Be sure to drink your Ovaltine?

Plot:
     The plot of the movie is all about a boy's holiday experiences and his extreme desire to get a red ryder BB gun for Christmas. They way that the movie portrays a child's everyday interactions as being a big deal really brings the whole story together to connect with small town families on a deeper level. Ralphie and his brother, Randy's different pre-Christmas are very similar to events that have happened to children throughout the ages. There relationshipwith their father, secret pacts with their mother, and "triple dog dares" with their friends is how many kids were raised in the 50's.

Point of View:
     The point of you of this film is, as the book was, in first person. The narrator who is telling the story seems to be looking back at his childhood. Which gives the movie the same personal feel as the story did. Although it is never established that the narrator is indeed Ralphie, the way he talks would make one believe so. Throughout the movie, adults and children alike could sympathize or laugh along with little Ralphie's joys, sorrows, and disappointments because everyone knows what it's like to be a kid at Christmas time.

Characterization:
     The characters in this movie are very simple and believable. The narrator of the story is a common every day kid all grown up, remembering how he was like as a kid. His entire family is very believable. It is a common thing for a father to get upset and curse when their family car "would freeze up in the middle of summer on the equator!" One could often mothers who would look out for their kids and not mention things to get them out of trouble. This fact continues to make the story feel personal, like a Taylor Swift song? The commonness of the family being discussed in the film adaptation makes it have the same close-to-home feel of the book.

Setting:
     Both the movie and the book take place in the 50's. The entertainment that they talk about make it seem so. The "Look" magazine that belongs to the mother was very popular in that time. The newspaper that the father always has looks like a paper straight out of the 50's. The fact that they listen to radio shows instead of watching T.V. also makes it true. The way that the family dresses, looks, and acts is also like a 50's style family.

Theme:  "I want you to write.... A THEME..."
     The theme of this story is that childhood can be a magical time, if you think of it so. Another theme is that all good things come to those who wait. Ralphie persistence to get the BB gun certainly paid off in the end. Another possible theme is be careful what you wish for. Even after all the warnings from Ralphie's superiors, he still almost shot his eye out! The biggest theme this story has, however, is that family is a big part of your life. The way that the movie connects Ralphie to his family shows just how much his family really means to him.

You'll Shoot your eye out!

 PLOT

   

      The plot of the story is all about the narrator's childhood and how it applies to the importance of the toy industry. His story begins all because of a little old woman's badge that said "Disarm the toy industry". The remembrance of his childhood is significant to the story because he is trying to explain the toys are the most important part of a childhood. He Believes that people who want to disarm the toy company are crazy. He feels the need to return to his younger years of life to show that it is ridiculous to blame the Toy industry "As if [it] has any control over the insatiable desire of the human spawn to own Weaponry..." (475)

POINT OF VIEW 

     The point of view of this story is in first person. It is significant to the point trying to be made in this story because it makes it more personal  and believable. It also gives the over all story a more interesting tone and it connects close to home. The adults who read this story might be able to relate to "Open Road For Boys" (475), "Red Ryder" (476), or how "preparing to go to school was about like getting ready for extended Deep-Sea Diving" (477). The author is trying to make this story personal. He wants it to touch a certain group of interest. He makes it personal and casual by using first person. 

CHARACTERIZATION

     The characters in this story are very simple and believable. The narrator of the story is a common every day kid, and his entire family is a very believable family.It is a common thing for a father to get upset and curse when a broken furnace causes him a lot of work. (482) Finding a mother slaving away in the kitchen in the 50's happens all the time. (489) This fact continues to make the story feel personal, like a Taylor Swift song (It's my thing, I had to reference her). The commonness of the family being discussed in the story makes it feel like they could be the family that was your childhood.

SETTING

The setting of this story is set in about the 50's. The entertainment that they talk about makes it seem so. For example, "Open Road For Boys... an earlier Playboy" (475) It is a small town and an average family of the time. It is set in Christmas time. It takes place mostly at The Narrator's home or Warren G. Harding School. The town is very simple, which makes it easy to imagine.

 

THEME

     The theme of this story is that childhood would be nothing without the wonder and magic of toys "A single word floated into my mind's arena for just an instant- 'Canal water!'- and then disappeared". (475) After seeing the old ladies pin, the narrator becomes enraged and feels the need to prove to himself that Childhood was wonderful because of his toys, specifically his Red Ryder BB Gun.

     

I always thought coral was pink...

SONNET 130

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
   And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
   As any she belied with false compare. 




    
    In this sonnet, Shakespeare talks about the average beauty of his mistress. He explains in truth the way his mistress looks, saying at the end that she is still very beautiful. He takes a new approach to romantic speech. He says that he is not going to lie or over-exaggerate the way she looks to him, but rather tell the truth, because that is all he needs to show hoe much he loves her and how beautiful she is. Often times, men use gaudy phrases that make a woman seem outer worldly and god-like. Shakespeare takes a different approach on showing a women's beauty. He talks about their true beauty instead. He shows all men out there that one does not need to lie to make a woman feel important.
    This message is 100% not true. Women don't want to hear the truth, we want to hear that we are gods. In The Wife's Tale from The Canebury Tales, the wife says that women want to have control over there men. This is a true statement, and we feel in control when we are put on a shelf above everyone else. When we feel more special, we feel in control and we are getting what we want. Many female singers today, including the great Taylor Swift, sing about how great they feel when men boost their egos and tell them just how beautiful they are. They also sing about how much they want to be praised by a man. On every soap opera, the women won't even think about succombing to a man's love unless they have been overly praised and sought after for all the wrong reasons. Without over-exaggerated love, the media would have nothing to feed off of, women would have no expectations, and worst of all, men would not have to work for love in return. Life would be a very scary place.

Another Taylor Swift Reference...

Poor Taylor swift has had her fair share of unrequited love, as written about in the song "You Belong With Me". She tells a story of how she is in love with a boy who barely acknowledges her existence and is with another girl who treats him horribly and does not respect him like Swifty knows she could. The story focuses on specific incidents between her and the boy of her dreams. For example, she recalls a time when she walked the streets with him and his worn out jeans.There is a dialogue and questions being asked throughout the whole song. She is constantly asking the boy if he can see that he belongs with her. There is a very simple rhyme scheme as well, mostly following an AAB pattern. The repetition of the phrase "You belong with me" also keeps it simple. The song is based on actual occurrences that happened to Tay Swift. She actually through similar situations in her real life that she talks about in the song. Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" is clearly an example of a modern ballad.

(psst, Christian Powers, this photo is more unflattering, I think)

Lyrics to You Belong With Me :

You're on the phone with your girlfriend, She's upset

She's going off about something that you said

She doesnt get your humour like I do

I'm in the room, its a typical Tuesday night

I'm listening to the kind of music she doesnt like

And she'll never know your story like I do

But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts

She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers

Dreaming bout the day when you wake up and find

That what you're lookin for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you

Been here all along so why can't you see?

You belong with me

You belong with me

Walkin the streets with you in your worn out jeans

I cant help thinking this is how it ought to be

Laughing on the park bench thinkin to myself

Hey isnt this easy?

And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town

I havent seen it in awhile, since she brought you down

You say you find I know you better than that

Hey, Whatcha doing with a girl like that?

She wears high heels, I wear sneakers

She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers

Dreaming bout the day when you wake up and find

That what you're looking for has been here the whole time

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you

Been here all along so why can't you see?

You belong with me

Standin by, waiting at your back door

All this time how could you not know that?

You belong with me

You belong with me

Oh I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night

I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're about to cry

I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams

I think I know where you belong. I think I know it's with me.

Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you?

Been here all along so why can't you see?

You belong with me

Standing by or waiting at your back door

All this time how could you not know that

You belong with me

You belong with me

Have you ever thought just maybe

You belong with me

You belong with me

"I'll find my heroes waiting right where I belong"

Literary Hero:   Hercules
     Hercules is the kind of guy who can "go the distance". He is my Hero for many reasons, one of them being that I grew up watching his movie. But the true reason he is my hero is because his life is so simple and with purpose. In the Disney movie, his goal is to find where he belongs. He was once a God, but he was taken to Earth and turned entirely mortal, aside from his God-like strength. When he matures, his adopted parents tell him the truth about his origin. And then he begins an epic journey to re-join his family on Mount Olympus. He goes to Phil- half man, half goat- to be trained in the art of being a true hero. Once properly trained, he goes off to prove himself worthy to join the Gods. Through his endeavors, he rescues a beautiful damsel in distress named Megara, who happens to be working for Hades, Lord of the dead. Hades wants to kill Hercules and take over the entire cosmos. Unfortunately, Herc and Meg fall in love, but every force in the universe are keeping them from being together! And I mean that in a figurative and a literal sense, because Hercules gives up his powers to save meg (or so he thought) and in doing so, Hades was able to release the Titans! But long story short, Hercules got his powers back and saved the day. (This is the part where he becomes my hero) Hercules is then united with fellow gods, but he realizes that being a God is not where he truly belongs, He now knows that he belongs on Earth, because "A life without Meg, even an immortal life... Would be empty."

Personal Hero: Nick Strange
      Nick is my best friend. He has been the biggest influence on my life since the day that I met him. I remember when we first became friends. Actually, it was more when we became acquaintances. He sat right behind me in religion class. I didn't know him, so I didn't talk to him. Another one of my friends told me that "I should talk to him because he is a really cool guy". And so I did. I remember exactly what I said. "Somebody says your pretty cool and that we should be friends, so hi" And then before I knew, he was my best friend. He is my hero because he gives my life a point, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Popular Hero: Taylor Swift
     Tay Swift is one of my favorite artists. That is, if she isn't number one. Her music is so beautiful. I can always find a song by her to match my mood. It's sort of like Apple Iphone applications. In a good mood? There's a Taylor Swift song for that. Her skill sometimes influences me so much that sometimes I feel the urge to pursue my passion for music. She is my hero because her music has gotten me through the worst and the best situations in my time. In fact, I've had so many "Taylor Swift Marathons" that to tell you the number of times would embarrass me.