Jonathan Bastos
Ryan Gallagher
English 12 cp, period: 7
25 November 2008

Hills like white Elephants Re-written by. William Faulkner
In the valley of the Ebro there stood the hills. The hills were long covered in a blanket of white. It was a shadeless place there were no trees in sight. [MPS1] The sun’s warm rays lay between the tracks. Almost as if the sun was the one guiding the trains[MPS2] . To keep out flies, bamboo beads were hung in the opening of the bar. Sitting at a table embraced by the shade the American man sat with the girl. In 40 minutes the express from Barcelona will arrive. The girl took of her hat and placed it on the table. Turning to the man she asked, “What should we drink”. The air is incredibly warm and humid, the man said.

Shall we drink beer? The man asked, for “Dos Cervezas.” Two felt pads and two glasses of beer were placed on the table. The waitress noticed the woman glancing at the hills in, the valley. As the sun shined on them they were almost white and pale. The country was brown and lifeless[MPS3] . “They look like white elephants,” said the girl. “I’ve never seen one, the man said while sipping his beer. The girl told him there was no way he could’ve ever seen one. The American said, “I might have, just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything”. The girl noticed a sign that said “Anis del Toro.” The man called upon the waitress motioning her over with his hand; “we want two Anis del Toro.” “Do you want water with it”, asked the waitress.” The waitress said “it tastes like licorice,” as she put the glass down. Later on the girl said “everything tastes like licorice. Especially all the things you’ve waited so long for, like absinthe.” the man seemed a bit annoyed after the comment. They both knew they were having a great time. The girl kept staring at the hills through the window. In her head she knew the hills did not resemble elephants at all. The only resemblance to elephants they had was the color through the trees.

The beer was nice and cool. The beer was a defense against the scorching heat.[MPS4] “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.” The girl remained silent. They kept arguing back and forth about whether or not she should get the operation. Although they were arguing they still had time to stop and say I love you. The man noticed the girl’s everlasting gaze at the valley and the hills through the trees. “The train is coming in five minutes.” “I’d better take the bags over to the other side of the station,” the man said. A big smile appeared on her face. The train had not arrived yet. The barroom was filled with people waiting for the train. When he got back she was sitting at a table smiling. They had been arguing before but they were okay now. She just needed a break from the man’s never ending questions. “Do you feel better?” he asked. All she said was that she was fine.

[MPS1]In the story Hemingway says there are no trees and no shade. I decided to simplify this by saying “it was a shadeless place.” I think Faulkner would’ve done the same thing.

[MPS2]Hemingway said the rails were in the sun. I decided to elaborate the fact that the rails were in the sun. I described the warmth of the sun and how the sun seemed to guide the train like an arrow of light. I think what Hemingway lacks in his writing is description. I can’t imagine Hemingway’s stories as well as faulkners.

[MPS3]I chose to write this because Faulkner uses a lot of description. His writing style is based on description. Instead of saying the hills were white in the sun. I said the hills were white and pale. The country was brown and lifeless was also a great way of describing the valley.

[MPS4]Instead of just saying the beer was nice and cool. I added that the beer was a defense against the heat. Just to put more emphasis on the conditions of the setting. That’s why they were arguing. I think when its really hot the blood starts to flow faster. This causes people to get a little more frustrated.

Owen Meany

A Prayer for Owen Meany
2007. In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character's relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole
A prayer for Owen Meany is a story about hope, redemption, youth, and change. John wheelwright’s friendship with Owen is a friendship that is genuine. Owen is his best friend as well as his guardian angel. In Owens eyes as well as Johns, Owen is an instrument from god. To others Owen is a freak and he looked down on. Owens contribution to John’s mothers’ death changed john forever. John forgave Owen; after all it was just an accident. All of these events changed and affected him both positively and negatively.
John’s view of religion was not really a care in johns mind. To him Sunday school was a joke when he was little. But because of Owen his view became more serious. “He was the instrument of my mothers’ death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am Christian because of Owen Meany”. (pg. 1) The impact Owen had on johns’ religious views is incredible. John is pointing out the fact that even though his mothers’ death was in the hands of Owen Meany he still can’t stop being his friend. Even though his mother died Owen was always there to tell him that it’s all in gods’ hands. Most people think losing a loved one means losing their faith in god. In Johns case that was not true. “What faith I have I owe to Owen Meany, a boy I grew up with. It is Owen who made me a believer.
A mother’s death can be the most painful thing in the world. Knowing that your best friend was the cause is even worse. It was during one of Owen and John’s baseball games were it happened. “Your memory is a monster: you forget-it doesn’t. It simply files things away. Later I would remember everything. In revisiting the scene of my mothers’ death, I can remember everyone who was in the stands that day”. (pg.34) In Johns mind the day of his mothers’ death will replay in his mind like a tape over and over again. Owen meany did not mean for such an event to happen but it did. It is surprising that John wheelwright forgave Owen Meany. But in a way he knew that everything happens for a reason.
They’re many things that happened to John in his life. For example during the sixties the Vietnam War was in effect. Many Americans were losing there life. Call John a coward but he did not want to go to war. He did not want to lose his life over something stupid. So his decision was to have Owen cut off his finger. “The army regulation in question states that a person would not be physically qualified to serve in the case of the absence of the first joint of either thumb”. So they cut his finger off. In a way it was good cause he didn’t have to go to war but in the other hand he will be missing a finger.
In life there will be many situations, events, and choices that will affect a person. All those events will eventually shape who that person becomes. For example Owens death is the reason John moved to Canada. John felt like there was nothing left in America for him. He became a better person because of Owen Meany.