tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post629624117229075705..comments2024-02-03T12:32:21.678-08:00Comments on Jack Mandora's: The Humming Bird TreeJ.Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528069268393747601noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-31494160635407201842011-05-07T20:26:42.410-07:002011-05-07T20:26:42.410-07:00it is quite obvious to say that the use of obsceni...it is quite obvious to say that the use of obscenities and expletives compliment the description of the characters in the novel it helps us, the students to get a better grasp on the character's background .... it also plays a vital role in expressing the social bored between jailin and kaiser as compared to allan. and it adds to the power of the expression that they are vulgar. the reason the expletives was used is because it is already so widely used in trinidad it is more a custom than an obscenity....i too am a student writing cxc in a few days an do not think the expletives are an issue or problem that the book should be remmoved fro the listDANnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-8986375592242126842011-04-30T19:16:22.419-07:002011-04-30T19:16:22.419-07:00teacher
The book is written to a Caribbean backdro...teacher<br />The book is written to a Caribbean backdrop and the language of the Caribbean contain expletives. If the book is being used as a literature tool should not there be a discourse among students on the use of language. Stop trying to sweep issues under the carpet and let the children explore their opinions on the issues addressed in the text than what adults consider to be inappropriate language for them. The children already knows the language in question and are using it. Literature lends itself to development of morals, values and making judgements. The use of the expletive is a good tool to establish those morals and values. After all aren't we trying to develop analytical thinkers.Angienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-80634471986233078652011-04-30T19:13:14.010-07:002011-04-30T19:13:14.010-07:00teacher
The book is written to a Caribbean backdro...teacher<br />The book is written to a Caribbean backdrop and the language of the Caribbean contain expletives. If the book is being used as a literature tool should not there be a discourse among students on the use of language. Stop trying to sweep issues under the carpet and let the children explore their opinions on the issues addressed in the text than what adults consider to be inappropriate language for them. The children already knows the language in question and are using it. Literature lends itself to development of morals, values and making judgements. The use of the expletive is a good tool to establish those morals and values. After all aren't we trying to develop analytical thinkers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-47115751299902797962010-12-16T14:21:33.014-08:002010-12-16T14:21:33.014-08:00What some parents/ teachers fail to understand is ...What some parents/ teachers fail to understand is the fact that children are much smart and a lot more aware than parents/teavhers consider children to be. Children know that cursing is wrong and whether they read it in a book or not they are aware of the word. Weather you believe it or not! I personally do not understand how parents can say that the obcenity within the book will let their children feel free to use the word in public. These are not kingergarden children we are talkin about! They kno right from wrong!.. So a book which i have read which have a few obscenity is nothing that they should worry about. Look at the other essence of the book.. the book is not just made up of foul languages. Wow people really kno how to make mountains out of molehills!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-52758256817732755882010-11-29T13:24:04.993-08:002010-11-29T13:24:04.993-08:00as a literate student myself studying the prose i ...as a literate student myself studying the prose i DON'T think that it should be removed from the syllabus. as students of literature we are thought to be tolerant of ALL pieces of literature why then should be be denied such an opportunity? I that we are at a point in our develop where it is crucial that we are exposed to as much pieces of work as is possible so that we are able to draw worthwhile conclusionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-24039995710724207532010-11-29T06:33:44.214-08:002010-11-29T06:33:44.214-08:00I dont mind the 'bad words' its apart of o...I dont mind the 'bad words' its apart of our west indian culture. plus its a phase that i know that every child-adolecent experienced and you guys shouldn't tell lies you have done these things during your childhood. i think when mr mcdonald was writing this book, he thought the characyer kaiser of his bravery and fearlessness, so the expletives brings this out also the expletives help in the area of expression.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-81493337063855349322010-10-28T07:47:17.159-07:002010-10-28T07:47:17.159-07:00I don't think there is any thing wrong with th...I don't think there is any thing wrong with the novel. As a fifth form student i hear and use 'bad words' quite often. After reading this book and understanding that this is the best way for Kaiser to express himself, then a student would not want to fall in that category and only depend on Expletives to carry them through.I think removing the book will really do more harm than good as life lessons can be learnt from it. The more you sheild a child from something its the more they gravitate to it without even knowing because of their inexperience.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01379880995828901708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-28180106898350354132010-05-11T19:56:35.445-07:002010-05-11T19:56:35.445-07:00Well, i ave lit exam 2morrow and this book is one...Well, i ave lit exam 2morrow and this book is one of my favorite. it shows how difficult life was back then and how hard fitting in with people of different class was. the obscenitiy in the book does no harm and it shud remain on the syllabus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-86994841111388986212010-05-11T16:44:43.879-07:002010-05-11T16:44:43.879-07:00i would say that alan's biggest loss is his im...i would say that alan's biggest loss is his <b>impartiality associated with being a child</b>. As you mature,the strains and struggles of reality become evident and the world is nothing like it was beforelatyC.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-87862708049427718192010-05-09T11:37:22.866-07:002010-05-09T11:37:22.866-07:00amm i need help...exams is wednesday an i neva rea...amm i need help...exams is wednesday an i neva read dis book...or merchant ah venice...if anyone cud sum it up for me neatly n nicely i would greatly appreciate it...muchas graciaslolznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-15243904338745501672010-05-06T09:49:35.975-07:002010-05-06T09:49:35.975-07:00I am a form 5 student. I believe the ministry expe...I am a form 5 student. I believe the ministry expects us to be mature enough to look pass the obscenities and see why they are appropriate in the novel, if we act childish just because we are exposed to this sort of language in class, then we probably should not even be at this level of education yet. We all know we use these profanities at any other time, why should we get excited just because they are included in one of our literature books?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-77348748458584442842010-04-17T20:01:38.842-07:002010-04-17T20:01:38.842-07:00i dont think that they should not use the book. i ...i dont think that they should not use the book. i strongly agree that the curse words are essencial and that is nothing new to a high school or college student, they are mature enough to handle reading a book of this sort. these words are there to emphasiza and illustrate a certain part of events in the novel.<br /><br />Personally, I read the book and i think it is a very good book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-49266801843791803242010-04-14T15:22:00.572-07:002010-04-14T15:22:00.572-07:00I am a student living in Jamaica. I'm currentl...I am a student living in Jamaica. I'm currently in grade 10 and so...I'm using this book. I think the level of maturity of those reading this is at a sufficient level that the dialect/ language should not be an issue. The use of the explicits actually shows the contrast of the protogonist and his friends... It makes the characters appear more genuine<br /><br />NB: This is my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-16308928985710414032010-04-05T19:03:45.166-07:002010-04-05T19:03:45.166-07:00As a Christian high school student, I strongly bel...As a Christian high school student, I strongly believe that the use of bad words and obscenties in the novel are very inappropriate.The difference and contrast of "Culture" in the novel could have been expressed and vividly seen without the use of these bad words. When it is accepted for children to read these out in class, it is like showing the children that it is ok to say bad words, and to do other things. You might say that they are already doing it, but having children and 'learning' these obscenities in school will not let them desist from it, but will only let the problem get. worse. I am sure that if any parent or teacher heard a student cursing otherwise, they would say that it is a shameful thing. If you saw public figures like the prime minister saying obscenities, wouldn't it be of concern? Surely one's culture cannot only consist of obscenities! I applaud the Jamaican ministry of education for this step in the right direction (sadly it will not take effect before I sit my exams), and I believe that anyone who is concerned about shaping our children's thoughts to become peaceful and good citizens will share my view.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-23269779599352033192010-01-04T09:13:09.621-08:002010-01-04T09:13:09.621-08:00i agree with the Scripter where as if the obscenit...i agree with the Scripter where as if the obscenity is essential to the story therefore it shouldn't be removed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-62301280809787491612009-11-22T14:28:59.046-08:002009-11-22T14:28:59.046-08:00I'm 15, in Jamaica, 5th form and we are curren...I'm 15, in Jamaica, 5th form and we are currently doing this novel at my high school as part of the CXC curriculum. My school's catholic so at first the novel caused a problem, if not a major one with the principal of course, worse she's a nun. However my current Englsih teacher vouched for the novel to stay in the curriculum reason being that the obscenity is avital aspect to the novel. In the novel, there's segregation: Indians and Whites. As such there's many comparisons to be made on both lifestyles of the main characters. The prominent use of oscenity by one race higlights a major difference between the two characters: the white boy and the indiand boy. If writing a essay on this novel, a question on difference in social status and its influences will come about. Obscentiy is a major element in that. As students we have to observe the difference not just economically or religiously but sociallly as well. We have to study the dialect of both characters and such to ascertain ehy it is that a 'invisible segregating line' is there to separate the boys friendship from thriving. what I'm trying to say is that we are not taught to believe that obscenity is right but we are beign taught to identify diffrent social grounds in novels and relate it to reasoning. And more over if parents are worried about their children being 'rude' teach them from an ealry age what is right. maturity goes a long way andt your child should know how to comprehend things and accept but know when to use ot from his/ her own mouths.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-9412288830955778862009-11-13T12:03:25.807-08:002009-11-13T12:03:25.807-08:00i want the summary for these for each chapter can ...i want the summary for these for each chapter can i plz get it!!! plz i need it for my 3rd form exam which is next weekSunnyloves22noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-40761507410013117922009-11-10T04:16:34.553-08:002009-11-10T04:16:34.553-08:00i read the book. and yes the curse words are essen...i read the book. and yes the curse words are essential to the book. it's raw english but it shows the lack of education in Alan's Indian friends.... and the story does convey a valuable lesson...its about race and prejudice, love and heroism...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-13487116361512807072009-11-08T19:05:42.445-08:002009-11-08T19:05:42.445-08:00These opinions only goes to show that society has ...These opinions only goes to show that society has gone to the dogs. The moral standards have depleted and everything that was taught to be removed from the lips have become the norm. No wonder my fellow teenages have adapted some dirty habits, to believe that it's "ok" to do this and that if I can do this and that in front of someone in authority and not be reprimanded. Not everyone is able to differentiate between when something is outright acceptable and when something can be occasionally excused. And then we question why are they so indisciplined and disrespectful!kswissnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-90585479272068354612009-11-08T18:49:11.004-08:002009-11-08T18:49:11.004-08:00I see the issue of expletives as a serious one but...I see the issue of expletives as a serious one but let us not forget that literature books with expletives have been apart of the school curriculum since Grade 9, for example, Crick-crack Monkey. I am not comfortable with hearing or saying expletives but I have also recognized that it is something I cannot avoid. However, I am sure that books exist with themes and moral lessons similar to that in "Humming Bird tree", nevertheless are without expletives. On the flip side, this is one of the few texts that my fellow classmates are interested in reading. We don't need to guess what the major reason is. Its occasional sexual innuendo/bawdiness and the story of a teenage love affair between individuals from "two different worlds" will attract most teens (note:most and not all). It's on this year's syllabus so I guess for us hopefuls that wish for children to be more disciplined and respectful, even if its only in the classroom, see nothing but doom for such a desire.Kswissnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-45704392455357454142009-11-06T16:42:41.352-08:002009-11-06T16:42:41.352-08:00Everyone is entitled to his own view.I did the Hum...Everyone is entitled to his own view.I did the Hummingbird Tree for CXC and I find it one of the more exciting novels. I live in a home where we don't curse or use expletives and that's what WE CHOOSE to do. However there are those who choose otherwise- there really isn't much that we can do to change that.<br /><br />The use of expletives in this book is used to ILLUSTRATE the difference in society, culture and socialization. I'm not saying that I totally agree but let's face it... We live in a society here cursing has become the "Norm" and is sadly part of the culture. LEAVE THE BOOK ALONE!!! It's up to us (students)as individuals to set our own morals and standards.<br /><br />Crime, Drugs, Sex, Alcohol, Disrespect, Cursing...you name it will always be there but does that mean that we will join in? We have choices.If someone is against the book that's their opinion. By reading the book that doesn't mean that the reader has to agree with everything.<br /><br />HELLO!! we're students of literature. We can't pick and choose what books we want to study because they don't fall within the confines of our opinions and views..There would be lack of parallelism and perspective. As literature students we can however voice our opinions and justify them with sufficient evidence. I'm a form 6 Lit student ask me now and I can write essays both supporting and against this book...It's what I'm suppose to be able to do as a student of literature Isn't it?? Or am I only suppose to read and study the books that I agree with?? I hope that everyone commenting here read the book!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-14737788981350536852009-10-21T14:37:03.814-07:002009-10-21T14:37:03.814-07:00I am recently doing the book in high school and I ...I am recently doing the book in high school and I do not think it should be removed seeing as though it helps to juxtopose the languages and it is most definately not the first time my classmates and I have heard the word. The world is also significant as it helps us to understand the change of Alan's behaviour towards them as they mature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-26467045020286541892009-10-04T15:43:29.450-07:002009-10-04T15:43:29.450-07:00I have read the book this term in school and I wan...I have read the book this term in school and I wanted to know what other people thought. All people talk about here is the 'badwords' in the text-I understand that was the question asked to be answered-and the degrading of women through the little excerpt from the novel. If you look carefully at the review its not what the book is about.It has 3-4 badwords that people who turn a blind eye to everything in the book, critise. The words give meaning to the book and to the life the lower class lives. It gives the description of the way their mind and behaviour were shaped. The point of literature is to express and descibe the thoughts,feelings and attitude of people in writtings so people can relate or understand in the best way the author knows, the situation.<br />In the excerpt from the novel, they are not degrading the women cause believe it or not that's exactly what would happen if a poor couple move to a crowded city where even there money is hard to get. Women in those times and place liked to give time and effort in their cooking, unlike today,and in a city you don't have a liitle garden out back to grow food- unless your rich-. So the writer did express perfectly the conditions of the people but in the voice of one of his characters who are wise and down to earth. <br /><br />As stated by another comment 'LEAVE THE BOOK ALONE'this book isn't a book for kids but for teenagers who are exactly what the main charaters are. This book is for the mature, which most teenagers are, and seriously if you don't want teenagers to read it, you have to understand the subject for which it was given 'Literature'. I explained it earlier but here is another part- If we, the not kids but teenagers, are not able to experience writings for its accurate desciptions because adults don't understand or degrade our senses, or don't trust us to know right from wrong we will never read and think outside of what they think is right for us and this indeed will do more harm than good. This in an award winning book that teaches sometining about lost of innocence and were written about things that happen to people like us so please don't keep us from learning a valuable truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-28152126783837336592009-10-03T17:55:57.872-07:002009-10-03T17:55:57.872-07:00I dont think its right! I'm actually doing thi...I dont think its right! I'm actually doing this book for Literature in school now. Its a beautiful book and I think its foolish to remove it because it has obscenity in it! Its a part of life every person curses and sex is also apart of life. Thye're forgetting that Its students of a mature age reading the book thus its not for small kids. So I believe it should remainUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01854881136147568746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473573478104467483.post-41895772649882829542009-09-13T13:52:47.883-07:002009-09-13T13:52:47.883-07:00LEAVE THE BOOK ALONE!!! There's a saying I kno...LEAVE THE BOOK ALONE!!! There's a saying I know... "If it's not broken, don't fix it." This isn't broken, so leave it alone. Why don't you go stop high school children from having sex in the schools... Or even primary school children for that matter. A little obscenity never hurt anybody... But people do... Lemme explain... Students having sex in school (usually "quickies", and no condoms here) = Girl with a big belly who isn't obese = Unwanted child who usually has no good moral and financial support. In some cases the child starts to steal to help him with his wants. Later in life he gets even more greedier and he starts killing for it. I'm a Jamaican and I'm saying leave the book alone and start fighting against the real problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com