By The Waters of Babylon

Title of selection: By the waters of Babylon
Author: Stephen Vincent Benet
Date Read: 10.24.08

Pre-Reading: Do you believe we process information too fast? What is your view on technological advancements?
I think we do because if we took our time to respond correctly on a thought we wouldn't have many mistakes or misunderstandings in this world. My view on technology is that it is a waste of sources because we are building the machines that will eventually control us. Why would we create something that will take us down? Technology is evolving fast but our economy is declining and it's not a good mix.

Plot/Reaction: List the places the protagonist visits on his journey out east.

• the Hudson River
• the subtreasury
• a regular house
• New York is the east**

There will come soft rains

Title of Selection: There Will Come Soft Rains
Author: Ray Bradbury
Date Read: 10.22.08

Pre-Reading: What will the world look like in the year 2026?
In this year, I believe the world will probably become more tolerant on different things. Everything wont be so uptight and people can relax without being scared. This is partly because robots will eventually over through us.
Plot/Reaction: Create a graph of what happens through out the day of this short story:


Time of day What is happening?
• 7:00 • Getting up
• 7:45 • Breakfast
• 8:05 • Work/School
• 8:30 • Food got cold
• 9:15 • Time to clean
• 10:00 • No more rain
• 10:15 • Sprinklers set
• 12:00 • Dog dies
• 1:00 • Dog was gone
• 2:00 • Party set-up
• 2:15 • Party clean-up
• 2:35 • Nursery time
• 4:00 • Bath time
• 4:30 • After dinner/relaxation
• 5:00 • Bed time
• 6:00-8:00 • Poem Read
• 9:00 • Fire started in house

Quote: "No one would mind, neither bird nor tree, if mankind perished utterly; And spring herself, wehn she woke at dawn would scarcely know that we were gone."

Harrison Bergeron

Some various insights we can learn from both the movie clip and the short story is how Vonnegut thinks that the aspect of equality can be taken into literal terms. In the movie we get more insight on how other people respond to the society and the different handicaps each individual had. In the short story we only get how society handicapped 2 people. In the movie we also see how Harrison actually reacts to society. Some of the social issues behind the story are that this society doesn’t want to strive forward so they cut off individuals abilities to come up with great ideas making everyone average.

Harrison Bergeron

Title of Selection: Harrison Bergeron
Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Date Read: 10/14/08

Pre-Reading: What is equality?
Equality is achieved when every soul is treated with the same respect as everyone else. Being treated equal and being equal are two different things. To be treated equal is to have respect for other people's ideas or things. Being equal is to be the same with no individuality to find who you really are.

Plot/Reaction: Who is Harrison Bergeron?
Harrison Bergeron is the protagonist in this short story. He is a great athlete and a genius born to Hazel and George Bergeron.
How does Harrison challenge the government's handicapped program?
Harrison challenges the government's handicapped program by going on t.v. and showing the nation what it meant to be free from restrictions.

Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket

Title of Selection: Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket
Author: Jack Finney

Pre-Reading: List top 5 priorities in your life:
1. Religion
2. Family
3. School
4. Friends
5. Job *never read this story nor heard of the author before
Plot/Reaction: Summary: I think the main message of this story is realizing how much you have to live for. This story is about a guy named Tom and a yellow sheet of paper in which he had written his ideas that would guarantee him a promotion. This sheet of paper flew out a window and Tom ended up going after it. It's a very suspenseful story but it only goes to show you that you don't know what your missing until you don't have it anymore.
1. Written on that yellow sheet are all of Tom's ideas for a new display window.
2. Tom gets the yellow sheet back by going out tonto the ledge on an impulse. While out there, though, he realizes of how far away he is from the street and he panicks. The last things holding him back from reaching his apartments is the window, which he smashe open after realizing how little he lived his life.

Quote: "Contents of the dead man's pockets, He thought with a sudden fierce anger, a wasted life."