“Slower Than the Rest” by Cynthia Rylant is a realistic short story about a 10 year old boy who had no confidence. His life was changed when he finally found a friend. In the beginning, Leo found a turtle, named Charlie, and kept it. In the middle, He bonded with Charlie, and decided to present him to the school. In the end, Leo won an award for the first time, and finally felt “fast”. Charlie was a good friend to Leo. One way Charlie was a good friend to Leo was that he was a good source of entertainment. This story opens up by telling us that Leo was not the brightest kid around. He hadn’t many friends to talk to or to hang out with. Leo would play and talk with Charlie. In paragraph 7, the text states that “Leo came home from school, took
Charlie to the backyard to let him explore and talked about the things that happened in fifth grade”. This is one of the only friends he has. This is important because he feels confident about making relationships, thanks to Charlie’s entertainment. Another way Charlie was a good friend to Leo was he mad Leo happy. The story tells us that Leo was miserable and thought he would never be happy. He thought this because he wasn’t “fast”, meaning he wasn’t smart. However, paragraph 3 states that “The dogs at Leo’s house belonged more to Leo’s father than to anyone else, and the cat thought she belonged to no one but herself, so Leo was grateful for a pet of his own. He settled Charlie in a cardboard box, threw in some lettuce and radishes, and declared himself a happy boy”. Leo was thinking that it was hopeless to be happy because of what he was going through. But, when he found Charlie, he knew from the start that he would be happy. This is important because this proves that Charlie has dramatically impacted Leo’s life. The last way Charlie was a good friend to Leo was he helped Leo gain confidence. He had trouble making friends. He had trouble with school. He wasn’t confident with who he was. However, in paragraph 19-22, Leo is getting rewarded, unexpectedly, for his presentation with Charlie. The text states that “Leo won an award for the first time in his life”. He finally felt successful. In paragraph 22, the author says “And for the first time in his life, Leo felt fast”. This shows that Charlie found the “fast” in Leo. This shows that Leo is gaining confidence with Charlie as his friend. Charlie helped Leo become fast. Leo would play with Charlie for hours, and wouldn’t complain about a thing. Charlie would not give up on Leo. Charlie made Leo happy. Charlie brought out the best of Leo, which helped him gain confidence. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, your strengths and weaknesses make you who you are.
Suzak is saying that true friendship is shown through common interests, and friends would do anything for their friend no matter what it is. “The two of them gradually become friends due to the fact that neither of them was terribly interested in fighting. They preferred shooting rolling cigarettes to rolling in the snow and mud. They preferred shooting craps to shooting bullets. A firm friendship was built on gambling, smoking, and music, not to mention a shared desire for survival” (Zusak 175). Hans and Erik’s friendship grew through their share of common interests. All they wanted was to survive and go back home to their families. “It said, “Hubermann, sir.” The voice belonged to Erik Vandenburg. He obviously thought that today wasn’t the appropriate time for his friend to die” (Zusak 177). Erik Vandenburg saved Hans’ life by telling the sergeant that he had the best penmanship and should stay behind. So when Erik went into war that day he never came back meaning Hans survived. Which this shows a true friendship between Hans and Erik. “Now I think we are friends, this girl and me. On her birthday, it was she who gave a gift - to me” (Zusak 235). Max explains that he thinks that him and Liesel are becoming to be friends because instead of him giving her a gift on her birthday she gave him a gift. Liesel brought newspapers home for Max when what she saw one just to show that she cares
“Slower than the rest” by Cynthia Rylant is a Realistic Fiction about a boy named Leo that finds a turtle on the street and decides to keep it. In the beginning, Leo finds a turtle on the road and decides to keep it, his dad called him slower than the rest. Soon, Leo decides to bring Charlie- his pet turtle - to his school for a report. In the end, Leo feels happy for himself about accomplishing something, for once Leo felt fast. This story shows that Charlie changes Leo’s life.
He doesn’t lack of encourage anymore, he has overcome his fear and despair. “I have to go. I have to disobey every impulse and leave her for Jasper Jones, for Jack Lionel, for this horrible mess.” We see a different Charlie from his determination. From escape to face up, he shows us more responsible. From helpless to assertive, he comes to realize what he really wants. He knows the dark side of human nature and this unfair and cold world. His innocent, his perfect world has been destroyed by those horrible things; because of these, he knows the part of real world, he knows how the ‘dark’ actually changes this world, his friends, his family, included
Lauren Alleyne uses the rigid form of the sonnet to navigate through the healing process after being sexually assaulted. Ten years after that night, she writes the sonnet sequence Eighteen, which deviates from the typical sonnet form in the aspects of the speaker, subject, and format. Playing off of the standard sonnet form, Alleyne is able to recount the emotions of that night during the first sonnet in the sequence. The typical sonnet tends to objectify the female body or one’s lover; in this sequence, the sonnets address what happens when an individual acts on these objectifications and assaults Alleyne. Alleyne deviates from the standard subject and speaker of the typical sonnet form to begin the healing process; the process begins
Growing up, Charlie faced two difficult loses that changed his life by getting him admitted in the hospital. As a young boy, he lost his aunt in a car accident, and in middle school, he lost his best friend who shot himself. That Fall, Charlie walks through the doors his first day of highschool, and he sees how all the people he used to talk to and hang out with treat him like he’s not there. While in English class, Mr. Anderson, Charlie’s English teacher, notices that Charlie knew the correct answer, but he did not want to speak up and let his voice be heard. As his first day went on, Charlie met two people that would change named Sam and Patrick who took Charlie in and helped him find himself. When his friends were leaving for college, they took one last ride together in the tunnel and played their favorite song. The movie ends with Charlie reading aloud his final letter to his friend, “This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story, you are alive. And you stand up and see the lights on buildings and everything that makes you wonder, when you were listening to that song” (Chbosky). Ever since the first day, Charlie realized that his old friends and classmates conformed into the average high schooler and paid no attention to him. Sam and Patrick along with Mr. Anderson, changed his views on life and helped him come out of his shell. Charlie found a
What does one think of when the word “turtle” is mentioned? This adorable creature is usually thought of as slow, futile, and the unsung hero of “The Tortoise and Hare.” However, Kay Ryan argues in her poem “Turtle” that turtles are more than just these things: they are strong but unfortunate creatures that must put up with many obstacles in order to survive. Despite the struggles that she faces, the turtle exhibits a multitude of different strengths to overcome them, as seen as the poem progresses.
Charlie lived in a paradise-like world, he though he had many "friends". The only thing he felt he was missing was brains. When he was offered the chance to become 'smart' he jumped at the chance to be like everyone else. Unprepared for the changes intelligence would bring, Charlie lost his innocence. When he realizes his 'friends' don't actually like him they just liked to make fun of him.
Most everyone has experienced a time when they did not have to worry about financial problems, jobs, or even lives. That time for most individuals is a time of immaturity and learning. Childhood is an important part of everyone’s life. Who a person will become is the result of this period in one’s life. Although the majority had an enjoyable and carefree childhood, there are still many that do not have the chance to enjoy it. Just as a coin has two faces, Annie Dillard’s “An American Childhood” and Luis Rodriguez’s “Always Running” have shown the readers that not everyone had a fun and exciting childhood.
In a world that is fast-paced and everything seems to be on the fast lane, it is no surprise that the traditional way of communication has suddenly been beclouded by the power of technology. With the speed of light, a lot can easily be done; many individuals across the globe can now easily interact with one another through instant messaging, text messaging, email, and other faster means. Nonetheless, there are people who still reckon with the hoary way of communicating. In her essay “In Praise of a Snail’s Pace”, Ellen Goodman, the author, depicts a world system that has derailed from the old and decent way of doing things into a “world of hyperactive technology” (52). This has captivated the majority of people into neglecting the slow but graceful way of
In many of Leo Lionni's children's books, one of his characters is always helping a fellow friend out. For example, in Frederick and Swimmy, there are characters that help others to survive. These characters possess human attributes and carry across important messages to the reader.
In the beginning, Smalls was new to the neighborhood and no one wanted to be friends with him except for Benny. Then Benny taught Smalls how to play baseball. Benny then joined the sandlot boys. That shows good friendship to people because friends are there to help and be with people. Especially since Smalls came during the summer time which means he cannot meet new people like he would at school. Benny shows a good example to people here. Where people should talk to someone who is alone and get to know them. Another great example is when the sandlot boys were arguing with the young boys who played baseball as well but had matching socks and uniforms. They showed people the true meaning of friendship because they were on each other's side.
Charlie struggles with apparent mental illness throughout his letters, but he never explicitly addresses this problem. His friends make him realize that he is different and it is okay to be different from everyone else. This change in perspective gives Charlie new opportunities to experience life from a side he was unfamiliar with. Without these new friends, Charlie would have never dared to try on the things he has. His friends have helped him develop from an antisocial wallflower to an adventurous young man who is both brave and loyal. Transitioning shapes how the individual enters into the workforce, live independently and gain some control over their future
“We were sort of royalty, almost infallible, with a sort of magic around us”(89). The old Charlie Wales lived during the economic boom of the 20’s, or other wise known as the jazz era. He lived a good life. During that time, he spent a lot of time drinking and throwing away money: “ he remembered thousand-franc notes given to an orchestra for playing a single number, hundred-franc notes tossed to a doorman for calling a cab”(90). Sometimes just acting childish with his friends Duncan Schaeffer and Lorraine Quarrles: “We did have such good times that crazy spring, like that night you and I stole that butcher’s tricycle…”(98). Nevertheless, he spent a lot of time in a bar called the Ritz. When he first got there, it was instinctive to give the head barman his numbers were he was staying as if it was his second home. “If you see Mr.Schaeffer, give him this…It’s my brother-inlaw’s address. I haven’t settled on a hotel yet”(86).
Charlie's attitude appears to be that of an introvert, "introvert is more comfortable with the inner world of concepts and ideas." (Engler p.73) I say this because he seems constantly in his own world, coming up with new ideas, and talking about the abstract world of the paranormal. He also can't keep up with menial day to day tasks like housework, money, and food. Engler explains that, "an extrovert is more comfortable with the outer wold of people and things." (Engler p.73) I took that as meaning day to day upkeep to keep yourself connected with the social world, like cleaning to have guests, or having money to spend it out with friends, etc...
Because of the parties he attends with his new friends he has tried using some drugs. These new friends help Charlie see things with a positive perspective, and to be confident in himself. When his friends move away, Charlie experience isolation and has a mental crisis that leads him to be internalized in a clinic.