Answer to Jennifer Martinez's questions

1. Since the Wingfield family was a typical American family, Amanda didnt allow her to get a job, since only men were allowed to work.
2.Yes because the playwrighter takes his time and allows us to visualize the setting in order for it to be descrpitive and imagine it in our mind, giving the purpose of the play.
3. Yes because a typical American family has men work, as Tom does and women in search of finding rich men, as Amanda does for Laura.

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams (Authors Argument)

1.       Précis

In Tennessee Williams’ play The Glass Menagerie, he exposes the readers the struggles and problems of an American family and how they all have to face them individually and try to overcome them as a whole. The author first begins by introducing the obsession Amanda has with herself and ensuring her daughter Laura has a gentlemen caller like she did herself through symbolism he then creates an image in the readers mind by using imagery to carefully describe her Glass Menagerie. To conclude he manipulates the unicorn to compare and correlate Laura with itself to represent their personalities and their different things that make both of them unique. His purpose is to portray that all families encounter struggles throughout their life but escape and anger isn’t the correct way to deal with hardships. He seems to have a family audience in mind because they can find answers and try to overcome situations if they stand as a family.

2.      Vocabulary

Murky: Dark and gloomy, esp. due to thick mist.

Latticework: Interlacing strips of wood, metal, or other material forming a lattice

Mastication: chew: biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow

Serial: A story or play appearing in regular installments on television or radio or in a magazine or newspaper.

Gallantly: in a gallant manner

Flounce: to walk emphatically

Portiere: a heavy curtain across a doorway

3.      Tone: disappointing, remorseful and ashamed

4.      Rhetorical Strategies

·         Imagery: “Laura is seated in the delicate ivory chair at the small claw foot table. She wears a dress of soft violet material…”(11)

·         Allusion: “On those occasions they call me-El Diablo! Oh, I could tell you many things to make you sleepless.” (24)

·         Allegory: “Go to the moon-you selfish dreamer!”(96)

·         Hyperbole: “For nowadays the world is lit by lighting!”(97)

·         Symbolism: "They're common as-weeds, but-you-well, you're Blue Roses!" (87)

5.      Amanda, Laura and Tom speak about Laura having a disability, what exactly is it?

Would the play still be considered a play, if he would have been less descriptive throughout the dialogue?

The Wingfield family represents a traditional American family, in where a woman cannot succeed without a husband, in society now, this is possible. What do you think held the women back in the days?

6.      “I turned around and look into her eyes. Oh Laura, Laura, I tried to leave you behind me, but I am more faithful than I intended to be!” (97)

1.      In Richard Preston’s book First Light, the first section “Big Eye” introduces the life of an astronomer, and its adventurous discoveries at the work. The difficulties they have, and the tools they need to work with in order to do their job. The author first begins the novel with an anecdote about the Palomar Observatory and describes his experience with the Hale Telescope in order to astonish the reader and allow them to have a connection with the telescope like he does. He then provides facts about the Hale Telescope to demonstrate that this beautiful invention isn’t only beautiful to him, but is proven to be beautiful. To conclude he manipulates comparison to relate everyday topics with his experience to enable the reader to have a better understanding of the novel. His purpose is to demonstrate that the job of an astronomer can be related to any person who just wants to know about the universe. Preston seems to have an audience who is interested to the universe as he is.           

2.       Patting: to tap gently with an open hand or something flat

Wad: a small mask of soft material often folded or rolled used for stuffing

Quasars: a very energetic and distant active galactic nucleus                    

Soldering: a process in which two or more metal items are joined together by melting

Canister: a cheap “ganister”

Agile: characterized by quickness and ease of movement 

Filigreed: delicate and intricate ornamental work made from gold, silver or other wires       

Slit: a long narrow cut or opening  

Smears: to spread or apply

Kludge 

3.      Tone: straight to the point, passionate

4.      Anecdote: “The box was a rat’s nest of spare parts…”(8)

Personification: “to run his eyes over the telescope.”(11)

Telegraphic Sentence: “He hit a switch.”(15)

Paradox: “it was the largest on earth.” (37)

Simile: "An astronomer could groan more abnormally than a sick wino...."(4)

5.      What does he mean when he mentions Ellery Hale on page 37?

Does he intentionally use anecdotes a lot?

I wonder what will happen if the temperature isn’t right during their time?

6.      “Below a heaven not exactly empty, but a long way from earth.”(63)