Analysis Of Alison Bechdels Fun Home - 1350 Words

In Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, the author enlightens us with her struggles in determining her gender identity and sexuality. She does this in a very unique fashion. Alison, throughout the novel, uses specific pieces of literature and writing in order for the reader to decipher her true emotions and feelings toward her sexuality. On top of that, Bechdel writes her story in order to show how these objects play a much deeper role between not only comprehending her sexuality, but her understanding of her choppy relationship with her father. The end result is a series of connections that bring the two closer together than they ever were. Alison begins to question her sexuality in the third chapter of the novel. She discusses how her†¦show more content†¦Once the reader is able to fully realize that Bruce is a homosexual, her perfectionism abruptly makes more sense. Clearly, Bruce is using his dedication towards the Fun Home as a way to hide away his true feelings towards hi s sexuality. This would explain why he also tries to get Alison to be more feminine, because he doesn’t want her to be in that phase of confusion and not being able to fully come out. Going back to the scene with the phone call, because Alison has fully come out as being a lesbian, we now understand why Bruce acted so accepting of the realization. Another book that plays a role in this central theme of confusion towards one’s true identity is The Catcher in the Rye. While the novel has many examples of books with hidden uncovering messages, the most prominent in my opinion is The Catcher in the Rye. In the scene where The Catcher in the Rye is mentioned, Alison is in her father’s english class and she’s the only person answering his questions. What’s interesting is that when her father initially asks her to read the book, she responds that she’ll do it â€Å"after I put you in the nursing home† (Bechdel 198). While it seems that Aliso n is going to chose not to read the book in order to resent her father, in the very next panel she’s answering all of his questions. Her father is impressed and tells her that she’s â€Å"the only one in that class worth teaching† and Alison responds with â€Å"It’s the only class I have worth taking† (BechdelShow MoreRelatedFun, Electrate, Autistic, Obsessive Home Essay1169 Words   |  5 Pagesinvention comes at a cost, but that does not necessarily mean the reward will not significantly outweigh it. Alison Bechdel’s â€Å"Fun Home† has an electrate quality through, not just the images, but the writing style and using obtuse meanings within her illustrations, that seem to enable a new learning style, supported by ‘disorders’ such as autism and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). â€Å"Fun Home† uses both text and graphics to recount the author’s life. The script has many possible interpretations,Read MoreKate Bechdel s Fun Home Essay2365 Words   |  10 PagesOn the surface, Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home seems simply to be a memoir of her journey towards discovering her own identity, and in the process, uncovering her father’s. However, the novel is far more complex. The graphic novel is not linear in the least, and mimics memory as it moves backwards and forwards in time, or returns to specific situations repeatedly. This is layered with the numerous references to previous literary texts in an interesting manner; combined, it provides emotional and informativeRead MoreThe, Fun Home, By Alison Bechdel Essay2271 Words   |  10 Pages Intertextuality troubles the definition of autobiography in Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home. Fun Home is a retelling of Alison Bechdel’s life through the lens of her relationship with her father. However, because of what she considers to have been his suicide, Alison is left with an incomplete picture of who he was in life. By calling Fun Home an autobiography, Bechdel enters an autobiographical pact with the reader that ensures that what Bechdel is telling us is the truth. However, elements out of herRead MoreFun Home By Alison Bechdel920 Words   |  4 PagesIn Alison Bechdel’s first graphic memoir Fun Home, the main focus of the story is Alison’s father Bruce, and her writing wrestles with how both of them came to terms with their sexuality and how they have influenced one another throughout this process. Bechdel does not get to have as many discussions with her father as she would like, however, because Bruce dies shortly after Alison writes home to tell her parents that she’s a lesbian. Alison frequently speculates if her father committed suicideRead More`` Fun Home `` By Alison Bechdel847 Words   |  4 PagesAlison Bechdel’s comic book â€Å"Fun Home† is narrated by none other than herself who builds the narrative around her family and her life growing up. Then, years later, her father dies in a car accident, and despite not knowing if it was really an accident or a suicide, she occupies herself with finding a justification for his death. Now imprisoned with the task she put herself to, the narrator blames her father s shame and lack of happiness due to him being a homosexual, which she also discovered herselfRead MoreThe Bluest Eye And Alison Bechdel s Fun Home Essay2269 Words   |  10 PagesToni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home are both novels that employ a reflective narration of the past to address common themes of trauma, unorthodox family relationships, and sexuality. Although they demonstrate pronounced differences in setting and design, both stories util ize this retrospective narrative to expose masculinity’s stratified hegemony as a driving force of internalized shame, violence, and the death of self. Furthermore, it becomes clear that these shared themesRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1870 Words   |  8 Pagesmarriage. Until the United States Supreme Court ruled last year in the case Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage was a protected right under the constitution, there were still several states who did not allow gays to get married. A careful analysis of the arguments used to support gay marriage bans shows that there still exists a lingering desire to have a world where homosexuality is not regarded as a norm because it undermines our social hierarchies. The source of this devaluation, as opponents

Essay on The US Should Learn from the Finns - 1308 Words

American education has been in decline since 1970’s and into the Post-Cold War era in comparison to other OECD nations (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). Since then, the U.S. has chosen to standardize two major factors in American education: what gets taught, and how kids get assessed (Townsend, 2013). Scores from PISA (Program for International Student Assessment), a test that compares educational levels across nations found that, out of 34 countries the U.S. ranked 14th in reading, 17th in science and 25th in math, far behind the highest scoring countries like Finland (USAToday, 2010). It would be difficult to pinpoint any one issue as the sole problem with American education, because the educational system does†¦show more content†¦Researchers estimate that gains made by students in those 11 countries equate to about two years of learning in American education. As a solution, the federal government has made hefty financial commitments to educa tion in recent years, including the implementation of No Child Left Behind and the subsequent waivers from the standards-based law as well as the influx of about $89 billion in stimulus dollars to prevent teacher layoffs, keep class sizes down and avoid program cuts. Although dumping money into the system is far from a reasonable solution. The United States spends more per student, on average, than other countries. In the 2009 PISA study, only Luxembourg spent more per student. The report notes that countries like Estonia and Poland perform at about the same level as the United States, while spending less than half the amount per student (USAToday, 2010). As a nation once harboring world’s brightest minds, and with its current subpar educational performance, you would ought to think that the US Department of Education and the US Congress would be keen on developing a forward thinking system that improves studentShow MoreRelatedThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1 005 Words   |  5 Pages In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain in the 19th century is about a young boy named Huck Finn and Jim, a runaway slave who go on an adventure. The two travel on a raft along the Mississippi river creating a bond and making memories. Mark Twain presents Huckleberry Finn as a dynamic character who at first views Jim as property and eventually considers Jim as a friend, showing a change in maturity. In the beginning of the book, Huck Finn clearly sees Jim as nothing more thanRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain983 Words   |  4 Pagesand a place for everything.† This is a phrase many of us may have already heard at least once, and it’s true. There is a certain time and a certain place for everything, especially with what words one can say or write. A person must be able to know when is the appropriate moment to say a certain something. This is Mark Twain is criticized about his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel about a runaway orphan boy named Huckleberry Finn who is accompanied by a runaway slave named Jim. AsRead MoreHuckleberry Finn Persuasive Essay1571 Words   |  7 Pages‘tis the difference between the lightning bug and lightning.†(Mark Twain). Mark Twain, the author of an extraordinary yet controversial novel; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn had a great way of capturing moments in time and bringing them t o life through the use of meaningful and direct diction. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been a vexed novel for it s a use of the â€Å"N-word†. However, many scholars and associations have devised a â€Å"solution† for this problem such as, completely banning theRead MoreHuckleberry Finn - Thesis1521 Words   |  7 PagesAdventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Twain shows us two Sides of the coin by putting good role models for huck such as: Judge Thatcher, Widow Douglas, And many more. On the other side he shows us also bad examples of role models, characters like Pap, the king, and the duke. Throughout the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain Shows us through Huck the importance of a role model in ones life. Throughout the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn we meet many characters Read MoreHuckleberry Finn: a Good Role Model Essay633 Words   |  3 PagesHuckleberry Finn: A Good Role Model The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn gives a visual look at the time in which the author Samuel Clemens lived. He explains how he felt about his life through the eyes of a young boy named Huckleberry Finn. Huckleberry Finn has many adventures that teach him life lessons we can learn from today. Although there are differing opinions on whether Huck Finn is a good role model for todays young people, I will explain why I think he is. Huck is a goodRead MoreEssay on Why The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned695 Words   |  3 Pages The decision to ban the novel Huckleberry Finn from classrooms and libraries has been an ongoing controversy. The presence of the n word and the treatment towards Jim, and other blacks in general, has made many readers uncomfortable. Despite this fact, Huckleberry Finn has been and remains a classic read. I do not believe the novel should be banned or sanitized because it is a part of American history whether it is good or bad, also we have no right to change someones writing simply because weRead MoreShould the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Be Required in Shcool?983 Words   |  4 PagesShould The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be required in school? Mark Twain’s â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† is said to be one of the greatest American novels to ever be written and is what all other pieces of American literature are based off of. The novel has been debated for over an entire century and will continue to be debated for much longer. Never the less, Huckleberry Finn teaches young students and adults the important life lessons. †The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark TwainRead MoreHuckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned1404 Words   |  6 PagesAdventures of Huckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned â€Å"Banning books gives us silence when we need speech. It closes our ears when we need to listen. It makes us blind when we need sight,† Stephen Chbosky. Books open up people’s minds to new ideas and allow people to the world in a new light. Banning books only makes one want to read those books more- to learn and poder over the controversial issues. One controversially banned novel is the The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This book while still hasRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Books976 Words   |  4 Pagesthe lack of knowledge gained from books. Books have been banned because they may include drugs, violence, etcetera. Students need to know about topics like this so that when they encounter this in real life they are not taken by surprise in society. Books should not be banned because they provide information that we would not have, such as knowledge on our past. In contrast, some people think that book banning should be allowed so that children can be shielded from the terrible things in our worldRead MoreHuckleberry Finn Should Be Banned Essay1603 Words   |  7 Pageswith The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn shortly after being published. Huckleberry Finn was first published in January of 1885 and only two months later in March of 1885 the book was banned. The problem first with the book was it was too friendly toward African Americans and believed to lead children astray from certain values. Now over 100 years later â€Å"Huckleberry Finn is still making news† (Pitts). Now in the 21th century we have a problem with Huckleberry Finn not because of kindness to African

The Explorer Doughter Free Essays

The Explorer’s Daughter Background Kari Herbert, whose father was a polar explorer, lived as a child with her family in northwest Greenland in the Arctic. She was so fascinated by the place she returned there later as an adult to write about it. The book from which this extract is taken is partly a memoir (a form of autobiography) and partly a travel book, giving the reader information about this strange and beautiful place, its people and its animals. We will write a custom essay sample on The Explorer Doughter or any similar topic only for you Order Now She found that the way of life of the Inughuit people was changing under the impact of the modern world, but that they still retained aspects of their traditional way of life, for instance hunting for food and driving teams of dogs. A major part of the passage is an account of a hunt for narwhal whales. Hunting is a very emotive issue and many conservationists argue that whales should be protected. Kari Herbert’s feelings are divided on this topic. She sympathises with both the narwhal and the hunters, who face incredible danger. They hunt in kayaks – flimsy canoes – in water so cold that they would die quickly if their kayak overturned. What can I say about language? This passage has many purposes. The writer uses language in differing ways to fulfil these. She uses description to convey the beauty of the setting, gives us information about the Inughuit and the narwhal, dramatises the hunt, and gives us an insight into her own thoughts and feelings. Complete the following table to help you sort out these various strands. Kari Herbert sympathises with both hunter and hunted, and this tension is shown in this passage. Complete the following table to highlight this aspect of the passage Pharagraph by Pharagerph Paragraph 1 â€Å"†¦ spectral play of colour. † This sentence shows a sense of immediate aroma. It is an imagery so give a strong sense of place and setting. â€Å".. butter-gold.. † This text shows a sense of wealth â€Å".. shifting light. † is Poetical Paragraph 2 â€Å"dead of winter† This is a metaphor – weaker setting the tone is ominous and there is the sense of place and danger Paragraph 3 â€Å"dead of winter† is a metaphor to show a weaker setting. The whole of paragraph 3 has an ominous tone. It shows a sense of place and danger. Paragraph 4 The whole of paragraph 4 has a shift in tone from paragraph 3; it is more factual, informative and for example shows this by using technical words. It is also the biggest paragraph. In the context you find out that the community really relies on the hunting and how dangerous it is. Paragraph 5 â€Å".. clustered.. † The word clustered is a powerful connotation, it means that the women are scared so they huddle together and try to comfort each other. â€Å"It was like watching a cast, waterborne game with the hunters spread like a net around the sound†. This sentence is imagery. It has added adverbs to show how scared the women were and how much their husbands are important in their life. Paragraph 6 â€Å"†¦ gently picked up his harpoon† thought and care, focus on the actual hunt and the text also switches back to the hunters. â€Å"†¦ two heads and one bladder† not high-tech technology, limited, she respects them because they are using a harpoon, she is sympathetic to the narwhal and the hunters, dramatic. â€Å".. urge†¦ † to show how strongly she wanted the narwhal to survive â€Å"†¦ o dive, to leave, to survive† – triad Paragraph 7 â€Å"The dilemma stayed†¦ † This shows that she’s not that sure who to be sympathetic for, the narwhal or the hunters but her sympathy gets switched back to the hunters un this paragraph. â€Å"How can you possibly eat seal? † is a view point of society this shows that the modern person thinks that this is a crime. -sh e builds up her argument, these are the points of her argument â€Å"use every part of the animal† – so theres no waste/leftover â€Å"imported goods can only ever account for†¦ † â€Å"do not kill for sport† How to cite The Explorer Doughter, Papers