Category: Homework

1. Introduction. How the old man lives and how much the fish will mean to him if he catches it. For example no fish for 84 days. (Do not give my own point of view)

2. Start with saying things about how he is on his own looking for big fish. Characteristics and quotes – must be strong, skilled etc…

3. Obstacles. Cramped hand, lack of sleep, limits on water. All these reasons not making the man in a not very fit condition for catching the big fish.

4. Questions that arise from the starting question. Must everything deserve a reward? Why wouldn’t the man be worthy of the fish? What is worthiness? Was everything for nothing?

5. Conclusion? Old man is worthy of the fish. Link to characteristics. Could anyone be a survivor, does that mean they are worthy of the fish?

(Still thinking about the order of these points).

Being on this boat doesn’t feel the same. The old man has been with me for ages, he taught me how to fish since 5 years old. I remember it all even to today. This guy I’m on the boat with is just too strict. Getting up so early in the morning, I just need more sleep. I didn’t have to do that with the Santiago. I wonder how he is getting along today, he said that the 85th day is a lucky day. If he believes that, then I do too. When I think of it again, he didn’t come home yesterday. I guess that means he has found something good. Problem is that he is on his own, if only I was there to help. He could have found a big fish or those dentusos. Something that would also help is if this guy on the boat would stop drinking all the water. He leaves me just a drop. I just wanna shout at this guy but it’s always the same argument over and over again.                                            ‘Oi, what are you looking at?’ The man said as I was giving him an angry look.                                        ‘I saw a fish jump out the water behind you. I wasn’t looking at you.’ I said.                                             ‘Sure,’ The man said sarcastically. ‘Just go catch some fish.’                             ‘At least I can actually catch fish.’ I whispered under my breath. Luckily he didn’t hear that.

It’s barely been anytime since we set sail and there’s a huge school of fish over there. I can see small dark figures swimming about. Hopefully there is a big fish lurking around. This truly is a lucky boat if there is one nearby but it isn’t as exciting catching fish without the old man. He always sounds so cheerful and praises my skill. Then I would say everytime that it is because him I am so skilled.

Did the line just wobble? It seemed very light. I don’t really want those tiny fish, they are not worth much and not a challenge. Perhaps if I can catch some huge fish dad will let me go on Santiago’s boat for once. The sad thing is that is never happening.                                                ‘What are you doing! Look at the line instead of dreaming!’ The man said next to me.                                                    ‘Yeah, yeah.’ I said. It is really pulling now, better get hold of that before he has a go at me again. ‘Pull kid!’ The man shouted at me. I get both of my hands and start to pull up the line. I could see the fish getting closer in the water as more and more line covers the boat floor. The fish splashes out of the water. It is flopping about on the hook to try and get off.                                                   ‘It is pointless fish. The hook has already pierced you.’ I said. Might just eat this one, got some good flesh. I remember getting taught how to cut these fish the best way. Slice the head, tail and down the middle where the spine is. I turn to see the man struggling with his line. I should probably help him, otherwise I will get shouted at. As I reach for his line I stumble backwards. The boat tilted back and forth. I hear a huge splash.   I realise that the man is not on the boat anymore and look over the side to find him struggling in the water. ‘You ok? That must have been a huge fish’ I said. I wanted to mock him that he wasn’t strong but I knew I shouldn’t. At least there was not any sharks, there usually are around these waters. The only thing I don’t want to find are sharks, there were plenty of those yesterday. They are not scary anymore but still, they’re such a pain to deal with.

The boy would…

• Think about the Old Man, think about for how he is doing – is everything well or not.
• Hope that the Old Man was right about the 85th day being lucky.
• Wish how he was on the man’s boat to talk and catch fish with him.
• Catch lots of decent sized fish as he is on the lucky boat.
• Talk to the man he is on the boat with, he could talk about what he thinks of the old man.
• Think about the baseball
• Make sure not to eat or drink all the food and water, only do it when needing the strength.
• Maybe argue with the man on the boat with him if someone does something wrong and blame each other. A reason could be because the boy is younger and could be less experienced or lacks  the strength.
• Think what happened to the old man, why has he not come back home yet?

In this fiction book the protagonist, Torak, has lost his beloved wolf companion because he was captured by an unknown enemy. He wants Wolf back really bad as it is his pack brother. He goes on a journey with his friend in the frozen wilderness with many dangers such as blizzards and beasts. This links with the theme of ruggedness because they are trying to survive and find where Wolf is, as well as who or what captured him. The time this book is based was long ago when there were still lots of tribes. The feeling it gives is a lonesome hunter in the woods tracking down a dangerous animal. For example a big bear that has caused a lot of trouble to a nearby village.

In most stories of survival the main character would usually have something quite special about them. They possibly have a skill or supernatural ability that helps them survive. Torak is very good at tracking animals via footprints. This helps him find food or know if anything dangerous is around. I think that this book is a good example of the theme because its setting is quite classic for survival.

Brutus and Cassius are great leaders in their own way. One noble and respected, the other is careful and has the intelligence. Therefore they work very well with each other but also will need one another. Otherwise Brutus is almost blindly doing what he wants without thinking of the consequences and Cassius doesn’t have enough power to get what he needs for his plans. However, which one would do better as a leader if they did not have each other or someone similar?

I think that Cassius would be the better leader. Even though he may not be one of those highly respected people straight off, he would gain respect with his pragmatic thinking. He thought through his whole plan for murdering Caesar, and for someone else to become king or convince Rome, that everything is better off not being a monarchy. It succeeded up to the convincing part. “And for Mark Antony, think not of him; for he can do no more than Caesar’s arm when Caesar’s head is off.” Brutus said and decided that it was a good idea not to kill Mark Antony as he was apparently useless without Caesar. Furthermore, he did not get the old wise Cicero, who was the best speaker alive in Rome, in the Conspiracy. Of course the others in the Conspiracy, including Cassius who disagreed with this decision, “Yet I fear him; for in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar–” (about Antony) had to agree with Brutus to keep him on the team. This was a big mistake leading onto why Brutus isn’t a very good leader.

On the other hand, Brutus’ speaking capabilities were pretty amazing. The Conspiracy had just murdered the soon to be king Caesar, who almost everyone loved, and managed to convince Rome that it was for the good of everyone. The only reason that happened was because of Brutus. Cassius could not have done this as not as many people respected him. The reason Brutus’ speech was so convincing was because he never said that Caesar was a bad person and that he only killed him because of ambition. Ambition was a big thing in a bad way with the Romans. It was seen as putting yourself before others and quite power-hungry. You were not doing your duty. As well as that Brutus said that he killed because he loved Rome more than Caesar. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” He did it for the sake of the country. Afterwards he asked a rhetorical question “Who is here so vile that will not love his country?” Saying that who does not love their own country. This was a great finisher of his speech because everyone wants to protect their country from anything that could corrupt them in any way. Thus Brutus can be the better leader.

In the midst of the battle in Act 5 scene 3, the denouement, Cassius did not make the wisest of decisions. He had asked his slave, Pindarius, to kill him even though Brutus’ army was winning. ‘For Octavius is overthrown by noble Brutus’ power,’ Messala said. Cassius may have not died from the enemy, therefore it was a good death for Romans because he kept his honor, but he surrendered too early. A reason why he killed himself early, other than Antony’s army approaching, may have been because of when he was going to Sardis. He saw something that he interpreted was a bad omen. Two eagles fell, started feeding from the soldiers’ hands and in the morning they flew away. In replace of the eagles were ravens and crows, scavengers, that were flying along with them waiting for something to happen. The scavenger, corpse pecking birds symbolised the army’s awaiting death on the battlefield. The two eagles meant Brutus and Cassius falling as in death. Leaders should not give up too soon in a battle because their powers may lose a good reason to fight thus losing their morale. This would be a weakness in Cassius’ leadership.

Brutus went through some tough times in act 4 scene 3 which is the act of things going wrong in a tragedy. His wife killed her self by ‘swallowing fire’ (Eating hot coals) because of his absence, he argued with Cassius in the tent, and saw Caesar’s ghost. However Brutus deals with it. His wife’s suicide does not seem to effect his actions much, as well as he sorted out everything with Cassius. This is a good characteristic in a leader. Staying strong and resolving issues quickly. Even though things were ok with those two issues, seeing the ghost of Caesar could have meant he feels regret for killing his friend Caesar. Regret could make you not concentrate because you’re still hanging on to the decision you made. Was it right, or was it wrong?

In conclusion there is not really a definite answer. As you find more evidence for being a good leader in both Cassius and Brutus, it gets harder to decide. All have their strengths and weaknesses that might not always be so obvious.

• Brutus – O, name him not: let us not break with him;      (about Cicero)
• Brutus –And for Mark Antony, think not of him;For he can do no more than Caesar’s armWhen Caesar’s head is off.
• Cassius – Yet I fear him; For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar–
• Cassius –  ((I will this night,
  In several hands, in at his windows throw,
  As if they came from several citizens,
  Writings all tending to the great opinion
  That Rome holds of his name))    ; wherein obscurely
  Caesar’s ambition shall be glanced at:
  And after this let Caesar seat him sure;
  For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
• Brutus – You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
  But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,

Brutus and Cassius are great leaders in their own way. One noble and respected, the other is careful and has the intelligence. This means they work very well with each other but also will need one another. Otherwise Brutus is almost blindly doing what he wants without thinking of the consequences and Cassius doesn’t have enough power to get what he needs for his plans. However which one would do better as a leader if they did not have each other or someone similar?

I think that Cassius would be the better leader. He may not be one of those highly respected people straight off but he would gain his people’s respect with his pragmatic thinking. He thought through his whole plan for murdering Caesar and for someone else to become king or convince Rome that everything is better off not being a monarchy. It succeeded up to the convincing part. Brutus said and decided that it was a good idea not to kill Mark Antony as he was apparently useless without Caesar. Also he did not get the old wise Cicero, who was the best speaker alive in Rome, in the Conspiracy. Then of course the others in the Conspiracy had to agree with him to keep him on the team. This was a big mistake leading onto why Brutus still isn’t a very good leader.

The Colosseum is an amphitheatre built in the centre of Rome by Emperor Vespasian from 72AD – 80AD. It was then further modified by Vespasian’s son, Domitan, from 81AD- 96AD. He added tunnels underneath for slaves and animals. The reason it was called ‘the Colosseum’ was because it was built near the giant statue ‘Colossus’. It was slightly modified for a few more years after it was built. The circular building was the biggest amphitheatre in the world being 189m long and 156m wide with a height of 46m. That is a lot of materials like marble! This huge structure could hold about 50,000 spectators. It was used for many things than just gladiator fighting such as animal hunts, executions and even dramas. This building was also used for hundreds of years after it was built and was estimated to have took the lives of about 500,000 people and over a million wild animals. The Romans which attended the events were given free food such as fruit as it grew on the trees around. Since it was free people might have threw their fruit down into the middle of the Colosseum if it was a poor performance. The seating was all set out in chunks. The important people at the bottom closest to the action and the less important to the top. It would go a bit like Senators – important officials – citizens and soldiers – women and slaves. (Bottom to top) Even though so many people sat there watching, it was pretty quick to get out with 76 entrances and exits. There were so many probably because in case of emergencies. Each entrance was numbered and the spectators had tickets that said where to go. In 847 a large earthquake occurred and collapsed the southern side of the Colosseum.