Tim Gautreaux

Tim Gautreaux
Our Inspiration!!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Creative Response (Letter to Character)

Welding with Children




Dear Grandfather,

I am writing to you to because I think you are a very strong person not only because of the way you treat your grandchildren, but also because of all the regret and remorse you have lived with your whole life. It is hard to live with regret because that is the only thing you ever think about. I am willing to forgive you for your past parenting with your daughters because the way you acted towards your grandchildren in the story is beautiful. You really got offered a second chance and you have fulfilled that chance well. I am sure it is not easy to be a parent and no one is perfect; it is ok to make mistakes. I think it is great that you wanted to fix these parenting mistakes you made with your daughters and use them to make your grandchildren into fine human beings. You have really had a great journey throughout the story and have grown so much. When Mr. Fordlyson said, "Bruton, everything worth doing hurts like hell," you let grace into your heart. At this point of the story I felt touched by your willingness to change and be the hero you are to your grandchildren. It is so sad that your grandchildren see you as their father, but it is also an honor for you at the same time since you didn't fulfill that honor with your daughters. These wise words from Mr. Fordlyson really made you realize that you got a second chance to fix your parenting skills and teach your daughters that life is too short to "throw" your children away because children are a special gift from God and should be cherished, loved, and cared for until the end of time.
Sincerely,
Francesca Luizza

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Misuse of Light- Symbol *not on the sheet*



Sooo this wasn't a choice in the sheet thing, so i sort of made it up. I picked something from the story that symbolizes the meaning of the story. In the story Mel keeps a scrapbook of pictures he developed from cameras people sold him. His facsination in pictures seem to symbolize his facsination in life. He looks for "the meaning in pictures". In other words he looks for the meaning in life, as well as other people's lives. A picture is worth a thousand words. Each picture he keeps, no matter if it's of a beautiful landmark, or just an undeveloped picture of black, he see's the beauty in it. Something so simple as a photo can be as complicated and intriguing as a sculputre done by Michael Angelo.

A Letter to Mel

Dear Mel,

I think the way that you helped Leslie regain her faith in her grandfather was great. You may have been the cause of her worries, but you realized this and made sure to make things better. By researching the real facts and digging deeper than what was right in front of you, you gave Leslie the gift of grace. She was able to forgive her grandfather because she knew the truth. It might not have been the exact story because all you had to go by was the pictures and facts from the newspaper articles, but in the end she was happy with what she thought happened. She could continue to idolize her grandfather for the person that she thought he was. It may have been nosy for you to get involved with the family in the first place, but ultimately I think that you helped them get through things. It sounded to me that their family had a way of just not talking about hard subjects, but you helped bring their problems out into the open so that they could be resolved.

Sincerely,
Annie Daniel

Analytical Response (10 Interpretive Questions)

Misuse of Light
1. What is the theological signifiance of the art of photography in this story?
2. How is the photograph a key symbol in the story?
3. What is the difference between the art of photography and real life?
4. Why is this quote, "Mel picked up a photo of the woman. "I like trying to figure out what I'm looking at." Weinstein raised a hand. "Then look at it." "No. I like to interpret what's there." You confusing art with reality? There's a difference, you know." Mel looked to his left into the street. "Life can't be art?" important to the meaning of the story.
5. How is grace offered in this story?
6. How is the grandfather in the photograph a significant part of the story?
7. Does this story have a Thomistic view or an Aristotelian view of life? Or both?
8. What do you think is the theme of Gautreaux's stories we have read so far this year? Does that theme have to do with the story "Misuse of Light"?
9. Is this story more idealistic or realistic? What in the story makes it idealistic or realistic? (I.E. symbols, images, characters, vehicles of grace).
10. What is the significance of the title of the story, "Misuse of Light", and how is Mel an important influence on the grandaughter in the story?

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Easy Pickings: Key Scene

I drew a key scene from the story Easy Pickings. It is the last scene in the story. It is when Big Blade finally gets arrested and Mrs. Landreneaux has some last words for him. She tells him to come by and play cards with them when he gets out of jail. It is somewhat sarcastic since he is a robber and tries to taker her money, she gets back at him telling him to come play and lose his money. Thus getting robbed himself.

Easy Pickings Picture


Hi! I drew a picture of an important scene in the story. My scanner is kind of broken so there is a line through the title (Easy Pickings) but you can see everything else in the picture. It is the scene where Big Blade is threatening to kill the old lady, Mrs. Landreneaux. Mrs. Landreneaux is remaining very calm and pretending like nothing is wrong which is making Big Blade very confused and surprised. She offers him some food and acts very nice to him. This scene is important to me because it shows how strong of a person Mrs. Landreneaux is and her positive outlook on life. Big Blade is a very angry and insecure man who is lost within himself and has no way of getting out. His only way of escaping himself is by threatening to kill and rob other innocent people. The way Mrs. Landreneaux is acting towards Big Blade slowly changes his mind about life by the end of the story and makes him realize how important life really is.

Ten interpretive questions

1. What is the significance of the title “Easy Pickings?”
2. What is the main message that Gautreaux is trying to get across?
3. How is grace offered in this story?
4. Which characters act like vehicles of grace for “Big Blade” and how?
5. How is this story similar/different to the previous stories by Gautreaux?
6. How does Big Blade change at the end?
7. What type of character do you think Mrs. Landreneaux is?
8. What are some of the key images in the story?
9. What do you think the group of old people who played cards represented?
10. What is some of the irony in this story?

A Letter to Mrs. Landrenaux

Dear Mrs. Landreneaux,
I am writing you this letter in appreciation for getting a dangerous criminal off the streets. What you did was extremely admirable and brave. I understand that you have been through many hard times in your life and I esteem your actions in such a stressful situation. You did not panic nor did you fear anything that Big Blade could have done to you. He was there to rob you and you took him in as if he was there paying you a visit. I liked that you were automatically willing to forgive this man and give him an opportunity to change his mind. Although you were not frightened you understood how dangerous the situation could become and you took every chance including your neighbors call to help yourself. The way that you were able to read what Big Blade was capable of and what the cop wanted you to do is an achievement that many law enforcements have not been able to master. Even though it might not seemed like you did much you could have saved many lives including Marvin’s. You also changed the stereotype that Marvin had of people from the area where you live; and how you are able to protect yourselves and that it might not be that easy to hurt all of you. Through your bravery and self-control you were able to put a guilty thief behind bars right where he belongs.
Sincerely, Diana Jimenez