The Book Without Words – Period 3 Discussion Area
PERIOD 3 Discussion Area – In this area you are to discuss all of the Discussion Questions posted.
- Discussion Question #1 is CLOSED.
- Discussion Question #2 is OPEN.
Consider what the discussion question is. Be sure to address the question.
STEP 1 – UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
STEP 2 – ADDRESS THE QUESTION (50%). (Question in the answer, your answer, details to support your answer)
- Give us your entire thought process.
- Give us details from the text to prove you know what you’re talking about. Otherwise, who knows what you’re basing your thoughts on?
- Your details do not have to be direct word-for-word quotes (mainly because you do not have the books at home).
- STILL, give us a clear idea of what thing(s)from the book you are basing your answer on. You can paraphrase, in other words.
- Please address the topic of your choice in as much detail as possible. The more detail you give us, the better we will understand your thought process, AND the better we will be able to argue/discuss with you.
- You see, if you give us your entire thought, we can see if there is anything wrong with it – any faulty logic going on there. We are in this discussion to sharpen our wits and gain the ability to think better than we ever have.
STEP 3 – Post a response to classmates (50%).
- Option #1 – If you agree with someone’s answer . . .
. . . Then explain what you agree with – be specific. And extend or expand on the thought you are agreeing with by backing your comment up with details from the text, from your own life, whatever is appropriate. You could agree with someone and support your agreement with other more, unused descriptive details from the book, other books, or your own life. Get it?- Option #2 – If you disagree with someone’s answer . . . . . . Then justify your disagreement by taking a stance backed up by your own details from the text.
Quote A-“It is not my death I fear . . . but my life,” says Sybil in Chapter 3 Section 9. This quote that sybil says can be applied to real life. People are always afraid of cause and effect. For instance people tend to rush because they’re afraid of what will happen if they’re late or what happens if they’re faced with 2 roads and can only choose one? its like that poem by robert frost, “Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood”. you can be a leader or a follower. you pick a road and hope its the right choice. people live in the past because they’re afraid of the future and its limitless possibilitys. here sybil is afraid because she is faced with this huge load of issues and shes only a kid. she fears that whichever road she takes may always be the wrong one. if she helps brother wilfred and getting the book who knows if hes good or bad? or if she keeps the book what will happen if thorstan keeps coming back and bascroft is just outside the door?
response to matt w
i agree that people always think death is the easy way out and that its always a choice because people are just plain scared of life.
Quote-A “It is not my death I fear…but my life” said sybil in chapter 3.
When Sybil says that she does not fear dying but she fears living she means that . Living to her is much worse than dying .She would rather die than live.She is afraid of going to jail and disease.she would rather live than die becuase her life would be much better if she werent alive.
Quote A-”It is not my death I fear…but my life.” says Sybil in Chapter 3 Section 9.
I think Sybil means that living is harder than being dead. Because if she lives through Thorston’s whole ‘stones of life’ situation, then she will have to figure out how to continue living without a place to sleep and food. And if she and Odo don’t figure out how to make gold, then her life will be even more miserable, hard, and confusing than it is now. The same goes for all orphans, because they all need to figure out how to live without the care of parents.
And I agree with Emma W., Sybil does feel that living in fear is worse than death. Because I would personally agree with Sybil in that, living in fear is a TON worse than dying. And also, Sybil’s worst fear is going back on the streets, and she is still unsure of her fate, so she really IS living in fear.
Response To Leana J.
i agree with you, she is more afraid of life, then death coming. She knows without the gold she will end up on the street, and she is afraid of that and her life going down hill from where it is know.
Victoria Keating
P-3
1/5/08
(Quote A)
When sybil says, “It is not my death I fear . . . but my life” she meant, she is afraid to live her life in fear. As in Fear of poverty, going to jail for the book, and disease. She is more afraid of bad things happening in her life, then death coming.
responce to Emma W
I agree with you when sybll says she faers life. in a life of poverty and sorrow, she probably thinks that death is a much better choice. sybil fears a difficulf life, and without the gold making secret, she would have nothing, so death would be a preferable choice.
Quote C Alfric said that his father used to enjoy telling his children, “The shorter the sermon, the longer the truth,” in Chapter 3 section 11.
When Alfric said this I think he thought that if less is said about someone or something, then there is more truth to what is said. I agree with what Alifric said because when someone dies, there is usually a long sermon. with a short one like when Alfric said “rest in peace” over Thorston’s body there is more to think about.
Response to Matt W.
I agree with Matt and what he said about people fearing the hardships life, and thinking that death is the easy way out. Sybil speaks for many of today’s criminals, who are having a hard time in society because of little or no money. They feel they have to steal to support themselves or their families, and some even commit suicide because they feel it’s an easy way to get rid of their troubles!
Response to Emma W.
I agree with your statement about Sybil believing living life in fear is much worse than death. She has mentioned that her life would be tragic without the gold because she would have nothing except Odo who doesn’t really appreciate her anyway. In her position, death would be equivalent to a horrible life; or even better.
Leana J
period 3
01/02/08
Quote A-“It is not my death I fear…but my life.” says Sybil in Chapter 3 Section 9.
I believe that Sybil is promoting the fact she will live a terrible life if she doesn’t witness death. It’s a lose:lose situation. She fears life itself because without the gold-making secret, she will end up on the streets with nothing. This quote describes Sybil as courageous and afraid at the same time because she isn’t fearing death, however, she is afraid of life.
1/1/08
period 3
Andre S
Avi gives a wonderful discription of the story’s characters, settings, and plots throughout the in-tire book.This book would also make a prity good thriller. There are many interesting and bone chilling moments throughout the intire line of strange event going on throughout the entire book. I would definatly recamend this book to any reader or even other writers. It is a great example of very detailed structure and setting of a choldren novel. It is a great book for beganers as well; good practice and keeps the reader interested and wanting to read on to find out what happens next. I enjoy Avi’s writing very much and wish him a great success with many, many more books and stories to come.
One thing that helped me in my writing may help Avi as well is reading other books from great authors that have writen hundreds of books throughout their successful carear in writing.(P.S ” My favorit writer to read from and has helped me the most is Stephan King.”)
Matt W
Period3
12/31/07
Quote A
Sybil says,”It is not my death i fear…. but my life.” I can connect it to real life because alot of people today do things to stay alive and they are always afraid of the consequences or what could be around the corner next. People of today constantly steal and commit other crimes but they arent always for self greed. They could be stealing money for their starving family.So people fear these hardships of life more than they do death because to them death is the easy way out. They stay alive only to attepmt to better themselves but they do not fear dying by trying to do it.
Quote A- When Sybil says in Ch. 3 “It is not my death I fear… But my life,” I believe she means that she wants not to live her life in fear or fearfully. By “fear” I mean fear of poverty, disease, or crime. She doesn’t want to be back out on the streets, with no one to depend on or give her protection. She once said that the thought of being without her master was scary, something about how she felt a bit unsafe. Even if he was unplesant, he gave her shelter and protection of some sort.
By “fearfully” I mean that Sybil wants to make something of her self, as she has said many times to both Odo and Damian after they called her a nobody. She wants to live her life to the fullest, to be worth something to someone, and not live her life in fear of being put down by others. THIS is what Sybil means when she says “It is not my death I fear… But my life.” Because to her, living life in fear is much worse than death.
Discussion Question #1 is closed.
Discussion Question #1 is closed.
Discussion Question #1 is closed.
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Please continue in this discussion area with the topics for
The Book Without Words: Discussion Question #2.
THINK OF YOURSELF AS A CONNECTION MAKER. WRITE ABOUT A QUOTE YOU CONNECT WITH IN SOME WAY. THIS IS NOT AS MUCH OF A TEST PREPARATION QUESTION AS DQ#1. WRITE WHAT COMES. DISCUSS WHAT COMES TO MIND.
You have three Quotes to consider:
A and/or B and/or C.
You can discuss one, two or all three of the quotes.
* Quote A “It is not my death I fear . . . but my life,” says Sybil in Chapter 3 Section 9.
* Quote B “the more one sins the heavier one gets,” says Damian figuratively in Chapter 3 Section 11.
* Quote C : Alfric said that his father used to enjoy telling his children, “The shorter the sermon, the longer the truth,” in Chapter 3 section 11.
You only have to deal with one of the quotes, but you are more than welcome to deal with more. If you have enough to say, by all means say it all.
Alexandria R.
Period 3
Qestion:A
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the world around because, he describes the characters very very clearly and he also describes the setting very clear i mean if any one came and picked up the book they can picture what they are reading because Avi describes the setting so clearly. The setting is a very good place to do this setting i mean can you picture a girl in raged clothing asking for sipers and lizzard tail ? No i can’t so sense he decribes the setting very clearly you can understand the way everything in there world looks like .
Response to Joel D.
I agree fully with Joel he does describes everything very well and the details that the author Avi wrote .
I like how this is going!!
Keep it up.
This will close at 11:59:59 this evening.
Let’s get really honest here.
If you do not get into the habit of giving me details from the text to support your opinion/answer/response/whatever, how do you really think you are going to do on that dreaded test? You will not do the best you could. I guarantee that.
Go back through, check everything you’ve posted.
If you have not given us details for your answer, know that you will not get that 50% of the points.
If you have not given us details for your response to someone else, know that you will not get that 50% of the points.
(3)
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the issues in the book with the characters. For example such as Sybil saving thorston so that she may survive, she also has the coflict of finding a green eyed boy so that she can maniulate the boy into the book without words.( Ex: Alfric)Odo on the other hand has the coflict of saving Thorston to get more of the alchemists secrets (Ex: his greed with gold and persuading his master to only give the secrets of alchemy to only him).
Response to Deanna L.
Yes i agree the author gives a very descriptive look on the character. Such as describing Alfric’s clothig, Thorston’s house, the apothecaries shop, and also describing the city of Fulworth.
(A)
Avi delivers a very clear look at the world around the characters. He is very decriptive, and gives the reader a very good mental image of the setting/scenery. Like when Avi describes Thorston’s house. He even gives details about the human skull in Thorston’s house. it really makes the book easier to understand. you really feel like you’re there.
very good details my friend(=.
Response to Crystal R;
i agree on what you said about Avi gives very decriptive details; and how he makes you feel like you’re in the story yourself.
Reply to Jhane
sybil is just trying to look out for her self. i agree with you because Odo and her do fight alot. But I think that she should not be taking orders from a bird. Without Odo, however, they would not have gotten Damian to stay because Odo was the only one who could do magic.
Avi’s delivers a crisp clean look tf the world of Sybil, Odo, Alfric, and Damian. In every scene, or section ther is always a description of a character, a setting or a house. For example, he described THorston’s house as old and musty. I imagine a rundown shack where Thorston lives. The smell that I remembered was how Thorston’s basement smelled like a privy. As for characters, Avi describes how they are dressed and look. He described Master Bashcroft as “fat as a barrel, and about as tall.” I don’t really get any sounds that come to mind when I read this book.
Deanna L.
Period 3
QUESTION B:
I believe the author creates a sense of each character by coming out and giving clear and conscise descriptions of each of them in the very beginning. For every character, Avi clearly writes about a paragraph or two that give extremely understandable descriptions of each character in a way that anyone can interpret. For example, he clearly described Odo as a two foot long raven with a black curved beak and a hunched back. He also goes as far to say that he sleeps in a skull. As for another example, on page 24, in the second paragraph, there’s a clear description of Ambrose Bashcroft. For my job of illustrator, I easily drew a picture that I could see as Master Bashcroft. My peer Alec had the same job, drew the same character, and came out with a picture that looked almost exactly like mine. The author’s description was that clear. The author has done the same thing for almost every character introduced to this book so far. May I say, he’s done a commendable job.
Response to Hunter R.:
I completely agree with you. As I aforementioned, the author’s descriptions are very clear and easy to understand. The author also portrays them doing things that any normal person would do. He doesn’t make it so that the characters do unbelievable, totally out there things. Well, except for the alchemy. 🙂
I total agree with Emma W., Michelle R., and Matt W.
Sybil is really just looking for people to think of her as somebody that matters.
My Response to Emma
I agree with what you are saying mostly because the things i said and you said were on the same page but also because the situation you described really points out how Avi delivers the message on how the characters in the book deal with the issues they have with themselves and with other characters. I also agree with what you said about the words that Brother Wilfrid spoke to her about needing her, because she really did take it to heart and really think about what he said
Avi delivers a clear crisp description of the issues that the characters face within themselves and with each other very well.For example, earlier in the chapter Brother Wilfrid says to sybil “I need you” as you may have noticed she is obviously star struck and amazed that someone actually has the need for her and has some sort of compassion for her. It also shows that during her life many people may not have shown her much compassion and made her feel as though she was nothing but a nobody or not even in existence.For example, people such as Odo and Damien or Master Thorston perhaps always constantly put her down and make fun of her, tease her as though she is a lesser being than they are which really presents a problem for because it lowers her confidence and depleats her self-esteem. So i think that Avi has presented this issue quite well.
Response to Taylor H
i agree with you on Sybil and Odo’s conflict between each other cause Odo is just all in for him self he doesnt care about Sybil as how you said that he teases her about her job
QUESTION C – How does Avi deliver a crisp clear look at the issues that characters wrestle with within themselves and between each other? Use details and information from the text to support your answer.
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the issues the characters wrestle with wihtin themselves and between each other by desicrbing their thoughts, feelings, and duties. Sybil must save Thorston’s life to survive and she is willingly doing it because Avi describes Sybil as a loyal person to Master Thorston. Although Sybil must put up with Odo’s negative attitude all the time. Like when Master Baschcroft had sent a green eyed boy to Sybil and Odo to test them, Sybil saw an opportunity to save Master Bashcroft even though she knew he was sent by Master Bashcroft. Odo just kept repeating to bail and forget about this will only bring more problems. Odo just carse about him self know that Master Thorston is dieing and isnt able to make gold. You can see how that Odo just wants to forget about everything with Master Bashcroft when he argues with Sybil when Thorston was dieng and Sybil kept saying that they must help Thorston live by finding a green eyed person to read the book
(A) Avi delivers a very clear look at the world around the characters. He uses very advanced words to describe how the town of Fulworth is rank, and disgusting. He also shares with the reader the descriptions of many buildings around Sybil, Odo, and so on. He uses the word dilapidated to describe Thorston’s house. Avi has used many incredible words to describe the scenery around the characters.
Response to Aleeyah F.
I agree completely with your answer. Avi does show how Sybil really feels about being a servant. Also, he shows that Odo is definetley gold hungry throughout the entire book.
response t jhane.
I agree with you, Sybil does have conflicts within herself and against Odo which makes it hard for her to decide on what her next step would be. But without these conflicts, the book wouldn’t be as entertaining.
(C)
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the issues that the chraracters wrestle with within themselves and between eachother. Sybil, she suffers from a severe case of self esteem issues. She believes that she is nothing and that she will never amount to anything only because of the way that she has been treated in the past and also because of the way she’s being treated in the present. She tries to have some type of confidence but it never seems to work. Everytime she encourages her self or everytime she tries to bring up her own spirits she always seems to find a way to bring them back down. Which brings her back to square one. Odo makes it no better. Just as my science teacher Mrs. Veasy said “no matter what, you can think your the best thing that was ever created but if someone is constantly putting you down and calling you dumb and ugly sooner or later you’l began to hesitate and wonder then next thing you know you’l start to beleive it.” Words hurt! In Syli’s case Odo is the one putting her down. She tries to pretend as if she doesnt care but as soon as she gets alone she begans to wonder and then she begins to believe him. In result of this maltreatment Sybil will take any type of acknowlagement any and every way that she can. So when Brother Wilfred said “i need you” he knew just what he was doing. He knew that if he sweet talked her that he could get her to do his will, because as I said before thats all that Sybil wants is some tlc (tender love and care). I personally think that every girl out there has a little peice of Sybil in them somewhere.
Question A
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the world around Sybil, Odo, Alfric, and the others by using many details to describe the settings. Any of the settings in which the characters interact with one another in some way or another. For example when we are introduced to Thorston, Avi describes the room as a room cluttered with various apparatus on top of broken shelves, wooden boxes and clay vessels. He also say how there is a human skull layed on a pair of books, and how the braziers contents spilled on the floor with a horrible odor. Also when Avi describes the outside of the house he describes it as a dilapitaded two-story stone house with all the windows blocked with stone except for a single two story window. Avi also uses good details and precision when he describes the apothecary’s shop and where we first meet Alfric.
Response to Taylor H’s comment
I agree with you on what you said about the conflict between Odo and Sybil. Odo constantly tells Sybil that she is an idiot and treats her like she is nothing but a waste of space because she is the servant. Also how you stated that Damian also treats her with unkindness and like he is better than her, just because he is the apothecary’s apprentice and she is Master Thorston’s servant,.
(C)
an apparent conflict that is present in the book is the conflict between Sybiland Odo. Odo keeps telling Sybil shes nothing and shes an idiot. But Sybil has to decide what she wants to do – give up her search for the green eyed child or forget about her attempt for gold and find a new master to provide for her since thorston is dead. since alchemy is illegal shes deciding between life and death. if Master Bashcroft finds her and her plan, he can kill her or arrest her.
Responding to Vanessa G.
good job Vanessa, i agree with you. Avi paints a vivid sceen for you to visualize North Umbria. thank you for bringing up this point or i wouldnt have made this connection.
MY RESPONSE TO SADIE T.
SADIE T., I think that you are right. Avi does make you picture the scence in your head. HE IS a very discriptive author whom also gives very excellent context clues. Also, very good quote statements! 🙂
QUESTION # C.
I think Avi delivers a crisp clear look at what the characters wrestle with;themsleves and other characters. I think that he descibes very well about how Sybil feels about herself as an orphan/slave and how she feels about Master thorstons treatment towards her and how much she very much dislikes Odo. Avi goes into much detail about all of the characters and their feelings. In the book Avi describes that when Sybil stands up for Thorston and says that he treated her with love and she actually begins to tear up a bit. This shows Sybils expressions and how she feels when she wrestles wiht outher tough situations. Also not just with Sybil but how Odo is very hungry for gold and how Alfric feels about Master Bashcroft.
Hunter R
p.3
question b 🙂
The author creates the sense that the characters in the book could really exist because Avi takes examples and similarities of real-life people and there characteristics into unreal characters. Since we are humans, he makes it seem like the characters are real because we can relate to the way they act and there descriptions of how they look. The author gives brief descriptions of each character so that we can get a visual of what they look like in our heads. Also, the way the characters act toward situations are similar to how people would react to them in real-life. For example, when Sybil and Odo thought Master Thorstan was going to die they were very upset. In real-life people act sad in that situation too.
Response to Crystal R.
I agree with you on how the author gives very good descriptions so we can relate to it. Also, I agree with you how he makes us feel like were there and I like that because it makes the story more interesting and we feel like we’re apart of it.
Response to Crystal R.
I definitely agree with your statement. Avi does have a way with words. He describes the settings so distinctive and appropriate. He also tends to produce writing that requires us to visualize what’s really going on. For example, in Mistress Weebly’s room, I could see Sybil and Odo chatting with Mistress Weebly and Damian in the backround. He elaborates on the setting so well, it’s hard not to feel like you’re actually there. By the way, great job on quoting the text (:
Question C
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the issues that characters wrestle with within themselves and between each other. This author uses many descriptive words that help you visualize what the characters are going through. Take a look at Sybil, she is an servant that is stuck between death and a horrible life. Since Master Thorstan is now dead, she doesn’t have any clue on how to retrieve the recipe for making gold. Without gold, Sybil and Odo will have to fend for themselves and result in death. Currently, Sybil is deciding whether to continue looking for a green-eyed child, or to give up entirely.
(C) Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the issues that characters face between themselves and each other. The most obvious one would be the one between Sybil and Odo. Odo incessantly patronizes (treats in a condescending manner) Sybil because of her job as a servant. He calls her names, taunts her, and tries to make her feel worthless. For example, when Odo says to Sybil in reference to her wanting to find a green-eyed person, “You can’t think, so don’t waste your time. You’re nothing!” Another conflict is the one between Damian and Sybil. It’s obvious by the way he attempts to demean her that he feels he’s better than her. An example is when he told her that he was higher in society because he was the apothecary’s apprentice. One other conflict is the one between Thorston and Wilfred, one that isn’t spoken about much in the book. In the first chapter, he’s looking for Thorston when he goes to the cemetery, and then finds him at his house on Clutterbuck Lane. On that same night, Thorston was saying to keep the book away from “the green-eyed one”, meaning Brother Wilfred. Therefore, Avi makes it clear who has conflicts quite clearly.
In response to Michelle R’s comment:
I agree with what you said about Mistress Weebly and Sybil. It’s obvious by the text that Mistress Weebly and Sybil have a problem. Weebly’s never-ending questions mixed with Sybil’s uncomfort and unwillingness to share what she knew creates the perfect conflict between the two characters.
question a.
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the world around Sybil, Odo, Alfric, and the others. He does so by describing everything that can be seen, smelled, tasted, and touched in detail. By reading the passages, you can feel that you’re in the story. When the book introduces a new setting in the story, the author paints a picture and not just say words. For example, when the setting of Thorstone’s room was introduced, you can feel the weird magical vibe, the horrid smells, and see that the room was cluttered. All in all, giving a clear description can make you see the world the characters are in.
Just saying “I agree” is not going to get you any response credit.
50% – your answer with details for supprot
50% – your response to another with details for support
Response Credit Ideas————-
Option #1 – If you agree with someone’s answer . . .
. . . Then explain what you agree with – be specific. And extend or expand on the thought you are agreeing with by backing your comment up with details from the text. You could agree with someone’s characterization question and support your agreement with other more, unused descriptive details from the book. Get it?
Option #2 – If you disagree with something someone’s answer . . .
. . . Then justify your disagreement by taking a stance backed up by your own details from the text.
i bekieve avi did a great job explaining the world around the characters.especially when he explained the setting in the first chapter of the book he say “on a cold winters night,when a fog,thick as wool and dank as a dead mans hand,crept up from the River scrogg into the ancient town of fulworth.” he was explaining the setting in fulworth.Also when he’s explaining thorstons house it made you think you dont want to visit it because he makes it sound so creepy and scary for example “in a neglected part of town,at the bottom of clutterbuck lane,with its grimy courtyard and noxious well,against the towns walls,stood a dilapidated two-story town house.he gives excellent details that you can picture it in your head.
victoria k.
p. 3
Question C :].
Avi delievers a crisp clear look at the issues that characters wrestle within themselves and been between each other by showing the issues they are dealing with and how they fight with themselves to figure out what to do and how to solve there issue. For example, when Sybil realizes that she has no life without Thorstan and if he dies she is going back onto the street. She is battling with herself inside about if she should give up or if she should search for a green eyed person to read the book to learn the gold making secret. Also how she was fighting externally with Odo, about if searching for a person with green eyes was the right thing even if it could get them caught.
Respone To; Matt W.
I agree with your answer, Sybil is battling with people external with put downs from Odo and because of those putdowns and issues with other people externally she is fighting with herself internally.
Question A
Avi delivers a crisp clear look at the world around Sybil, Odo, Alfric, and the others. Avi describes the world around them with such detail that you get a clear picture of what their surroundings. For instance, when Sybil goes to Thorstans room, he says some things such as: Sybil walked down the dim hallway into Thorstans room which had cold, uneven, and worn wood floor, the room was cluttered with various items on top of broken shelves, wooden boxes and clay vessels, A human skull layed on a pair of books, the braziers contents spilled on the floor with a horrible odor,. you see the way Avi describes the setting is unbelievable. Then when Bashcroft goes into the part of town where Alfric lives, he decribes it as an old, dull place etc. Avi does such a good job with describing the setting that its like we’re there!
Response to Matt W
Matt is right about the whole internal, external conflict thing. The charecters deal with their problems and everyone elses too. For example, Sybil deals with her problems but With Thorstans too.
Just to be clear, here are the core questions that you have to choose from:
QUESTION A – How does Avi deliver a crisp clear look at the world around Sybil, Odo, Alfric, and the others. Use details and information from the text to support your answer.
QUESTION B – How does Avi deliver a crisp clear look at the characters throughout the world in the book? I’d suggest you focus on one or two characters to explain how characters are characterized. Use details and information from the text to support your answer.
QUESTION C – How does Avi deliver a crisp clear look at the issues that characters wrestle with within themselves and between each other? Use details and information from the text to support your answer.
I agree with Eric and Matt. Damien has a strong internal conflict about the gold, and about leaving apprenticeship.
Response to Matt W.
I think that you are right about Damian. It explains in the book that he wants tto be rich instead of being an apprentice
(C) Avi deliver a clear look of the character issue’s they have with each other and themselves. Sybil is trying to learn to make gold by finding a green-eyed person while Thorston is in a coma. She also has to endure Odo’s bad remarks. Avi wants Sybil to prove herself a hero to Odo. Another conflict is between Mistress Weebly and Ambrose Bashcroft. Weebly feels betrayed to Bashcroft after he placed her in house arrest. She feels duped and relied on Bashcroft too much. Another conflict is between Damian. He plans to go to Thorston house, steal the book and make gold since he has green eyes. Brother Wilfrid meets Alfric and tells him to steal the book while working for Bashcroft.
Matt W
Period-3
12/07/07
Question c
Avi delivers a obvious conflict that the characters have to wrestle with. The characters have to deal with constant internal and external conflict. For example, Sybil has to deal with the fact that she has to save Thorston’s life or she herself will not be able to survive. She also has to constantly deal with Odo’s put downs to her self-esteem. Mistress Weebly has to deal with the fact that Ambrose Bashcroft stole her information and duped her. She wished she had not revealed so much information and she regretted it. Also, Damian Warbeck, Weebly’s apprentice, has his own conflict because he hates the life of being a meer apprentice and wants to become rich and important.
Response to Emma W
I beleive that you were right about how sybil feels opressed by odo and she has internal conflict with herself over Brother Wilfrid’s words.
(C) Conflicts Question.
Avi has established many conflicts between the characters and their environment. For example, Odo and Sybil don’t exactly get along. Odo keeps putting her down and calling her worthless, but she tries to shake it off. Additionally, Sybil said she did not trust Odo. And there is small conflict between Mistress Weebly and Sybil. Mistress Weebly’s constant questions and curiosity are hard to avoid, but because of them she knows Thorston is an alchemist. Another conflict is between Alfric and Bashcroft. It will be difficult for Alfric to do what Bashcroft wants him to do, and Bashcroft will beat him and probably kill him if he doesn’t.
I agree with Emma, Sybil was deeply affected by Brother Wilfred’s words. And I agree with the fact that Sybil wants to not be put down by anyone, and who doesn’t? But I do not think she really wants to be “on top”, although she would like it, she just wants to do something better with her life than just being a servant. And she wants to go to Italy with Odo, but she wonders where it is and how to get there.
(3) Avi delivers a clear look at the conflicts each character faces inside themselves and with each other, take for example Sybil. She is put down all the time by Odo, and tells herself that she won’t be a nobody. Avi shows us that she wants to be on top, not critisized or degraded by anyone. He also shows how abused she’s been when he writes about how she takes Brother Wilfred’s words “I need you” to heart, realizing that nobody’s ever said that to her before. This strong impact that those few words had on her shows that she’s been considered a nobody and has never been needed before. Also, Mistress Weebly has an obvious conflict with Master Bashcroft when he takes the information about Thorston from her, and then puts her under house arrest. She feels duped and like she trusted him too much. On top of all this, there is a subtle battle going on with Brother Wilfred and Thorston, even though for right now it goes only one way. Wilfred is trying to get Alfric in the house to steal the Book while also trying to tell Sybil about the danger she’s in and get her on his side too. So, in conclusion, Avi has taken many approaches to showing us conflit within and between the characters in the text.