Quote a dialogue line or a statement from Christ that you found particularly important for you and explain why it grabbed your attention.
It must a quote nobody else has mentioned before.
Reply to other quotes that, for whatever reason, you found worth noticing.
"The Americans use the shoe of a horse . . . there must be something in that. One may try . . . " I found this line particularly interesting. It was the shortest and simplest statement of superstition among others that were proposed. However, the author presented it with a negative voice, showing to the reader that this particular way of "blessing" was not widely accepted or fully understood by immigrants. Therefore, he continued: "Snoutnose knew a better way."
ReplyDelete" He bought a house! Twenty years he had helped to mold the New World. And now he was to have a house of his own!" I found this statement particularly important, because the main reason for migrating to America was as the cliched saying goes ' for a better life.' I would say owning a house in America was a way of saying ' I made it , ' and for Geremio to defy the odds and make it, it must be a very proud moment.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the house does signify accomplishment.
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ReplyDelete"Geremio. The month you have been on this job, you have not spoken a word about the work…And I have felt that I am walking into a dream. Is the work dangerous? Why don't you answer…?"
ReplyDeleteThis statement I believe is much more than her worrying for Geremio and why he has failed to speak of his job. This to me serves as foreshadow. This gave me a sense of danger that is ahead and coming towards Geremio. Not to mention that it was the last dialogue of the chapter, it's like a cliff hanger and leaves you wondering..well why isn't Geremio bragging about his job, like he usually does?
I agree, it was a suspenseful way to end the chapter and after reading on into the next chapter you better understand whats being said.
Delete“He regaled them with his wonderful joy of the new house. He praised his wife and children one by one. They listened respectfully and returned him well wishes and blessings.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows how important Geremio and his family are to each other. There is a strong connection and love for his family. He is happy with his life and proud of his new home. I think it gives you a sense of how their relationship is as a family and characters. I believe it shows a form of foreshadowing because later on his family faces Geremio's construction accident.
" Don't give me that ! And bear in mind that there are plenty of good barefoot men in the streets who'll jump for a day's pay!" This quote showed me how cruel Murdin is . He threated to fire Germio and his gang because they took 2hrs off and the only thing that Germio did was to hurry back to work even harder than before. The quote grabbed my attention because it made me think how parents work so hard for their childrean.
ReplyDeleteThe quote from Christ of concrete I have chosen is “ Is it not possible to breathe God’s air without fear dominating the pall of unemployment? And the terror of production for Boss, Boss, and Job? To rebel is to lose all of the very little. To be obedient is to choke. O dear Lord, guide my path”. The reason I chose this quote is because I feel this quote is someone looking for God’s guidance and signifies Geremio’s deepest rooted emotions of faith. Geremio is asking for help, an assistance. He is trying to find a balance in his life. So he prays to a higher power for answers.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote so far is, "Ah bella casa mio. Where my little freshets of blood and my good woman await me. Home where my broken back will not ache so. Home where midst the monkey chatter of my piccolinos I will float off to blessed slumber with my feet on the chair and head on the wife's soft full breast," (pg. 5). This quote grabbed my attention because it was very easy for me to comprehend the first time I read it, unlike many of the other sections of the book. I like the straightforwardness of the language and descriptions the author provided.
ReplyDeleteSyeda Jafri
DeleteI also really liked this quote. It has alot of meaning to it. When Geremio comes home tired from work his family help's keep him happy.
I was actually going to choose this quote because it shows that he is a family oriented type of guy who enjoys his family's company.
DeleteThe quote I chose is "Sons of two legged dogs...despised of even the devil himself! Work! Sure! For America beautiful will eat you and spit your bones into the earth's hole! Work! This quote grabbed my attention becuase of the negative view on America and what the American Dream seems to mean to him. He obviously lost faith that his American Dream can come true.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's ironic to see how he despises the American dream, when usually one is quite excited to embrace that dream.
DeleteThe quote I chose was "Laugh, laugh all of you, but I tell you that all my kids must be boys so that they someday will be big American builders. And then I'll help them to put the gold away in the basements!"
ReplyDelete-- This quote caught my eye and grabbed my attention because of the context of it. Before this one of his workers was taunting Geremio about all the children he had and one on the way. Geremio here to me is saying to them make fun of me now but one day my kids will be doing better than I am and I'll help them with all their riches that they'll have, they'll have so much we'll have to give them a hand moving the gold into the basement. Geremio by saying this to me symbolizes to me a part of that "American Dream" which by the way not only Immigrants are looking to achieve that, all of our parents hope for us to do better than they have and here Geremio is saying just that. Geremio indirectly says that his children will be better than he is, big Americans like him, but will make more money and riches than him, hence the gold in the basement part of his speech.
I totally agree, all parents want their children to exceed them in success.
DeleteSyeda Jafri
ReplyDeleteThe quote that grabbed my attention was " To embrace a goose-fat breast and bless the house with the fresh milk." Snoutnose had said this when he found out that Geremio was going to get a new home.This just show's that although snounose is just a freind he cares about his friend and wants the well being of Geremio. I thought it was really nice and caring of snoutnose to suggest this to Geremio as he wanted to make sure Geremio was safe when he started his life in his new home. If he wanted he could of not said this at all but he still suggested it.
"but I tell you that all my kids must be boys so that they someday will be big American builders . And then I'll help them to put the gold away in the basements!" Pg4
ReplyDeletethis quote stood out to me because it shows that his sons will be growing up very successful and that he will help them in the future protect their wealth.
I found this quote quite interesting "Ah, father of countless chicks, the old age is a carrion!" Tomas is younger then the rest tells the lean "Old Nick" the he is looking and smelling like a dead person from all the kids that he has. Geremio has many kids too and defends the lean by telling Tomas that he is not capable of even hatching an egg. In life you can't have everything their is always a desire. Geremio might not have all the money in the world or youth; but is wealthy with his family.
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ReplyDeleteThis quote captivated me:
ReplyDelete"You used to always tell me about what happened on the jobs, you have not spoken a word about the work...who was jealous....who was praised..."
"You should know by now, all work is the same"
I found it interesting because it seemed like Geremio treated his arrival to his home and family like a haven, but his wife treated his arrival from work like a serial show...being consumed by the stories he tells.
I also found it interesting because Geremio reassures her that work is work, its all the same, however his wife associates work with more of the gossip side. She asks what happens on a social level between all the workers.
I chose the quote:
ReplyDelete"Said Annunziata, 'The children are so happy, Geremio; let them be, for even I would dance a Tarantella.' And with that she turned blushing. He wanted to take her on her word. She patted his hands, kissed them, and whispered. 'Our children will dance for us... in the American style someday.'"
This quote peaked my interest because Annunziata and Geremio mentioned, more than once in the novel, that they want their children to be successful and happy in America. Geremio is working very hard in order for his children to have a better life in America than his life in Italy.
“Blessing to Thee, O Jesus. I have fought winds and cold. Hand to hand I have locked dumb stones in place and the great building rises. I have earned a bit of bread for me and mine.”
ReplyDeleteI found this intesesting because to me it shows how hard working Geremino was.
“Six floors below, the contractor called.” ‘Hey, Geremio! Is your gang of dagos dead!’
ReplyDeleteThe reason I chose this quote was because it makes me wonder how was the working conditions of immigrants. The contractor is yelling at Geremio because he does not see any progress. Also, you can see how his employees are not appreciated nor respected. It makes me realize that they’re being treated worse than slaves.
“Coarse throats tickled, and mouths opened wide in laughter.”
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because I appreciate the imagery that the author produces here. In my opinion the goal of an author is to not only explain but draw, with words. Unlike a painter or film production, the task at hand for an author might be more difficult. He is painting with words and portraying a concept, he digs deeply into his own mind to describe something that we have all seen. If done correctly the words can reproduce an image that we already know, simply with his words. His words allow me to synthesize my thoughts by grasping what is actually happening, contributing to following the story with all of the colours that he intends us to see. This is a powerful concept, and Di Donato does it well.
"For America the beautiful will eat you and spit your bones into the earth's hole!"
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because I felt that it was very deep and an interesting way to describe America. The Lean described America this way because he works really hard, doing difficult jobs in America and possibly feels that he got nothing out of coming to America. This quote gives me the idea that part of the book can be about working hard in America and it barely being good enough to survive. I also feel that some people can get hurt in while working or in general not only mentally but physically as well. This quote also used very descriptive words to create an image for people to understand what he is describing.
The mad day's brutal conflict is forgiven, and strained limbs prostrate themselves so that swollen veins can send the yearning blood coursing and pulsating deliciously as through the body mountained leaping streams" This passage grabbed my attention because it reminded me of something that I wrote. I found it amazing that the author could describe something so eloquently to something that is so mundane.
ReplyDeleteThis quote brings so much emotion, that it leaves you wanting to know what will happen next, or maybe does this series of convictions mean something entirely different from what we come to understand about the novel.
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