Meredith

"how do i know your one of the good guys? You dont. You'll have to take a shot. Are you carrying the fire?" (283)
 * 9/28/11 discussions**


 * Whats this tell us about how they always talked about "Carrying the fire"**

"When he came back he knelt by his father and held his cold hand and said his name over and over again."(281)
 * Whats this tell us about the theme love**


 * 9/22/11 Discussions**


 * //"like the desolation of some alien sea breaking on the shores of a world unheard of." (215)//**

What do you think will happen while they are at the beach? is this the reason they went south? Why do you think the son is disappointed if hes been so used to being let down? Why is this different?

//**"Maybe we could write a letter to the good guys. So if they came along they'd know we were here. We could write it up there where it wouldnt get washed away." (245)**//

The discussion we had in class yesterday where we were talking about some of the main themes, whats this tell us about the common theme of hope?

//I was cryi////ng. but you didnt wake up.// //Im sorry. I was just so tired.// //I meant in the dream. (183)// In this quote, the father and son are talking about the boys bad dream. I think in the dream his father is dead. What do you think happened? What does this tell us about what the son thinks is going to happen to his father?
 * 9/20/11 Connections**
 * Connection to us** - When you have a scary dream and something bad happens -- how do you feel? Do you think the boy was feeling the same way?

//You dont believe me.// //I believe you.// //okay.// //I always believe you.// //I dont thinks so.// //Yes I do. I have to. (185)//

do situations like trusting your teammates in sports or doing group work (like now) follow the same guidelines?
 * //Conne//ction to us**: Have you ever been put in a position where you don't have any other choice but to trust someone? what kind?

//"the man knelt and put his arms around him. its all right, he sail. I'm the one who's supposed to make sure we have the pistol and I didnt do it. I forgot.// //I'm// //sorry papa// //Come on. We're okay. Everything's okay" (232)//

Have you ever been in a situation where - eventhough someone made a mistake and your mad - that you took the blame, and made them feel better about it. like a brother or sister? Now why did you do it? Do you think its the same reason the father did?

//Vocabulary :// Sextant: an instrument used to find longitude and latitude at sea

//"They are gone and I am left and they have taken with them the world.// //Query: How does the never to be differ from what never was?"// (32)

- What does this mean to you? and what does this tell us about his current mental state? I think this quote gives us a good realization of how empty and deserted life is on earth. When the man say "never to be" I think he might be referring to how humans were never supposed to exist.

//"You cant protect us.You say you would die for us, but what good is that? Id take him with me if it weren't for you. You know I would. Its the the right thing to do." (56)//

A flash back of a fight between the man and his wife before she commits suicide. - Do you think she should have taken the son with her?

//"Were going to be okay, aren't we papa?// //Yes.We are.// //And nothing bad is going to happen to us.// //That's right.// //Because we're carrying the fire.// //Yes. Because we're carrying the fire.//" (83)

- Why does the boy find comfort in "carrying the fire"? Why do you think it makes him feel safe?