events. As the reward to my true effort, I got a Bachelor degree in both Asian Studies and Chemistry. Today, I am a conservator working in the Toronto Museum, who keeps history alive for all to see.
Everyday, I sit in my own little room and involve in my own little world. Paintings, books, ceramic art, and all types of ancient cultural artefacts are my best friends, associate and communicate with them is my daily routine . Inappropriate light, humidity, temperature, pollution, pests, human accidents, and time are my foes; I need to be aware of them of "wearing and tearing" the priceless valuables.
In fact, this is a very ordinary and averaged job, which requires the work of 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. As well as my wage, which is between 30,000 to 40,000 dollars a year. I started with being a intern, then slowly achieve to my stage now, a formal conservator. After a few years, I will become a head conservator who supervises other new learners. I am very satisfied with my life now. Not like other fashionable girls who also born after the 1990s, my life does not involve with the romantic love and precious jewelleries. On the contrary, my life is overwhelmed with books and antiques. I can still recall that during high school, when I was only 17, every night, I was dreaming so eagerly as being a girl who born 2000 years earlier, so I can get connected with those fascinating ancient events and traditions. Although I have not turned my dream into reality, but I make it part of my life every day. To turn my hobby into my job, I feel fortunate.
I still remember the years when I was 18, enrolling in the University of Toronto. During those 4 years, I experienced happiness, sadness, pride, friendship, and many other commemorate events. As the reward to my true effort, I got a Bachelor degree in both Asian Studies and Chemistry. Today, I am a conservator working in the Toronto Museum, who keeps history alive for all to see.
Everyday, I sit in my own little room and involve in my own little world. Paintings, books, ceramic art, and all types of ancient cultural artefacts are my best friends, associate and communicate with them is my daily routine . Inappropriate light, humidity, temperature, pollution, pests, human accidents, and time are my foes; I need to be aware of them of "wearing and tearing" the priceless valuables.
In fact, this is a very ordinary and averaged job, which requires the work of 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. As well as my wage, which is between 30,000 to 40,000 dollars a year. I started with being a intern, then slowly achieve to my stage now, a formal conservator. After a few years, I will become a head conservator who supervises other new learners. I am very satisfied with my life now. Not like other fashionable girls who also born after the 1990s, my life does not involve with the romantic love and precious jewelleries. On the contrary, my life is overwhelmed with books and antiques. I can still recall that during high school, when I was only 17, every night, I was dreaming so eagerly as being a girl who born 2000 years earlier, so I can get connected with those fascinating ancient events and traditions. Although I have not turned my dream into reality, but I make it part of my life every day. To turn my hobby into my job, I feel fortunate.
Friday, March 5, 2010
A Bandit-Princess
The first portion of the book "The Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy, reveals the unique personalities of the main character, Jook-Liang. Jook-Liang is the only sister of the family living in Vancouver Chinatown in the mid-2000s. As she first comes into the reader's view, she is merely a five years old girl who believes in the story of Monkey King. Jook-Liang is raised in a family with a characterize Poh-Poh, or the Grandmother as an old fashioned Chinese women who keeps reiterate that a girl is "mo yung" or "useless" (P 28). Jook Liang has to watch her two brothers playing the game: "Enemies of Free China", and sit wordlessly beside (P 7). Consequently, she keeps insisting: "[she] need a girl-baby to be [her] slave" after her Stepmother is pregnant (P 7). This acknowledges how she resists loneliness and craves for fairness in her family. Jook-Liang understands that "This is Canada", and "not Old China" (P 27). She lives within her imagination of the Monkey King story until a memorable guest comes into her vision.
Another part of the story which demonstrates Jook-Liang's personalities is through her unusual friendship with an elder Chinese man from Hong Kong, who was a worker for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Jook-Liang is a child who carries out her thoughts directly. Once she meets Wong Suk, she is attracted by his wrinkled "Monkey face": "Here was the Monkey King", she keeps brainstorming(P 19). During the formal dinner, Jook Liang suspects that Wong Suk wishes pretend himself as the Monkey King by "wearing a mask", so "[she] wanted all at once to make sure he was not tricking [her]" (P12). Therefore, she starts to verify her concerns:
"At once, [she] stood up on her chair. [She] dropped
[her] chopsticks, turned, and grabbed Wong Sin-saang's
large ear, tugging his Cheetah face towards [her]" (P23).
Jook-Liang considers nothing except to make sure that Wong Suk is not lying to her, although her father emphasizes how full respect is required to Poh Poh's old friend.
Jook-Liang is a child with true inner thinking skills. She values the friendship between Wong Suk and herself. However, when she notices that Wong Suk is about to leave with the "bone shipment" to Old China, she tries to persuade Wong Suk to stay by reminding him his promises towards her (P67). Then, she shows him her "Short'nin' Bread top-steps" dance (P 64). During the departure date, Jook Liang's family drives Wong Suk to the harbour. She watches her best friend disappearing among the crowd, and says nothing, merely keeps staring. She will always remember that "a bandit-prince" has spent fifty cents and brought "his princess" a roll of red ribbon; she will never forget him. Jook Liang is not a character that readers necessarily admire, but she is certainly a person whom readers can understand and sympathize with. She desires to be treated equally as her brothers, but never get much attention. She desires to stay with her best friend, but cannot overthrow the reality. Thus, she can do nothing but treasure this priceless memory into the deepest corner of her heart.
Another part of the story which demonstrates Jook-Liang's personalities is through her unusual friendship with an elder Chinese man from Hong Kong, who was a worker for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Jook-Liang is a child who carries out her thoughts directly. Once she meets Wong Suk, she is attracted by his wrinkled "Monkey face": "Here was the Monkey King", she keeps brainstorming(P 19). During the formal dinner, Jook Liang suspects that Wong Suk wishes pretend himself as the Monkey King by "wearing a mask", so "[she] wanted all at once to make sure he was not tricking [her]" (P12). Therefore, she starts to verify her concerns:
"At once, [she] stood up on her chair. [She] dropped
[her] chopsticks, turned, and grabbed Wong Sin-saang's
large ear, tugging his Cheetah face towards [her]" (P23).
Jook-Liang considers nothing except to make sure that Wong Suk is not lying to her, although her father emphasizes how full respect is required to Poh Poh's old friend.
Jook-Liang is a child with true inner thinking skills. She values the friendship between Wong Suk and herself. However, when she notices that Wong Suk is about to leave with the "bone shipment" to Old China, she tries to persuade Wong Suk to stay by reminding him his promises towards her (P67). Then, she shows him her "Short'nin' Bread top-steps" dance (P 64). During the departure date, Jook Liang's family drives Wong Suk to the harbour. She watches her best friend disappearing among the crowd, and says nothing, merely keeps staring. She will always remember that "a bandit-prince" has spent fifty cents and brought "his princess" a roll of red ribbon; she will never forget him. Jook Liang is not a character that readers necessarily admire, but she is certainly a person whom readers can understand and sympathize with. She desires to be treated equally as her brothers, but never get much attention. She desires to stay with her best friend, but cannot overthrow the reality. Thus, she can do nothing but treasure this priceless memory into the deepest corner of her heart.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Such A Commemorative Event!
I still remember in the summer of 2008, I was sitting on the couch in my uncle's house watching the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. It was remarkable. Two years later, Vancouver is about to greet with the same event. However, it is a completely different feeling from the Beijing Olympics. Compare to the Beijing Olympics, the Vancouver Winter Olympics is less magnificent, but more realistic. Therefore, it is worthy to be called a COMMEMORATIVE event.
Standing at the top of the mountain with snow all year long, athletes can feel the shiny purity reflecting back through their eyes. The exciting atmosphere is glutted among all Canadians. The Olympic Villages are built, the O Zone is constructed, and all the equipments are prepared and ready. Flags and cheers are overwhelmed throughout Great Vancouver. It is COMMENORATIVE.
What a pride moment! What a exciting event! The strong sense of nationalism can be seen from every Canadian's emotions. Driving on the road, the Canadian flags are hanging behind the windows, on the doors, and upon the roofs. People will always remember that the most capable athletes from all around the world once came to Vancouver for this commemorative event.
Lying on my couch, I was watching the opening ceremony of the second Olympic Game located in my backyard. Beijing is the first one, which is in my home country. Moreover, Vancouver is the second one, where I am recently in residence. I watched the delegate groups of each country walked in one by one, cheering, smiling, and waving their flags. Beside them, the Native dancers were using body languages to express their pride, excitement and happiness. Our governor general Michaelle Jean, was smiling and nodding to each delegation, delivering her best wishes to each participating county. All Canadian feel honourable and enthusiastic. This event will be preserved in our memory and kept in the history of Canada forever.
Standing at the top of the mountain with snow all year long, athletes can feel the shiny purity reflecting back through their eyes. The exciting atmosphere is glutted among all Canadians. The Olympic Villages are built, the O Zone is constructed, and all the equipments are prepared and ready. Flags and cheers are overwhelmed throughout Great Vancouver. It is COMMENORATIVE.
What a pride moment! What a exciting event! The strong sense of nationalism can be seen from every Canadian's emotions. Driving on the road, the Canadian flags are hanging behind the windows, on the doors, and upon the roofs. People will always remember that the most capable athletes from all around the world once came to Vancouver for this commemorative event.
Lying on my couch, I was watching the opening ceremony of the second Olympic Game located in my backyard. Beijing is the first one, which is in my home country. Moreover, Vancouver is the second one, where I am recently in residence. I watched the delegate groups of each country walked in one by one, cheering, smiling, and waving their flags. Beside them, the Native dancers were using body languages to express their pride, excitement and happiness. Our governor general Michaelle Jean, was smiling and nodding to each delegation, delivering her best wishes to each participating county. All Canadian feel honourable and enthusiastic. This event will be preserved in our memory and kept in the history of Canada forever.
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