At Arms with Morpheus

I read "At Arms with Morpheus" by O'Henry today.
I liked the humor which the story includes.
The humor is "funniness of a very sincere man".
Tom, who accidently hasvtaken morfine, is supposed to be funny and foolish
because he is too much honest. He believe all nonsense talk of his friend and try to warn himself.
But I think such a man is pretty cool even though he is scrupulously honest.

Here is one part from the story that describes Tom's character.

"He was good nature itself, and a gallant gentlman, fine and true and clean as sunlight.
He came from somewhere down South, where they still have ideals and a code. New York had charmed, but had not spoiled, him."

People might say this kind of person is tacky or out-of-date.
But I believe O'Henry liked a man such as Tom Hopkins and wanted more men respect Tom
hopeing not to lose faithful men in the US.

The Gift of The Magi

I read "The Gift Of The Magi" , written by O' Henry and listened to the audio on the Youtube.
I actually really liked the story. I thought this story would end with sad ending losing their most precious things, Dllea's hair and Jim's watch. I was especially nervous when Jim finds Della losing her hair having an peculiar expression on his face and when Della gets the set of combs. I was scared that they might regret what they have done terribly. It seems that their presents have no meanings and no value now.
But their love to each other was much stronger. They become happy enough with their feelings that they really wanted give something nice to each other and at least they both did their best to buy the present.
I believe even though they become rich someday in the future and be able to give each other expensive gifts, they are happy not because the value of the gift itself but rather, the fact that they are caring, and loving each other.It is really beautiful to figure out what you can do for someone you loves.                                                                                        ,                                                           

Breakfast

I read "Breakfast " written by John Steinbeck this week..
It is really short story but when I finished reading,, I was filled up with pleasure.
The main character, I, meet a family(it does not say it is a family but most likely so) on the way in the really cold morning and have breakfast together. They are not acquaintance or friends, they are just strangers each other.
But still, their conversation starts very naturally.
They say "Morning" each other and through the story, their talk is very friendly.
It is so natural that attracts the readers.
Also, description of  breakfast works very well to characterize this story.
I'll show that part below.
"The girl set out the platter of bacon, the brown high biscuits, a bowl of bacon gravy and pot of coffee..."
This sentence helps readers draw a picture of the story and also makes us hungry.
One of the important things here is that the situation is very cold morning.
I think we all love old morning and warm but simple breakfast.
I also noticed that there are three descriptions of the scenery and it changes as story goes.
First one is "The eastern mountains were black-blue, but behind them the light stood up faintly colored at the mountain rims with a washed res, growing colder, greyer and darker as it went up and overhead until, at a place the west, it merged with pure night." 
Second one is "There was color in the light now, reddish gleam that made the air seem colder." and the last one is "The air was blazing with light at the eastern skyline."
These sentences show the lapse of time and shows the man and changing of  "I" feeling.
As he meet this family, his heart becomes warm same as the atmosphere around.

Actually this story is about three pages only and I was surprised story can be made with such few words and sentences, make changes in the story and still can give readers impression.
 
 

Translation

In last class, we compared 3 types of "Moomintroll" story written in Finnish, English and Japanese, and I thought English and  Finnish are sometimes similar. It seems that their word order are the same and the sounds are very close too. Of course I cant understand Finnish but when I compare those two, English and Finnish, I can follow the meaning.
 
When I was a kid, I always thought something is strange in sentences when I read translated books. It still happens. I read Japanese version of "Moomintroll" and thought, some part are strange. Of course there should be a lot of great translation too but something strange is always noticeable. If we find out something unusual when we are reading , it tends to just stick to our mind and don't get out. 
One of the examples is here. "(All Moomintrolls go to sleep about November. This is a good idea, too, if  you don't like the cold and the long winter darkness)." This part with round brackets each sides, basically shows author's opinion. In Japanese children's books, personal words from the authors does not appear very much. It is rather rare maybe. Not only the words but translator have to translate the way of writing.. I thought the skill to chose the best words which fit into readers' minds is really important to translator.

Gambling on Gambling

Today I read a news about the incrising of Casinos in the US. Hearing the word 'Casinos', do you get a positive image or a nagitive one? For me, negative image. I just dont think it is right way to spend money event if it stimulates the flow of economic somehow.
In the US, currently Casinos are spreding out of Las Vegas to 39 states including Massachusetts, Detoroit and Philadelphia or so. One of the reason for these act is the expansion of new employment  opportunity for people who have to do with Casinos' business. It is said that Casino business would produce hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
It might sounds great but the best thing for us is producing new jobs?
I dont think so. Even if gambling could make people's life richer, it is not good.
There is always possibliy that people cannnt control themselves at Casinos. Gambling can destroy someone's   property and life. I feel that the risk of making Casinos as nation wide business place is too big.

古池や poem

In my group in class, we made up these two type translation.


The old ound into which a frognjump and we hear the sound of water.
The sound of old pounds which a fromg jump in.

The article I read this week "Family Tragedy"

I read and litsened the audio of the CNN article, "Family Tragedy" which tells about the poverty in Greece. Apparently, there are not a families who had forced to send away their children to orphanage and live separetly. The fincancial crisis in Greece makes extremely difficult for parents to raise their own children by themselves. They love their child but simply they cannnot afford to feed their kids.
I used to think that whatsoever the reason is, parents who part with their children are too irresponsible but this article gave me another point of view. I understood that those people who suffer from the shortage of income think that it is the best to sent to kids to orphanage and give them education. I agree with that point. That is the only thing they can do and those parents are just trying hard to do their best. I learned that there are people who are suffering this much and the world is poor.
Then, who is to be blamed for the whole financial crisis tragedy? It is really difficult to difine. One of lady who had to part with her kid says that it is goverment who have responsibility. It is partly true but I also think each citizens should their eyes on what is going on in their country and be sensitive if something wrong is happening. I dont mean Greek citizens only but also Japanese citizens and hole nations on this earth should do the same.

allteration in Japanese

I learned 'allitiration' in class and I dont think the word 'allitiration' has originally exsisted in Japanese language culture. It had probably been made up when Western culture had got into Japan.
I dont think Japanese people notice or care about alliteration in Japanese language when we write someting. However, when we speak, it is sometimes noticable and stands out when people use alliteration even if it is unconciously used.

The Book

I choose articles from CNN News as a material to read. Not exactly a book but I though it is interesting because I can learn world wide news as well as English.
I've already fouund out some reports to read and the audio as well.
I might change my decision if  I find out more interesting book and the audio but I'm doing it so far.

Shaunt The Sheep

I watched a couple episodes of "Shaun The Sheep" .

I thought it succesufully shows sense of humor without any words.

One of the factors that constitutes this sense of humor is that the animals, the dog and the sheep are actually more clever than their master. However, they just dont look clever from their appearence and that is humor too.

They look pretty animals but their actions look just like what human beings do.

Integrated class 2 test blog

Hello Professor Cheetham.
This is Yuka Kaneko from Integrated Class.
I still remember that I had interview test with you to enter this Sophia University English literature department!