Blog Post #5 Drummer Boy of Shiloh 2

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh #2

14-year-old Joby is in a dangerous situation. In “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Roy Bradbury, he’s unjustly serving as a drummer boy and he goes into the war having no way to fend for himself. He must shake off his nerves in order to survive the combat. He can’t let the war scare him.

            Joby feels that he’s just a tiny object, knowing the real strong men will bounce him around. He is only 14, going up against men at least a few years older then him. To make things worse, Joby is in the very front because he’s the drummer boy. The text says, “And not notice him living small here, no more then a toy himself (pg. 51).” Joby understands that the older men will take advantage of him, treating him like a toy. What he really needs is some motivation, to inspire him. Self-confidence can help everybody when they’re feeling down or timid.

            The General helps Joby feel less vulnerable about leading the army. It really helps to get valuable information from a respected leader. The text says, “Stand up, bare the breast, ask to be a target, thank them and sit down (pg. 52).” The general is pretty much telling Joby to be a man, accept that they want to come at you, but they can’t hurt you (it’s hypothetical, but he just wants to make Joby feel better). That symbolizes a leader. Leaders are proud, which is how the general help makes Joby feel.

            Being a soldier in war is a learning process. It also requires taking on the responsibility of being a true leader. The General, the former leader, passed on his knowledge to Joby, the new leader, even calling him “the heart of the army.” Now Joby has the motivation, he has the confidence, and he has the pride. Hopefully good results pass onto the battlefield with him.

Blog Post #5: The Catcher in the Rye

Holden Caulfield is a troubled boy. In the book, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, he is a guy with an opinionated attitude and a lonesome lifestyle. The main reason for this is that Holden is actually lonely. He can’t be friendly or nice to any other people because no one is his friend. Holden always, one way or another, makes everyone he comes into contact with an enemy.

            One problem that Holden has is he expresses too many of his opinions to other people. For example, everyone appears to be a phony in his opinion. The text says, “One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies. That’s all. They were coming in the goddam window.” Holden has also dropped out of schools because of this attitude. He feels that he hates all of the other kids, so he doesn’t want to go to that school anymore. These opinions will most likely send Holden into a downfall later in life.

            Holden also has problems because he’s lonely. He would rather spend time alone in New York then be with other roommates. The text says, “What I did, I started talking, sort of out loud, to Allie. I do that sometimes when I get very depressed.” Allie is Holden’s dead brother. If you’re trying to talk to dead people, you are obviously very lonely. Too bad no one is there in the world for Holden.

            I think that Holden’s overall attitude is filled with a lot of negatives, but there is also one good thing. This is that Holden is free spirited, thinking whatever he wants to think, saying whatever he wants to say. Even in what seems to be such a sorrowful life, Holden does have a positive.

Blog Post 4: The Drummer Boy of Shiloh RR

14 year old Joby is in a dangerous situation. In “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh,” he’s unjustly serving as a drummer boy and he has no way to fend for himself. He must shake off his nerves in order to survive the combat. He can’t let the war destroy him.

            Joby feels that he’s just a tiny object, knowing the real men will bounce him around. He is only 14, going up against men at least a few years older then him. To make things worse, Joby is in the very front because he’s the drummer toy. “And not notice him living small here, no more then a boy himself (pg. 52).” Joby understands that the older men will take advantage of him, treating him like a toy. What he really needs is some motivation. Self-confidence can help everybody when they’re feeling down or timid.

            The General helps Joby feel less vulnerable leading the army. It really helps to get valuable information from a respected leader. “Stand up, bare the breast, ask to be a target, thank them and sit down (pg. 53).” The general is pretty much telling Joby to be a man, accept that they want to come at you, but they can’t hurt you. That symbolizes a leader. Leaders are proud, which is how the general help makes Joby feel.

            War is a learning process. It also requires taking on the responsibility of being a true leader. The General, the former leader, passed on his knowledge to Joby, the new leader, even calling him “the heart of the army”. Now Joby has the motivation, he has the confidence, and he has the pride. Hopefully good results pass onto the battlefield with him.