Thursday, May 7, 2009

Chapter 19 - Geography Matters...

Discuss at least two different aspects of a specific literary work that Foster would classify under "geography."
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15 comments:

Grey_spear said...

Foster would classify geography as any setting or any detail of a situation pertaining to the surroundings of the character or characters. Geography in literature can then be very symbolic. The Bible is a fairly decent literary work, so it seems only fitting to use it as an example for one of my blogs. The story of Moses leading the Hebrew people out of slavery contains many good examples of how geography is used in literature. The Hebrew people are enslaved by the Egyptians and forced to do intensive labor building pyramids. There are poor living conditions due to the Egyptians enslaving our characters. The area is so crowded that the Egyptians are killing the Hebrew boys to help control the overpopulation. The terrain is desolate and arid and sandy. The geographical location of Egypt is more south than the rest of our story, as we will see soon. So in short, our characters are living in a crowded, and oppressed state in a southern, arid, sandy, and desolate area. But then God sweeps in makes everything all better, which is how these stories work in The Bible. He appears to Moses and tells him to go to the land of Egypt and to free his fellow Hebrews. The words that God chooses to use in this command are very important to the geography of the story. God says in Exodus 3:8, "So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey..." As you can see the word "up" is pretty significant. Not only is it there because the destination is geographically more north than Egypt, but it also represents the spirits of the Hebrew people. They are emotionally being lifted up and brought up out of their oppression and slavery. They are also being brought to a place that is spacious, lush, fertile and "flowing with milk and honey" rather than their arid and crowded homes that they were living in. The geography of being brought up out of Egypt is very symbolic and adds to the meaning of how much of am improvement it really is.

July 12, 2009 at 6:00 PM
sschwegman said...

To Foster, geography means any setting or detail that has to do with the character or characters and their surroundings. Foster writes, "Geography can also define or even develop character"(167). Last year in English 10 honors we read The Deadliest Game. The setting for this story was a dark, abandoned island with one, immense mansion on it. This really set the tone for what the story was about. The guy who lived in the mansion hunted all kinds of animals and he wanted a harder challenge. His idea of harder challenge was to try to hunt a person! So he tricks a guy into playing his “game”. Through the whole book, well in our case, short story, the victim is trying to prevent himself from being hunted. The dreary island, the big, solitaire mansion, and the dark forests added a lot to the eeriness of the story. This geography presented the demeanor of the character very well because his messed up thoughts about hunting a person and the creepiness of his personality compared tremendously well with the geography of the island and the setting of the story.

July 22, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Giesting said...

According to Foster, geography is setting that can define or develop character. In literature, geography is typically about humans inhabiting spaces. In the book The Grapes of Wrath, the setting is in the dreary, dry, desolute dessert. It obviously sets the mood of the book, since the migraters are being kicked out of thier homes to try and obtain work. Their souls are all dried up like the dessert. Even crossing the vast dessert is depressing for the family. A few deaths occured on the voyage to better life. The hot sizzlin' sand was a very important role in the book. Without such a harsh landscape, the story would not have been so desperate. The family struggled in the tough goegraphy, and made the story what it is. When the family reached their destination, the landscape had changed. California was a luscious green home for crops to thrive. Also, there were tons upon tons of inhabitants trying to make a living in a very small area. This cluster of people kept the theme of desperation in the family as they tried to find work. But the change in setting was the turn around of their luck. They found jobs and lived life. The setting went from bad to good and so did the family. It was still hard to make a decent living, but it was still living non the less.

July 23, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Haddison said...

Foster explains how geography can define a character, which is the case in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. In the beginning we are introduced to the Radley house which Lee describes as an ominous and foreboding place. Obviously this makes us think of the tenant, Boo Radley, as a scary and mean type of person just based on the geography of his house. Of course, we learn that Boo is not mean and scary at all but this is what Lee wants us to believe in order to keep us interested in the mysterious Boo Radley. Another big indicator about who Boo is, is when his yard has an abundance of tall weeds and grass growing everywhere, which makes the house look like it needs a little fixing up if not a little tender love and care. Of course, at the end we learn that this is all Boo Radley needs too, some TLC.

July 26, 2009 at 4:05 PM
lclifton said...

Where a story takes place is an important key in literature. In the story I know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Marguerite and part of her family live south in Stamps, Arkansas which alone causes many problems. Foster explained that in the story, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jim headed towards the worst possible place, the south, where there was the threat of him being sold to slavery during that time in history. Similarly in Angelou’s story, a threat still existed in the south for African Americans even though slavery had ended by that time period. Racism and segregation were present in the town. Marguerite had to face the unfair treatment when she attempts to go to a white male doctor who refuses to help her because she is an African American. Marguerite painfully had to listened to all the harsh comments white people would make about black people when they were Momma’s store; otherwise, the white citizens could somehow find a way to punish her. The town of Stamps was not a well populated area and it was very small and secluded. This geography hints that the girl is lonely in such a small town. The geography shaped Marguerite’s character into a lonely obedient, quiet child. Foster would classify this story under “geography” because of the southern location of the town contributed to views of the society upon black race and the location developed Marguerite’s character.

July 29, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Garret said...

I find that Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a great example of a book that has many aspects that Foster would classify under Geography. The first aspect of this book that comes to mind is the fact that it is set in Alabama. Alabama is in the southern part of the United States, where racism was a huge issue. Racism was a big issue all throughout the United States. The farther south you went, the stronger racism became. If this book was set somewhere in the North, it wouldn’t have been the same. The people wouldn’t have thought the same or acted the same. The main plotline wouldn’t have made much sense because the people wouldn’t have acted the same towards the black folks. The second aspect of this book that comes to mind is the fact that it is set in a small rather rural town. This book wouldn’t have been the same if it was set in a big city. There wouldn’t have been the sense of a small-town community where everyone knew everyone. The characters wouldn’t have acted the same towards each other because they wouldn’t have been as close to each other. The whole story behind Boo Radley wouldn’t have made much sense either. He would still be thought of as a creepy old guy by the end of the book if it was set in a big city. Jem and Scout wouldn’t have been walking to the school for a play. They would have been driven there most likely. The whole scene where Jem and Scout get attacked by Mr. Ewell while walking home from the play wouldn’t have happened. This would mean that Boo Radley couldn’t have saved Jem, and the way people thought about him would still be the same. The whole end of the book would have to be different if it was set in a big city. If these two aspects of geography were different, this book wouldn’t be the same.

July 30, 2009 at 8:30 AM
holly_2313 said...

Foster defines geography as any significant detail in a character’s setting, situation, or surroundings. He also says that geography can define or develop character, so geography tends to be very important. Recently I watched the movie Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp. In this movie Depp plays John Dillinger, who is constantly running from the law as he is a bank robber. One significant detail in the movie is that most of the public absolutely loves him. Dillinger makes narrow escapes throughout the whole movie. Living around a big city, and robbing banks during broad daylight would not suffice typical robbing conditions, or a safe getaway, but it did in Dillinger’s case. I believe if the public had hated him or wanted him arrested, someone would have called the police if they recognized him walking into a nice restaurant in the evening, or the movie theatre (which he did regularly). Dillinger had many people that let him use their houses for a place to stay if needed as well, which helped him throughout the movie.
Another part of this movie pertained to his specific location. When the police finally track down where he and several other criminals are hiding, Dillinger was the only one to escape alive. Their hiding spot was deep in the woods, it was nighttime when the police attacked, and there were so many people shooting from different directions and places from the house mass chaos undoubtedly broke out. Even with these conditions, it was still a rather difficult escape, but escape Dillinger did. The fact that it was at night was particularly significant because darkness, due to the lacking ability to see, can cause great confusion. When you’re trying to shoot people down in the dark, it could prove rather difficult to even properly identify who they are. The woods also played a big part, the trees obviously providing cover for the escapees. And with all the shooting going on in different directions, it was hard to tell at first if anyone had escaped from the house in the ambush. Without these elements, Dillinger wouldn't have escaped and probably would have been killed. Also, later in the movie he walked out of a public theatre after a showing knowing the police were waiting for him and he was shot right there on the street amidst a crowd of people. Knowing how the public loved him as he loved them, I find it ironic that he was killed in such a way, but I know he probably wouldn't have wanted to die any other way.

July 30, 2009 at 12:06 PM
tnunlist said...

Foster defines geography as any setting or any detail of a situation pertaining to the surroundings of the character or characters. One example of this I noticed was in the movie Dinotopia(which I just watched, which is probably why there are so many references to it). The whole island appears to be ancient and untouched by the outside world, it is a place where dinosaurs and humans live together and is almost a utopia. The place is run by tradition and sacred laws that have been held for hundreds of years and is very delicate. This helped to show what kind of people the viewer is to expect in this near perfect place. In such a place someone wouldn't expect much danger, but there is. When the Rainy Basin is shown, it proves to be very dangerous. This is the place that all the carnivorous dinosaurs live, and they are not afraid to attack. It is always raining here, hence the name, and there also seems to be frequent storms, which would probably go along with the dangerous theme of the place.

July 31, 2009 at 2:50 AM
h_mckinney said...

The geography in a literary work is habitually identified as the setting in a piece but unfortunately is often forgotten as an element that is vital to the story’s plot, characters, and even the story’s theme or symbolic meaning. In Stephen Crane’s book, The Red Badge of Courage, geography is an especially large part in the novel as the main character Henry Fleming travels with his fellow friends, officers, and other men during the Civil War. First, one huge aspect of geography in the book is that Henry must travel south with the Union militia to meet the Confederates near the Union and Confederate line. This aspect is part of the plot as well as the theme that Crane is trying to represent. Foster definitely made his point clear that when one travels south problems and complications arise. Before he was ever even a part of the Civil War, Henry thought that being on the battlefield and the army would be a noble and romantic thing. Once Henry starts going south, he starts to realize that his original thoughts about the army were completely wrong and inaccurate. He doesn’t see the infamous noble men and romantic actions he thought existed but instead the slaughtering and combat of men, the gross realty, and hell of war. Another critical aspect of the geography that is crucial to understanding Henry and the story is the open battlefield and the secluded woods. When Henry is first exposed to the battlefield, he is not only being exposed to war. The battlefield is a mass of men and overflowing with a rush of ideas, feelings, rivalries, and passions making it a very complex and complicated place indeed. That is part of the reason why Henry runs to the solitude of the woods. The woods allow him to be alone and think about his actions and experience without the conflicting ideas, emotions, and even hysteria of the battlefield and acts as a resort for which Henry can turn to hide within and slowly mature out of. Once Henry finally sorts through everything he thought war would be like and discovers what war truly is (and in a sense himself) he is able to emerge from the shaded forest and stand unwavering in the face of what the battlefield presents.

July 31, 2009 at 9:14 AM
J_Espin said...

As classified by Foster geography refers to the setting or detail of the setting relates to the characters. It also tends to develop the characters in the story. One particular work that of which contains several aspects of geography is the movie Aliens. It takes place in an abandoned human colony on a dark, desolate planet. The darkness and eeriness of the planet add to the feelings of fear and being endangered. The layout of the complex in which the people are in also adds to the confusion of where the people must go to survive. The layout of the planet served the aliens perfectly because it gave them plenty of hiding places and it fit their slimy, evil personality. The fact that the group of soldiers are the only people on the planet adds to the feeling of isolation. All of these factors push the characters to their limits and make even the most cowardly of the soldiers (if there is such a thing) to become more heroic.

July 31, 2009 at 10:59 AM
cpaul said...

The setting of a book defines the characters within it and gives readers a better understanding of what the book is actually about. The geography is very important because it most likely goes with how the story plays out. In the book Where The Red Fern Grows the guy owns two dogs. He lives out in the country where he is surrounded by all trees in the woods. Throughout the story he becomes closer and closer to his dogs. He becomes very attached and loves them more then anything. This would not have happened if he didn’t live out in the country. Because he lives out there he spends more time with them and it’s easier for him to train them. The story would not have made sense if it had taken place in the city. He would not have spent as much time with his dogs nor would he have time to hunt with them. His life style is very different from someone who lives in town. The wilderness is like his life. He is lonely and calm, just like the woods. It is where he belongs, he and his dogs. The geography in the story affects how both the man and the dogs act.

July 31, 2009 at 12:09 PM
James A. Call said...

Since stories have to take place somewhere, geography (or the place the story occurs in) is very important to the story. Obviously, if a story occurs in one setting, the events and characters therein will be different from a story in another setting. Also, geography here doesn’t refer solely to land or climate. In fact, in literature, it quite often refers to people. In the Kokopelli’s Flute, by Will Hobbs, geography unsurprisingly plays a key role. The story takes place in northern New Mexico, near an area that was home to a civilization of Native Americans long ago. The story revolves around a mysterious flute that the main character, Tep, discovers in the afore-mentioned area with Native American history. So we have one reason why geography is important to Hobbs’ story. The mysterious, rain-producing instrument comes from ancient inhabitants. A second important detail relates to why rain is so important: Tep’s dad is a farmer, and they’re a region that isn’t particularly arable. These combine to give Tep’s discovery extra-special meaning, and since the book is centered on that flute (as I said earlier), the story is strengthened by extension.

July 31, 2009 at 3:09 PM
__jgarcia said...

Geography not only plays a large part in the development of plot lines, but also characters. In the book, Holes, most of the book is set in a depressing, dry dessert. This setting points out the desperation of all the characters at Camp Green Lake. Louis Sachar also used the dryness to tie in the other stories involved in the novel. Besides desperation, the dull, parched landscape adds to the intensity of Camp Green Lake. Without the difficult working conditions, the story just wouldn’t have been the same. By the end of the book, Stanly is no longer at Camp Green Lake but at home with his family and friends. The fact that he is surrounded by people that care about him is enough to drastically change the mood. His house isn’t anywhere near as intimidating as a strangely strict camp. Besides obvious mood lighteners, Stanley’s house has thriving greens and plenty of water. Because it is his home, it also gives characters and readers alike the feeling of safety. The location of the novel changed from undesirable to desirable just as the mood changed from an intimidating and depressing one to a happy and cheerful one.

July 31, 2009 at 4:39 PM
CKoury said...

Harry Potter seems to be able to be used for a lot of these posts. The locations of Harry's residence are very important geographically. In the muggle world, Harry lives with the Dursleys in a small cramped neighborhood. The neighborhood is similar to the closed-minded thinking of the muggles, and Hogwarts, Harry's residence during school, is in the middle of nowhere. Here, Harry can think what he wants in this open-minded wizarding society. Wizards look down on giants, just like white people used to look down on black. This is the same with Hogwarts castle and Hagrid's hut. Hagrid, being part giant, had a hut on a lower part of the grounds than the castle. Also, the hut was near the Forbidden Forest, signifying that giants were wild creatures, but Hagrid, being a half-giant, was civilized enough to not have to live in the forest.

July 31, 2009 at 8:19 PM
lkarbowski said...

According to Foster geography helps shape a character and also swiftly move the plot along. In the movie The Knowing a man discovers a sheet of paper that has numbers showing every previous major disaster along with those to come. The question is what happens when the numbers run out? The geography in this movie takes place all over the world where the catastrophes are occurring. Only a few chosen children will survive the final disaster where the world is destroyed. The children are taken by aliens to a new planet as to where they will inhabit it and flourish. The planet is like nothing here on Earth which makes the setting very ominous. The movie quickly ends after the children reach their new home, but not before we know that these children are the future generations of the human race. The geography makes the story feasible.

July 31, 2009 at 10:46 PM

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