Author Archives: Ekoberlein
Emily’s Reading Questions for March 17th
Blind:
1)Throughout this first reading, the speaker persistently states that she is living and walking through some kind of dream. There are only two moments where she claims to be broken from the dream or to be “waking up.” One is early on at the voice of a young boy, and the second time is at the very end, when the blind man reveals he thought she had abandoned her. Why is it that these two individuals are able to wake her from this dream-like trans among the hundreds of men in the room with her?
Her definition of a dream in this story is quite different from the one she describes in “Moonlight.” In “The Blind,” the world she is currently living through is described as a “curious dream-place” (Borden, 92), However, in “Moonlight,” the speaker claims the world before the war to be that of a dream, something that can only be remembered in pieces. What is it that this reoccurring mention of dreams is suppose to represent? Are they indented to represent what is impossible to be accepted as a past/present version or reality? What causes these dreams to change?
The Priest and the Rabbi
2)There are several adjectives used to describe the man who has been terribly burned that paint him in a child-like manner. When he smiles up at them the word “grinned” is chosen, and he looks at them with his “bright laughing eyes,” despite the severity of his situation (Borden, 106). In contrast, the General is depicted in a more serious tone, as if he is strictly there to go in, do his business, and then leave. How might the characterization of these two individuals impact the way that they each interpret the soldier’s story about the Priest and the Rabbi? If the soldier describes it as this eye-opening experience, what does the General’s reaction say about his interpretation of the story?
The Two Gunners
3)What is it about these two men that sticks out to the nurse? She ponders writing to the family of the dying man. Why does she seem to have such a strange, intimate relationship to them in comparison to the other soldiers that she has treated?
This line greatly stuck out to me: “For a moment he stared into my eyes, then he turned his head away again, shutting me out. I was dismissed, he has nothing to say to me” (Borden, 111). What are the implications behind this statement, particularly based on the usage of the phrases “turned away” and “shutting out?” Is it possible that the strangeness of their actions causes her to feel disrespected, or is she simply so shocked at the feeling of being unwanted by the dying man that lays before her?
Emily Koberlein’s review of “A Bear Named Winnie”
A Bear Named Winnie (2004) is based on the true story of Captain Harry Coleman who rescued a bear cub on his way to camp. He is a member of the army veterinary corps and on his way to take care of soldier’s horses during World War I. The author A.A. Milne visited Winnie in the London Zoo with his son Christopher, and Winnie’s charm inspired him to write and develop the children’s book character known as Winnie the pooh.
This movie begins in Canada in 1914, just before Captain Harry Coleman is set to leave for camp. He purchases a bear for $20 from a hunter who shot her mother, and is able to sneak her on the train with him by identifying her as the veterinary corps’s mascot. Winnie shares a tent with Harry and Macray, who take care of her while looking after the horses and other animals in the army. Winnie gets herself into trouble throughout the movie and is an escape artist, though the whole group bonds with her and spends any free time they have playing with her. She is a real morale booster that allows the men to come together to promote something positive while preparing to move to England and then over to the front lines. They try to release her back into the wilderness, but it is clear that Winnie has become dependent upon human interaction. Harry and Mcray sneak Winnie to England with them, but they know she cannot be brought to the front lines. They take her to the London zoo, where she ultimately remains a permanent member.
The shooting of this movie is fairly standard, there is nothing really unique about the way it is filmed in regards to visuals. However, there are elements of this movie that give it a certain level of charisma and allow the viewer to connect with the events that are unfolding. The transitions are what truly stick out. From the very beginning, the dates are displayed so that it is clear what moments are the present day, flashbacks, and the locations where the events are unfolding. Furthermore, my favorite part of this movie was the upbeat, ragtime piano music that was used for a majority of transitions. It almost is reminiscent of a silent film; this music was played when Winnie escaped from her post and was wandering through the camp, but also when there were montages of Winnie learning how to collect food and growing. This was a unique way to portray time passing; very little elements of this movie focused on the war itself. It was primarily upbeat, lighthearted, and focused around the life and circumstances surrounding Winnie and how she came to be in the London Zoo. The war itself was merely an obstacle on her journey, rather than an influencing factor or any main plot point.
The actors were very well chosen for this movie. Michael Fassbender portrays Captain Harry Coleman, and Jonathan Young plays Macray. Fassbender is able to capture the stern outer shell of a man touched by the war, but he captivates the audience with his undeniable connection to animals and boyish charm. Macray is a stereotypical nerdy sidekick, with a soft spot for an older horse that he is unable to part with. The General and the Colonel were portrayed by harsh, brunt men who could not be bothered by things as insignificant as a mascot. However, as the movie continues the Colonel is touched by Winnie’s spirit, and the sense of comradeship she instills in the men of the artillery she represents.
Overall this film was sweet to watch. I was brought to tears when they tried to return her to the wild, but I do have a soft spot for animals in movies. The directors were able to create a sense of loyalty between the viewer and Winnie by starting the film by showing the hunter killing her mother and selling her to escape the guilt of orphaning her. It was an interesting story to learn the context of, and there are some very heartfelt moments. It reminded me of a family movie that is not quite a Disney movie. While I did enjoy this movie, I could not say I would watch it again, though I would recommend it to someone who was interested in Winnie the Pooh and its origin story.
Group Work Reflection, Mrs. O
We shared a few interesting perspectives on the mystery surrounding Mrs. O’s death at the end of “Mrs. Ogilvy Finds Herself.” Mari brought up an interesting point about reincarnation and the possibility of Mrs. O reliving different elements of a previous life. I personally did not think about this during my first reading, however, as we talked more about it I thought that that was a very valid interpretation. We did have a bit of debate about how it is that she died in this cave and the significance of how she got to the area where they found her body. The point of her hands being constantly in her pockets caught my attention, as walking with your hands in your pockets can be extremely dangerous if you were to fall or trip as it prevents you from being able to effectively brace yourself from encountering serious harm. I definitely interpreted her death as more of an accident rather than a suicide, though it did not surprise me that she was dead at the end of the story. Perhaps she was having some sort of out-of-body experience, and when she was jostled in her flashback/ dreamlike state she startled herself. With her hands being in her pockets as she fell in the cave she was unable to properly brace herself or do anything to prevent her peril. If we were to follow along the interpretation that Mrs. O is having some kind of connection to a past life, I wonder if the moment that the women in the flashback is experiencing a physical altercation where the man rapes her, if that were to be the moment when Mrs. O’s physical body was experiencing strife. If at this moment where she in her vision/flashback, is enduring rape that she is physically falling in the cave, as if she were unable to control her literal body while her mental presence is in another place. Overall, I thought that the group work was really beneficial. It was interesting to hear others interpretations of the short stories in a more personal conversation.