October 10th is Home Reading.
The story to read is R. Dahl Genesis and Catastrophe, pp. 220-226
Tasks to do:
1) Online impression in the commentary to this entry.
2) Questions to do in writing: 3, 4, 6 -7(either it depends whose caracter sketch you are to give in your interpretation), 8, 9
3) Interpretation.
The story to read is R. Dahl Genesis and Catastrophe, pp. 220-226
Tasks to do:
1) Online impression in the commentary to this entry.
2) Questions to do in writing: 3, 4, 6 -7(either it depends whose caracter sketch you are to give in your interpretation), 8, 9
3) Interpretation.
Hmm...I've just read this story and it really impressed me.However, I can't say that the main idea is clear for me.What is the main problem?What purposes follow the author while creating the story?It's the secret for me today.)
ReplyDeleteWhat are the author's purposes in ...
Delete... A secret ...
Well, I read the story earlier and it was open secret or me the name of the baby but, honestly,did not help me to form opinion. I have strange one. One the one hand, I feel with the main heroine because she has a very diffucult fate, but on the other, I can not share with her happiness about the birth and life of the fourth baby, because of the known reasons. God decided to save the Adolf Hitler's life and it is difficult for the Russians objective apprise it. So, as for the story, nothing pointed out that the baby was going to live, however, Hitler could survive and become the great historical figure, awful for lots of people, but great.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, but the spelling ...
DeleteSlips:
... it was AN open secret FOR me. The name of the baby, honestly,did not help me to form AN opinion. I have A strange one.
ON the one hand, ... God decided to save Adolf Hitler's life and it is difficult for the Russians TO SEE anD JUDGE objectiveLY ...
Hitler survived (no could here, he did it) and becAme A great historical figure ...
I agree both with Julia and Irina, that the main theme of the story is not easy to understand...Probably it is somehow connected with its title and I'll do my best to understand it. I have contradictory emotions after the reading of "Genesis and Catastrophe", from the one hand I am happy, as the girl and I hope the future mother, that Klara finally gave the birth to a baby who was only pleasure and comfort for her, but on the other hand, she was Hitler's mother, who will had influenced on the development of the world history so ruinous...It goes without saying about my attitude to the person who had killed so many people, so it is very difficult to estimate this story objectively.
ReplyDeleteON the one hand ...
Deleteshe was Hitler's mother, who will had influenced on the development of the world history so ruinous...
Well, she was not that EVIL, he WAS ...
the mother of Hitler, who would be responsible for starting World War II ...
I've read the story without a pause,not because it's short, but because it's interesting and exciting, especially when I've read the woman's surname (Hitler). I feel sorry for Klara, as it's a real catastrophe to lose three children one by one. And when the forth one is born, it's a happiness; at the same time you are frightening and waiting for the moment when it repeats other's destiny. On the other hand, a real 'catastrophe' was born, 'the catastrophe' for the world. Though, who knows, what our world would be, if Hitler hadn't survived.
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
DeleteSlips:
when the foUrth one is born, it's a happiness; at the same time IT IS frightening THAT it MIGHT repeat his SIBLINGS' destiny.
Though, who knows, what our world would be LIKE, if Hitler hadn't survived.
As for me, I find this story very interesting, though my feelings towards it are double. On the one hand, I sympathize with Klara's happiness of the new-born baby and her grief on the deaths of her three previous children.But, on the other hand, here comes a catastrophe: a newly-born child is no other than Adolf Hitler - a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives. It is a twist point of the story and I think, it produces a really powerful effect on the reader. So we see that Hitler came from somewhere. He came from a mother and a father and he was once a baby - a small and frail one. Here I agree with the Doctor's words that "He is little small perhaps. But the small ones are often a lot tougher than the big ones". Though I'm not sure, I think that the author wanted to show us how from an innocent, weak child could grow up a total evil like Adolf Hitler. And still he is a great figure in the world's history:(((
ReplyDeleteWell done!
DeleteOn the one hand, I SHARE Klara's happiness FOR the new-born baby and her grief OVER the deaths of her three previous children.
It is THE TURNING point of the story ....
Well,today I have once more oponion.Rauld Dahl reveals that the baby is Hitler, a Nazi politician who killed thousands of people, I'm not sure what to feel. I want so badly for the baby to live but then I find out it’s a man who is responsible for the pain and suffering of numerous people and I wonder if maybe it is better off if the baby dies or never is born at all.
ReplyDeleteONE MORE OPINION
DeleteI wonder if IT MIGHT BE better FOR US IF the baby HAD dieD or HAD never BEEN born at all.
The story shocked me greatly. The most surprising element in this writing is the moment when you discover that a baby which have just been born is actually none other than Adolf Hitler. Little could I expect that this nice little baby I was reading about, turned out to be one of the most terrible men in the world's history. I think that the emotions of Ms Hitler were described explicitly. You can feel easily her distrusts about the baby.
ReplyDeleteI fully share Rita's opinion and think that 'it is very difficult to estimate this story objectively' because one cannot feel certain what would happen, if Hitler had died like his mothers' previous three children. History has no subjunctive mood!
Slips:
DeleteTHE baby which HAS just been ...
... would turn out ...
her fears ...
History has no subjunctive mood! This sentense won't do it is very Russian ...
This short story is realy interestig! Unfortunately I have read the foregoing comments and knew a special thrill of this story, and it spoiled all my first impression about the story. I should not do it and perhaps this story would impress me more. However, it produced a strange impression on me. On the one hand, the story seemed to me sorrowful and deplorable. A mother buried all her children (it's so awfully!) and now she is afraid to believe in the last one. But on the other hand, the story seemed me slightly ironic. The fate played a nasty trick on poor woman by giving her a baby that is fated to became the great tyrant.
ReplyDeleteCertainly I judge this story (as well as most of readers) with the regard for historical context. All we know who is Adolf Hitler. But forgetting of this fact for a while, I can say that this story is very touching.
Slips:
Delete... interestING ...
I shouldn't HAVE DONE it
it is so AWFUL ...
Good!
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seemed to me ...
... on the poor woman ...
who is destined to become ...
most of THE readers ...
with regard TO THE ...
We all know who Hitler IS.
forgetting this fact ...
From my point of view, it is a very interesting story, because it’s written in an unusual style (in the form of the dialog) also, during the process of reading we have a link with the history and its famous figures. So, I like this author’s approach. It makes the story attractive to the readers. As for me I would recommend my friends to read it.
ReplyDeleteThe story helps us to understand that a baby, especially in Herr and Frau Hitler’s case, is a present from the God. Neither the mother nor the father can believe that their son will be a horrible ruler of the world of the 20th century. Every baby is born to be kind, beautiful, without bad will, good tempered of good will. For the life being, a person has been influenced by others, ideologies or ideas, which have a tendency to be modern and around him or her.
Secondly, this story made me think, that we can’t stick tags to anyone from the first second of his or her life, what a lot of readers might want to do on reading. Name or Surname doesn’t always define the destiny. Everyone is his own happiness or misfortune smith. We can judge a person only by his deeds.
And finally, every one is awarded to take a chance if it’s given. It’s an open secret to have a chance, but the question is whether you endeavor or not. Concerning the story, the God has to give a chance to a baby to be born.
This is my personal opinion, you may share it or not. It’s your C H O I C E.
Very grown-up! Thank you!
DeleteSlips:
WHILE reading we ARE REFEERRED TO history
...A GIFT FROM GOD ...
God (no artcle)
The discussion is over!
ReplyDeleteNo more comments!