Humor's Role

In the story, Typhoid Fever, Francis was laughing hard because his friend Patricia was mimicking the words from Sister Rita. But what’s the real meaning behind this anecdote? From different perspectives, we can reflect different meaning of it. In one way, the reader was trying to make the sad story not too sorrow. The whole story is about losing and being sick. If the author didn’t create any happiness in the atmosphere, then it would be hard for readers to continue reading. On the other hand, from seeing the two kids having fun to one of them died, readers would feel depressed for such a tragedy. It would intensify the readers’ responses toward this story.

            So what does “catharsis” have to do with humor’s role? Catharsis means the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. It has a function of purifying readers’ minds and let them neglect the sadness. In other words, the author created funny moments because he didn’t want to affect the reader’s mood too much. Also, it would have a bad effect on the appraisal of the story if the author created a heavy atmosphere. Thus, having catharsis in writing helps readers to take a break, clean up their minds, and continue reading. 

Sick (JE #82)

There was a period when I was really sick. It was about 8 years ago.  I remember that hospital was a place that I have to visit every week. I didn’t like hospitals, but I disliked the school even more. Maybe that was the reason why I was so sick, for not being happy and cheerful. “Mom, I feel dizzy.” “Mom, I have an headache.” “Mom, I feel…” She had nearly gone mad. It was abstruse for her to understand why a kid can be so ailing for such a long time and never recovered.

I had been living in Taoyuan for 10 years. Whether at school or at home, I was not feeling well. I felt like there was something deep inside of me was struggling and disturbing my life. Everything I saw or heard gave me a strange and unfamiliar feeling. The only thing I wanted to do was to return to where I belong. Back at the time, my mom occasionally drove me to big hospitals in Taoyuan and Taipei. It was sad to see my mom dropping her job to take care of me. I feel sorry but helpless to deal with the situation. I was just hoping that I could be cured and go back to my normal life. 

Perspective (Journal Entry #81)

Perspective decides the angle of a person’s understanding and comprehending toward an event. Our perspective can also change the meaning of and event due to our different background. Our perspectives come from distinct and accumulated life experiences. Thus, everyone has a different perspective and comments for different events.

A writer, when writing a true story, describes things emotionally and honestly. He usually tells what he thinks of a person, a place, or an event. A writer’s connection and relationship to the people or places in the story are specifically important because they decide readers’ perspectives through the way things are described and characterized.

A memoir is based on personal observations and inward knowledge. Unlike a biography or a history account that bases the writing on external achievements of a person or an event. Memoir is mostly about the writer’s feeling and perspective toward an event. It does not simply state the truth, but with emotions and deeper feelings.

When reading books, readers see an event through the writer’s perspective. It is always a good experience to see the world in a different angle. Perspective has an effect on readers to understand other’s feelings and thoughts in a different interpretation and attitude.

Writing in a Style

It’s so sad to see the mess in the sofa area. Garbage strewed all over the place and students were still laughing and fighting. No one attempted to clean up the mess. I even heard someone saying, “ It doesn’t matter! The cleaner is going to clean it up anyway.” As a teacher, I am completely disappointed about this event.

Wow! Did anyone spend the last night partying in the sofa area? That is totally cool! They should have invited me. Did they just party all night long? They must be drunk or else it wouldn’t be such a horrified mess. Incredible! Whoever did that should be in a big trouble and talking to the principal right now!

It is totally exaggerated how can anyone create such a mess in the sofa area! Shame on them! I am going to call their parents right after I find out the truth. Sofa area is a cozy place for every teacher and students to rest. Everyone in the school should respect this area and use it properly. What exactly happened to our next generation? Where is the molarity? I decided that next week, I am going to call up a meeting to discuss ways to improve our students’ behavior.

Two Styles

     1.     What was a major component of Lahiri’s growing identity as an American?

The major component of Lahiri’s growing identity as an American is how she is able to speak English without an accent and comprehended well.

     2.     How were the experiences of Lahiri’s parents and other immigrants different from those of subsequent generations?

The subsequent generations have to learn how to fit in the local people and most of them would keep identities like Lahiri who lived two different lives at home and at school. However, some of them might just abandon their original culture and fully adopt the local culture.

     3.      In what ways is Lahiri’s experience equivalent to that of other children of immigrants?

Lahiri and other children of immigrants’ endured intense pressure to have two identities. They would never be easily regarded as Native Americans because their different appearance. All of them might experience the ironic situation of living in two different lifestyles. They may feel confused about their lives in their childhood.

     4.     Is the use of figurative language an effective technique in this essay? Explain.

      Yes. The author used simile, personification and other kinds of figurative languages. For instance, she described her mother’s clothes as outmoded currency. She also described the back-and-forth life as an anchor that will drop.