Journal #18

“In Another Country”

1. What is the significance of the story’s title?
The narrator is an injured American WWII survivor who is getting therapy in Italy. He is literally in another country and he is alienated because he is not Italian. The officers are in another country because they are alienated in the communist quarter even though they are Italian. The bond between all these men was because they were injured and are isolated. The narrator was injured accidentally and his accommodation wasn’t as sincere as the others who showed bravery in order to get their medals.

2. Which character do you think best represents the “Hemingway hero”? Why?
The Hemingway hero is characterized with stoicism and is someone who suffers with grace and dignity. The major is the Hemmingway hero because he is suffering the personal loss of his wife along with his hand injury. The major’s physical injury will keep him from ever fencing again. The major was a lot fencer and his hand will keep him from doing that. The major is the character who is suffering the most. The major feels like the machines will not make a difference. He understood that defeat is inevitable that that you need to hold onto things that are permanent.


3. What can you infer about the photographs the doctor hangs up? What is the significance of the major’s reaction?
The photos can be inferred to be fake because the soldiers are the 1st ones to use the machines. They are more of a motivational ploy for the soldiers. The major refused to look at them and stared out the window. He later gave up on the machines and walked out.

Journal 17

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?

The epigraph is from Dante’s Inferno. Dante is saying that he is unafraid to tell his story because no one has ever come back from hell. No one can say that he is wrong or can disgrace him. The epigraph relates to Prufrock because his story includes his private thoughts. Prufrock’s story is not meant for a wide audience because he is so self-conscious. There is a certain level of privacy like in Dante’s Inferno because both works are not meant to be judged by the public. No one else had insight into their particular work.

2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?

He asks: What is it? Do I dare? So how should I presume? Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? Shall I part my hair behind? The questions are not random and all show Prufrock’s hesitation. His questioning shows a theme of uncertainty and fear. Prufrock is very self–conscience and that shows up in all of his questions as well. He is not sure if he should do one thing or another and even trivial worries eat away at him. There is also a pattern of repetition in many of his questions. This repetition shows his anxiety about what is to come later in his life.

3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?

His main flaw is his character because he is constantly worrying. He is uncertain about himself and his decisions. He is incredibly self-conscience and doesn’t want to be judged by others. He is a minor character in his world and does nothing of great importance. He also never experiences love in his life and is preoccupied with his worries.

4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?

The story is called a love song even though it is about the absence of love. This title is completely ironic because there isn’t love in it at all. You have a feeling of pathos for the character because he doesn’t have love in his life. This is not a love song but more of a song of sadness that is following the flow of Prufrock’s thoughts and worries.