Hi again,
I am big on quotations and finding pieces of text that speak to you as you read. Your task between now and Thursday is:
Find at least 3 quotes from the text that either tell about Matt, his outlook, that of society, or ones that evoke some sort of emotion in you. Record the quote or summarize each, include a page number, then explain the significance of each.
For instance, if it made you laugh, tell me why you laughed. If if made you sad, then explain the sadness.
This is due on THURSDAY!
1.) ‘"A picnic?" echoed Matt, trying to remember the meaning of this word.’ (p. 74)This line made me laugh, because after you read the previous section you think of Matt as a kid that is old enough to finally speak for themselves. Once you read this quote from THOTS, partially stated by Matt, you think that Matt is still just a curious six-year old boy. The statement that follows this is "I'll explain it to you on the way," said Tam Lin. This shows how understanding Tam Lin is. When we first met Tam Lin, we saw him as a bold-faced, strong Scottish man with only a slight smile, but he shows his understanding of children and their innocence.
ReplyDelete2.) I really enjoy seeing the childish side of the characters, so the next quote I chose shows this childish excited side of Matt. It says 'Matt was wildly excited.' (p.75)Most readers view Matt as just a clone, but when you can picture his excitement and realize he is getting jumpy over something, so small and simple it is almost cute. Matt is a little boy that almost lost his childhood to being kept in isolation. Picturing him this excited, is something to really enjoy.
3.) ‘Tom insisted on playing with Maria. He made her cry, but she always forgave him.’(p.65) This line saddens me. To realize that Tom is treating Maria poorly, and the fact the Maria passes off the mistreatment, because she adores, is horrible. Tom is almost taking advantage of Maria and Maria is too young to realize that she is being mistreated. Tom is much too old to be making a little six year old girl cry. Maria needs to learn to be less trusting and understanding, and instead she should try to be unforgiving to certain wrong doings.
1. The first quote I'd like to comment on is the one where Matt is describing his room to us readers. He talks about the stuffed animals and the various posters around his room. (p. 8) I think that the fact that Celia's takes such safety precautions such as padlocking the microwave, and keeps Matt in the dark about simple things such as the joke "Ribbit on Rye" shows exactly how much indirect influence El Patron has on Matt's life. He indirectly controls Matt's experiences and the lessons he learns. Usually, as kids, we learn not to play with the microwave by trying it and getting hurt once. Matt never gets the opportunity to learn from his mistakes for fear of his body being ruined.
ReplyDelete2. The next quote that I want to comment on is "Matt was swept with such an intense feeling of desolation, he thought he would die." (p. 9) I think that Matt has come to terms with the fact that his life is too controlled by others, and that the loneliness is becoming unnerving for him. This quote makes me feel terribly sorry for Matt, because of the predicament he has to live in against his will. A life without friends and other people around me would be unimaginable. Matt's terror is understood, and it evokes a sense of sincere sympathy.
3. The last quote that I would like to talk about is "Everything seemed unreal to him--the sudden appearance of Celia, the old man, the furious battle between his two enemies. It was liek watching TV." (p. 56) This quotes helped me to identify the first similarity between Matt and El Patron. As we find out later in the story, El Patron views every part of his life as simply a bit of entertainment. The way Matt likens reality to television shows the similarity between the two characters. I thought that this was really interesting, how the author managed to convey the thoughts of a 140 year old through the thoughts of a seven year old, and yet still show the similarity to the readers.
1. On page 19, Matt jumps through the window with glass all over the ground. This gives me lots of pain just thinking. I have never gotten glass stunk in my skin but I can almost imagine how much pain Matt had to endure when all of the shards of glass got stuck in his feet.I hope I never get glass in my feet like Matt because I wouldn't want to experience the pain that I felt while I read this page.
ReplyDelete2. On page 45, Tom says, "Your ugly. You look like a pig sty." This quote makes me sad because Tom is making fun of a boy who has been treated like an untamed animal for six months and forced to eat bad food and live in sawdust with only his own thoughts in his head. Tom probably has no idea what it is like to be treated like an animal because he is part of a rich family and gets almost whatever he wants no matter how bad he acts or how bad he does in school. I feel very sorry for Matt when Tom is insulting him.
3.On page 80, Matt says, "So I am just a piece of skin." I feel very sorry for Matt because he mis-interpereted Tam Lin's explanation of the process in which he became a clone. Now, Matt thinks that he is only a piece of skin; nothing more, nothing less. I would think differently about myself if I thought that I was just a piece of skin.
1.) The first quote I would like to comment on is "He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone." (pg. 91) This quote describes how Matt thinks that if he does really well in his academics, then people will just forget that he was a worthless clone. As a young boy, he probably wants more people to like him other than just Celia and Maria. He wants people to see him as more than just a clone; he wants them to see that he is like a normal boy who is just trying to excel in his academics. Also, this quote shows that he was very excited to be able to finally learn new things and find out more and more each day.
ReplyDelete2.) The second quote I'd like to comment on is "Finally they came to a large room with a marvelous carpet woven with birds and vines. Matt wanted to kneel down and touch them." (pg. 54) This quote shows that Matt was very curious, and he wanted to feel and touch every beautiful thing. After being locked up in that very unpleasant room for 6 months, he probably just wants to regain his feel for everything and see that the world really is beautiful.
3.) The last quote that I would like to comment on is the one where the dove flies through the bars on the window and leaves a single pearl gray feather behind. (pg. 44) This quote shows clearly that Matt hasn't seen anything beautiful in so long that even a single dove feather made him entranced by the beauty. He was even afraid that Rosa would take it because it was too pretty. For a little boy, this shows that he has been deprived of the world during his early ages, so now, anything out of the ordinary would almost seem magical to him.
1. The first quote that I'd like to comment on is "Matt is to be treated with respect, just as though I were here in his place. He is to be educated, well fed, and entertained. He is not to be mistreated." (page 62-63)This quote is significant because if El Patron didn't say this, then Matt might have been even more mistreated. In my opinion, it shows that El Patron might actually care about Matt. This quote made me feel a sense of security for Matt and that he might actually not have to be afraid for once. Matt was afraid most of the time because he didn't know what to expect. But, now he will be in a house where everyone should treat him well.
ReplyDelete2. The second quote that I would like to comment on is "The silence was terrifying. Matt cried steadily. His grief went on and on. When it lessened, he remembered Celia and started crying again." (page 29) This quote made me really sad and I pitied Matt. It was a terrible thing that was happening to him. Matt was so young and the only person that he was close to was Celia. Now, he's taken away from her. It's terrible what he was put through and no one should have to endure that pain. I can't imagine how he felt.
3. The 3rd quote that I would like to comment on is "Being a clone, you're different and alot of people are afraid of you." (page 81) Tam Lin said this to Matt and tried to help him understand who he was. Matt just learned about his origin and where he came from. He is appalled and at the same time, he's trying to figure out who he really is. It's sort of like an identity crisis. He isn't really sure who or what he is and what's going to happen to him. I feel really bad for him because he doesn't really know who he can trust and rely on anymore. Many of the people that live in the Big House dislike him. He can really only talk to Tam Lin, Celia, and possibly Maria.
"What Matt hated about the creature was everyone´s assumption that he and Furball were the same... He couldn´t understand the difference between right and wrong. He was a dumb beast and so, apparently, was Matt."(85)
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows what Matt's motivation was to succeed in school. He thrived to learn all he could to prove to others that he wasn't a dumb beast like Furball. You know that this is how he feels throughout the story, but this is one of the only points where Matt actually says that this is how he feels. And if you keep this in mind throughout the book, you can see the reasoning behind his actions.
"When you´re small, you can choose which way to grow. If you´re kind and decent, you grow into a kind and decent man."(70)
This quote is said by Tam Lin to Matt, kind of like some 'Words of Wisdom'. Tam Lin is trying to help Matt and become a semi fatherly figure since Matt never had anyone like that. This quote is referring to El Patron, since Tam Lin doesn't want Matt to turn into El Patron.
"Matt looked down at his toes. That's all he was: a photograph."(80)
This is the point where Matt actually realizes what a clone is, and why he is being so mistreated. This is another quote from Tam Lin, one of the many things that Matt learns that he should have already known. This is also just another huge thing that Matt needs to worry about upon everything.
1“I could kill you” Rosa said quietly “I could bury your body under the floorboards- and I might do it. Or I might not. You'll never know until it's too late. But there's one thing you'd better understand: I'm your master now, and if you make me angry- watch out. (Pages 39 and 40) That part made me scared and angry. I was scared because I thought Rosa would hurt or kill Matt because she was mad at him. I was angry because Rosa was blaming her problems on Matt just because he is a clone.
ReplyDelete2On page 40, Matt's feelings of being locked in his prison were described. The book said that he began to feel lonely because there was no one to talk to and that Matt was afraid that Celia would have not tried to find him. That part made me feel sad because Matt missed Celia and his old home and because 3Matt was now a prisoner because he was a clone.
On pages 81 to 82, Tam Lin explained what eejits are and how they are used to Matt. He said they are people and animals with implants in their heads and they can only do what they are told to do. They can't even drink water unless they are told to do so. The idea of eejits horrified me because those people and animals were being turned into computers. They could die just because someone carelessly forgot to tell them to eat or drink.
1. "What's a clone?" -Maria "A bad animal."-Emilia. Page 27. This qoute angred me because Emilia made unfair assumptions about Matt just because he is a clone. In my reading so far Matt seems sweet so that Emilia would say something like that without getting to know him makes me mad.
ReplyDelete2. "I am an animal," he replied. Page 93. This qoute saddens me because Matt feels that he is an animal when that is not true. He is a bright and nice boy. When someone accepts being considered such a promative thing due to being repeatdly told that they are that is a low point. Matt sounds smarter than most of the characters in the book so he is most definitly not an animal.
3."The room might look like a featureless desertto Rosa, but to him, it was a kingdom of hidden delights." Page 45. This qoute makes me happy because even though he is in purgatory he is still finding joys. This qoute also shows how creative Matt it. It reminds the reader that Matt is a little boy as the paragraph goes on when Nancy Farmer mention's Matt playing with bugs.
"Im probobly talking over your head, laddie. What I mean to say is this: When you're small, you can choose which way to grow. If you're kind of decent, you grow into a kind and decent man. If you're like El Patron....Just think about it" (Farmer 70). This quote said by Tam Lin actually serves as good advice. I picked it because it tells a true lesson, and are in a way words of wisdom. It shows how Tam Lin doesn't want Matt to turn into El Patron.
ReplyDelete"The days passed with agonizing slowness, followed by night of misery..He dreamed of the little house, of Celia, of a meadow so intensely green, it made him cry when he woke up." (page 43) This quote made me a bit sad because I could really sense how depressed how he was feeling, because he missed things he loved. It also tells how bad of a situation he was going through, and made my think how crazy i would go if I was in his shoes.
"I forgot. You're too dumb to talk. You're a stupid clone who wets his pants and barfs all over his feet. Maybe if I spoke you're language, you would understand" (page 45) This quote said made me really want to punch Tim because of the way he treats innocent Matt. It makes me think of the general idea of what a clone is, and how stereotypes aren't very accurate. It just shows how mean people really can be, but all is good when Matt throws a rotten orange at him!
1. the first quote i like is on page 26
ReplyDelete"Matt's a clone" and the rest of the dialouge explaning in a sterotypical way what a clone is. i like this quote because we now now that the rest of this book will deal with his difference (hint hint).
2. the second quote is on pages 153 and 154
this is when the preist gets really mad at Matt for being at the funeral because he is a clone and dosent have a soul so should not be present. then maria steps in and saves Matt from the stares. i like this quote because it agian pretains to Matt being a clone and it just jumped out at me.
3. last but circituly not least (pun is coming and was intended) is on page 222 when Maria and Matt are trying to escape through some hidden tunneles and the only way out is a buttton that only El Patron can supposedly use cause (heres the pun) if you try you get a lethal dose of electricity and the chamber fillis with gas. i like this quote because in a book i cant be distubed in those mini climaxes or life or death situation.
"I'm probably talking over your head, laddie. What I mean to say is this: When you're small, you can choose which way to grow. If you're kind of decent, you grow into a kind and decent man. If you're like El Patron....Just think about it" (Farmer 70). This quote told me that Tam Lin can give good advice but Matt just might no realize it. Also I realized that Tam has probably known El patron for a while if he knows what his feelings are and how he grew up.
ReplyDelete. "What's a clone?" -Maria "A bad animal."-Emilia.(Farmer 27) This quote made me angry a little bit because I think Matt should still qualify as some type of human at the very least.
"A picnic?" echoed Matt, trying to remember the meaning of this word.’ (Farmer 74) This quote was funny to me because I think that every one knows what a picnic is. Also I think this quote shows me how much Matt trusts Tam Lin for answers
"You’re a clone, he murmured. Know what that is? A kind of puke. You were puked up by a cow.”(67)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is from Tom. This shows how Matt is viewed by his society.
I'm not sure if he is actually puked up by the cow or he was born the regular way from a cow, but the use of a cow is correct. This is what the children are fed by their parents not knowing whether this is true or not, but that doesn't matter to them because they are better than the clones.
“He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone” (91)
Once Matt is old enough to realize why everyone hates him, his goal is to make everyone proud of him for his accomplishments. He repeatedly studies to learn his lessons to prove himself.
The start of my third passage is on Page 73, when Matt gets so frustrated with the teacher he has a breakdown and starts talking.
On the next page he says to himself:
"My name is Matteo Alacran,' Matt said, testing his newly regained voice. 'I'm a good boy."
This isn't as much of a emotional passage as it is significant because this breaks Matt out of his silent shell. This is Matt's first experience with an eejit also.
1. "You're a clone, he murmured. Know what that is? A kind of puke. You were puked up by a clone" (Farmer 67) This quote explains what a large portion of societys opinion and views on clones. Obviously, they treat the clones like they are a piece of trash and associate them to animals. Only Matt is different, he is given the ability to think, unlike regular clones. This quote explains the theme and a lot about the plot. Matt gets ridiculed about a subject he is extremely unaware about and a thing that he has no control of changing.
ReplyDelete2. " Thats what dirty beast get to live in," she said and slammed the door. ( Farmer 42) (talking about the cage Matt lived in) This quote made me angry. I felt very bad for Matt because he had done nothing at all to deserve such punishment. Rosa, went with the normal flow of society, but took it to great extremes.
3. The first part of chapter eight: The eejit in the Dry Field) In this chapter Tam Lin and Matt find a dead farmer in the opium fields. At first, I was very confused because Tam Lin completely ignores it. I wondered why Tam Lin was so cold hearted and cared the least about this fatal incident. Later, when I discovered that the farmer was an eejit, it made more sense to what happened, but explained how society classifies the eejits.
1. "He was in a rage to learn. He would excel, and then everyone would love him and forget he was a clone." (91) This quote made me feel really sorry for Matt. All he wants is to be loved, just like any child, but people automatically write him off just because he's a clone. Because most people do this to him, Matt feels he has to make up for being a clone by getting good grades.
ReplyDelete2. "'They hate me,' Matt said simply" (81) This quote shows how others feel about Matt, and how he feels about it. It's very sad that people are so cruel to Matt that he has actually started to just accept most of the insults they throw at him. When the quote describes Matt speaking simply, it means that he speaks like the words don't matter to him much. This shows that he knows most people hate him, and he has accepted this.
3. "He would read and color and count until he became the best student in the whole world, and then the children would like him and they wouldn't run away." (74) Again, this shows Matt's burning desire to be loved. All he wants is to be treated like a normal boy, and this quote shows that he will to whatever he can to try to get other people to like him. It makes me really sad, too, that he has to try this hard just to be liked by others because he is a clone.
1. "You're a clone, he murmured. Know what that is? A kind of puke. You were puked up by a clone" (67) This quote shows that the society in this novel views clones as very low beings. Everybody treated Matt like a dog. If I was Matt, I would have been greatly offended by these words, and I'm sure Matt was hurt too.
ReplyDelete2. The second quote I would like to comment on is on page 8, where Matt is describing his room with the posters and stuffed animals. Matt says that he could talk to these stuffed animals as much as he wanted, but they can't reply, and techinically, they weren't even 'there'. This quote shows Matt's loneliness, and how he barely has any connections to the outside world.
3. The last quote I would like to comment about is on page 19, there Matt jumps out of the window, injuring himself with the broken glass. I couldn't help but imagine how it must have felt. While reading, I cringed, just thinking about the pain. In the text, Matt also mentioned that he felt pain that he didn't even know existed. I'm pretty sure I have not gone through such an experience, and I hope I won't ever have to!
“I could kill you” Rosa said quietly “I could bury your body under the floorboards- and I might do it. Or I might not. You'll never know until it's too late. But there's one thing you'd better understand: I'm your master now, and if you make me angry- watch out.(pg. 40) This quote made me feel like slapping Rosa in the face because she is blaming Matt and taking out her anger on him even when he never did anything. She is discriminating him just because he is a clone and that is a very mean thing to do.
ReplyDelete"What's a clone?" :Maria "A bad animal.":Emilia.(pg.27) This quote made me feel very sorry for Matt. He cant really help it if he was born as a clone. He still looks and acts like a normal human being so they should respect him instead of making fun of him.
"When you´re small, you can choose which way to grow. If you´re kind and decent, you grow into a kind and decent man."(pg. 70) This quote is basically Tam Lin giving advice/wisdom to Matt. Tam Lin kind of functions as Matt's mentor here. Since Matt has never had someone to look up to, Tam Lin's advice is very important to Matt.
On page 81 Matt says, "Tom says I was puked up by a cow." Matt has no confidence and because he doesn't know about the world, (being stuck in Celias house) he believes the nasty things that Tom and Rosa say. I feel really bad for him.
ReplyDelete"The old vampire. So he managed to climb out of the coffin again" Page 99, anonymous person. Matt heres someone say this and thinks who would dare say such a thing. Matt thinks very highly of El Patron because El Patron loves Matt. There must be a reason why people dont like El Patron very much and might might find out soon.
"Who can tell me how many apples I have here. I bet its my good boy."-teacher. "Im not a good boy!" "Im a bad clone. And I hate counting and I hate you!"-Matt (Page 73) Matt not being able to talk for a while has been stuck doing what everyone tells him to do. I felt that he did the right thing by finally taking a stand because he cant be told what to do forever. He's not their pet.
"I am not a good boy! I am a bad clone! And I hate counting and I hate you!" (Page 73) -Matt
ReplyDeleteThese are Matt's first words after his traumatic experience with being locked up and tortured by Rosa. He was so fed up with the eejit teacher that everything he had bottled up inside him just exploded at that very moment.
"I know you can do it. Celia says youre in shock, but I think you're just lazy" -Maria
This shows that Maria thinks of Matt as just a regular boy, she thinks nothing special of him and does not act as if he had some terrible disease either. She treats Matt just like she would treat anoyone else, and he isn't used to that.
"You’re a clone, he murmured. Know what that is? A kind of puke. You were puked up by a cow.”(Page 67) -Tom
This quote shows how Matt is percieved by society since he is a clone. Everyone thinks of his as dirty and unworthy, and Matt is confused on why this is. He has never thought of himself as that different from Celia when he was growing up in the shack in the poppy fields. But this quote makes Matt think about what he is, and where he came from.