Text-to-text, Text-to-self, Text-to-world connections (Vixen) #3

Even though I have not read it yet, I think that The Great Gatsby could relate to Vixen.  I've seen the movie, and I have found many similarities between the two.  One similarity is that they're both based in the 1920's.  Another similarity is that it is during prohibition, so it is illegal to drink alcohol, but they do it anyway.  It was popular to smoke back then, so almost everyone did, including teenagers and even doctors.

I can relate to this book because the girls in this book are in high school and so am I.  I can relate to Clara the most because she prefers the city over a rural area.  Another reason is because she has a middle class lifestyle.  She was surprised when she arrived at her cousin Gloria's house, because she lives in a mansion and she is very wealthy.  I can also relate to Clara because she is trying to change into a better person. 

A similarity between the book and the world is that a lot of people go out to drink and have a good time, but back then it was illegal to drink.  Another similarity is that many people live in a middle class lifestyle.  

What does the work tell us about right and wrong? (Vixen) #9

When Gloria went to the Speakeasy, she knew it was wrong.  She isn't the kind of girl that would go to a place like that.  The author made it easy for the reader to understand that it was a bad decision.  When Gloria cut her hair into a bob, she knew that her parents and fiance would be angry at her.  She did it anyway because before she got her hair cut, she said "Well, if I am going to sin, I may as well sin badly. I mean, boldly" (Larkin, 39). The quote makes the reader realize that Gloria didn't care about what would happen if she did get her hair cut.  When Clara was on the train and she ran into a man who she thought was handsome, she stopped herself because she knew that it was wrong.  She even told him "I guess I'm not the type of girl you thought I was" (Larkin, 26).  The quote tells the reader that Clara wants to change so she can be respected.

Unusual patterns in the work (Vixen) #8

Each of the chapters in the book are named after the characters.  The first chapter is "Gloria".  The second chapter is called "Clara".  The third chapter is called "Lorraine".  The chapters repeat in this same order.  Each chapter is based off of the character that it is named after.  For example, if the chapter is "Gloria", the chapter will be in Gloria's point of view.  All of their points of view are different and that makes the book more interesting.  The book is broken into two parts. The first part is called "Speak Easy".  The second part of the book is called "Speak Low".  All of these things make this book different from other books.

What does the work tell us about how the society affects the individual? (Vixen) #7

This work tells us about how the society affects the individual because Gloria, one of the main characters, is supposed to be a smart, talented, good girl, but she is getting tired of the same things happening every day.  Even though drinking alcohol is illegal, people still do it anyway.  I think that factor changed Gloria's mind about drinking.  Since other people are doing it and not getting in trouble, why can't she?  I think that is one of the reasons why Gloria went to the speakeasy.  I wonder why Gloria is getting married even though she is a senior in High School.  Was that a normal thing to do back then?  Was High School the time to get married?  I wouldn't think so.  I thought that being a senior is the most stressful time in a person's High School experience.  You have to make sure you do well on your tests, you have to do well at your job if you have one, you have to keep your GPA up, etc.  I wonder if GPA's existed in the 1920's.  I feel that Gloria is under a lot of pressure with her family.  They expect her to be a perfect person, and she's getting really tired of that.

What does the work tell us about people behave? (Vixen) #6

The work tells us about how people behaved in the 1920's.  If the author made the people act like the people in our society now, the book would have been totally inaccurate.  A lot of the things that the teenagers do in this book are similar to what we do now, but not the exact same.  For example, people now go out to clubs and wear tiny dresses with 5 inch heels.  People back then went to speakeasy's in long dresses and flats.  Even though some things are different, there are some things that are similar too.  For example, people back then go to the movies.  People now go to the movies.  Nothing much has changed with that.  Exept for the cost.  In the 1920's, movies were about 30 cents.  Now they are $10.  This book tells us the difference of how people behave compared to now.

Why do you think the author wrote this work? (Vixen) #5

I think that the author wrote this work to tell us that life hasn't always been like this.  They didn't have iPhones and computers back then, so the author wrote this book to inform us on how people lived back then.  I feel that she tried to make it as accurate as possible.  I think that she wrote it to inform the reader and also entertain the reader.  She tried to direct it towards teenage girls so they can relate to the characters.  Adults could read it too, but they probably wouldn't be able to relate to it as much as teenagers.  I think that she also tried to direct it towards people who are interested in the 1920's.  I think that she made the setting in Chicago because a lot of things happened in Chicago in the 1920's.