Snow Falling On Cedars - Chapter 1 Essay: Plot, Setting And Character.

Snow Falling On Cedars Chapter 1 Essay: Plot, Setting And Character By Lauren Reading The novel Snow Falling On Cedars by David Guterson is set on the fictional small island of San Piedro. The first chapter opens in a court room in the islands only town of Amity Harbour at the murder trial of Carl Heine. In this chapter are given insight into the ways of the island and it's inhabitants including the three main characters- Kabuo, Ishmael and Hatsue. In this essay I will discuss how Guterson establishes plot, character and setting. The story opens with the accused man Kabuo. It is immediately obvious that he has a strong character: 'Kabuo showed nothing- not even a flicker of the eyes.' The stress of being accused of murder has not visibly affected him. This may be a sign of his confidence, he knows he has nothing to be guilty of. It may also be due to his high sense of pride- he doesn't like to show weakness and therefore remains detached. With the help of the narrator, however, the readers get a view into his thoughts. 'he realized now.' Through this use of focalisation the reader learns a little about his thoughts. 'furious wind-whipped flakes against the windows- struck him as infinitely beautiful.' This highlights that he can appreciate nature but there is also a slight indication at anger. The snow may also serve as a metaphor- the fact he cannot feel or touch this

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Both the film 'Snow Falling on Cedars' directed by Scott Hicks and the novel 'The Sea and Poison' written by Shusaku Endo embody and expose issues of racism and give the reader or audience a sense of the consequences of such hatred in different ways.

Essay Both the film 'Snow Falling on Cedars' directed by Scott Hicks and the novel 'The Sea and Poison' written by Shusaku Endo embody and expose issues of racism and give the reader or audience a sense of the consequences of such hatred in different ways. Hick's film is about a trial that reveals the prejudice that people have towards Japanese-Americans. A community that concentrated a variety of ethnicity, among them was both Whites and Japanese. As a result of the racial differences, racism has come into existences and has impacted the life of both children and adult in that isolated island called San Piedro. It is responsible for the internment of Kabuo, Hatsue, and their families to the camps during World War 2, the break-up of Hatsue and Ishmael, Kabuo's loss of his land, and perhaps for his indictment for murder. Whereas Endo's novel uses the case of the vivisections performed on the US POW to symbolise the brutality, of such uncivilised prejudice. Although both challenge racism face-to-face, Hicks' film cannot be underestimated with the effect it has. Not only is the theme of racism present within the central story of the film but it is also seen within the smaller romantic and social stories. Endo's novel on the other hand does convey strong racial themes but to the reader there are also issues relating to ethnic bias which in some parts tends to overwhelm the

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Explore the ways Guterson presents the character Hatsue in the novel.

Emma Turner Explore the ways Guterson presents the character Hatsue in the novel. Throughout this novel we see the character Hatsue from many people's perspectives which give us a good overall view of her, although we never get to know her completely. Hatsue is a complex character who does not seem like she will ever be fully understood by anyone at all. In the novel we come to understand why Hatsue is who she is and why she acts the way she does. In this essay I will attempt to show how the writer Guterson represents Hatsue through the different perspectives of her and through her own eyes. When Hatsue first appears she is sat outside the courtroom Ishmael sees her seated on a hall bench (we see her here for the first time through Ishmael's eyes). She clearly wants to be left alone and from her meeting here with Ishmael it seems that she is upset, sorrowful and distant. "She had not been exactly cold to him, not exactly hateful, but he'd felt her distance anyway. "Go away" she'd said..." This shows that Hatsue wants to be left alone and because Ishmael only seems to want to help her and make sure she is okay she seems to come across as unfriendly and aloof even though at this time it would be probable that she would need support. Since Hatsue is being slightly cold towards Ishmael in a circumstance were most people may need support it may seem that there is a past

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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What do we learn, and what can we inferabout Hatsue and Ishmael’s relationship from chapters 7 and 8?

What do we learn, and what can we infer about Hatsue and Ishmael's relationship from chapters 7 and 8? Hatsue and Ishmael's childhood relationship emerges at the beginning of chapter eight, with them both on an empty beach at the age of fourteen digging for geoducks, and swimming in the sea. When they find their first geoduck, it appears to me like a films stereotypical dig, with one person, Hatsue, caring about the animal its size, and its condition "He'll break if we start pulling. Lets be patient..." "Easy is the way. Don't hurry it. Slow is best." With the other person wanting to dig it out straight away, only caring what they get out of it "My turn to dig." "Lets pull it now." This I think is the first comparison of the difference, a metaphor, of Hatsue and Ishmael's personalities. I see this as how they will treat their relationship to come. This can be seen as how men and women see relationships as general. Ishmael wanting to dig straight away and pull at the goal as soon as it is seen not caring if it breaks, and Hatsue wanting to be patient dig away at the foundations to reach a better goal, not just for the short term. Then in the conversation they have on the oceans, the roles, to me, have been reversed, Ishmael seeing the oceans as one big ocean with different areas, and Hatsue seeing the oceans as not just different areas but as different temperatures, colour,

  • Word count: 950
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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What do we learn about different aspects of prejudice in chapter seven of 'Snow Falling on Cedars' from the way Gutterson uses language?

What do we learn about different aspects of prejudice in chapter seven of 'Snow Falling on Cedars' from the way Gutterson uses language? 'Snow Falling on Cedars' is a book filled with different aspects of prejudice. Many of these different aspects come to the forefront during chapter seven. Gutterson makes them apparent utilising a variety oflinguistic techniques that I shall discuss in this essay. At the beginning of chapter seven, the Japanese sit in a segregated manner at the back of the courtroom - 'No law compelled them to take only these rear seats'. The Japanese feel overtly prejudiced against and, although there is no written law 'San Piedro required it of them without calling it a law'. This shows that there is a resentment of their race, for one reason or another that makes the Japanese feel uncomfortable with sitting with the rest of the community. This is a subtle prejudice which is echoed further on in the chapter by the not-so-subtle undertones in the community. One of the main types of prejudice present in chapter seven is the depersonalisation of the Japanese members of the community 'Jap number 1, Jap number2, Jap number 3, Japan Charlie...' The prejudiced members of San do not refer to the Japanese people by their real names so that their own discriminations can be justified. By not giving the Japanese their own identities, the prejudiced community can

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Discuss the importance of female characters in 'Snow Falling on Cedars,' and 'The Crucible.' Compare the ways in which they are presented.

Comparative Coursework Assignment1: Discuss the importance of female characters in 'Snow Falling on Cedars,' and 'The Crucible.' Compare the ways in which they are presented. In both, the novel, 'Snow Falling On Cedars,' and the play of 'The Crucible,' the strength of the female characters is detailed by their portrayals throughout the text, highlighting their importance to the narrative of their respective literature. In this assignment, I am going to focus primarily on Hatsue Miyamoto, from 'Snow Falling On Cedars,' and Abigail Williams from 'The Crucible,' as they are both well-developed characters, and, although they have very different roles within their respective communities, there are a number of parallels between them. I will also be referring to, and comparing, Susan Marie Heine, and Elizabeth Proctor. (comparison) When we are first introduced to Abigail, we learn that she has been raised by her uncle, Parris, "a widower with no interest with children, or talent with them," and this coupled with Salem's Puritan society leads to her feeling repressed by her environment, and seeking to change her position and status in Salem. Her affair with John Proctor leads to conflict between Salem's expectations of her, and her cynicism towards their hypocrisy and the "lying lessons" of their society. Hatsue is also torn between two sets of values during her youth and, like

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Consider the Way the Writer Presents the Character of Hatsue in “Snow Falling on Cedars”

Consider the Way the Writer Presents the Character of Hatsue in "Snow Falling on Cedars" Hatsue is one of the main characters in this novel and many chapters are dedicated solely to her and her past, though within the first few chapters the reader is purposely only told certain details which can only amount to a certain judgement of character. In chapter one we are first introduced to Hatsue and even though it is a very small glimpse at Hatsue, it does describe a lot about her character. It could be said that this first introduction could be a summary of her character as a whole, but at the beginning of the book, which is an interesting device by Guterson. "Go away, repeated Hatsue Miyamoto. Then she turned her head away from his." This is a very wilful and bitter attitude and we later learn that it is not just because her husband is on trial. This helps the reader understand her perspective and frame of mind as the novel proceeds. As a character Hatsue is torn between two sets of social perspectives. As we later learn she drawn towards Ishmael because he represents one set of values. It could be likened to the fabled "American Dream" which is prominent in many novels. The American Dream signifies the freedom of choice without prejudice and that everyone has their individuality. On the other side of the divide is the traditional Japanese way of life. Hatsue's

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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How Effective an Introduction to the novel is in Chapter 1?

How Effective an Introduction to the novel is in Chapter 1? David Gutterson made good use of his introduction in 'Snow falling on Cedars'. He takes advantage of it by setting the main scene; he goes into great detail about the courtroom, while at the same time he is trying to emphasise how serious the trial event on the small island, 'San Piedro'; such like "In the public gallery every seat had been taken..." There is obviously a low crime rate on the island, so this was a major event for the whole of its community. His description of the courtroom also portrays what the citizens lives are like, e.g. "It was a place of gray-hued and bleak simplicity..." his readers can interpret this to mean that the citizens lives are boring, and simple. Also, the phrase "sluggish radiators" can be interpreted to mean that their lives are slow working. He gives us the impression that the island has a close knit community; the courtroom was "cramped", the citizens also seemed to have attended the trial as an act of respect towards all those that have been affected by the whole event. He also uses the introduction to introduce the type of people that inherit the island, "two truck farmers, a retired crabber, a bookkeeper, a carpenter..."etc. Gutterson also takes the opportunity to add extra details, such as their religious nature and the different cultures of the people that live on

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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'The Keepers of the House' - Commentry.

The extract taken from the novel, 'The Keepers of the House,' written by Shirley Ann Grau is a well-written prose which captures the events that take place when the protagonist who has recently undergone a divorce with her husband is amongst the townspeople. During this time, the attitudes and views of both the people of the town and of the protagonist are cleverly expressed. Through the use of various literary techniques and devices this extract appears to be eloquent to the reader. The title of the novel 'The Keepers of the House,' is relevant to the passage in which the reader will later become aware that the protagonist is determined to accomplish a goal. Her chief aim being to take full control of her life, being both dominant and having authority. Thus, from the title, the reader becomes familiar with the protagonists aim of wanting to be the 'keeper' of the house. Hence, the title plays a coherent role in allowing the reader to become aware of the events which are to follow. The prose is written in first person perspective, hence the reader is able to attain a better understanding and insight into the feelings and attitudes the protagonist has towards the situations which are taking place. The use of dialogue becomes a common literary technique that enhances the reader's understanding and gratitude towards the prose. This style of writing stands out from the rest of

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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"Discus the themes touched upon in the extract and the language used - How relevant is this passage to the rest of the novel?"

"Discus the themes touched upon in the extract and the language used. How relevant is this passage to the rest of the novel?" "They were silent," describes the relationship between Ishmael and Hatsue later on in the novel but here we look before that when Ishmael realises that he has some affection for Hatsue. Both the main characters are involved in this extract; it starts to show an overview of there relationship. "The two of them sit side by side in the shallows" looking over the ocean, people would mistake these actions as them being very much in love with each other. "It goes forever," says Ishmael but there seems to be conflict between the issues "it ends somewhere". "It doesn't end it meets another one and pretty soon the water is back and mixes together" It's the "mixes" part of this quotation that is relevant to the rest of the novel because it brings up the subject of racism. Perspectives of discrimination differ from these two individuals because of their different cultural background. Hatsue is basically the alien in the world of Ishmael's country. Ishmael does not experience the discrimination that Hatsue and her family experience during the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack. Variations will always play a role in a relationship, but common interests shall bring two people closer than ever. A common perspective between Ishmael and Hatsue is recognizing

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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