"Feathers"

Analytical Response C

Raymond Carver continues to write about stories about ordinary life infused with deep symbolism. "Feathers" is a story about a man that goes to visit his friend and his wife. During the visit he realizes that his friend is much different than he imagined. A peacock attacks him, Bud has an ugly baby, and his wife is very strange.
An ugly baby is symbolic of mistrust and the questioning of motives. The ugly baby could be used to suggest that Bud and Jack are not as close as the story may seem to illustrate. This is the first time that they have met outside of work and have never had any serious conversations about their life outside of the workplace. The use of the ugly baby may be used to further demonstrate this point, that if one only sees another in one particular environment, then you do not fully know or understand the other individual.
Carver also uses another symbol, that of the peacock. The peacock represents immortality, and pride. Carver uses the peacock to contrast with the ugly baby. When Jack first sees the peacock, it is used to symbolize that Bud may have a beautiful child and wife. This is not the case. Carver is saying that one does not need to have the most beautiful baby or have a trophy wife in order to be proud. He says that one only needs what he has and should be proud of that.

Creative Response: A

Me: O hey Jack, how are you buddy?
Jack: Michael! how good to see you, what are you doing here.
Me: Well we are at borders, I think its pretty obvious that I'm thinking about getting a
book...what about you Jack?
Jack: Ooo Michael, you are always such a pain in the ass. I'm actually just looking around at
some books...I dont plan on getting one to be honest...
Me: Well what do you got in your hand there Jack? What book is that?
Jack: ...O this, its nothing. I just picked it of the floor, its just some stupid book.
Me: Wellll, what is it, let me get a look at it
Jack: Why? Its just a book Mike...nothing important.
Me: Come on dude let me see it!
Jack: What the big deal, will you back off and give me my space bro!

(Michael and Jack start arguing and struggle with eachother to see the book, Michael finally rips the book out of his hand)

Me: "The joy of having a baby"...Jack...?

(Jack blushing and ashamed)

Jack: Are you happy now?

Me: I thought you told me once that you and Fran had no interest in having a baby?

Jack: I did...its just that I am so happy right now with Fran but I still feel that I am missing

something in my life.

Me: Why? What compelled you to feel this way man?

Jack: To be honest...alright to be honest dude...to put it all out on the table...Its Bud, Bud and

Olla's life. You know I always find myself criticizing them and criticizing Fran's looks and

their "unhappiness". But in the end you know what is so special that they have that I

don't? They have a family. They have a union and connection that I take for granted.

Me: Are you crying Jack?

Jack: No! I have some dust in my eye...in both of them...a lot of dust.

Me: Well are you thinking about having a baby then?

Jack: I dont know. I mean look at Bud and Olla's baby...I mean dude come on, that thing

looks like road kill.

Me: Take it easy take it easy

Jack: I know I'm just playin' with ya' dawg. But seriosuly Fran is so dam beautiful and if we

decided to have a baby...you think she would end up like Olla? With buck-nasty teeth?

Me: Jack all I can tell you that regardless, you always have a love for your baby, even if he is

ugly as hell.

Jack: Ok, well maybe I'll actually read this book then...I gotta' give this some time

Me: Yah you do that man, think about it...I have to get going...family guy is on soon.

Jack: Ok thanks buddy, see you later gator.

Me: Bye

(Michael walks away laughing to himself thinking about how Jack cried)

"FEATHERS" Analytical Response: C

1. Jack seems to be jeolous of Bud's life, why?

2.What about Jack's life is missing that Bud and Olla have?

3.Bud and Olla's baby is hideous, why would Carver make it ugly?

4. The peacock is known for being beautiful, is that why Carver uses it as Bud's pet instead of another animal?

5. What is the relationship of the peacock to the baby?

6. What is the relationship between Jack and Bud, and why in the beginning of the story does Jack try and impress Bud or is nervous about going over their for dinner?

7. What is the reason for Fran to be short tempered in the beginning when Jack and her are going to Bud's for dinner?

8. Why does Carver make such a big difference between the looks of Fran and Olla?

9. Does Bud talking about how he wants to change the way that Olla looks a bad husband, and what is the connection between that and Jack's obsession with Fran's hair?

10. How come Jack let Olla think that it was a women calling when he called him and couldn't remember her name and just hung up?

10.

"Feathers" : Artistic a.

I chose to draw a picture of a peacock because the the peacock was an essential part of "Feathers." The peacock respresented beauty in contrast to the very ugly baby. I portrayed the peacock as mainly green because it displayed a sense of arrogance in the story.

Analytical Response C

Raymond Carver's "Bicycles, Muscles. Cigarettes" is a short but powerful story. The story begins with a neighborhood child trying to find out what happened to his bike. The three other children deny their involvement in the disappearance of the bike. The argument escalates into a fight between two of the fathers. Carver uses the fight scene to connect three generations of family and their memories together. There is a constant theme of anger and not knowing what another person is fully capable of. The message of the story is that one can never fully know or understand another person until they have seen them in times of unease and discomfort.
Carver is also the author of "Cathedral". "Cathedral" has a theme of the monotony of the everyday life. This story also incorporates this theme. In both of these stories there is a feeling of isolation. The son who says he feels lonely, and Bub who is just living life by going through the motions. Both of these stories are about ordinary people facing ordinary problems but have a deeper philosophical meaning. Carver is saying that we must find transcendence in the mundane tasks that occur in everyday life.
There are a few moments of grace. When Hamilton is sitting outside thinking about his father and trying to remember him. Hamilton's son acts as a vehicle of grace for his father. He asks his dad about what he was like and tries to get his father to open up to him.

Analytical Response B

1. What is the Significance of the cigarrette smoking?

2. What's the reason behind the smelling or smell on everyone's hands?

3. What does the losing of the bicycle mean?

4. Why are all of the parents panicked about the bicycle being lost?

5. What is the meaning of the story?

6. What is the theme or message by the author in the story?

7. What's the symbolism of the door closing?

8. How the or why does Carver make the 3 generations connect?

9. What's the purpose of the older kid's smoking?

10.

"Bicycles, Muscles, Cigarettes" - Carver

Artistic Response (a.)

I thought it was very interesting that Hamilton seemed to be trapped by the awful and haunting smell of cigarettes from his hand; a smell that even a bath could not get rid of. I chose to portray Hamilton smelling his hand because I felt it represented a sign of weakness for him, at least until he overcame the stench.