Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Robinson Crusoe Sub-Themes / Minor Themes

Gratitude
Friday is dedicated to Crusoe, the man who saves
him from being eaten by the cannibals.
The second English ship’s captain is grateful
to Crusoe for rescuing him from the mutineers.

Power and Control
Crusoe lives on the deserted island for twenty-eight years.
He makes it his comfortable home. He has control over Nature there.
During his rescue of Friday, he kills a cannibal. A grateful Friday
is willing to be his slave. Crusoe teaches Friday to speak in
English and about his religious beliefs. Thus, Crusoe has power over Friday.
Crusoe is viewed as owner and lord of the island. Crusoe is also
able to bring peace between the Spanish and the English
living on the island. He divides the island between the two
groups and this proves his control over the island and its inhabitants.

Faith in God
Robinson Crusoe has great faith in God. He does not give up
hope when he is shipwrecked and finds himself all alone
on a deserted island. His faith that God will sustain him
through the many trials in life keeps him going.
Crusoe says, ‘All… God for an answer.” (p. 41, para. 3)
Crusoe’s strong belief in God is also seen when he teaches
Friday about the goodness and power that comes with having faith in God.

Good versus Evil
Robinson Crusoe shows that good triumphs over
evil when he helps Friday to escape from the cannibals.
Crusoe also teaches Friday about God’s
goodness and how it triumphs over the Devil’s evilness.
The mutineers who are disloyal to their captain are
finally overcome by the ‘good’ forces of Crusoe and Friday.

Robinson Crusoe Main themes

Courage and Determination
Robinson Crusoe’s parents want him to become a lawyer but Crusoe is
determined to become a sailor. He leaves home without his parents’
blessing and works hard to become a good sailor.
He shows great courage when he escapes from his Turkish master.
He ensures he has guns and food before he escapes.
When he is shipwrecked on a deserted island, Crusoe overcomes great
obstacles to survive. He struggles alone in order to carry food, equipment
and other materials from the ship so that he can make a life for himself until
he is rescued. He builds two homes, a raft and a canoe. He is also able to
make tools and plant enough food for himself and his companions.
He shows great courage when he saves Friday, Friday’s father, the Spaniard
and the second English sea captain. He does all this
at the risk of being captured and eaten by the cannibals!

Importance of Hard Work
It is important to work hard as this makes you disciplined and successful
in life. Robinson Crusoe is a good example of a man who is fearless,
positive and hard-working. Instead of complaining about his fate,
he looks at the situation and does what is needed to make the situation
better. For example, he salvages useful items from the sinking ship,
makes a canoe and safe shelters for himself, and hunt for food.
He creates a comfortable life for himself and is able to survive on
the island for twenty-eight years.

Friendship and Loyalty
Humans need friendship and good relationships with others.
When Crusoe runs away to London, he makes friends with
a ship’s captain who grows to like and trust him. He teaches
Crusoe mathematics and navigation until Crusoe becomes a good sailor.
Crusoe is a friendly and sociable person. The captain invites
Crusoe to go with him to Guinea, thus starting Crusoe’s involvement
in business and sailing. Crusoe also makes many friends while farming in Brazil.
When Crusoe gets shipwrecked on the island, he is desolate
and miserable. Deprived of human company, he finds comfort and companionship with two dogs he rescues from the shipwreck, the parrot and the cats.During his twenty-fifth year on the island, he manages to save a savage from a group of cannibals who land on the island. This man is so grateful that he wants to be Crusoe’s slave. However, Crusoe prefers him to be a friend. Crusoe teaches him to eat animal flesh, speak English and share his religious beliefs. Friday, as Crusoe calls him, becomes his faithful companion and friend. Crusoe also becomes a friend to the Spanish and English mutineers who were left on the island. He solves their disputes and helps them to form friendships with each other.

Relationship with Nature
Humans are part of Nature and, therefore, should live and work harmony with Nature. Crusoe is a man at peace with Nature. He loves the sea and the outdoors. So when he is marooned on the island and finds himself alone with only Nature as his companion, he adapts easily.He is quick to use things from Nature to help him survive.He uses the trees and plants to build himself a canoe and homes, ant to provide him with food.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Synonyms

abduct
kidnap

leery
cautious

abhor
detest

legacy
bequest

above
over

legible
readable

abridge
shorten

licentious
lewd

abroad
overseas

listen
hear

abrogate
cancel

lithe
supple

abstain
refrain

little
small

accord
agreement

livid
enraged

admit
confess

loathe
abhor

adversary
opponent

lofty
high

affable
friendly

logo
symbol

aggravate
worsen

look
see

agree
consent

loquacious
talkative

air
discuss

lost
misplaced

akin
related

loving
fond

alive
lively

loyal
true

allocate
distribute

lucrative
profitable

allow
permit

ludicrous
absurd

also
too

luminous
bright

ameliorate
improve

lure
entice

amount
quantity

luster
gloss

annul
cancel

luxuriant
lush

answer
response

macabre
gruesome

appease
pacify

mad
insane

arraign
indict

maelstrom
whirlpool

ask
Inquire, request

magnitude
size

assembly
gathering

malice
spite

assent
agree

margin
edge

attire
dress

meager
scanty

avarice
greed

mean
cruel

baby
infant

messy
untidy

bad
evil

middle
center

badger
pester

misshapen
deformed

beg
implore

moral
ethical

begin
commence

morsel
piece

behaviour
conduct

mundane
ordinary

belief
opinion

name
title

benevolent
kind

narrate
tell

berate
scold

near
close

big
large

nefarious
evil

bilk
swindle

negate
cancel

blamed
accused

negligible
insignificant

blank
empty

nepotism
favouritism

bliss
happiness

new
unused, modern

bottom
foot

noisy
rowdy

brave
daring, bold

noted
well-known

brawn
strength

obey
submit

bright
shinning

obstinate
stubborn

broad
wide

odyssey
journey

brook
tolerate

often
frequently

bucolic
rustic

old
ancient

build
construct

omen
sign

busy
active

omnipotent
all-powerful

buy
purchase

omniscient
all-knowing

calamity
disaster

oppress
persecute

canon
rule

opulence
wealth

capitulate
surrender

oral
verbal

careen
swerve

orator
speaker

careful
cautious

outset
beginning

careful
cautious

outside
exterior

castigate
criticize

ovation
applause

catastrophic
disastrous

pacify
appease

catch
capture

paltry
scarce

caucus
meeting

pandemic
widespread

cavort
frolic

paranormal
supernatural

cede
Relinquish

parcel
package

celestial
heavenly

part
portion

centre
middle

patent
obvious

champion
winner

paucity
scarcity

change
alter

peddle
sell

cheat
deceive

pen
write

chide
scold

perhaps
maybe

choose
select

perilous
dangerous

chubby
plump

perish
die

circumspect
cautious

persevere
persist

clemency
forgiveness

pertinent
relevant

clergyman
minister

pick
choose

close
near

pious
devout

clothes
dress

placate
appease

clout
influence

plentiful
abundant

coagulate
thicken

policeman
constable

coddle
pamper

polite
courteous

coercion
force

poor
destitute

collusion
conspiracy

port
harbour

commend
praise

portion
piece

commodity
product

praise
compliment

compulsory
obligatory

prank
joke

concise
brief

pretty
beautiful,

attractive

concur
agree

protect
guard

confer
bestow

pull
drag

conversant
familiar

purloin
steal

converse
opposite

push
thrust

copy
imitate

putrefy
decay

cordial
friendly

quack
charlatan

correct
accurate

qualms
misgivings

courtesan
prostitute

quay
wharf

covert
secret

queen
empress

crave
desire

queue
line

culvert
drain

quick
rapid

cunning
sly

quiet
peaceful

cure
remedy

quill
feather

curtail
shorten

quip
joke

damp
moist

rare
scarce

dangerous
risky

rarely
seldom

deadly
fatal

rash
hasty

dear
expensive

read
peruse

dearth
scarcity

ready
alert

debilitate
weaken

real
genuine

deceive
trick

reap
harvest

decimate
destroy

rebuke
reprimand

decipher
decode

receptacle
container

decrease
reduce

reckless
rash

deduce
conclude

recollect
remember

deleterious
harmful

rectify
correct

delude
deceive

recur
repeat

demeanour
behaviour

red
ruddy

demise
death

reek
smell

demobilize
disband

regal
royal

demoralize
dishearten

rein
curb

denigrate
defame

rejoice
celebrate

denounce
condemn

relic
antique

depart
leave

remain
stay

deplete
exhaust

remedial
corrective

deride
ridicule

remember
recollect

desecrate
profane

remnant
residue

desiccate
dehydrate

remorse
guilt

despot
tyrant

renown
fame

destitute
poor

replenish
refill

detain
confine

retain
keep

detrimental
harmful

revenue
income

devise
plan

rich
wealthy

devout
pious

rift
split

diabolical
devilish

riot
revolt

diffident
shy

roam
wander

discernible
visible

robust
vigorous

discreet
prudent

rostrum
podium

disease
sickness

rough
coarse

disfigure
mar

round
circular

dismal
gloomy

rude
impolite

disorder
chaos

rue
regret

dispatch
send

rule
govern

disperse
scatter

ruse
trick

disseminate
distribute

rustic
rural

distend
swell

sack
pillage

distract
divert

sad
unhappy

diversity
variety

safe
secure

divulge
disclose

saga
story

dodder
tremble

sanction
approval

dull
gloomy

saturate
soak

dumb
mute

savour
relish

duress
coercion

scant
inadequate

eatable
edible

scared
frightened

ebb
recede

scatter
disperse

eccentric
odd, weird

schism
rift

edifice
building

scion
offspring

efficacious
effective

scorn
disdain

egocentric
self-centered

sear
burn

electorate
voters

secede
withdraw

elucidate
explain

seclusion
solitude

elude
evade

seduce
lure

empty
vacant

seldom
rarely

end
conclusion

semblance
likeness

enemy
foe

separate
sever

enough
sufficient

serene
peaceful

ensnare
trap, lure

sham
pretense

enterprise
undertaking

sheen
luster

entice
lure

short
brief

entreat
plead

shorten
abbreviate

envoy
messenger

show
exhibit

ephemeral
short-lived

shun
avoid

epoch
era

sibling
brother/sister

equitable
fair

sick
ill

error
mistake

siege
blockage

escape
elude

silent
quiet

exorbitant
expensive

silly
foolish

exorcise
expel

simple
easy

fable
myth

sinister
evil

fall
drop

site
location

false
untrue, wrong

skeptical
doubtful

fantasy
daydream

slay
kill

far
distant

sleepy
drowsy

feather
plume

slim
slender

feign
pretend

sloth
laziness

fertile
fruitful

smart
intelligent

fidelity
loyalty

smell
scent

fierce
ferocious

smite
strike

fight
battle

snare
trap

filch
steal

snub
ignore

find
discover

sovereign
monarch

first
initial

specimen
sample

fiscal
monetary

squalid
filthy

flagellate
whip

squander
waste

float
drift

static
inactive

force
compel

steed
horse

foretell
predict

stern
strict

free
release

stick
adhere

friend
companion, ally

stifle
suppress

friend
ally

stimulate
excite

funny
amusing

stingy
miserly

furtive
stealthy

stop
halt

gain
profit

strange
odd

game
recreation

strife
conflict

gargantuan
large

strive
endeavour

garrulous
talkative

strong
powerful

gather
collect

student
pupil

gay
cheerful

studious
diligent

general
common

style
fashion

genesis
beginning

subdue
conquer

ghastly
horrible

submit
yield

give
donate

subside
diminish

glad
happy

succulent
juicy

glaring
dazzling

superb
excellent

gnarl
deform

surmount
overcome

gory
bloody

surprise
astonishment

guest
visitor

surrender
yield

guffaw
laughter

surround
encircle

habit
custom

susceptible
vulnerable

habituate
accustom

sustenance
food

hale
healthy

swamp
marsh

hallucination
delusion

taint
pollute

hamper
obstruct

talk
conversation

hapless
unlucky

talon
claw

harangue
tirade

tangible
touchable

hard
difficult

tarnish
taint

hate
detest

taut
tight

haven
refuge

teach
educate

height
altitude

teacher
instructor

help
assist

tedious
boring

herald
harbinger

tempest
storm

hew
cut

tempo
speed

hide
conceal

tempt
entice

hideous
horrible

tenet
doctrine

high
tall

tepid
lukewarm

home
residence

terse
concise

hone
sharpen

tested
tried

horde
group

thief
burglar

hue
colour

thin
lean

hug
embrace

thrive
prosper

huge
enormous

throng
crowd

humane
compassionate

titillate
arouse

hygienic
sanitary

titular
figurehead

hyperbole
exaggeration

toil
drudgery

idiosyncrasy
peculiarity

top
summit

illicit
unlawful

trail
path

illimitable
limitless

tranquilize
calm, anesthetize

illustrious
famous

transient
temporary

imbibe
drink

transitory
fleeting

imitate
copy

traverse
cross

immaterial
irrelevant

trek
journey

immense
huge

trick
hoax

impale
pierce

trite
commonplace

impasse
deadlock

trust
believe

impassive
calm

try
attempt

impeccable
faultless

twain
two

impede
hinder

tyrannical
dictatorial

impending
imminent

ubiquitous
omnipresent

imperil
endanger

ulterior
hidden, covert

implicate
incriminate

unassuming
modest

implore
entreat

uncanny
mysterious

inculcate
instill

under
beneath

incursion
raid

undermine
weaken

indelible
permanent

underscore
emphasize

indigent
poor

understand
comprehend

indiscriminate
random

unduly
excessive

indolent
lazy

unison
together

industrious
hardworking

usually
generally

inexorable
relentless

utter
complete

infamous
notorious

vacant
empty

infamy
shame

vacillate
waver

infer
conclude

vain
unsuccessful

infirmity
ailment

valiant
brave

influx
inflow

value
worth

infraction
violation

vanish
disappear

infuriate
enrage

vanquish
conquer

inhibit
restrain

vehement
adamant

iniquitous
unjust

vendetta
feud

initiate
begin

venom
poison

inkling
hint

venue
location

innate
inborn

verbose
wordy

innocuous
harmless

verdict
decision

innuendo
insinuation

veto
reject

inordinate
excessive

vex
annoy

inquisitive
curious

vicious
evil, cruel

inscribe
engrave

victory
triumph

inside
interior

vie
compete

insignia
emblems

vilify
defame

insolvent
bankrupt

virile
manly, strong

instigate
incite

vital
necessary

inter
bury

vocation
occupation

interesting
fascinating

vogue
fashion

intrepid
fearless

volatile
unstable

intricate
complex

vulgarity
obscenity

intrigue
plot

vulnerable
susceptible

intrinsic
inherent

wager
bet

inundate
flood

wages
salary

involve
implicate

waive
forgo

irate
angry

wallow
indulge

irrational
illogical

want
need

jeer
mock

watch
look

jest
joke

weak
feeble

jocular
humorous

wet
damp

join
connect

whet
stimulate

jostle
push

whole
entire

judicious
prudent

wither
shrivel

jump
leap

wonder
amazement

just
fair

woo
court

kudos
acclaim

wrath
anger, fury

last
final

wrest
snatch

lazy
indolent

writ
summons

least
minimum

yearly
annually

leave
abandon

young
youthful

Antonym

absence presence
accept refuse
accurate inaccurate
advantage disadvantage
alive dead
always never
ancient modern
answer question, query
approval disapproval
approached receded, departed
abundant scarce
admit deny
advance retreat, retire
artificial natural
arrival departure
ascend descend
attack defense
attractive repulsive
attention inattention
asleep awake
ally enemy
agree disagree
bad good
backward forward, onward
bend straighten
beautiful ugly
beginning ending
below above
bent straight
big small, little
blunt sharp
better worse
best worst
blame praise
bless curse
bitter sweet
borrow lend
bravery cowardice
build destroy, demolish
bold timid, meek
bright dull
broad narrow
clear vague, cloudy
careful rush, careless
calm troubled
capable incapable
captivity freedom, liberty
cellar attic
cheap dear, expensive
close distant
clever stupid
cold hot
combine separate
clockwise anti-clockwise
correct incorrect
conceal reveal
come go
common rare
comfort discomfort
courage cowardice
cruel kind
courteous discourteous, rude
cunning simple
dainty clumsy
danger safety
dark light
deep shallow
decrease increase
definite indefinite
demand supply
despair hope
disappear appear
disease health
discourage encourage
dismal cheerful
doctor patient
dry wet
dull clear, bright
dusk dawn
early late
easy difficult
ebb flow
East West
economise waste
encourage discourage
entrance exit
employer employee
empty full
excited calm
end beginning
expand contract
expensive inexpensive, cheap
export import
exterior interior
external internal
fail succeed
false true
feeble sturdy, strong, powerful
foolish wise
fast slow
few many
famous unknown
forelegs hind legs
fat thin
find lose
first last
freedom captivity
fold unfold
frequent seldom
forget remember
found lost
fresh stale
friend enemy
fortunate unfortunate
frank secretive
full empty
generous mean
gentle rough
gather distribute
glad sorry
gloomy cheerful
giant dwarf, pygmy
granted refused
great minute, small, little
guardian ward
guest host
guilty innocent
happy sad, miserable
hard soft
harmful harmless
hasten dawdle
hate love
healthy unhealthy, ill, diseased
here there
heavy light
height depth
hero coward
hill valley
horizontal vertical
hinder aid, help
honest dishonest
humble proud
hunger thirst
imitation genuine
immense tiny, minute
imprison free
include exclude
increase decrease
inhabited uninhabited
inferior superior
inside outside
intelligent unintelligent, stupid
inhale exhale
interior exterior, outside
interesting uninteresting, dull
internal external
intentional accidental
join separate
junior senior
justice injustice
king subject
knowledge ignorance
laugh cry
lawful unlawful
lazy industrious, energetic
land sea
landlord tenant
large little, small
last first
lawyer client
lecturer student
lender borrower
lengthen shorten
left right
less more
light dark, heavy
like dislike, unlike
likely unlikely
leader follower
little large, much, big
lofty lowly
long short
loud soft
loss find, win
low high
loyal disloyal
mad sane
magnetize demagnetize
master servant
mature immature
maximum minimum
me you
merry mirthless, sad
minority majority
miser spendthrift
misunderstand understand
narrow wide
near far, distant
neat untidy
new old
night day
noisy quiet
North South
obedient disobedient
odd even
offer refuse
open shut
optimist pessimist
out in
parent child
past present
patient impatient
peace war
permanent temporary
please displease
plentiful scarce
poetry prose
possible impossible
poverty wealth
powerful feeble, weak
polite impolite, rude
private public
prudent imprudent
pretty unsightly, ugly
pure impure
qualified unqualified
rapid slow
regularly irregularly
rich poor
right wrong, left
rigid pliable, soft
rough smooth
satisfactory unsatisfactory
security insecurity
scatter collect
serious trivial
second-hand new
sense nonsense
shopkeeper customer
singular plural
simple complicated
slim thick, stout
solid liquid
sober drunk
speaker listener
sour sweet
sorrow joy
sow reap
stand lie
straight crooked
strong weak
success failure
sunny cloudy
take give
tall short
tame wild
teacher pupil
thick thin
tight slack, loose
top bottom
transparent opaque
truth untruth, lie
up down
vacant occupied
valuable valueless
victory defeat
virtue vice
visible invisible
voluntary compulsory
vowel consonant
wax wane
wisdom folly
within without

Analogy

Reasoning or explaining from parallel cases. A simile is an expressed analogy; a metaphor is an implied one.

•"Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo."
(Don Marquis)



•"Being obsessed with deficit reduction when the economy has suffered its largest setback since the Depression is like being obsessed with water conservation when your house is on fire--an admirable impulse, poorly timed."
(Daniel Gross, "A Birder's Guide to D.C." Newsweek, Nov. 16, 2009)



•"Harrison Ford is like one of those sports cars that advertise acceleration from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in three or four seconds. He can go from slightly broody inaction to ferocious reaction in approximately the same time span. And he handles the tight turns and corkscrew twists of a suspense story without losing his balance or leaving skid marks on the film. But maybe the best and most interesting thing about him is that he doesn't look particularly sleek, quick, or powerful; until something or somebody causes him to gun his engine, he projects the seemly aura of the family sedan."
(Richard Schickel, Time magazine review of Patriot Games)



•"If I had not agreed to review this book, I would have stopped after five pages. After 600, I felt as if I were inside a bass drum banged on by a clown."
(Richard Brookhiser, "Land Grab." The New York Times, Aug. 12, 2007)



•"One good analogy is worth three hours discussion."
(Dudley Field Malone)



•"MTV is to music as KFC is to chicken."
(Lewis Black)



•"Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup."
(Elizabeth Bowen, The House in Paris, 1949)

Imperatives

Imperatives are verbs used to give orders, commands and instructions. The form used is usually the same as the base form. It is one of the three moods of an English verb. Imperatives should be used carefully in English; to give firm orders or commands, but not as much when trying to be polite or show respect to the other person.

•"Think Small."
(slogan of Volkswagen)



•"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
(Mark Twain)



•"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back."
(Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game")



•"Seek simplicity, and distrust it."
(Alfred North Whitehead)



•Westley: Give us the gate key.
Yellin: I have no gate key.
Inigo Montoya: Fezzik, tear his arms off.
Yellin: Oh, you mean this gate key.
(The Princess Bride, 1987)



•"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
(President John Kennedy, 1961)



•"Leave the gun. [pause] Take the cannolis."
(Clemenza in The Godfather, 1972)



•"Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia!"
(El Jefe, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, 1974)



•"Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face!"
(John Candy as Buck Russell in Uncle Buck, 1989)



•"Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force."
(Darth Vader, Star Wars, 1977)



•"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
(Ernest Hemingway)



•"Forget them, Wendy. Forget them all. Come with me where you'll never, never have to worry about grown up things again."
(Peter in film adaptation of Peter Pan, 2003)

Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal English that have a meaning different from the meaning of the words in the expression.

20 Common Idiomatic Expressions
& Their Meanings

1. She was tickled pink by the good news.


•Made very happy

2. You were hands down the best player on the team.


•There was no competition

3. I've been feeling pretty down in the dumps lately.


•Sad or depressed

4. I'm feeling sick as a dog!


•Very sick

5. I've been feeling under the weather.


•Not well

6. Rise and shine!


•Wake up and be happy!

7. Close, but no cigar.


•You were very close, but you did not make it.

8. I could play outside till the cows come home.


•For a very long time

9. Wow! It's raining cats and dogs out there!


•Very hard rain

10. That sound is driving me up the wall!


•Making me very annoyed

11. This assignment is a piece of cake.


•Very easy

12. Although he broke the rules, he was only given a slap on the wrist.


•A mild punishment

13. Yikes! This shirt costs an arm and a leg.


•It is extremely expensive.

14. No, I was just pulling your leg.


•Just joking

15. It's Greek to me!


•I don't understand.

16. Keep your chin up.


•Be happy.

17. Hold your horses.


•Be patient.

18. We're all in the same boat.


•All of us are in the same position.

19. He's a bit of a loose cannon.


•Unpredictable

20. I will clean my room when pigs fly.


•Never

Adjectives

Appearance


adorable
adventurous
aggressive
alert
attractive
average
beautiful
blue-eyed
bloody
blushing
bright
clean
clear
cloudy
colorful
crowded
cute
dark
drab
distinct
dull
elegant
excited
fancy
filthy Appearance
Contd.

glamorous
gleaming
gorgeous
graceful
grotesque
handsome
homely
light
long
magnificent
misty
motionless
muddy
old-fashioned
plain
poised
precious
quaint
shiny
smoggy
sparkling
spotless
stormy
strange
ugly
ugliest
unsightly
unusual
wide-eyed Condition


alive
annoying
bad
better
beautiful
brainy
breakable
busy
careful
cautious
clever
clumsy
concerned
crazy
curious
dead
different
difficult
doubtful
easy
expensive
famous
fragile
frail
gifted
helpful
helpless
horrible
important
Condition
Contd.

impossible
inexpensive
innocent
inquisitive
modern
mushy
odd
open
outstanding
poor
powerful
prickly
puzzled
real
rich
shy
sleepy
stupid
super
talented
tame
tender
tough
uninterested
vast
wandering
wild
wrong Feelings (Bad)



angry
annoyed
anxious
arrogant
ashamed
awful
bad
bewildered
black
blue
bored
clumsy
combative
condemned
confused
crazy, flipped-out
creepy
cruel
dangerous
defeated
defiant
depressed
disgusted
disturbed
dizzy
dull
embarrassed
envious
evil
fierce
foolish
frantic
frightened
grieving Feelings (Bad)
Contd.

grumpy
helpless
homeless
hungry
hurt
ill
itchy
jealous
jittery
lazy
lonely
mysterious
nasty
naughty
nervous
nutty
obnoxious
outrageous
panicky
repulsive
scary
selfish
sore
tense
terrible
testy
thoughtless
tired
troubled
upset
uptight
weary
wicked
worried
Feelings (Good)


agreeable
amused
brave
calm
charming
cheerful
comfortable
cooperative
courageous
delightful
determined
eager
elated
enchanting
encouraging
energetic
enthusiastic
excited
exuberant
fair
faithful
fantastic
fine
friendly
funny
gentle
glorious
good Feelings (Good)
Contd.

happy
healthy
helpful
hilarious
jolly
joyous
kind
lively
lovely
lucky
nice
obedient
perfect
pleasant
proud
relieved
silly
smiling
splendid
successful
thankful
thoughtful
victorious
vivacious
witty
wonderful
zealous
zany Shape


broad
chubby
crooked
curved
deep
flat
high
hollow
low
narrow
round
shallow
skinny
square
steep
straight
wide Size


big
colossal
fat
gigantic
great
huge
immense
large
little
mammoth
massive
miniature
petite
puny
scrawny
short
small
tall
teeny
teeny-tiny
tiny
Sound


cooing
deafening
faint
harsh
high-pitched
hissing
hushed
husky
loud
melodic
moaning
mute
noisy
purring
quiet
raspy
resonant
screeching
shrill
silent
soft
squealing
thundering
voiceless
whispering Time


ancient
brief
Early
fast
late
long
modern
old
old-fashioned
quick
rapid
short
slow
swift
young
Taste/Touch


bitter
delicious
fresh
juicy
ripe
rotten
salty
sour
spicy
stale
sticky
strong
sweet
tart
tasteless
tasty
thirsty
fluttering
fuzzy
greasy
grubby
hard
hot
icy
loose


Taste/Touch
Contd.

melted
nutritious
plastic
prickly
rainy
rough
scattered
shaggy
shaky
sharp
shivering
silky
slimy
slippery
smooth
soft
solid
steady
sticky
tender
tight
uneven
weak
wet
wooden
yummy

Touch


boiling
breezy
broken
bumpy
chilly
cold
cool
creepy
crooked
cuddly
curly
damaged
damp
dirty
dry
dusty
filthy
flaky
fluffy
freezing
hot
warm
wet




Quantity


abundant
empty
few
heavy
light
many
numerous
substantial

idioms

A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:
Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.

A Blessing In Disguise:
Something good that isn't recognized at first.

A Chip On Your Shoulder:
Being upset for something that happened in the past.

A Dime A Dozen:
Anything that is common and easy to get.

A Doubting Thomas:
A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.

A Drop in the Bucket:
A very small part of something big or whole.

A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted:
It's easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money.

A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand:
Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.

A Leopard Can't Change His Spots:
You cannot change who you are.

A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned:
By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words:
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

A Piece of Cake:
A task that can be accomplished very easily.

A Slap on the Wrist:
A very mild punishment.

A Taste Of Your Own Medicine:
When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.

A Toss-Up:
A result that is still unclear and can go either way.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words:
It's better to actually do something than just talk about it.

Add Fuel To The Fire:
Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.

Against The Clock:
Rushed and short on time.

All Bark And No Bite:
When someone is threatening and/or aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.

All Greek to me:
Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or understand any of the Greek language would be.

All In The Same Boat:
When everyone is facing the same challenges.

An Arm And A Leg:
Very expensive. A large amount of money.

An Axe To Grind:
To have a dispute with someone.

Apple of My Eye:
Someone who is cherished above all others.

As High As A Kite:
Anything that is high up in the sky.

At The Drop Of A Hat:
Willing to do something immediately.


B

Back Seat Driver:
People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.

Back To Square One:
Having to start all over again.

Back To The Drawing Board:
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.

Baker's Dozen:
Thirteen.

Barking Up The Wrong Tree:
A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.

Beat A Dead Horse:
To force an issue that has already ended.

Beating Around The Bush:
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.

Bend Over Backwards:
Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.

Between A Rock And A Hard Place:
Stuck between two very bad options.

Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:
To take on a task that is way to big.

Bite Your Tongue:
To avoid talking.

Blood Is Thicker Than Water:
The family bond is closer than anything else.

Blue Moon:
A rare event or occurance.

Break A Leg:
A superstitious way to say 'good luck' without saying 'good luck', but rather the opposite.

Buy A Lemon:
To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.



C

Can't Cut The Mustard :
Someone who isn't adequate enough to compete or participate.

Cast Iron Stomach:
Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.

Charley Horse:
Stiffness in the leg / A leg cramp.

Chew someone out:
Verbally scold someone.

Chip on his Shoulder:
Angry today about something that occured in the past.

Chow Down:
To eat.

Close but no Cigar:
To be very near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short.

Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.

Come Hell Or High Water:
Any difficult situation or obstacle.

Crack Someone Up:
To make someone laugh.

Cross Your Fingers:
To hope that something happens the way you want it to.

Cry Over Spilt Milk:
When you complain about a loss from the past.

Cry Wolf:
Intentionally raise a false alarm.

Cup Of Joe:
A cup of coffee.

Curiosity Killed The Cat:
Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.

Cut to the Chase:
Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.



D

Dark Horse:
One who was previously unknown and is now prominent.

Dead Ringer:
100% identical. A duplicate.

Devil's Advocate:
Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the arguement. It can also mean one who presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in, to another debater.

Dog Days of Summer:
The hottest days of the summer season.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch:
Don't rely on it until your sure of it.

Don't Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth:
When someone gives you a gift, don't be ungrateful.

Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket:
Do not put all your resources in one possibility.

Doozy:
Something outstanding.

Down To The Wire:
Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds.

Drastic Times Call For Drastic Measures:
When you are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate actions.

Drink like a fish:
To drink very heavily.

Drive someone up the wall:
To irritate and/or annoy very much.

Dropping Like Flies:
A large number of people either falling ill or dying.

Dry Run:
Rehearsal.



E

Eighty Six:
A certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to throw away.

Elvis has left the building:
The show has come to an end. It's all over.

Ethnic Cleansing:
Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale.

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining:
Be optomistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink:
Almost everything and anything has been included.

Excuse my French:
Please forgive me for cussing.

Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.

Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.



F

Feeding Frenzy:
An aggressive attack on someone by a group.

Field Day:
An enjoyable day or circumstance.

Finding Your Feet:
To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.

Finger lickin' good:
A very tasty food or meal.

Fixed In Your Ways:
Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.

Flash In The Pan:
Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.

Flea Market:
A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.

Flesh and Blood:
This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to someone's family.

Flip The Bird:
To raise your middle finger at someone.

Foam at the Mouth:
To be enraged and show it.

Fools' Gold:
Iron pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold.

French Kiss:
An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.

From Rags To Riches:
To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.

Fuddy-duddy:
An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.

Full Monty:
This idiom can mean either, "the whole thing" or "completely nude".

Funny Farm:
A mental institutional facility.



G

Get Down to Brass Tacks:
To become serious about something.

Get Over It:
To move beyond something that is bothering you.

Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed:
Someone who is having a horrible day.

Get Your Walking Papers:
Get fired from a job.

Give Him The Slip:
To get away from. To escape.

Go Down Like A Lead Balloon:
To be received badly by an audience.

Go For Broke:
To gamble everything you have.

Go Out On A Limb:
Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something.

Go The Extra Mile:
Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.

Good Samaritan:
Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation, and no thought of a reward.

Graveyard Shift:
Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.

Great Minds Think Alike:
Intelligent people think like each other.

Green Room:
The waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a tv or radio show.

Gut Feeling:
A personal intuition you get, especially when feel something may not be right.



H

Haste Makes Waste:
Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.

Hat Trick:
When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can also mean three scores in any other sport, such as 3 homeruns, 3 touchdowns, 3 soccer goals, etc.

Have an Axe to Grind:
To have a dispute with someone.

He Lost His Head:
Angry and overcome by emotions.

Head Over Heels:
Very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love.

Hell in a Handbasket:
Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.

High Five:
Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.

High on the Hog:
Living in Luxury.

Hit The Books:
To study, especially for a test or exam.

Hit The Hay:
Go to bed or go to sleep.

Hit The Nail on the Head:
Do something exactly right or say something exactly right.

Hit The Sack:
Go to bed or go to sleep.

Hocus Pocus:
In general, a term used in magic or trickery.

Hold Your Horses:
Be patient.



I

Icing On The Cake:
When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.

Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools:
You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.

If It's Not One Thing, It's Another:
When one thing goes wrong, then another, and another...

In Like Flynn:
To be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic.

In The Bag:
To have something secured.

In The Buff:
Nude.

In The Heat Of The Moment:
Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.

In Your Face:
An aggressive and bold confrontation.

It Takes Two To Tango:
A two person conflict where both people are at fault.

It's A Small World:
You frequently see the same people in different places.

Its Anyone's Call:
A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict.

Ivy League:
Since 1954 the Ivy League has been the following universities: Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard.



J

Jaywalk:
Crossing the street (from the middle) without using the crosswalk.

Joshing Me:
Tricking me.



K

Keep An Eye On Him:
You should carefully watch him.

Keep body and soul together:
To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive .

Keep your chin up:
To remain joyful in a tough situation.

Kick The Bucket:
Die.

Kitty-corner:
Diagonally across. Sometimes called Catty-Corner as well.

Knee Jerk Reaction:
A quick and automatic response.

Knock On Wood:
Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.

Know the Ropes:
To understand the details.



L

Last but not least:
An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him/her.

Lend Me Your Ear:
To politely ask for someone's full attention.

Let Bygones Be Bygones:
To forget about a disagreement or arguement.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie:
To avoid restarting a conflict.

Let The Cat Out Of The Bag:
To share a secret that wasn't suppose to be shared.

Level playing field:
A fair competition where no side has an advantage.

Like a chicken with its head cut off:
To act in a frenzied manner.

liquor someone up:
To get someone drunk.

Long in the Tooth:
Old people (or horses).

Loose Cannon:
Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.



M

Make No Bones About:
To state a fact so there are no doubts or objections.

Method To My Madness:
Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.

Mumbo Jumbo:
Nonsense or meaningless speech.

Mum's the word:
To keep quiet. To say nothing.



N

Nest Egg:
Savings set aside for future use.

Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You:
Don't hurt anyone that helps you.

New kid on the block:
Someone new to the group or area.

New York Minute:
A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in a fast paced environment.

No Dice:
To not agree. To not accept a proposition.

No Room to Swing a Cat:
An unsually small or confined space.

Not Playing With a Full Deck:
Someone who lacks intelligence.



O

Off On The Wrong Foot:
Getting a bad start on a relationship or task.

Off The Hook:
No longer have to deal with a tough situation.

Off the Record:
Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want attributed to him/her.

On Pins And Needles:
Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.

On The Fence:
Undecided.

On The Same Page:
When multiple people all agree on the same thing.

Out Of The Blue:
Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs.

Out On A Limb:
When someone puts themself in a risky situation.

Out On The Town:
To enjoy yourself by going out.

Over My Dead Body:
When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.

Over the Top:
Very excessive.



P

Pass The Buck:
Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.

Pedal to the metal:
To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.

Peeping Tom:
Someone who observes people in the nude or sexually active people, mainly for his own gratification.

Pick up your ears:
To listen very carefully.

Pig In A Poke:
A deal that is made without first examining it.

Pig Out :
To eat alot and eat it quickly.

Pipe Down:
To shut-up or be quiet.

Practice Makes Perfect:
By constantly practicing, you will become better.

Pull the plug:
To stop something. To bring something to an end.

Pulling Your Leg:
Tricking someone as a joke.

Put a sock in it:
To tell noisy person or a group to be quiet.



Q

Queer the pitch:
Destroy or ruin a plan.



R

Raincheck:
An offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later.

Raining Cats and Dogs:
A very loud and noisy rain storm.

Ring Fencing:
Seperated usual judgement to guarantee protection, especially project funds.

Rise and Shine:
Time to get out of bed and get ready for work/school.

Rome Was Not Built In One Day:
If you want something to be completely properly, then its going to take time.

Rule Of Thumb:
A rough estimate.

Run out of steam:
To be completely out of energy.



S

Saved By The Bell:
Saved at the last possible moment.

Scapegoat:
Someone else who takes the blame.

Scot-free:
To escape and not have to pay.

Sick As A Dog:
To be very sick (with the flu or a cold).

Sitting Shotgun:
Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.

Sixth Sense:
A paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead.

Skid Row:
The rundown area of a city where the homeless and drug users live.

Smell A Rat:
To detect somone in the group is betraying the others.

Smell Something Fishy:
Detecting that something isn't right and there might be a reason for it.

Son of a Gun:
A scamp.

Southpaw:
Someone who is left-handed.

Spitting Image:
The exact likeness or kind.

Start From Scratch:
To do it all over again from the beginning.



T

The Ball Is In Your Court:
It is your decision this time.

The Best Of Both Worlds:
There are two choices and you have them both.

The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall:
While the bigger and stronger opponent might be alot more difficult to beat, when you do they suffer a much bigger loss.

The Last Straw:
When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the last straw is the last small burden that one can take.

The Whole Nine Yards:
Everything. All of it.

Third times a charm:
After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.

Tie the knot:
To get married.

Til the cows come home:
A long time.

To Make A Long Story Short:
Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep his/her audience from losing attention. Usually the story isn't shortened.

To Steal Someone's Thunder:
To take the credit for something someone else did.

Tongue And Cheek:
humor, not to be taken serious.

Turn A Blind Eye:
Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.

Twenty three skidoo:
To be turned away.



U

Under the weather:
Feeling ill or sick.

Up a blind alley:
Going down a course of action that leads to a bad outcome.

Use Your Loaf:
Use your head. Think smart.



V

Van Gogh's ear for music:
Tone deaf.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life:
The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.



W

Wag the Dog:
A diversion away from something of greater importance.

Water Under The Bridge:
Anything from the past that isn't significant or important anymore.

Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve:
To openly and freely express your emotions.

When It Rains, It Pours:
Since it rarely rains, when it does it will be a huge storm.

When Pigs Fly :
Something that will never ever happen.

Wild and Woolly:
Uncultured and without laws.

Wine and Dine:
When somebody is treated to an expensive meal.

Without A Doubt:
For certain.


X

X marks the spot:
A phrase that is said when someone finds something he/she has been looking for.



Y

You Are What You Eat:
In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover:
Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance.

You Can't Take it With You:
Enjoy what you have and not what you don't have, since when you die you cannot take things (such as money) with you.

Your Guess Is As Good As Mine:
I have no idea.



Z

Zero Tolerance:
No crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Plan Your Work.... Work Your Plan

1.Idea (brainstorming)

2. 1 how 5 why

3. Do fish bone (mind map)

4. Do draft

5. Write

6. Read - Reread

7. Rewrite

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

How Heavy Is The Earth ?

How Heavy Is The Earth ?

Now despite science coming forward in leaps and bounds the simple question of how much the Earth weighs isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Certainly placing the earth onto a massive set of weighing scales isn’t an option. So how do we measure the total weight of the earth ?

Well scientists initially went about this task by trying to estimate the weight of a very large mountain and then simply scaling that figure up. However this method led to some peculiar results and since then the mathematics and calculations involved have changed taking into consideration further factors such as the volume and overall density of the planet.

If you combine the above with weighted samples of various parts of the planet scientists have come up with a more accurate number which they believe to be around 6 quadrillion kilograms. Mind boggling to say the least but if you think that’s a big number don’t forget to check out our article on the number Googol.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

impotance of internet

After the WTC attacks, the Internet played a key role in keeping communication going, performing as an efficient and stable network for thousands of effected workers in lower Manhattan when desk phones and cell phones had failed.

Unlike a telephone call, which requires a direct circuit connection between two telephone sets, data sent over the Internet consists of discrete packets that can follow different channels in a sequence over time and rejoin at the final destination, in a process known as packet switching. For that reason, important information was able to flow around damaged or destroyed cables and telephone switching equipment.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Importants Of Newspaper

“Nulla nuova, buona nuova” meaning no news is good news is a famous Italian usage. It may be true in the ambience of too much news of disturbing nature pouring in from all directions all the time nolens volens. But, news is sine qua non for active life. None can ignore the milieu in which he lives. Only news keeps us in touch with the milieu in which we live. It gives us the insight to the dynamics that form the environment around us, it be in local or regional or national or international level. Keeping doors shut from news renders us deadwood and leads to isolation from the world around us and ultimately to atrophy.

The main conveyor of news is newspaper. Though there are many other sources of news like magazines and books in print media, radio and television channels and Internet connections in electronic media, words of mouth and telephone and wireless communications etc, no other source ever could come near the newspaper in importance. It is true of the past and the present and it is true of the future also. Neither the advent of the television nor that of the Internet could affect the importance of the newspaper. The reason for this is the width, breadth and the depth of the news provided by the newspaper, its low cost and the ease of providing the news at our leisure and comfort as many times as we desire.

Newspapers are very important in many ways. They give us lots of information about various matters at various levels that are not available anywhere. Though magazines and books also give lots of information, the scope of the news there is limited to a few selected topics. Televisions and internet connections while provide news faster than the newspapers, it cannot have the width, breadth and depth of the newspapers and do not provide the comfort of the repeated references at our leisure and comfort apart from harming our eyes because of the glare and being the source of health hazards because of radiations.

People of all profession need newspapers. Engineers, doctors, scientists, professors and other professionals need them to know the day-to-day developments in their respective fields. Businessmen need newspapers to keep in touch with the economic and commercial trends in the country and see current share prices. Politicians need them to read recent political events in the country. Others read newspapers to know how changes around them affect their life. Students read newspapers to broaden their knowledge and keep abreast of the recent developments in various fields, be it in politics, economics, science, sports or art and culture. Newspaper is an important tool of the learning process for students.

Advertisements in newspapers are also very informative and give lots of information about the world around us and recent trends apart from being very entertaining. The editorials and the articles in the editorial page of the newspapers are always very analytical and give insight to the news and their background. Reading newspapers is incomplete sans a glance to the editorials and the articles.

Reading newspapers everyday is must for both students and adults for growth and enlightenment irrespective of the class or field of their life. For, reading newspaper everyday is highly educational, and an important informal education in that. One can ignore this important function of the life at own peril.

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Monday, March 1, 2010

Plot

The Short Story
This PLOT DIAGRAM shows how the main events in a short story are organized into a plot.
Genre Graph
In this activity you will find the main events in the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk." Drag each event to the appropriate point on the plot diagram.

Plot Overview: Robinson Crusoe

R obinson Crusoe is an Englishman from the town of York in the seventeenth century, the youngest son of a merchant of German origin. Encouraged by his father to study law, Crusoe expresses his wish to go to sea instead. His family is against Crusoe going out to sea, and his father explains that it is better to seek a modest, secure life for oneself. Initially, Robinson is committed to obeying his father, but he eventually succumbs to temptation and embarks on a ship bound for London with a friend. When a storm causes the near deaths of Crusoe and his friend, the friend is dissuaded from sea travel, but Crusoe still goes on to set himself up as merchant on a ship leaving London. This trip is financially successful, and Crusoe plans another, leaving his early profits in the care of a friendly widow. The second voyage does not prove as fortunate: the ship is seized by Moorish pirates, and Crusoe is enslaved to a potentate in the North African town of Sallee. While on a fishing expedition, he and a slave boy break free and sail down the African coast. A kindly Portuguese captain picks them up, buys the slave boy from Crusoe, and takes Crusoe to Brazil. In Brazil, Crusoe establishes himself as a plantation owner and soon becomes successful. Eager for slave labor and its economic advantages, he embarks on a slave-gathering expedition to West Africa but ends up shipwrecked off of the coast of Trinidad.
Crusoe soon learns he is the sole survivor of the expedition and seeks shelter and food for himself. He returns to the wreck’s remains twelve times to salvage guns, powder, food, and other items. Onshore, he finds goats he can graze for meat and builds himself a shelter. He erects a cross that he inscribes with the date of his arrival, September 1, 1659, and makes a notch every day in order never to lose track of time. He also keeps a journal of his household activities, noting his attempts to make candles, his lucky discovery of sprouting grain, and his construction of a cellar, among other events. In June 1660, he falls ill and hallucinates that an angel visits, warning him to repent. Drinking tobacco-steeped rum, Crusoe experiences a religious illumination and realizes that God has delivered him from his earlier sins. After recovering, Crusoe makes a survey of the area and discovers he is on an island. He finds a pleasant valley abounding in grapes, where he builds a shady retreat. Crusoe begins to feel more optimistic about being on the island, describing himself as its “king.” He trains a pet parrot, takes a goat as a pet, and develops skills in basket weaving, bread making, and pottery. He cuts down an enormous cedar tree and builds a huge canoe from its trunk, but he discovers that he cannot move it to the sea. After building a smaller boat, he rows around the island but nearly perishes when swept away by a powerful current. Reaching shore, he hears his parrot calling his name and is thankful for being saved once again. He spends several years in peace.
One day Crusoe is shocked to discover a man’s footprint on the beach. He first assumes the footprint is the devil’s, then decides it must belong to one of the cannibals said to live in the region. Terrified, he arms himself and remains on the lookout for cannibals. He also builds an underground cellar in which to herd his goats at night and devises a way to cook underground. One evening he hears gunshots, and the next day he is able to see a ship wrecked on his coast. It is empty when he arrives on the scene to investigate. Crusoe once again thanks Providence for having been saved. Soon afterward, Crusoe discovers that the shore has been strewn with human carnage, apparently the remains of a cannibal feast. He is alarmed and continues to be vigilant. Later Crusoe catches sight of thirty cannibals heading for shore with their victims. One of the victims is killed. Another one, waiting to be slaughtered, suddenly breaks free and runs toward Crusoe’s dwelling. Crusoe protects him, killing one of the pursuers and injuring the other, whom the victim finally kills. Well-armed, Crusoe defeats most of the cannibals onshore. The victim vows total submission to Crusoe in gratitude for his liberation. Crusoe names him Friday, to commemorate the day on which his life was saved, and takes him as his servant.
Finding Friday cheerful and intelligent, Crusoe teaches him some English words and some elementary Christian concepts. Friday, in turn, explains that the cannibals are divided into distinct nations and that they only eat their enemies. Friday also informs Crusoe that the cannibals saved the men from the shipwreck Crusoe witnessed earlier, and that those men, Spaniards, are living nearby. Friday expresses a longing to return to his people, and Crusoe is upset at the prospect of losing Friday. Crusoe then entertains the idea of making contact with the Spaniards, and Friday admits that he would rather die than lose Crusoe. The two build a boat to visit the cannibals’ land together. Before they have a chance to leave, they are surprised by the arrival of twenty-one cannibals in canoes. The cannibals are holding three victims, one of whom is in European dress. Friday and Crusoe kill most of the cannibals and release the European, a Spaniard. Friday is overjoyed to discover that another of the rescued victims is his father. The four men return to Crusoe’s dwelling for food and rest. Crusoe prepares to welcome them into his community permanently. He sends Friday’s father and the Spaniard out in a canoe to explore the nearby land.
Eight days later, the sight of an approaching English ship alarms Friday. Crusoe is suspicious. Friday and Crusoe watch as eleven men take three captives onshore in a boat. Nine of the men explore the land, leaving two to guard the captives. Friday and Crusoe overpower these men and release the captives, one of whom is the captain of the ship, which has been taken in a mutiny. Shouting to the remaining mutineers from different points, Friday and Crusoe confuse and tire the men by making them run from place to place. Eventually they confront the mutineers, telling them that all may escape with their lives except the ringleader. The men surrender. Crusoe and the captain pretend that the island is an imperial territory and that the governor has spared their lives in order to send them all to England to face justice. Keeping five men as hostages, Crusoe sends the other men out to seize the ship. When the ship is brought in, Crusoe nearly faints.
On December 19, 1686, Crusoe boards the ship to return to England. There, he finds his family is deceased except for two sisters. His widow friend has kept Crusoe’s money safe, and after traveling to Lisbon, Crusoe learns from the Portuguese captain that his plantations in Brazil have been highly profitable. He arranges to sell his Brazilian lands. Wary of sea travel, Crusoe attempts to return to England by land but is threatened by bad weather and wild animals in northern Spain. Finally arriving back in England, Crusoe receives word that the sale of his plantations has been completed and that he has made a considerable fortune. After donating a portion to the widow and his sisters, Crusoe is restless and considers returning to Brazil, but he is dissuaded by the thought that he would have to become Catholic. He marries, and his wife dies. Crusoe finally departs for the East Indies as a trader in 1694. He revisits his island, finding that the Spaniards are governing it well and that it has become a prosperous colony.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Homework

1 Daily Log
(have done @ plan to do)

2 Reflection
-personal thought

3 Interesting Reading List
-article/newspaper

(give personal comment*)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Character and Characteristic ( Robinson Crusoe )

Character List

Robinson Crusoe

the main character of the story, he is a rebellious youth with an inexplicable need to travel. Because of this need, he brings misfortune on himself and is left to fend for himself in a primitive land. The novel essentially chronicles his mental and spiritual development as a result of his isolation. He is a contradictory character; at the same time he is practical ingenuity and immature decisiveness.

Xury

a friend/servant of Crusoe's, he also escapes from the Moors. A simple youth who is dedicated to Crusoe, he is admirable for his willingness to stand by the narrator. However, he does not think for himself.

Friday

another friend/servant of Crusoe's, he spends a number of years on the island with the main character, who saves him from cannibalistic death. Friday is basically Crusoe's protege, a living example of religious justification of the slavery relationship between the two men. His eagerness to be redone in the European image is supposed to convey that this image is indeed the right one.

Crusoe's father

although he appears only briefly in the beginning, he embodies the theme of the merits of Protestant, middle-class living. It is his teachings from which Crusoe is running, with poor success.

Crusoe's mother
one of the few female figures, she fully supports her husband and will not let Crusoe go on a voyage.

Moorish patron

Crusoe's slave master, he allows for a role reversal of white men as slaves. He apparently is not too swift, however, in that he basically hands Crusoe an escape opportunity.

Portuguese sea captain

one of the kindest figures in the book, he is an honest man who embodies all the Christian ideals. Everyone is supposed to admire him for his extreme generosity to the narrator. He almost takes the place of Crusoe's father.

Spaniard

one of the prisoners saved by Crusoe, it is interesting to note that he is treated with much more respect in Crusoe's mind than any of the colored peoples with whom Crusoe is in contact.

Captured sea captain

he is an ideal soldier, the intersection between civilized European and savage white man. Crusoe's support of his fight reveals that the narrator no longer has purely religious motivations.

Widow

she is goodness personified, and keeps Crusoe's money safe for him. She is in some way a foil to his mother, who does not support him at all.

Savages

the cannibals from across the way, they represent the threat to Crusoe's religious and moral convictions, as well as his safety. He must conquer them before returning to his own world.

Negroes

they help Xury and Crusoe when they land on their island, and exist in stark contrast to the savages.

Traitorous crew members

they are an example of white men who do not heed God; they are white savages.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Robinson Crusoe's Synopsis

Robinson Crusoe is about an English young man who goes to sea without his parent’s blessing. He has many adventures on both land and sea, and learns many new things like trading, navigation, mathematics and farming. A storm at sea leaves him shipwrecked and alone on a deserted island. For the next 28 years, he learns survival skill and by sheer ingenuity and common sense, creates a fairly comfortable and secure life for himself. In the process, he learn carpentry, pottery, hunting, boat- building, butter and cheese production and how to make his own clothes from animal hide. One day, he saves Friday, the victim of a cannibal assault and thereafter wins him as a friend for live. They rescue a Spaniard and Friday’s father from cannibal and save and English captain from mutineers. After 28 long and desolate years, Robinson Crusoe returns to England. He marries, has three children and after his wife’s death, goes sea-faring again, visiting the island now inhabited by the Spanish and English. He also sail to Brazil.