Revise and post the paragraph you composed in class this morning, Monday, Nov. 16th.
In a topic-driven, well-developed paragraph, explain to your reader the rhetorical effect of Safran-Foer's use of "anyway" in the first chapter. In my edition you can find them on pp. 2+11.
NOTE: After posting on the blog, open up the CANVAS assignment (by the same name) and DO copy and paste the URL address into the CANVAS "WEB URL" text box so that I have record of your submission on Canvas. Thanks.
Mikkaela Bailey
ReplyDeleteProf. Kirk
ENGL 3353
16 November 2015
"Anyway"
In Jonathan Safran-Foer's novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Oskar uses the word "anyway" to redirect his thoughts away from that which would lead him to feelings of overwhelming sadness or the question, "Why?". The first time he does this he is on a tangent leading him toward the question, "Why didn't my dad escape?". So, he moved on to something else that he was able o process more easily (2). Oskar is having a difficult time dealing with the emotions associated with his father's death, and struggling to complete the final game they were playing: "And now I'll never know what I was supposed to find. And that's another reason I can't sleep" (10). Before Oskar dives any deeper into his problems or thoughts on those matters he breaks his chain of thought by redirecting himself and moving on to another topic. Safran-Foer emphasizes the emotion and the importance of this device by treating a single word as a paragraph: "Anyway" (11). Through this use of the word, Safran-Foer is able to clearly articulate to the reader why Oskar behaves the way he does without having to reveal too much too soon and ruin the effect he is creating.
Amanda McMahon
ReplyDeleteProf. Kirk
ENGL 3353
17 November 2015
"Anyway"
In Jonathan Safran-Foer's novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, he uses the word "anyway" to build tension while Oskar uses "anyway" to defuse tension. Oskar builds up to speaking about frustrating mysteries that his father's death left unanswered and uses "anyway" to redirect his train of thought to safer grounds. The first time Oskar uses "anyway" is to cut off his thoughts about humans having wings and his father's "birdseed shirt"(2). While Oskar obviously shies away from the emotional, Safran-Foer uses "anyway" to ask questions about the details of the father's death. "Anyway" is also used to mask the frustration Oskar feels about another mystery: what was his father's final puzzle trying to tell him? Oskar reveals that this frustration is "another reason [he] can't sleep" (10). Oskar then applies "anyway" and moves back to subjects that can be understood. Safran-Foer uses Oskar's obvious aversion to these emotion and upsetting subjects to hook the reader and draw attention to the tension that Oskar attempts to defuse.
Callie Brothers
ReplyDeleteProf. Kirk
ENGL 3353
17 November 2015
The concept of "Anyway"
‘In any case; nonetheless; regardless…’ Author, Saran-Fores uses the word ‘anyway’ to continue his thread throughout his story. “And that’s another reason I can’t sleep. Anyway. I’m not allowed to watch TV…” (10-11) Oskar Schell is a young boy, his father, Thomas Schell died September 11, 2001 due to terrorism. Oskar suffers a great deal emotionally because he can’t seem to grasp the fact that his father is dead. By using the word ‘anyway’ this gives the sense that Foer is trying to describe Oskar’s feelings in a way that makes us feel like he is hiding. He is dealing with depression and insomnia. He describes his feelings like he is wearing ‘heavy boots’ and by hiding these feelings, he hurts himself. Through this word Fores transitions from the mind back to the reality of life. “And anyway, it’s not like we were actually burying him anyway.” (4)
Sadie Wyant
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
ENGL 3353
17 November 2015
Anyway
In Jonathan Safran-Foer’s novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Oskar Schell uses the word “anyway” to diffuse the tension he feels inside as he narrates his story. The word is used almost as a security blanket that Oskar can throw over his head whenever he starts going too far in his mind. “Anyway” becomes a way for Oskar to turn away from his emotions when he starts thinking about something that could lead to him being upset. For example, when he remembers the challenge his father put to him before he died, he finishes by saying, “And that’s another reason I can’t sleep” (3/4 of “What the?”). This statement is followed immediately by an “anyway,” as if Oskar is trying to protect his audience – or himself – from the emotions inside of him threatening to spill out.
In Jonathan Safran-Foer's novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the word "anyway" is used as a distraction from feelings to facts. The first time Oskar uses the word is right after he imagines things that aren't real, things he wishes were real (2). The next time he says "anyway" is after talking about his feelings (3). It seems as if the author uses this word as a distraction. Oskar starts talking about his feelings or ideas but then quickly dismisses them. It is used as a transition word for Oskar to transition into talking about real facts rather than made up ideas or things in his head. Before Oskar goes off on a rant or a tangent, he says "anyways" to bring himself back down to earth, back to the facts.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Wheatle
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
ENGL 3353
17 November 2015
"Anyway"
in Jonothan Safran Foer's novel "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close", the word "anyway" is a rhetorical statement used by Oskar. Rhetorical means to inted to persuade, or to make a statement in order to produce a wanted effect, rather than to elicit information. In the novel, Oskar uses anyway in order to turn away from his emotions and to continue on with another topic or idea, hoping that no one will notice his pain. Oskar uses the term anyway to transition from topic to topic, but he also uses it as a security blanket to hide a psychological issue. When speaking of humans, Oskar says, "humans don't have their own wings, or not yet anyway", it seems as though he uses the term anyway to hide his pain about humans not having wings, and not being able to fly freely, or get out of hard circumstances(2). Oskar's use of the term "anyway" is a way to protect himself from the hurt he is facing from the death of his father, and also a way to gather his thoughts before he spills out all of his emotions and hurts himself.