OctoberCountryBasics,AnalysisandConnections 1.ThebasicsJustthefacts,please Wheredoesthisstorytakeplace? UpstateNewYork.MohawkValley Howmanygenerationsdowehearaboutinthestories? 5 Wheredothesepeoplework? Donworksatanarmingfactory,Danealworksatabar.Takingcareoffosterkids. Veteranspension. Isanyoneinprisonorhasacriminalhistory? Chris,Johnny,andDesisdad. Wheredotheygotoschool? Danealdroppedoutofhighschool,Ibelievesameastheothers.Desiisstillin middleschool,Ithink. Didtheygotocollege? No.

Havetheytraveledtootherplaces? BesidesDon,no.Grandma. Whatdotheydoforfun? Watchtv,playvideogames. Dotheyseemphysicallyhealthy? No. Dotheyseememotionally/mentallyhealthy? No. WhereisRubyattheendofthemovie? SheiswithTony. 2.AlittledeeperHereyouwillanalyzeandspeculate WhydoesDonfinditdifficulttoexpresshislove? Hegrewuptoofast.Hiswarexperiencesmadehimdetached. IsDontroubledbyhisrelationshipwithhissisterDenise?Howdoyouknow? Yes.Heisuncomfortablearoundher,veryagitated.Heignoredherduringthe Halloweenparty. WhydoyouthinkthatDeniselivesalone?Doyouthinkthatsheishappy? Shes....weird.Ithinksheis.Shedoesntreallyseemawareofwhatpeoplethink. WhydoesDanealchooseoneabusivemanafteranother? Itsacycle. WhydoesChrissteal? Chrisstealsbecauseheneverhadarealfamily,theloveofarealfamily.Despite allthelovethattheMoshersgivehim,itisntenoughforChris. DoyouthinkthatChrisisbotheredbytheproblemsinhiscurrentfosterhome? Yes,thereisnostableenvironment.HewastherewhenRubywaslivinginthe

house,andhearingtheconversationofDanealgivingupRuby. DoyouthinkthatDesigetsgoodgrades? No. Doyouthinkshehasgraduatedfromhighschoolbynow?Howaboutcollege? Ithinkshedidfulfillherhopeofatleastgraduatinghighschool. 3.Connectionstoourlives a.IsDanealhauntedbymemories/storiesfromherpast?Whatmightthoseghostsbe?How mighttheyaffectherinthefuture? Yes,Danealisindeedhauntedbythememoriesandexperiencesinherpast,like herpastrelationships,orherabortion.EventheharddecisionofgivingRubytoher mother,andeventuallyherexhusband. WillDesibehauntedbymemories/storiesfromherpast?Whatmightthoseghostsbe?How mighttheyaffectherinthefuture? Yes,especiallyherdad.Shemightbedistrustfulofmen,evenscared.Thiswill eventuallycausehertobedestructiveinherlife,choosingthewrongmen,scaredof choosingtheonethatseemsright. WillRubybehauntedbymemories/storiesfromherpast?Whatmightthoseghostsbe?How mighttheyaffectherinthefuture? Yes.IthinkthatRubywouldbemoreconfusedandhurt.Shesbeenpassed aroundfamilymembertofamilymember,shewouldprobablyeventuallybevery rebellious,andprobablytheonetobreakthecycle. b.Doyouknowanyonewholivesinanabusiverelationship?Aretherekidsinthehouse?Are theparentscollegeeducated?Doyouknowwhethertheygrewupinanabusivehousehold? Yes,Idoknowpeoplewholivesinanabusiverelationship.Therearekidsinthe house.Oneparentinafamilyisindeedcollegeeducated,andIthinkthesameforanother family. c.Doyouknowanyonewhohasbeenorisbeingraisedbysomeoneotherthantheirtwooriginal parents?Isthatpersonhauntedbymemoriesofdadormomortheiroriginalfamily? Yes,Idoknowsomeonewhohasbeenraisedbysomeoneotherthantheirtwo parents.Heisnotnecessarilyhaunted,morelikescared,resentful,andarroganttowards hisdadhismotherdiedwhenhewassixteen.Hewastheonewhofoundher.

4.Youanalyzedyourpoemstofindthemesaboutyourlife.Repetitiveplayingoutofathemecan becomeapattern. Desiandhergrandmothertalkaboutnegativecyclesandpatternsintheirfamily.Arethereany ofthoseinyourfamily?Doyouthinkthatyouwillbeabletobreakthem? Yes,theresalotofnegativecyclesinmyfamily,especiallyonmydadsside. TherearetimeswhenIthinkIcanbreakthem.But,whenIanalyzemychoicesandIsee thatIhaveSTARTEDtherepetitionofacycle,Igetscared.But,Ialsoreflectonallofthe cyclesIHAVEbroken,likedoingdrugs,gettingpregnantatsixteen,droppingoutofhigh school,gettingintofightsatschool,beingunhealthy,beinginanabusiverelationship.I thinkrightnowIAMbreakingthecycles,atleasttheimportantones.Itsstillastruggle. 5.InseparateGoogleDoc(3LeslieLiptonOctComparison),writeaparagraphinwhichyou compareandcontrastthepatternsinthisfamilytopatternsorthemesinyourownfamily.Be specificaboutsimilaritiesanddifferences.TIEA,approximately125words.(10points) Useatleastthreeofthesewords:patternthemerepetitionhauntghost