Friday, December 10, 2010
White Oleander discussion questions
Go to http://www.litlovers.com/guide_whiteoleander.html and page down to the "Book Club Discussion Questions" at the bottom of the page. Answer one (or more for extra credit) of these fifteen questions in a well-written paragraph of at least five sentences with a good topic sentence and a good conclusion. After reading other students' posts, respond to at least two.
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4.13
ReplyDeleteIngrid's statement that she enjoys her hatred so much even more than love comes back to huant her in many ways. first she took her hatred to far and ended up killing Barry. second she spends nine years in jail. while she is in jail her daughter turns into a little skank-a-ho. aloso she gets old and doesn't talk to astrid that much and then she gets out.
4.10
ReplyDelete2. Astrid said "My mother was not the least bit curious about me." (p. 10) How do you think that made this twelve year-old feel? What do you think that does to a child to come to that realization?
I think that that statement would have hurt the twelve year old Astrid in many ways. It must have made her sad, but also made her less affectionate. In some ways, being cold and hard was helpful to Astrid, and other times it caused problems. That is how that statement effected Astrid.
4.20
ReplyDelete9. Why would Astrid choose Rena as her new foster mother versus Bill and Ann Greenway? Was she in some way trying to punish herself? Why did she feel she deserved Rena?
Astrid chose Rena instead of Bill and Ann Greenway because she was afraid that if she went with the Greenways she would forget what she went through. She believes that her memories and her past are a part of who she is and if she forgets those then she'll forget who she is. She also feels that she doesnt deserve the Greenways because they're too perfect for her, so instead she picks Rena.
Astrid expresses her feeling through art insted of words because they don't leave. Almost all of astrids life her mother ingrid didn't listen. So the only way for astrid to express her feelings is art. Ingrid never listend. In conclusion astrid uses art to vent.
ReplyDelete4.11
ReplyDeleteAstrid waits several hours before alerting Ron of Claire's death. I believe she does this because she sort of lost track of time, changing Claire out of her clothes into new ones, and laying with her crying. It could also be because she thinks he didn't really deserve to know, because she feels it's his fault. What died in Astrid I believe was her happiness, or feeling of being loved. Now she feels empty and alone.
4.8
ReplyDeleteAstrid waits several hours to tell Claire's husband that shes dead for different reasons. One reason was that she was shocked that she was dead. Another reason is that she wanted to spend extra time with Claire. The last reason is because she wanted to clean the mess that she made before he showed up. That's the different reasons why Astrid waited several hours to tell Claire's husband.
4.21
ReplyDelete8. Although Astrid tells Paul "I don't let anyone touch me" (p.265) discuss how Claire touched her. Did others touch her as well? What is it about her experiences with people that make her feel this way? Discuss the powerful ways in which Astrid touched other people.
In the book, Astrid says she doesn't let anyone touch her, and by that, I think she means that she had gone through so much that she didn't want to be hurt again. Astrid's mother let her down, and just when she thought things could get worse, Starr physically and mentally abused Astrid. As Astrid goes on through her foster homes, she's always feeling displaced, and not being treated as she wanted from her mother. Astrid touched many of the parents, and some she didn't. Claire for instance, was touched by Astrid, but she was too wrapped up in her own problems that didn't even really exist, unless it was in her head. Astrid always tried to stay by every ones side, and always did what anyone told her to do, even so with Claire, when she was going through her alcoholic times. Over all, Astrid was hurt a lot, and probably had no emotion in the end, but she did touche a lot of hearts, such as Claires and her Mothers.
p.4 computer 15
ReplyDeleteWhat i thought about White Oleander was that it was different in a lot of ways the story line was different and most of the stuff it says and what it talks about. Other than that it was pretty good to i don't usually read books but it was interesting
4.10
ReplyDeleteI agree with 4.20 because I think that person is correct.
4.#1
ReplyDelete14. Why do you think Astrid always found herself in the position of caregiver to Starr's children, Marvel's children, and Claire when she was so deeply in need of care herself? She took care of them because she never had anyone their for her so she searches for people to love her. she latches on to people that are weaker then she is.
2. Astrid said "My mother was not the least bit curious about me." (p. 10) How do you think that made this twelve year-old feel? What do you think that does to a child to come to that realization?
ReplyDelete4.18 I think she felt unloved, that no one cares
about her. I think that is not healthy for a chiled semtimental wize. A children can grow with hate and do horable things.
4.5 Question 2. Astrid said "My mother was not the least bit curious about me." (p. 10) How do you think that made this twelve year-old feel? What do you think that does to a child to come to that realization?
ReplyDeleteI think that knowing her mom wasn't the least bit curious about her was probably a hurtful feeling. It basically show that her mom didn't care much about what she did. It probably made her feel, not cared about, and probably like she can do whatever she wants without her mother knowing or caring. This also has to be a bad feeling because her mom was in jail, and not being able to see your mom for such a long time, and the time that you do she doesn't care. That would make me feel like I have to reason to be alive, which is probably how Astrid felt.
p.4 15
ReplyDeleteAstrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her luminous beauty to intimidate and manipulate men. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world full of ritual and mystery-but their idyll is shattered when Astrid's mother falls apart over a lover.
4.20 :)
ReplyDeleteI agree #11 because Ron was a bad husband and she didn't think he deserved to know about Claire's death. Also she was very close to Claire and finding her dead was really hard on her.
shawn 13 number twenty one is a kiss a@# and after this i am going to sit over there okay
ReplyDelete4.24
ReplyDeleteWhy does Astrid express herself through her paintings and drawings versus words?
I think that Astrid expresses herself in paintings and drawing and not words because people can get a better description with a picture that trying to explain it all.first, she also is a very good artist because her father was an artist.I honestly think that she draws the pictures so that if someone were to look at the picture only she would know what she was feeling when she drew it.also, In conclusion, I would honestly do the same. I would because I would not always want people in my business.
4.10
ReplyDeleteI agree with 4.11. It sounds like a pretty logical theory
4.2
ReplyDelete2. Astrid said "My mother was not the least bit curious about me." (p. 10) How do you think that made this twelve year-old feel? What do you think that does to a child to come to that realization?
I think this made astrid fell horrable because when you have a mother who is in jail and no father figure in your life then you have no one to go to. You will slowly think no noe loves you if you. I think when a child has to come to that realizationthen that will destroy the kids life. the reason why i say this is because the kid will edvencually think that no one liks them. they might also think they dont belonge in the world.
15
ReplyDeletei agree with 18 because that is what happens to kids in real life
To:4.10
ReplyDeleteFrom:4:21
I agree with you slightly but I think how Astrid feels goes more into depth,other than just getting hurt by her mother...It's more about the fact that the person she had been living with and showing her how to live your life just practically disappeared. It was probably the first time that Astrid had felt the emotion of lonliness, so not only was she already sad, shes sad and lonley... and Ingrid probably meant more to Astrid then, because Astrid hadn't come to the realization that Ingrid could care less about Astrid.
4.24
ReplyDeleteI agree with 5 because her mom definetly did not care about her:/
4.5
ReplyDeleteI agree with 24, because painting and pictures can speak louder than words, and being an artist can explain how you feel possibly in a clearer way that words can.
4.6
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why Astrid chooses to express herself though her art instead of using words these are some of the ones I believe are most important. The first reason being that she seems like she is trying to differentiate from her mother Ingrid, in the sense that she is a poet and she uses words to always express herself. Another reason would be that Ingrid typically mocks Astrid when she tries to express herself though written work. Those are the reasons that i believe are most important.
4.20
ReplyDeleteI agree with #5 that when Ingrid told Astrid that she isnt the least bit curios bout her, that made her sad.
period 4.#7
ReplyDelete2) Astrid said in the book "White Oleander" that her mother was not the least bit curious about her and i think she felt like her mother didn't love her so i think she felt neglected.
4.#23
ReplyDeleteI agree with #11 because I also though that Ron was a bad husband and didnt really cared about Clair.
Really shawn? Quit acting like your 13, this isn't middle school.kthanks :)
ReplyDelete-aspen
4.30
ReplyDeleteIn the passage that Ingrid says, "Isn't it funny, I'm enjoying my hatred so much more than I ever enjoyed love," it comes back to haunt her by Astrid pushing herself away from her and them growing distant with each other.
4. 11
ReplyDeleteI agree with number 6, all your reasons are very well put!
4.6
ReplyDeleteI disagree with 4.15 because Astrid's relation with Ingrid only starts to deteriorate until time passes in her first foster home.
4. 11
ReplyDeleteOkay, number 6 the reason I agree is because you're key on about how Ingrid treats Astrid.
4. 11
ReplyDeleteVery good number 20! That's right on target. She does go with Rena instead of the nice couple because she feels she'll forget who she is with them. But think, why suffer more than finally have a break from all the suffering? Maybe forgetting your past isn't so bad.