You will select one journal topic from each reading assignment and respond to it. Your response should be AT LEAST one VERY well-developed paragraph, or more. Grammar, usage and mechanics all count as much as content!
Reading Assignment 4 – pp. 48 – 68
- On page 53, Francis’ heroic act is revealed by Arthur. Explain Francis’ heroic act. What did he receive for this act, both literally and figuratively? What is your reaction to Francis’ act of heroism?
- What role did Larry LaSalle play in young Francis’ life? Why was this relationship an important influence for Francis? In what ways has this relationship transformed over time?
- At the end of Chapter 7, Francis’ victory at the table tennis tournament and attention from Nicole is contrasted with the statement that the next day was December 7, 1941. What is the significance of this day in history? (If you don’t know, research it!) In your opinion, why did Cormier choose to create this contrast?
Michelle Rodriguez Strazicic
ReplyDeleteMs. Drosdick
Language Arts Period 2
January 18, 2011
Reading Assignment 4 – pp. 48 – 68(bullet 2)
Larry LaSalle was the person in charge in the Wreck Center when Francis was young and still in middle school. He was a hero there. Larry made bullies have the desire to dance and be creative. Francis was very pleased with him. Larry taught him something new about himself. He asked Francis to play table tennis. When Francis thought he was futile and did not know how to do anything, Larry gave him some good key pointers. Larry influenced Francis when he was a little boy. Over time their relationship was no longer there. Now he wants to kill him. Why?
The role of Larry Lasalle in Francis’s early childhood life was huge. Larry was Francis’s hero, somebody that Francis looked up to and adored. He influenced Francis in a way that made Francis more confident in himself. For example, Larry practically made Francis a table tennis champion in the Rec Center. To me, they had a father-son relationship, one that Francis never quite had. Something wasn’t right though, their relationship was almost to good to be true and I immediately knew there would be some type of disturbing twist. Lo and behold, their father-son relationship fell apart after Francis himself witnessed the rape of his own true love by Larry Lasalle. Just by the way Larry's eyes fell on Nicole's told the reader that Larry was in for something much more than just making Nicole into a magnificent dancer. Francis’s hero, the one he looked up to, the only one he listened to, completely failed on him. Larry was instantly an enemy, no more a hero, and Francis was back to finish him once and for all, something he should’ve done a while ago.
ReplyDeleteFrancis did a heroic act during World War 2 that earned him a Silver Star, the best award you can earn in the war. His heroic act's intention may have been cowardly, but he still managed to save his teammates in replace for his face. He jumped on top of a grenade so that only he would be hit by the shrapnel and explosion, thus saving the teammates around him. The true reason he joined the war was he initially intended to commit suicide, but since he grew up with a Catholic education, he didn't commit suicide because it was a sin. Instead, he enlisted into the army, forging his birth certificate to make it look like he was 18, in hopes of dieing in the battlefield while serving his country. Figuratively, he earned respect and honor for earning the best award you can earn in the army, the Silver Star. People also consider him a hero, but he doesn't think he is a hero. I think Francis is a hero, even if he meant for the grenade to kill him. He saved his teammates from dieing or receiving injuries. If he hadn't jumped on the grenade, his teammate's parents and friends may have become distraught and may have killed themselves. Francis, although messing up his face, did a bold and brave thing.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of chapter 7, the last passage states, “But tomorrow was December 7th, 1941”. This date is the day of the beginning of World War 2, the attack at Pearl Harbor. This date is significant in the novel because Francis actually leaves Frenchtown to fight in the war. He left to fight in the time period after he got more acquainted with Nicole. It is significant right now in the story because Francis and Nicole just started having more conversation with each other. They have a connection between each other the day of the beginning of the war. Francis leaves to go to this war and gets his face torn apart. Bad things happened and can still happen from the start of December 7th, 1941 having started with the first, real conversation with Nicole. This is why I think Cormier decided to make this contrast. A horrible thing had happened on the 7th and it’s the start of the relationship between Francis and Nicole. That can’t be good for the future of the story.
ReplyDeleteJournal Entry 4 - Bullet 1
ReplyDeleteOn page 53, Francis' brave and heroic act is revealed. Francis fell on a grenade during the war and saved many people's lives.
Because of this noble gesture, Francis received a Silver Star. Silver Stars are only given to those who have displayed acts of heroism and gallantry. Everybody respects Francis for this. On the inside, though, Francis feels like a coward. He received guilt. Only he knows that he fell on the grenade not to protect everyone but to end his life. And now, everybody treats him like a big hero.
I think that Francis did a noble deed. But, I was surprised that he fell on the grenade on purpose. I believe it was selfish of him to do that and not tell anybody about it when he was receiving the award. Then again, I probably would've done the same thing. I would've felt embarrassed and cowardly so I wouldn't want to tell anybody about it. In the end, however, the truth would have to come out. And, I imagine the truth will come out soon for Francis too.
Francis received a Silver Star but he feels like he doesn't deserve it at all. I think he doesn't either.
At the end of Chapter 7, Francis’ victory at the table tennis tournament and attention from Nicole is contrasted with the statement that the next day was December 7, 1941. This day was the day of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a place unknown to the children and adults of Frenchtown. In Hawaii, on a normal Sunday morning, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,300 Americans, unarmed, unaware of what was happening until it was too late. The following day, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed the previous day as a “day that will live in infamy”. It is ironic, that when the day before the attack, December 6th, Roosevelt actually made a final appeal to the Japanese for peace. Strangely, there was no reply. And, as the navy members on the boats were waking up on a bright Sunday, their lives were changed. Or ended. It is also strange that, when there wasn’t an answer, that the president did something strange, something that no other president had done or would have done. He did nothing.
ReplyDeleteThe addition of the last sentence of Chapter 7 in Heroes is indeed interesting, for Francis’ emotions were so high; he was so thrilled to have won at table tennis. Even more so, Nicole had given him attention! Francis was so happy that he had beaten not only the fellow players of table tennis, but Larry LaSalle himself! It is curious that Robert Cormier used that same line, when Larry LaSalle’s fate was just coming ahead. Francis’ feelings were too good to last.
Reading Journal 4
ReplyDeleteHeroes by Robert Cormier
Francis fell in love with the sport of table tennis when the town renovated the Wreck Center and added two ping pong tables. Larry LaSalle told Francis that this would be a great sport for him because he is very agile and has outstanding reflexes. He picked up the new sport very fast and dominated the other competitors in the Wreck Center. One afternoon, Larry LaSalle organized a tournament and Francis beat everyone including Larry. Nicole was very proud of Francis and they started to get in a relationship.
The next day, December 7, 1941, was the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. This led to the start of World War II. Also, this was the day that Larry LaSalle decided to go into the army to serve his country. Larry LaSalle’s enlistment made the Wreck Center close down.
In my opinion, Cormier choose to create a contrast between December 6th and December 7th. The day of December 6th, was a great day for Francis because he won the tournament and got to talk to Nicole in a serious conversation. But, on December 7th, the day was bad because first, Pearl Harbor was attacked and second because the Wreck Center had to close and Larry LaSalle had to leave. This contrast may foreshadow the change of events that can happen to a person. The war changed everything for Francis.
Reading Assignment 4:
ReplyDeleteLarry LaSalle was a camp counselor at the Rec Center where the kids of Frenchtown spent their summer days. Larry LaSalle was the perfect man. Muscular, handsome, athletic. He basically taught Francis how to get girls, without even knowing it. These girls included the lovely Nicole Renard. By winning later on in championships and being the better person, Francis's relationship with Nicole bloomed into a great beautiful flower. Larry helped make Nicole and Francis a couple, and maybe eventually tore them apart?
At the end of Chapeter 7, Francis’ victory at the table tennis tournament and attention from Nicole is contrasted with the statement that the next day was December 7, 1941. The significance of this day in history was because the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii during World War II. This was a very unexpected attack. Everyone was shaken for quite a while, and no one will forget that day. In my opinion, Cormier decided to make this contrast because Larry is going to end up attacking Francis in the future. He went easy on Francis in table tennis, but that was just to prepare him for what is going to come. Then Francis will be shaken just like the people in Hawaii were.
ReplyDeleteFrancis' heroic act was taking a grenade in the face. It sounds as though it might be an accident and he tripped, but he saved all those people by taking the blow for them. He received what is called a Silver Star, a medal to represent his honor and heroic acts. To Francis', he did not receive anything worth being proud of. Figuratively he received disgust and a stranger in replace of an old friend (himself). I had been astonished at the reading of his act of heroism. He was a young boy, scared, and it was an accident. Even though it was not purposely he still does deserve the Silver Star medal/award because he suffers all this pain in his life because of it. He does not complain about it, he just deals with it and goes on in life as a new person.
ReplyDeleteJournal #5 -- I'm sorry that this is on the Journal 4 spot, but there was nothing for Journal 5 -- I hope this is okay!!! :D
ReplyDeleteOn pages eighty-four and eighty-five of Heroes by Robert Cormier, Francis Cassavant, the faceless, "heroic" veteran, does something that surprised me. Enrico, his friend from the war, had given him a list of veterans' hospitals, and a specific contact for a doctor in Kansas City, Dr. Abrams. Francis burned the address and phone number of the doctor and the list of the hospitals. At first, this surprised me, but then I remembered something Francis had said on that same page: "I shrank against the side of a building and made my way to the plate-glass window of the pub, where, among the advertisements for pints of ale and kidney pies, I saw what the boy had seen -- my face. No face at all, actually, the nostrils like the snout of an animal, the peeling cheeks, the toothless gums, my jaw and mouth jammed together as if by invisible clamps. I tried to draw up the collar of my Eisenhower jacket to cover at least the lower part of my face but the collar was too narrow, didn't cover anything at all, and I hurried down the sidewalk, head down, avoiding eye contact, wishing to be invisible. Why didn't anyone warn me? I wondered bitterly on the double-decker bus, hiding my face in my hands. Then realized that the doctors and nurses had probably become so used to the wounded and maimed that the abnormal had become normal to them." This passage tells me that Francis has probably lost his respect and liking for doctors all together. I was a bit shocked that he was surprised at his own reflection. What was he expecting? Grenades aren't exactly helpful, especially when they blow up in your face. However, I was even more surprised to find out that the doctors did not tell him anything about his condition! I expect it would have been hard to break it to him. "Hey, sir, sorry to tell you, but you have no face!" Cheerful conversation, right? i also agree with francis' statement that the doctors were probably used to it by now. this is probably why francis wants nothing to do with any more doctors. he has had his share of doctors for a lifetime and more, thanks. i don't think he wants to trust another doctor to do anything to his face. enrico was trying to be a friend, but francis was not interested. i also believe that enrico and francis were trying to find out what to do with themselves...should they kill themselves? that is what i think they mean by the proper method of disposal. francis, however, did not want any more doctors or nurses tending to his face, or any part of his body, for that matter. francis had had enough experience with a doctor, and i believe that he isn't looking for anymore in the future.
Young Francis and Larry LaSalle were quite close compainions. Larry: when thought with detail, was the one who got Francis to practically go out with Nicole. Francis was always the shy kid in the back corner of the room, but Larry came along and changed that. He taught Francis the game of ping pong - I mean table tennis. This simple gesture built up Francis's confidence and eventually led to him managing to say more than two words to Nicole without choking up. Larry also let him win the table tennis tounament against him, which earned him some respect from Nicole. LaSalle built his confidence, but for some reason Francis now wants to kill his childhood hero? Big difference if you ask me. Why? I guess we'l find out.....
ReplyDeleteOn December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. I think that Cormier choose to create this contrast because the next day, Saturday, Nicole was going to preform and she was going to get all the attention. It's almost like she was bombing Francis' attention.
ReplyDeleteFrancis goes to war, and comes back a hero. Most people that come back from the war are considered heros. Francis knows that he did not go to the war for the right reason though, and he is disgusted when people mistaken him for a hero. If he thinks that he is not a hero, then he should not be called one. He knows that is not the title he deserves.
ReplyDeleteIn history, December 7, 1941 is a very horrific, life altering and important day in the eyes of the american people. This sunday, 70 years ago, 3 japanese war planes dropped bombs on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, officially inviting us into world war 2, which we wanted no part of. I believe that in Heroes, Robert Cormier made the contrast to this date because there was these little kids growing up and knew nothing about the war and they were going to have to grow up quick and that losing their childhood was inevitable.
ReplyDeleteReading assignment – 4
ReplyDeleteLarry LaSalle played a very big role in young Francis’ life, Larry played a father figure. He supported Francis in what he did at the Wreck Center; he helped Francis become a table tennis champion. Francis didn’t really have a father figure to look up to because his father died when Francis was 13 and he stays with his Uncle who doesn’t really know how to show affection. Francis really didn’t have a lucky life, not to mention the death of his brother. When Larry came into the picture as a macho, perfect guy and he showed Francis some attention and support it must have given him such a boost. Francis didn’t have anybody to boost his spirits or give him support, it wasn’t that his Uncle didn’t love him; it was that he wasn’t very good at showing it, which is hard to handle. Since the times of the Wreck Center though, the relationship between Francis and Larry has changed so much. Francis has a burning hatred for Larry, such a strong hatred that Francis want to KILL Larry, he wants to KILL him. Francis really, strongly HATES Larry LaSalle with all his passion. To go from a father figure to wanting to be killed, he must have done something bad.
Journal #4
ReplyDeletewhen Francis wins the table tennis tourtament he is very happy because it is the first time he actually acomplished something. it showed that he could be like all of the other kids it just may be that he looks weird. Nicole helps support Francis and helps him through his struggles. the author made the date december 7 1941 because that was when pearl harbor was attacked the Japanese planes. he made it thia date because he wanted to make someting scare him after he did something good and show that he is not invicible.
Journal #4
ReplyDeleteFrancis was very excited when he won the table tennis and became known as a champion. This is the first time that Francis had ever accomplished something that he could be proud of. Nicole mentions that the next day was December 7, 1941 on that day it was the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The author did this because he wanted to show Francis that he was not invincible and once a good thing occurs a bad thing is bound to happen. I think that the author should not have put this part in because why do bad things happen there is no reason to make a story sad it just makes other people sad.
Journal #4
ReplyDeleteFrancis was very excited when he won the table tennis and became known as a champion. This is the first time that Francis had ever accomplished something that he could be proud of. Nicole mentions that the next day was December 7, 1941 on that day it was the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The author did this because he wanted to show Francis that he was not invincible and once a good thing occurs a bad thing is bound to happen. I think that the author should not have put this part in because why do bad things happen there is no reason to make a story sad it just makes other people sad.
Journal #4
ReplyDeleteFrancis was very excited when he won the table tennis and became known as a champion. This is the first time that Francis had ever accomplished something that he could be proud of. Nicole mentions that the next day was December 7, 1941 on that day it was the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The author did this because he wanted to show Francis that he was not invincible and once a good thing occurs a bad thing is bound to happen. I think that the author should not have put this part in because why do bad things happen there is no reason to make a story sad it just makes other people sad.
Journal 4
ReplyDeleteDecember 7, 1941 was Pearl Harbor Day. It was when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor during WWII. This surprise attack shocked the Americans and caused America to enter into the war. This attack killed 2,400 and wounded 1,300 others. This attack came on a day when there was calmness in the air and nobody expected it.
Cormier chose to create this contrast to foreshadow that something bad is going to happen. At the end of the tournament Francis was celebrating. He won the game and Nicole’s attention. The authors use of the date shows that something is going to counterbalance Francis’ victory. The date signifies the changes in Francis’ life.
the role larry lasalle played in francis' life was as a fatherly figure this relationship was an important influence in francis' life because larry was the only person who made him feel special and so francis looked up to him and wanted to be like him. this relationship has transforremed overtime into hatred of larry because of the "sin" he comitted and this especially enraged francis because he loved nicole and larry forced her to move away.
ReplyDelete