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HW (p.120): Read Bernard Cooper's "A Clack of Tiny Sparks: Remembrances of a Gay Boyhood." Answer Questions 1 and 2 on the blog.
39 comments:
Truman was quite the dancer!
1. Cooper's mother frowns upon homosexuality in her family, let alone in general. By saying that her eyes were the eyes of the world, the author is making a direct comparison, saying that the world shares this same viewpoint as his mother. In this quote he explains society's viewpoint on gays, and emphasizes how much people dislike the idea of liking a member of one's own sex.
2. The author uses vivid details in order to paint a picture within the readers head. The first instance of his imagery is in the paragraph where he describes Grady's family. He uses words like prowess, trappings, fastidious, radiated, maternal, ruddy, stoic, spindly, chintz, etc... By utilizing such specific and detailed words, Cooper creates a mental picture in the readers mind of the normalcy of Grady's family and house, almost like a family portrait.
In another instance, he uses imagery and vivid details once again to describe his father's consumption of lox. Using words like gusto, hearty, dramatize, and labored to describe specific actions of his fathers, he really describes in detail what his father may have actually done, and the reader believes this to be so. Thus it becomes like a video of his father's eating, and thus a very vivid image and detail, executed perfectly to describe his father.
In the final instance of intensely vivid detail, Cooper describes Grady's transition from girl to girl at the party. He uses words like pivot, arched, expectation, blooming, disarray, shuffling, static, osculations, sparks, and flare to describe all of Grady's idiosyncrasies. By doing this, he attempts to place the reader within the scene and imagine what it would look like if they could see it for themselves. Thus Cooper uses such vivid details to create images within the reader's head.
-Ryan
Oh and who was the person who deleted their comment?
1. When Cooper writes, "My longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother; whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world" (p. 14)I think he means that his mother's opinion of his homosexuality is the same opinion everyone else had. It must of been very hard for Cooper to finally come out and admit his sexuality in a community that was apparently against homosexuals.
2. Paragraph 1: The names of the books Theresa Sanchez were reading each time helped make the scene a lot more real because it makes us believe that the author (Cooper) has a very good memory and makes the scene a lot more vivid.
Paragraph 5: After Theresa asks if he was a fag, Cooper included details about his own feelings and actions such as when he responded in tones "octaves lower than usual". It made the situation seem more vivid to the imagination.
Paragraph 10: When Cooper describes his mother, father, and his family's habits and interests, it gave me a better picture of Cooper now that I knew more about his family history, how he grew up, and where he came from.
So... how did I do? Did I do it right?
-Alan Tuan
1. I think that the quote "My longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother, whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world", signifies the broad knowledge Cooper's mother pertains (par. 14). Eyes could also symbolize judgement because his mother must be very observant, or eyes could represent how his mother sees past the exterior of things.
2. Paragraphs 7, 21, and 24 are especially vivid. From par. 7, Cooper describes "sturdy and boisterous and gap-toothed" Grady "shaking water from his orange hair, freckled shoulders shining" (par. 7). Like most vivid descriptions, it allows for the reader to get a good idea of what Grady looks like. When going to Debbie's party, Coopertalks about how "trees thrashed, surrendered their leaves, and carob pods bombarded the pavement. The sky was a deep but luminous blue, the air hot, abrasive, electric" (par. 21). And finally, in par. 24, Grady emphasizes key points about Debbie's party and his feelings about the whole process.
-Lauren ...I hope I did this right...
1.Cooper characterizes his mother’s eyes as the eyes of the world because he knew that his mother, as well as society, would think that his feelings towards other guys were wrong. When Theresa asked him about being a fag, he felt as though he needed to defend himself. This initial reaction brought him to the realization that the world believed that it was wrong even if Theresa asked him without sounding derogatory. His thoughts about the world being against him became concrete when Grady said if someone did not pass the test, “you’d better watch out” (129).
2.Cooper uses different phrases, comparisons, and dialogue to convey information that would otherwise seem bland. In paragraph four, Theresa answers what she believes is a dumb question asked by Cooper. Then “she waved her hand to indicate a brick building outside the window. ‘A higher education should have taught you that.’” The movement of her hand and the blunt phrasing of her statement make her appear to be older and above Cooper’s maturity level. In paragraph 29, Cooper talks about how Theresa’s “figure was obscured by rain.” This line gives the reader a vivid picture of the type of rain as well as the imagination of the sound that comes along with it. In paragraph 36, Cooper describes his father, a chief at this instant, as “an artist with a basting brush.” This description sheds light on his father’s actions and the way that they are similar to an artist moving a brush along a painting.
-Rachel Marty
1. By describing his mother's eyes as "the eyes of the world" (par. 14), Cooper explains how as a fourteen year-old he was ashamed to unleash his secret for fear society would not accept him. If his own mother was unable to even think of him as a homosexual, how would he ever be accepted into the world? As a kid, your parents are your teachers and your support. Young Cooper assumes that other people share his mother's negative opinion on homosexuality, and by characterizing her eyes as those of the world, he gives the reader a sense of the isolation he must feel from the world around him.
2. The seventh paragrah is the first of noteworthy vividness because of its detailed description of Grady. Cooper describes his friend as he jumps out of the pool, "shaking water from his orange hair, freckled shoulders shining" (par. 7). The imagery allows the reader to form a picture in her mind of the source of Cooper's affection. We also get a sense of how insecure Cooper is with himself by how intensely he describes Grady, who is "a boy at home in his body."
The imagery and description of Debbie's house and Cooper's classmates in paragraph 9 is also quite vivid. Cooper explains how the "reflections from the swimming pool...shuddered over the ceiling and walls," again allowing me to picture the scene. He also gives a sense of the ridiculousness of the situation by describing the curtains and how they make him think that "the room might lurch from its foundations and sail with its cargo of silhouettes into the hot October night."
Finally, paragraph 25 has interesting vividness in its description of the static carpet. I really get a feeling of how utterly bored Cooper is when he describes how he could "hear the clack of my tiny sparks and see them flare here and there in the dark like meager, short-lived stars" as he is kissing some girl. Even so, his amazing details and vivid similes bring the story alive.
1. In this essay, Cooper says that his mother's eyes are also the eyes of the world for two reasons. First of all, when Cooper as a young boy, his mother was a huge influence on his development as well as a main figure in his life; therefore, one could argue that, to Cooper, his mother was "the world". Secondly, Cooper's mother represents the older half of society while Theresa represents the younger group. When Cooper asks his mother what a "fag" is, she immediately shuts down and turns cold in homophobia; Theresa, however, asks Cooper about his sexuality as nonchalantly as one might ask about weekend plans. This contrast in belief systems shows just how great of a difference in belief systems there is between members of different generations.
2. Cooper's description of Theresa Sanchez in paragraph one is especially vivid as he describes her personality and appearence. He shows how she was overall "better" then other girls by pointing out finite details of her appearance: the streaks of blonde in her bouffant hairdo, her plucked eyebrows, and her soft skin. Cooper selects certain details about Theresa--her reading habits and the way she speaks--in order to make a statement about the type of person she is. Cooper is suggesting that more mature and intelligent people tend to be liess critical of homosexuality and more accepting of other peoples' differences.
Cooper also uses lots of specific details in paragraph twenty one in order to point out a turning point in the story. After learning exactly what a homoexual is, Cooper is led to the discovery and eventually acceptance of who he really is. The author describes every aspect of the library during his procession to the dictionary and is careful to point out how cautious he was to hide his true intentions.
The twenty-third paragraph is riddled with vivid descriptions of Grady's body and hair, and the setting in which the scene takes place. By describing the "immense, glassy, placid" sky and the way in which his parents are conducting themselves by the pool, Cooper allows the readers to imagine themselves in the scene with him. Cooper uses these descriptions to connect with the reader and bring him or her into the story personally as opposed to having him or her watching from the outside.
-Maddie
1. Cooper describes his mother's hazel eyes as the eyes of the world signifying that he believes that his mother know all and what's best for him. After his mom freaks out when Cooper asks her about the word "fag," all he wanted to do was try to force himself to change his feeling for guys and instead like girls. He is "pained by the memory of [his mother's] shocked expression" and therefore wants to change himself accoding to what his mother thinks. He also could mention her 'hazel' eyes because her view of the world is knowledgeable yet hazy and closed-minded.
2. In the first paragraph the author describes Theresa with a lot of detail in describing what she was reading, what she might be thinking through her 'contemplative expression, and her whole appearance from her smooth skin to her bouffant hairdo. The seventh paragraph though a lot shorter describes Grady shooting from the pool, "shaking water form this orange hair, freckled shoulders." Describing his appearance during his movement from the pool captures the moment. finally in the large paragraph on pg 128, Cooper vividly describes himself as he fidgets and feels as if people are trying to spy on him when he looks up a word in the dictionary. He "padded" "risked" "clutched" took precautions" as he maneuvered his way to get to the dictionary. His description intrigues us to read on and find out what he's up to.
-Steph Lim
1. In “A Clack of Tiny Sparks: Remembrances of a Gay Boyhood”, Bernard Cooper attempts to repress his homosexual urges in order to conform to society. By stating that his “longing was wrong in the eyes of [his] mother, whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world” (123), Cooper argues that the contempt his mother feels for homosexuality is felt by a majority of society. Therefore, Cooper tries to feel sexual passion for women so that he could be normal; he relates this endeavor to his mother’s smoking of cigarettes. He states, “To change a behavior required self-analysis, cold resolve, and the substitution of one thing for another: plastic, say, for tobacco” (123). His mother tried to quit cigarettes as they were deemed to be unacceptable in society (as homosexuals were). Interestingly, the word “fag” also can be a term used to describe a cigarette. Therefore, both Cooper and his mom were trying to give up the “fag-like” behavior. Cooper, like his mother, attempted to substitute women (the plastic) for the men (the tobacco). In the end, he found it impossible to resist the allure of boys and gave up on his quest to be straight. In the concluding paragraphs, as Cooper was swimming in the pool with his crush, Grady, his mother was “curled on a chaise lounge, plumes of smoke wafting from her nostrils. In a stupor of contentment she took another drag, closed her eyes, and arched her face towards the sun” (129). His mother failed in her quest (as Cooper had) to give up cigarettes. Instead, she basks in the wondrous high of this “fag” and seems to feel no regrets. As she finally “closes her eyes”, she ignores the prejudices of society to enjoy this feeling. Cooper, similarly, learns to accept his homosexuality and regrets ever trying to give it up.
2. Bernard Cooper uses vivid language in order to describe the emotions of the scene.
In the tenth paragraph, he describes his father to be quirky and fun man. Nevertheless, instead of simply stating it, he depicts an entire scene where the father mimics the movements of a waiter at a restaurant. In describing this sequence, he allows the reader to literally watch his father’s behavior as if it were a movie scene.
When Debbie invites him to her party, Cooper describes the scene as very secretive and even forbidden. He uses phrases such as “furtive as a spy” and describes Debbie’s eyes to be “darting back and forth” to describe the secret atmosphere of the setting.
On his way to Debbie’s party, he describes he gloomy atmosphere by describing the powerful gusts of the wind which shook “the road signs and stoplights in its path” (124). In addition he describes the sky to be “luminous blue, the air hot, abrasive, electric” By using these powerful adjectives and phrases, Cooper describes the gloom and apprehension while going to the party.
-Rohan Puri
1. Cooper describes his mother’s eyes as “the eyes of the world” because she takes the same stance as society does against the gay population and homosexuals. Earlier in the sentence he claims that “the longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother” demonstrating how his mother frowns upon gays. It surprised him when Theresa asked if he was a fag, and Cooper felt it necessary to immediately defend himself. He soon realizes how much society abhors those who like the same sex.
2. Paragraph 21 begins on an ominous and eerie note: “The Santa Ana wind blew relentlessly...shaking the road signs and stoplights in its path.” I thought this paragraph was especially descriptive and portrayed dramatic language; foreshadowing Cooper’s uncomfortable evening awaiting him at Debbie’s party. Phrases like: “As I walked down Beachwood Avenue, trees thrashed, surrendered their leaves...” and “the sky was a deep but luminous blue, the air hot, abrasive, electric” describe Cooper’s nervousness and anxiety before arriving at the party.
Paragraph 7 paints an extremely vivid picture in the readers’ minds of exactly how Grady looks. Cooper describes him as “sturdy and boisterous and gap-toothed...a formidable arm wrestler, a wizard at basketball.” He also describes Grady as “a body at home in his body” something Cooper might envy, which the next paragraph indicates when he self-consciously describes how clumsy he is.
Paragraph 33, when Cooper goes to the library to look up the word “homosexual,” uses vivid adjectives to express how nervous and apprehensive he was to see the definition. Cooper uses phrases like: “...I padded toward it with apprehension...I risked discovering information that might incriminate me” and “I had decided to consult the dictionary during lunch period, when most of the students would be on the playground.” These passages show how embarrassed and insecure Cooper feels toward his sexuality.
-Angela
1. I agree with Katherine in her interpretation of Cooper's relationship with his mother, and how her opinion matters. Despite how he compares his family with Grady (in the sense that it's rather unconvential, as he calls Grady's a "charmed life...an aproned mother who radiated calm, maternal concern; a stoic father with a knack for home repairs"), he still feels a deep comfort with his mother. His mother means so much to him, that for her not to accept his "secret" hurts him so much that he could never let the rest of the world know. Cooper longed for acceptance, so much so, that he couldn't even bare to take the risk of letting go and being free.
2. I loved paragraph 10: I thought his description of his family painted a vivid picture of what his life was like and gave the reader a personal incite so that he or she could contemplate being in the situation and trying to admit homosexuality to a family of that type. Specific descriptions like when he talks about his family, "...making the simplest remark about the weather into a lengthy philosophical discourse on the sun and the seasons and the passage of time"(par 10, 122). He gives his family a certain depth, yet a humorous twist as well. Another was his description of his mother as "preoccupied and perpetually frantic, my mother succumbed to bouts of absentmindedness so proufoud she'd forget what she was saying midsentence, smile and blush and walk away"(par 10, 122). These kind of descriptions are the detailed ones that help paint great pictures of what the narrator is trying to say.
Paraghe 24 made me laugh a little too because of the description of the party and the "change"s. His vivid descriptions like "blunt command of a hostess determined to have her guests aroused in an orderly fashion"(par 24, 125) shows not only his own views, but the characters around him. Even the kind of language with words like, "tangy and sweet" to describe the first girl's perfume, or describing her lips as a "private letter".
Finally paragraph 37, I think it is, used comparisons and phrases that portray deep emotion and let the reader into his private struggle. Describing how his tempation "continued to thrive without air and light, like a luminous fish in the dregs of the sea"(par 37, pg 128), Cooper gives a sense of helplessness to his deep desires. He also compares Grady's red hair a "flame that couldn't be doused"(pg 128), which emphasizes his passion for Grady.
I enjoyed this reading and his style of writing was amusing and intriguing.
Shayma H
1. When Cooper describes his mother's hazel eyes being the eyes of the world, he is expressing that most people in the world, in addition to his mother, are strongly against homosexual people. When Cooper goes to his mother for guidance and assistance regarding the definition of a "fag," she immediately asks if someone referred to him as this, and is thankful when he blames Bobby Keagan instead of himself. Being gay in her eyes is completely unexceptable, and Cooper is obviously aware of that fact.
2. I believe that paragraphs 7, 22, and 25 are among the most vivid and descriptive in the essay. Paragraph 7 is a main paragraph in which Cooper begins to demonstrate his affection towards boys. He describes Grady in great detail, which makes the reader realize that this is the boy that has captured Cooper's interest. With descriptions such as "orange hair, frickled shoulders, sturdy, and gap-toothed," (121) we learn of Grady's physical appearance. Soon, Cooper explains his personality, calling him "boisterous," and "an inveterate backslapper" (121). The 22nd paragraph also exutes great description. Entering a major make-out party, Cooper describes what he sees and hears, which gives the reader a better idea of what is going on. The final sentence of the paragraph exhibits feelings of banter and chaos, but also the calmness of the children because its like they could just float away. Finally, paragraph 25 is also filled with great description. This paragraph shows where Cooper's focus is, which is Grady. He is watching Grady's every move when he is visible, noticing new markings on his neck and his messy hair. Cooper also expresses to the reader that there is passion in the room through words like "static" and "moan." All three of these paragraphs demonstrate great, vivid description.
- Samantha Smith
1. When Cooper writes, “My longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother, whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world,” he uses this characterization to show that his mother is very orthodox and would not appreciate his being gay. Even though she is from an unconventional family, she overreacts when Cooper asks the meaning of “fag” and immediately calms down after Cooper gives an excuse. Unfortunately, Cooper knows that his mother is tolerant and thus hesitates to tell her the truth; he respects and fears her so much that he cannot bear to hurt her feelings.
2. Cooper’s story is especially vivid and interesting because of the detailed descriptions he gives. In the first paragraph, he uses colorful imagery in describing Theresa’s maturity with words such as “smooth skin, plucked eyebrows, and painted fingernails” and “moved through the crowded halls with a languid, self-satisfied indifference to those around her.” Because of this description, we can picture Theresa confidently walking down the hall; we can also see how insecure Cooper is from his careful observation of Theresa.
In the seventh paragraph, Cooper also uses vivid descriptions when he writes about Grady; even when they are swimming, Cooper notes that Grady is “shaking water from his orange hair, freckled shoulders shining” and is “study and boisterous and gap-toothed.” Here, with sensual imagery Cooper points out his attraction to the same sex and his admiration of Grady; again, he also draws attention to the fact that he is very insecure, whereas Grady is “a body at home in his body.”
In paragraph 38, Grady uses great imagery when he describes the man whom he lives with; he writes, “It seems as if my fingers sink into his skin, and I feel the pleasure a diver feels the instant he enters a body of water.” In comparing himself to a diver, he shows that he is comfortable and right where he belongs. With the water imagery, he also reminds the reader of his childhood swims with and attraction to Grady.
--Emily Liang
1. A look can say it all. When Cooper asks his mother about the word “fag,” her reaction is one of horror, although she does not articulate this feeling. Her hazel eyes—the eyes of the world—however, forcefully convey the message. Cooper’s mother fears and hates homosexuality just as society does, so her judge him as harshly as society’s. By not having support within his family, Cooper feels oppressed—the same way society makes him feel. Trying to conform to society and moreover his mother, he becomes determined to “kiss a girl and learn to like it”* (123). Such attitude, quite far from healthy, often evokes a deep self-hatred. Sadly, this insinuates that his mother and he will have a strained relationship, at least as long as she shares society’s views on homosexuality.
*I agreed with Rohan: his mother’s contempt encouraged Cooper’s idea of “I’m going to kiss a girl and force myself to like it.” However, Rohan drew a parallel from that example to his mother’s attempt to quit smoking: “learn to like that rubber!” because smoking is unacceptable in society. I disagree; I don’t think it’s the same battle for his mom as it is for him. I think Cooper included this comparison to show readers his mindset of “I can quit being gay the same way my mom can quit smoking.” However, I think the two situations in reality are radically different. You can’t change nature, but you can change habits (just as Cooper can’t change being gay, but his mom can quit smoking). And I think Cooper, at this stage, is in denial that his homosexuality is nature, not habit. His mom’s struggle to quit smoking is in here to further this point.
2. Paragraph 22: I liked this paragraph because Cooper brought out the quirks in Debbie’s unique character by expressing certain detail. He makes her instantly vain, by having her first words in the paragraph be “Op art,” describing her dress, and she goes on to say that she curled her hair in orange juice cans (124). Her curls are huge and unmoving, which makes her fake. And the image of fakeness is the perfect way to start of his evening of making out with girls.
Paragraph 24: This girl-kiss paragraph did a great job with sensory detail, but I loved this one sentence in particular: “Diving within myself, I monitored my heartbeat and respiration, trying to will stimulation into being, and all the while an image intruded, an image of Grady erupting from our pool, rivulets of water sliding down his chest” (125). I thought the metaphor was powerful, and I could feel his anxiety, confusion, and lust. Because he’s “monitoring” himself, I felt like he was treating himself as a lab specimen. And I could feel his desperation, “trying to will stimulation into being.” The final seductive image of Grady is especially powerful, because it’s the feeling he wants with Sheila. And yet, it’s a guy…
Final Paragraph: I liked it because it was simple. He doesn’t overdo his emotion, and yet the image Cooper leaves readers off with is so appealing: “hamburger Stroganoff, Swedish meatballs in a sweet translucent sauce, steaming slabs of Salisbury steak.” And I’m a vegetarian! But I think he ends with this image to express the delight of finally coming out feeling accepted, as Theresa and her community accept his nature.
Sarina Bhandari
1. Cooper knows his mom disapproves of homosexuality. He characterizes her eyes as the eyes of the world because he knows it is not just his mother than disapproves of homosexuality, but most of the world agrees.
2. "Theresa Sanches was mature beyond her years...after the bell rang, ventured a question" Cooper describes Theresa very vividly, remembering the details of her hairdo and make-up. Cooper describes Theresa as "smiling dimly, steeped in daydreams" when she walked through the halls. With these phrases Cooper gives the reader a clear image of what Theresa must have looked like in a crowd of 14 year olds and shows what made her stand out so much from the rest of the group
"The Santa Ana wind blew relentlessly the night of Debbie's party...in lavender scrip resebling Debbie's." When describing the night of Debbie's party, Cooper uses many vivid verbs to describe the wing. For example, he says, "trees thrashed, surrendered thier leaves, and carob pods bombarded the pavement". Coopers description goes beyond just an image. It is easy to imagine how the wind must have felt and the sounds that he may have heard. Also, he describes the air is "hot, abrasive, electric", another vivid description.
"I dove in after. It was early June...and arched her face toward the sun." Once again, Cooper uses adjectives such as immense, glassy, and placid, to describe the sky on the afternoon he spent at the pool with Grady. In addition, Cooper gives details of things that do not directly relate to his time in the pool, like his father barbequeing and his mother sitting on a lounge chair. Nonetheless, these details add to the scene, making it easier for the reader to imagine that day and making it seem more realistic
--Maia
Before I forget, here is my blog:
http://fattybear122.blogspot.com/
Rohan Puri
1. The quote " My longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother; whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world" (par:14). This means that his mother's eyes not only represent the negative judgement she has on homosexuality but also the world. Therefore, it would become very difficult for him to come out in any way because he can not find any support. In his eyes, it would be him verses the world.
2. Paragraph 15. the author goes into great detail about how he could change his ways. The author relates his problem to that of his mother and smoking. He goes into vivid detail about the special cigarette, " one end was red to approximate an ember, the other tan like a filtered top" (par 15). This helps the reader visually compare the two solutions: his mothers fake cigarette and him finding a girl to replace Grady.
Paragraph 1. The deep amount of detail the author gives about the setting to the classroom. How Theresa is at just the right angle from Mr. Hubbley that she can read her books. He even gives the title of a few of the books and a small description of the pages and cover, "Let Me live My Life, appeared in bold print atop every page, whose cover, a gauzy photograph of a women biting a strand of pearls, head thrown back in an attitude of ecstasy" ( para: 1).
Paragraph 21, the author describes how Debbie approached him, "She cornered me in the hall, furtive as a spy, telling me.." He goes on to described the note as well. How she wrote her address and phone number in the lavender ink and cursive writing.
--Matt
Everyone is doing a great job!
1. I also agree with what Katherine said, and I have two pieces of evidence in the text to back up that idea. First, Cooper says that his mother’s eyes WERE the eyes of the world. His use of the past tense suggests that, looking back, Cooper realizes that he incorrectly assumed that his mother knew everything, and that his mother’s opinion would be the same as that of the rest of the world. However, later in life, Cooper regrets not having told Theresa his secret. He realizes that he might have met people like himself and had more friends if he had told her. This suggests that Cooper does not really think that the world would disapprove of his being homosexual as his mother did. Only later in life does Cooper realize that there were other people out there who might have been more willing to accept him if he had told them the truth about himself.
2. In the first paragraph, Cooper’s recollection of the titles of the books that Theresa read, the picture on the front of "Let Me Live My Life", and the details of Theresa’s appearance, such as the bouffant hairdo and the posture that seemed to say, “You are merely children…I can’t be bothered,” allow the reader to make an initial judgment of Theresa. Cooper’s detailed description brings the reader to the conclusion that Theresa was “mature beyond her years” before Cooper mentions it. In the paragraph in which Cooper describes Grady’s family, he gives vivid details, such as the “fastidious, aproned mother” and the small house with “spindly colonial furniture and chintz curtains.” Cooper writes with such vivid details to show how he longed for Gary’s family, and how it was his dream of the ideal, normal life. In the paragraph in which Cooper describes his walk to Debbie Coburn’s party, he uses vivid details to set the mood for the party. He describes the forceful wind, the thrashing of the trees, and the falling carob pods to foreshadow his own failure. It is almost as if the wind is reacting violently to Cooper’s attempt to go against his natural state.
-Rachel Silverman
1. When Cooper writes that his "longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother, whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world," he means that her disapproval of gays is shared by the rest of the world. In his mothers eyes, Cooper sees that too many people wouldn't understand him.
2. Cooper's vivid detail and descriptions allow the reader to picture the scene and understand his emotions. In the first paragraph, Cooper's description of Theresa's "worldly and sensual vanity," and her "smooth skin, plucked eyebrows, and painted fingernails" paint a clear picture of Theresa. Her "languid, self- satisfied indifference" let the reader picture walking down the halls, "smiling dimly."
Paragraph 21 is another paragraph that uses vivid detail to paint a picture in the readers head, although this is one of static and nerves. Cooper's anxiety is described with the "hot, abrasive, electric" air and the "careening" Santa Ana winds. He is scared and ashamed of his homosexuality and is determined to cure it at this party, but his anxiety and nerves are obvious and heightened by the stormy weather.
Paragraph 38, although not very long, is also full of incredibly vivid detail. When Cooper writes that he feels the "pleasure a diver feels the instant he enters a body of water," he tells the reader that he is now comfortable with his sexuality. He touches the mans back happily now, as opposed to when he touched Grady's back feeling shame and confusion.
-Carole Daniel
1. Cooper refers to his mother's eyes as the eyes of the world. When he says this, Cooper shows us that, to him, his mother's views are synonymous with the views of the world. Since he is young and has never known of opinions, views, or values other than those of his family, Cooper believes that his mother knows exactly how the world would view his secret desires. Also, even if Cooper were not naïve and knew that there were, in fact, other ways of viewing homosexuality, something which he will obviously discover later, it is only natural to fear rejection from one's family or loved ones. To Cooper, even if there are others who can accept his homosexuality, his mother's opinion carries importance comparable to that of the world.
2. Vivid detail and description are essential in interesting narratives. Paragraphs 7, 15, and 34 stood out to me in particular. In 7, when Cooper writes, "The instant Grady shot from the pool, shaking water from his orange hair, freckled shoulders shining, my attraction to members of my own sex became a matter I could no longer suppress or rationalize" (121), the reader sees Grady through Cooper's eyes. This description doesn't simply tell the reader about Cooper's crush, but shows the reader. Paragraph 15 tugs on the emotions of the reader. It is obvious that Cooper is ashamed and desperate to change his sexual preference as he wonders "[Can] I (Cooper) also find a [female] substitute for Grady?" (123). This sad question directed at the reader is an effective way of putting the reader in Cooper's head, by making the reader wonder the same things as Cooper. Cooper's account of his attempt to look up the word 'homosexual' in the dictionary in paragraph 34 is also very intriguing. Cooper explains that, "Though I'd (Cooper) looked up dozens of words before, the pages felt strange beneath my fingertips" (128). Cooper says that the seemingly normal act now makes him feel as if, "unless I (Cooper) took precautions, someone would see me and guess what I was up to. The closer I came to the podium, the more obvious, I thought, was my endeavor; I (Cooper) felt like the model of The Visible Man in our (his) science class, my (his) heart's undulations, my (his) overwrought nerves legible through transparent skin" (128). In my opinion, the fact that looking in the dictionary, something that Cooper says he has done many times, suddenly becomes frightening and seems to Cooper like he is breaking some unvoiced rule when connected to his sexuality is what makes this paragraph stand out. It effectively expresses the shame that Cooper feels towards his attraction to Grady and to men.
I really enjoyed this reading! I thought it was very interesting to get inside Cooper's head and really understand his emotions. Fun!
Shani Gilmour
Refutation: First of all, I would like to say that Sarina pointed out a vital flaw (which I indeed was worried about while writing) in my paragraph. I heartily agree that the point that the nature of homosexuality is an intrinsic part of one's nature, but I would also like to point out that addiction to cigarettes should be described more than "habit". The failure of Cooper's mom to quit smoking alone showed that smoking does become an intrinsic part of one's nature (still, less than homosexulaty). Although the addiction to smoking is a "burden" self imposed, it is still part of her nature nonetheless.
In addition, I would like to reiterate that Cooper was INSPIRED to teach himself to be straight by using the same method his mom used to attempt to quit smoking (so I agree with you that he originally thought it to be a habit). I wanted to point out that they both gave up on their battles and seemed satisfied with their respective decisions.
What I didn't say in my paragraph (but I will say now, because I was worried about appropriateness-- I'm being honest!) is that I wanted to compare the sensations of being "high" and "being aroused" I wanted to say that both gave such a rush of satisfacton that were overly stimulating (Cooper's due to his homosexual nature and Cooper's mom's due to the cigarettes) They both made their decisions to maintain this rush-no matter what the consequences
-Rohan
1. My reaction was similar to Ryan's. When Cooper writes, "My longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother, whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world," he is referring to the negative view toward homosexuality that much of society holds. In referencing his mother as "the eyes of the world," he suggests that his mother, too, does not approve of homosexuality. Eyes are often symbols of judgment or authority. By speaking of his mother's eyes, he references his mother as both an authority figure and one who judges her son's decisions. On a larger scale, the eyes of the world could represent society's judging of his homosexuality, or they could represent God as the overseer and judge of everything.
2. Paragraph 7 was especially vivid in Cooper's description of Grady. Cooper describes Grady "shaking water from his orange hair, freckled shoulders shining." These descriptions are vivid because not only do they describe Grady's appearance, but they also add even more vividness in adding movement (for example, shaking the water from his hair, as opposed to simply having wet hair.)
Paragraph 10 also includes very vivid details. Cooper lets the reader get a sense of what his parents are like by using specific examples. For instance, Cooper states that his mother shows her love in peculiar ways. In order to make this more descriptive, he gives the specific example of her "spending hours extracting every seed from a watermelon before she served it in perfectly bite-sized geometric pieces."
Paragraph 21 is vivid in Cooper's description of nature. He writes that the "Santa Ana wind blew relentlessly," "trees thrashed, surrendered their leaves," and that the air was "hot, abrasive, electric." Cooper uses the personification of the wind, trees, and air to create a more vivid description. In doing so, he seems to be playing off of the powers of nature and the supernatural.
-Audrey Virginia Proulx
1) Cooper's mother disapproves of Cooper's sexuality. In saying that her eyes are the "eyes of the world" (14), Cooper describes the anti-gay sentiment so common at the time of his youth and even, to a lesser extent, today. In addition, the hazel depiction of his mother's eyes parallels his situation everywhere. Hazel eyes are composite from multiple colors, just as many civilizations independently scorn homosexuality.
2) The author's almost inhuman recollection of details, which probably stems from the emotional trauma of learning that he was part of a stigmatized minority, is articulated skillfully in numerous instances. The first such instance occurs when he describes the words in the dictionary that were around "homosexual". The seemingly random depiction of Sheila Garabedian serves to make the essay seem more lifelike, for in real life we often notice things that are irrelevant or of little consequence. The final paragraph speaks of lox. The dialog is detailed and sharp.
Seeing as this is blogger, I am going to advertise for my blog (http://ferret62.blogspot.com/). Please tell me if this is not OK in the future, Mr. Wilson. I hope I did the assignment correctly and am looking forward to class tomorrow. Sort of.
1. Discovering his mother's utter dissent toward homosexuality, Cooper suddenly becomes perplexed about his own identity. By describing his mother's eyes as "the eyes of the world," Cooper realizes that his mother reacts to homosexuality as the rest of the world does (par. 14). This reaction crushes him and confuses him: before, Cooper knows his identity but simply won't acknowledge it, for he knew the society's disdain toward homosexuality. Now, after seeing his own mother's reaction, Cooper tries to become what he is not in order to fit in with the rest of the world.
2. Paragraph 21:
On his way to Debbie Coburn's house, Cooper pays close attention to his surroundings. For example, he describes the sky as "deep but luminous blue" and the air as "hot, abrasive, electric." Through Cooper's sketch of the atmosphere, the reader can tell his feelings at the moment; he is extremely nervous but also excited about his first intimate interaction with a girl.
Paragraph 24:
Cooper describes Sheila's lips upon their "kiss" as "tightly sealed as a private letter." This description vividly portrays that Sheila does not want kiss Cooper, or any other boys in the room for that matter, as if she had some secret she didn't want to divulge.
Paragraph 37:
When they were in the pool under water, Cooper describes Grady's hair as "a flame that couldn't be doused." Grady's orange hair may have seemed that way, but this description conveys Cooper's forever passion and attraction toward Grady.
1.
I think everyone else has pretty sufficiently answered question number one, so instead of regurgitating the obvious conclusion, I attempted to answer in Haiku form.
Hazel Eyes of Mom
Become Hazel Eyes of World
Gays aren't Accepted
Viewpoint of One Mom
Becomes viewpoint of the world
Gay aren't Accepted
2.
Several of Cooper's paragraphs successfully create vivid imagery. The very first paragraph starts off with plenty of vivid paintbrushes creating the piece of art that is Theresa Sanchez. With his clear memory of the books she read during Algebra Class, he shows how Theresa seems to think she is much older than those around her. The Romantic novels reveal that Theresa is sexually interested much more than the freshmen around her. The description of her physical appearance as frankly, a bit whorish, clinches her interest in sex.
The next paragraph that creates vivid strokes in the art gallery of the mind is paragraph seven. The inner mind artist, Cooper, sketches us a picture of male perfection. A modern Adonis. Whether its his mastery on the basketball court or his freckled broad shoulders, Cooper even makes us the most straight of us at least admire the body of Grady.
Although almost all of Cooper's paragraphs wow us with vivid detail, paragraph 10 seems to stand above the rest. Cooper's family seems like something out of a hilarious sitcom, each member of the family playing a part in the comedy. The little things like the geometrically sound watermelons and the imitations of waitresses are what make the paragraph truly vivid
-MKW-
1. This short story explores not only the pain in keeping sexual orientation disclosed, but it goes farther in pointing out exactly what causes Bernard Cooper's internal hardship. Cooper spends his childhood questioning the way he lives his life- - wondering if his longing for men is natural only to himself, or if it occurs to others aside from himself. When Cooper writes, "My longing was wrong in the eyes of my mother, whose hazel eyes were the eyes of the world" (par. 14), he does more than just present his mother's disapproval of gay men. Cooper categorizes his mother's eyes as being equal to the eyes of society as a whole. Not only does his mother frown down on homosexuals, but the rest of the world believes it to be unorthodox and repulsing. Here, Cooper targets the source of his pain by showing that if his sexual orientation were to go public, it would be met with certain disgust and no compassion whatsoever.
2. Paragraph 21: Leading up to the fateful night in which Bernard Cooper realizes his homosexuality is a part of him for good, Cooper pays especially close attention to his surroundings. He notes that, "The Santa Ana wind blew relentlessly...careening down the slopes.../The sky as a deep but luminous blue, the air hot, abrasive, electric" (par. 21). By including detailed accounts of the scenery on the way to Debbie's party, Cooper shows the heightened state of his senses. Any time one is under tremendous stress, or before a big turning point, senses become heightened. By doing so within this narrative, Cooper displays his nervousness for the night that is ahead of him.
Paragraph 27: Before another turning point of the narrative wherein Cooper reunites with Theresa, and ultimately discovers the possible love affair occurring between two male teachers, the senses are heightened once again. The setting this time is "during a period of torrential rain that...washed houses from the hillsides and flooded the downtown streets" (par. 27). The storm that takes place in this particular section of the narrative illustrates Cooper's own struggle that he faces that very day. By providing such a vivid back drop, Cooper sets up the perfect introduction to the dramatic coming events.
Paragraph 38: Once the conflict of divulging his deepest secret is settled, and Cooper becomes open with his sexuality, he uses vivid description one last time. He creates the perfect image of him lying in bed with a man. Cooper writes, "..I reach out to touch the expanse of his back, and it seems as if my fingers sink into his skin, and I feel the pleasure a diver feels the instant he enters a body of water" (par. 38). Here, Cooper has overcome the hurdle of facing his homosexuality, and his conflict is resolved. In order to portray the perfect picture of his now-happy life, Cooper creates the perfect image of a diver striking water. The ease of water gliding over a body is conveyed, as well as Cooper's ease in accepting who he is.
-Emily Ottke
P.S. I am sorry for being late to class today it won't happen again, and I apologize.
:] Hopefully I did all of this correctly...
Refutation (continued): I just realized that I forgot to put something in my previous post. I forgot to state that I wanted to compare the "calling" of Cooper's attraction to Grady (while he was in the closet with chicks) to the "calling" of a cigarette (the urge one has when quitting an addictive substance). Both "plastics" failed to replace the real thing. The desire was overwhelmed to what they thought was "forbidden" rush. I wanted to state that people SHOULD follow what makes them happy, and both homosexuality and cigarette smoking (yes smoking) should be perfectly acceptible as they produce happiness.
Oh and by the way, Mark Witzke-
You are a true poet, and I do not think I could have answered it any better myself. Bravo.
1. In paragraph fourteen, Cooper comes out with the mother's reaction of his simple question of what a fag is. The reaction that emerges turns out to be a little more firghtening than Cooper had bargained for as her "hazel eyes were the eyes of the world," showing the taboo involved with being called a fag. Her eyes represent the eyes of the entire world who views homosexuality as a negative and scorn-worthy characteristic and something that would be detrimental in life. Her fear of someone called her own son a homosexual also uncovers the fear of all mothers that their children are not accepted along with everyone else.
2. Vividness has soaked into this story as every different scenario is flooded with descriptions of the new setting: the people, what they are doing, the the weather, etc. Paragraphs 21, 22, and 26, however, are especially full of descriptions.
In paragraph 21, the weather is the main focus of discussion as the "Santa Ana wind blew relenlessly...careening down the slopes of the Hollywood hills, shaking the road signs and stoplights in its path" (21 Cooper). The reader can hear and see the roadsigns swinging and clacking in the brutal wind as they read this passage. Cooper goes on to elaborate on the setting, desribing the "deep, but luminous blue" sky adding to the picture being painted in the readers mind. Finally when Cooper arives at the party, the building is described as "a three story building with glitter embedded in its stucco walls," a final detail that the reader needs to see every aspect of Coopers environment.
In paragraph 22, more of the senses are notified on what Cooper is hearing seeing and feeling as he walks into the house where he can hear "the plaintive strains of Little Anthony's "I Think I'm Going Out of My Head." Cooper also lets the reader in on what he is seeing as Debbie's dress is described as "bodice blue" with "orange polka dots" and as she shows off her curls. The swimming pool is passed on the way to a dim-lit room full of his schoolmates, or at least the silhouettes of them as Cooper describes.
One more pargraph dripping with vivid desriptions is the 26th. Once again, as in paragraph 21, the weather is portrayed as he speaks to Theresa in "a period of torrential rain that...washed houses from the hillsides and flooded the downtown streets." Cooper goes on to enlighten the reader to the Christmas decorations lining the hall and how they were made by the Arts and Crafts teacher, Gerald.
Overall, in every new place, the setting is sufficiently portrayed by Cooper, giving the reader a good sense of where he is and how he must be feeling.
1. Cooper means that her reaction and viewpoint are that of all society. Her eyes "view" the issue in the same way that the rest of the world sees it. As well, if his mother cannot understand him being different, he cannot expect different treatment from the rest of the world. Thus, she supplies him with the knowledge that expressing his longing outwardly would hurt the way people who know him would look at him.
2.
Paragraph 17 is vivid due to his attention to detail in his mothers motions and the scents around him. He notices that his mothers slaps the sliced onions onto the table. He describes her saying that she "hovered above [him] since he feels this pressure to change. He uses other words like "cinching" and "dangling" to make the image very clear in one's mind and to add an element of caution of going off a brink.
In Paragraph 21 he describes the sky as being "deep but luminous blue, the air hot, abrasive, electric", showing his mood at the time, showing how tense and how much pressure he feels. He also mentions the wind blowing and its "careening" and shaking" to capture the uneasiness of his thoughts before the party. The trees "thrashed" while pods "bombarded" the ground, to emphasize how he fears his expected outcome and that he feels like the force of society pains him into experimenting.
Paragraph 36, involving Grady and Cooper, he uses gentle descriptions to show his inner peace at this moment when he is more comfortable with his sexuality. He says that the air is placid. In addition, he complements his father as being "an artist with a basting brush". Finally, he says his mother is in a state of contentment. All these images tie into his state of being calm with his surroundings for the first time in the passage.
Carl van Reis
We've used the word "vivid" 53 times in this blog. So here are some synonyms for people who enjoy words the way Mark enjoys poetry. (With gusto, as I recently discovered... oh those were exquisite)
bright, colorful, brilliant, radiant, vibrant, glaring, strong, bold, deep, intense, rich, warm, graphic, evocative, realistic, lifelike, faithful, authentic, clear, detailed, lucid, eloquent, striking, arresting, impressive, colorful, rich, dramatic, lively, stimulating, interesting, fascinating, scintillating; memorable, powerful, stirring, moving, telling, haunting.
1. Cooper talks of his mother's eyes being the "the eyes of the world" in the sense that he regards his mother as being somewhat omniscient. It's clear that Mrs. Cooper, especially coming from the "old school" European Jewish culture, has a very conservative outlook on life and its happenings, and her opinions are unlikely to change at all. Growing up in a house with rigid views, Cooper only knows that world. His mother's opinions govern his life; therefore, his mother's eyes really were "the eyes of the world." What she saw became reality in his life -- his world.
2. The 17th paragraph strikes me as being very vivid because of the simple message of changing tastes, as illustrated by Mr. Cooper eating a bagel. Being someone who also didn't used to like lox, I can relate to the message the father gives. That "Jewishness" made that section vivid for me in addition to the description of the father's eating habits ("chomping with gusto,""heavy grunts,""loud and labored swallow" (123)) made the whole paragraph stick out and, consequently, made it vivid.
The fifteenth paragraph also strikes me as vivid because it deals with Bernard's desire for a "substitution" of his desires. The way he sees his sexual orientation as being something completely simplistic that he can get rid of, a habit that he can just kick. He equates the overcoming of his "habit" to that of smoking cigarettes and tries to think of ways to "cure" himself. His desperation and his theory that something could be "wrong" with him. His quick fix for his desires resonates as vivid because he he determines he can change from "self-analysis, cold resolve, and the substitution of one thing for another." (123)
The twenty-fourth paragraph, in which the make out (or lack thereof) with Shelia Garabedian is described especially vividly. The intentions of the host are described as a "blunt command of a hostess determined to have her guests aroused in an orderly fashion." (123) The pure sexuality of that statement is vivid, as well as the description of Shelia's "tangy and sweet as Hawaiian Punch" perfume (123). The most vivid part of that paragraph, however, has to be the description of the intimate contact between the two freshmen. Her lips were as tightly sealed as a "private letter," and he tells of just being there awkwardly listening to the nuances of each others' breath. Anytime any other can get that in depth with such honest and intimate personal deal, it stands out to me as vivid.
Simon Hochberg
I. As children or young adults, people look to their parents for guidance and in many cases the parents' behaviors end up rubbing off on their children. Since Cooper trusts his mother enough to ask her such a question ("What's a fag?), it is clear that this holds true for him. So, to see that the person he aspires to be like abhors something which seems to Cooper to be an irremovable part of him must have been a truly horrible experience. What he is saying when he calls his mother's eyes the eyes of the world is that since his mother, a person he looks up to, disapproves of homosexuality, surely anybody he admired would be similar. With this metaphor he communicates the feeling of horror he felt upon seeing his mother's own look of horror.
II. Many of the paragraphs in this essay contain vibrant imagery. One of those is the first one, in which Cooper describes Theresa Sanchez. Words like "exotic", "gauzy", "ecstasy", "mature" and "sensual" catch the reader's eye and draw his attention to the details.
A second paragraph with strong and lifelike descriptions is the paragraph about the make-out party Cooper attends. He relates to the reader a feeling of closeness and sensuality by describing close-up features of Sheila Garabedian, such as her perfume, ears, and lips. He does the same thing in that paragraph while describing the intrusive image of Grady. He writes about the "rivulets of water sliding down his chest". These close-up details help convey the body-filled, almost claustrophobic room that the party takes place in.
Lastly, a paragraph with striking and detailed story-telling is the scene in which he looks up the word "homosexual" in the library dictionary. Cooper builds up suspense by slowing down his narration, crawling at a snail's pace towards the conclusion, which is anticlimactic. He eventually slows down to the point where he details each word he saw one the page on the way to his target; this portrays the sense of suspense and unease he felt, along with building up the excitement in order to make the anticlimax more disappointing.
- Chase "Danger" Wheatley
1. The metaphor likening the despair in his mother's eyes to the same negative way society viewed homosexuals was clearly recognized by everyone. However, is it possible that in some twisted way he was actually looking for this response in his mother. Obviously, it seems illogical to believe someone would want their parent to be disgusted with their orientation, but it also seems illogical for him to ask his mom what "fag" meant after stating he knew what it meant. Granted, he said he was looking for a different possible answer to the meaning of the word, but i also interpreted a sense of fishing in his question. Fishing not necesarily for an alternate meaning, but fishing for her reaction to its meaning, which he obviously got by the desperaging eyes of society.
2. A striking use of contrast, the fourth paragraph's abrupt ending of "Are you a fag" woke me up. The body of the paragraphed painted a picture of her as an arrogaant but cultured and mature girl, so to hear her use such a crude and offensive word seemed jarringly out of character, and amped up the poignancy of the paragraph.
Paragraph 24 which described the painfully awkward makeout party he attended in attempt to un-gayify himself was also one of the more scintilating depictions. The authors dictions choice with wods like "probed" and "trembling" captured the essence to reflect not only the unfortablness of the moment but also the larger discomfort he had with forcing himself to be with girls.
Finally, the concluding paragraph was most vivid because it brought a cmopletely new tone to the essay. The efforts he went to in order to supress the stigma of homosexuality, the fear he felt of being discovered, the yearning he had for grady-- all of these were the previous focus and suddenly he shifted in the last paragraph to retrospection of how unhappy and backwards he had had it then. Additionally, ending with food imagery leaves the reader satified with a sense that cooper has come to terms with his former issues.
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