This Boy's Life through pg. 130

9/25/2013

Once you're finished, reflect back on the reading. What was an important, interesting, or puzzling moment for you as a reader? What did that moment contribute to (or take away from) your understanding of the plot, the characters, or the book overall.

Pull one passage (typically 4-7 sentences) that most interested you and type it into your comment. Then, provide a close reading of that passage discussing how it contributed to your understanding or engagement with the book.

It'll look something like this:

"PASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGEPASSAGE" (page #).

analysisanalysisanalysisanalysisanalysisanalysisanalysisanalysisanalysisanalysisanalysis.

- BE SURE TO SIGN YOUR NAME!
- ONLY ONE PERSON PER PASSAGE (UNLESS YOUR INTERPRETATION IS VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR CLASSMATE'S)
- 11pm Cut Off

23 Comments

Colin

9/25/2013 04:57:10 am

"I began to take a sharp acquisitive interest in cars after Skipper customized the Ford. As I walked my paper route I took apart the cars that I saw and put them back together in more interesting ways, lowered, louvered, dagoed, chopped-and-channeled."(pg.122).

I chose this quote because this is a quote that shows how Jack is still imagining what it would be like to have another life. He wonders how his life would differ if he had a car and could do what Skipper did to the Ford.

Colin

9/26/2013 07:44:40 am

This passage tells us that Jack imagines what life would be like if he wasn't him. Jack imagines owning a car and being a different person. Just like earlier in the book when Jack lies to Alice about owning a ranch and raising German Shepherds. He wants to be someone else that he isn't. Later in the book Jack wants to tell lies to his soon to be friends in Chinook. Jack doesn't want people to know his real life because he's afraid they are going to judge him. If Jack wants to be changes his life he needs to stop lying.

Jake Carlino

9/25/2013 05:45:54 am

"In the darkness of the backseat I sat rigid and mute, punching her, slapping her, calling her names. I took away the blue convertible I was going to give her, the furs and filmy clothes. I threw her out of the mansion. Then I let her back in. There was no choice. And later, whenever I heard Ray Charles sing "I Can't Stop Lovin' You," I just had to stop and get sad for a while."

I think this provides valuable insight on Jacks most inner thoughts and feelings for other characters (specifically Norma) and just in general. It also provides the reader with an example of how he comprehends things, reacts to them, and resolves them.

Jake Carlino

9/25/2013 05:47:23 am

Page #130, sorry!

Jake Carlino

9/26/2013 07:50:46 am

This provides valuable insight on Jacks inner feelings that he doesn't directly mention to the reader. This tells the reader how he feels for Norma, (which wasn't as clear before as it is now) and how his feelings influence his decisions. Its basically magnifying a sample of his personality and morals. He likes Norma, but after he finds out what kind of relationship she and Bobby have and what they've done, he becomes angry at her and quietly suffers, enraged and depressed on the inside, wanting to totally separate himself from her out of a rush of emotions. But eventually, he can't help but let it go because of his real feelings for her, which gives insight on his true personality that the author may not go into further detail about.

Starla

9/25/2013 07:10:59 am

"It wasn't a thing I should do casually, Dwight said, but only if I had a good reason to think that the other fellow might dry-gulch me. There were many techniques but Dwight didn't want to confuse me, so he showed me two of the best" (114-115).

This passage was interesting to me because this is the first time Dwight has ever bonding with Jack, or gave him any advise. It is weird that the time he is giving Jack advise it is about how to fight when he should try to be a good parent, and tell him not too.

Starla

9/26/2013 07:12:42 am

This passage was interesting to me because Dwight was never really a good step dad, or father figure to Jack. So, when Jack got into a fight Dwight actually gave him advise. Even though the the advise that Dwight gives Jack isn't the best and he should be telling him not to fight, it was surprising that Dwight was trying to be a good father figure.

charlotte

9/25/2013 07:38:28 am

"A few people called that night to complain about their missing newspapers. Dwight took the calls and explained that the papers had been ruined in a fight, adding that his boy Jack had hung a real shiner on the Gayle kid." (115)

I think this passage is important because it is one of the first times that Dwight is happy with Jack. Dwight also tells the neighbors that it was 'his boy Jack.' Dwight calls Jack his, which is a big step forward in him starting to like him. I also think this is important because it is a weird thing for Dwight to be happy with Jack for.

charlotte

9/26/2013 08:35:50 am

I think this passage is important because it was the first time that Dwight was actually being a nice and a funny step father. It is one of the first times that Jack and Dwight have actually bonded. He calls all the neighbors back and tells them that it was "his boy's" fault that the newspapers were gone. He even tells the neighbors who his boy beat up which shows that he is very happy. This shows that for once in Jacks life Dwight is proud of him. Dwight is also becoming a father figure towards Jack which is very good because maybe Jack will change his ways and become the boy he wants to become.

Semayon

9/25/2013 07:54:37 am

"All my life I have recognized almost at a glance those who were meant to b my friends, and they recognized me. Arthur was one of these. I liked him. I like his acid wit and the wild stories he told and his apparent indifference to what other people thought of him. But I had withheld my friendship, because I was afraid of what it would cost me" (108).

This quote from "This Boy's Life" is interesting because Jack wants to be friends with Arthur, but he doesn't want to because it will cost his popularity. Also it is important because he sees that he a good friend even though so many people make fun of Arthur.

Semayon

9/26/2013 07:13:35 am

This quote from "This Boy's Life" is interesting because Jack wants to be friends with Arthur, but he doesn't want to because it will cost his popularity. It says "I have recognized almost at a glance those who were meant to be my friend... Arthur was one of these. I liked him... But I withheld my friendship, because I was afraid of what it would cost me." Jack is worried about his popularity that he does not want to be friends with him. Even though he doesn't want to be friends with him, he talks to him and so far he is closest person to him now. But it is important because he sees that he is a good friend even though so many people make fun of Arthur so he is seeing the good in people.

Jared

9/25/2013 08:10:45 am

"Because he took up so much room when he was home, I could not forget that he was gone, and that led me to think about him and his friend Ray out on the road, free as birds. And those thoughts made me feel cheated and confined. I believe Skipper should have taken me instead of Ray. I had asked first and, after all I was his brother." (120)
I think this passage is important because it shows how Jack truly wants is to be free from his horrible life. he constantly thinks about Skipper on the road free from all the problems at home and yearns to be him out on the road. As things get worst at home, it only grows Jacks desire to leave it.

Jared

9/26/2013 08:49:41 am

I think this passage is important because it shows how Jack truly wants is to be free from his horrible life. he constantly thinks about Skipper on the road free from all the problems at home and yearns to be him out on the road. The more pressure that is applied to Jack by Dwight and things at school. In Jacks head all he can think about is the family he wished he had, an example of this is when Jack was on the streets and imagined what it was like to be in a family with the strangers around him. This shows how desperate he is to have a nice family. As things get worst at home, it only grows Jacks desire to leave it.

Talia

9/25/2013 08:38:19 am

"'I kept outgoing my shoes, two pairs in the seventh grade alone. Dwight was indignant. He thought I was growing out of malice. He put off buying the third pair until I could hardly walk, he said there would be no sneakers this time." (126)

I think this passage is important because it shows how much Dwight does not treat Jack like a true son. It does show that Jack has a horrible life. I feel like this suggests Dwight not caring about his step son at all.

Talia

9/26/2013 09:42:58 am

The Passage tells me that Jack does have to live a horrible life. We have read in previous chapters throughout the book that Jack doesn't like Dwight and now this passage shows that Dwight doesn't really like Jack. "He put off buying the third pair until I could hardly walk" this tells me that Jack doesn't get treated like family to Dwight. Everybody needs shoes its something we need and wear everyday. Dwight doesn't care for Jack he mainly wants Rosemary to himself. "Dwight was indignant" Jack knows that Dwight is being unfair to him. He just wants a new pair of shoes to wear, its nothing big. Jack doesn't agree to the way he is treated by Dwight and overall this passage shows what a real person Dwight is.

Noel Rolon

9/25/2013 09:04:58 am

"You just walked up to someone and acted friendly or even scared, then you kicked him in the balls. That was the first technique."
Page 115.

This is important because Jack is basically being taught how to fight dirty and acknowledging it in the wrong way, he probably doesn't even know that this isn't the way to fight anyone. Fighting isn't the answer either which Dwight doesn't tell Jack, he encourages him to do it more if anything. It honestly isn't right. Dwight isn't being a good example for a dad to Jack especially for teaching him things like this.

Noel

9/26/2013 12:03:09 pm

Revision:
This passage is important to me because Jack is being brought up wrong when it comes to civility. Dwight trying to be a father figure isn't helping Jack's childhood whatsoever. What Dwight is trying to do is encourage Jack to fight more, but entirely wrong. He's giving him the wrong ideas of fighting dirty and that honestly isn't right whatsoever. If Dwight wanted to be a father figure then he would talk Jack out of ever fighting for a while, at least if it isn't in self defense, but tell him, "Fighting is not the answer." Instead Dwight says the complete opposite and Jack acknowledges his advice wrongfully; of course, not purposely, but it's what Jack thinks is right just because it's coming from an adult who is bragging about how he did the same thing when he was younger.

Tyler Dion

9/25/2013 10:11:59 am

"It was simple, really. You just walk up to someone and acted friendly or even scared, then you kicked him in the balls." 115

This is an important quote because this is the first time Dwight has acted as a father figure to Jack. That is all Jack wants, a father he never really had. Now, the first time he gets advice from Dwight, it ends up being horrible advice on fighting. He is basically telling Jack to fight unfairly and to cheap shot people. This is not how a responsible parent should give advice to their child who just got into a fight. They should tell them violence is not the answer. But, Dwight is doing the opposite. He is telling Jack to fight more.

tyler dion

9/26/2013 09:43:51 am

This passage shows that Dwight isn't and very good father figure to Jack. Right when Dwight hears that jack got in a fight he is not disappointed but more proud. Then he want him to get in more fights and want him to fight cheap and unfair. Jack is really looking for a father figure in life because he never had one. And the first time Dwight is like a father he gives him horrible advice on fighting. He should be telling the opposite to Jack. He should tell him violence is not the answer. But Dwight wants Jack to start it more and near fight fair.

Kevin

9/25/2013 11:26:27 am

"I also missed my father. My mother never cam plained to me about him, but sometimes Dwight would make sarcastic comments about daddy warbucks and lord high-and-mighty. He meant to impugn my father for being rich and living far away and having nothing to do with me, but all qualities, even the last, perhaps esspiy the last, made my father fascinating"121

This is important because Jack misses his father. In this passage it shows that Dwight is "making fun of" jacks real dad which shows that Dwight thinks he is in control now and he is being a father figure towards Jack.

Kevin

9/26/2013 10:40:42 am

This passage is important because this shows that jack misses his father, and this is the first time in a while he metions it. Dwight is now going to have to be a father figured to jack and he isn't being a very good father. He influences him to fight and cheap shot I quote "kick him in the balls". Dwight needs to step up his game and get jack on track and Dwight also needs to get himself on track. In this point in his life it is crucial for a teenage boy to have someone to look after and give them advice when needed. My father is a big help to me and I can't imagine not having him around.

Patrick Neusch

9/25/2013 11:57:01 am

"The game resumed, bu with a difference. The crowd was quieter now, almost hushed. When the other team had the ball, a few scattered voices called polite encouragement; when they made a basket the applause was subdued. The room came into focus for me. I caught my breath, found my rhythm, and settled into the game." page 129

This is important because before everybody as quiet, there was a lady who was making fun of Jack because of his clumsiness because of his street shoes. It was very mean of the lady to make fun of Jack and single him out. The other people realized this was a mean thing to do so they became quiet and they started to cheer Jack on. The other team helped Jack also. This shows that even though there are bad people out there, there are still some people who are good people and can help people through bad times like the fans and other team did with Jack.

Patrick Neusch

9/26/2013 11:28:07 am

This interests me and is important to the reading for various reasons. This passage is about a lady at Jack's basketball game who was making fun of him because he was wearing street shoes during the game. These shoes caused him to slip and fall all over the court. This wouldn't have happened if Dwight, Jacks new dad, would let him spend his money from his paper roots to buy sneakers. The people at the game felt bad for Jack since the lady embarrassed Jack in front of everyone. The fans and other team started to cheer Jack on and help him. This shows that people can be good and be better than mean people who put other people down. It shows that people can be good at heart and not everybody is bad.

This Boy's Life through pg. 130

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