Explosive Morning Leads to Self Enlightenment Essays - Kirk

Angela Beima Professor Metz Eng 111-07N 14 Feb 2011 Explosive Morning Leads To Self Enlightenment In ?The Breakfast That Changed My Life?, author Kelsey Kirk gives clear and vivid details( making you feel like you are there), while giving a personal account of a single day in one soldier?s military career that changed their life. The story is well-organized with a beginning, middle, and an end. A collegiate audience would appreciate the writer?s account of the events that lead up to the moment that changed their life and, although lacking a few key details, Kirk?s attempt at telling a story that is believable and compelling is superb. Kirk begins his story by describing the atmosphere of the morning of May 14, 2004 while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, stating that the sun was out ?burning the haze off the land? and that the temperature was already seventy-five degrees in the shade. (23) However, Kirk fails to mention the current time, so we are left to wonder what time of day it is and why it is significant that the temperature is ?already? seventy-five degrees. He then goes on to tell us that he was a medic in a medical company in the army. This is where he goes into detail telling us exactly what his title is, as well as what Division of the army he is in. In the next paragraph the author tells us that they worked the night shift, giving both military times and non-military times, when stating the hours they worked. Giving the reader this information is helpful for those who might not know how to convert military time to standard time. The author also tells us that they have a ?counterpart? who shared his shift. He d escribes the smell of burning trash and tires combined with sulfur and how this combination made their noses twinge when they first stepped out of the tent. (23) They would enjoy breakfast in a ?giant white tent? that reminded him of the circus. They would then retrieve the trays as they left. (24) As they were watching CNN on the ?big screen? televisions and laughing about a joke, an explosion occurred in the distance. They both raised their heads to listen. The author was not worried because they were in a combat zone and he had become familiar with ?booms? in the distance. (24) They continued their conversation. They soon discovered that the enemy was ?walking in? mortars. The author then begins to explain what mortars are. This explanation is extremely helpful to those who don?t know what mortars are. He then goes on to explain the ?walking in? method that the insurgents use when launching these mortars. (24) After the dust settled Kirk began triaging patients while his ?counterpart? Newhart went to get help. It is during this process when Kirk notices a ?young, blond-headed? man lying face down on the floor. (25) He discovers that a fragment from the mortars had entered his shoulder and was in his spinal cord, quite possibly severing it. When the young man asks him why he can?t feel his legs, Kirk says nothing. He just places his hand on the bleeding wound and applies pressure. (25) This is the moment in which we are to believe changed Kirks life, but he does not state this. In that moment Kirk might have realized that life is precious and that it can be taken away from you at any time at any given moment, whether in a combat zone or waiting in line at the drive-thru, but again he does not state this. Kirk?s story is both believable and compelling, but the question that is on every reader?s mind is, ?What happened to the young-blond haired man? Did he survive his injuries? This information is not given in the story. Kirk only revealed that a fragment from the mortars had gone into the young man?s shoulder and was in his spinal cord, which quite possibly could have been severed as a result. (26) Kirk also does not say how this moment changed his life and why. It is only inferred that this was the moment that changed his life. As a reader, the reason that a particular moment changed the

Short Story and True Selves Essay Example

Short Story and True Selves Essay Example Short Story and True Selves Essay Short Story and True Selves Essay Authors use certain characters to attract and persuade certain audiences. The two short stories, The Prospector’s Trail by Cathy Jewison and Bluffing by Gail Helgason are easily comparable by the use of characterization. Both stories consist of two main characters, as couples, as it is affected by another individual. Also, throughout the stories, both couples face challenges in which reveal their true selves. Lastly, the author used one dynamic character while the other remained a static character. The Prospector’s Trail and Bluffing consisted of two main characters as it was affected by another individual. Norman and Jennifer from, The Prospector’s Trail, were happily married, until both their relationship and their financial funds started going downhill. Norman came to Yellowknife with his ambitious wife to make something of himself and Roy helped him do so. Jennifer doesn’t think much of Ray, and wasn’t fond of him or the way he dressed. â€Å"Unless I catch you wearing a red plaid flannel shirt, in which case I’ll leave you on the spot. † From this passage, it is clear that Jennifer was stereotyping Roy from not wanting Norman to become like him for the reason that he was wearing a red plaid flannel shirt during that time. That being said, while prospecting with Roy, Norman found a barely ripped red plaid shirt and  he instantly wore it, knowing that it would tick Jennifer off. As a result, Jennifer left Norman without even saying a word. In Bluffing, Gabriella and Liam went on a hike as they came across a bear in which showed how much they truly were uncommitted to one another. Liam ran off when he should’ve done something on the spot to keep Gabriella same from getting hurt from the bear. This occurrence completely changed the way Gabriella felt about Liam. Thus, these were how the two main characters were affected by another individual. Throughout the stories, both couples faced challenges in which revealed their true selves. In Prospector’s Trail, before going into Yellowknife, Norman lost his job and confidence from the formality and high expectations of his boss. He became clumsy where his reputation spread and could no longer work. In the following passage: Jennifer halfheartedly agreed to let Norman pursue his dream of opening and interpretive centre, on the condition that he did t far away from anyone they knew. We realize that Jennifer was ashamed and blinded by her pride, which ended up with her treating Norman wrongly. In Bluffing, when Liam ran away from both Gabriella and the bear, it shows that Liam was a coward and he didnt necessarily care about her. Furthermore, by the end of the story, Gabriella seems to also not care so much anymore. This is proven by the following passage: When the last bandage is removed, she pulls her chair closer to the bed and stretches her lips into a smile. She knows in her bones that she can manage this way, for the rest of the afternoon, at least. She still has that much bluffing in her. From this, it was clear that she was lying when she held his hand as the bandage was being taken off. It was obvious that she’d plan on leaving him due to the fact of him leaving her with the bear. Hence, these were how both couples faced challenges in which reveal their true selves. Lastly, the authors in both, The Prospector’s Trail and Bluffing used a dynamic character while the other remained a static character. Jennifer was portrayed as a selfish, inconsiderate, nagging wife who simply nagged about making Norman the best he could possibly be while Liam was portrayed as an unpredictable and a difficult person to understand. From beginning to end, Jennifer and Liam remained the same making them static characters. While on the other hand, Norman from the Prospectors Trail was portrayed as a young, confused, clumsy nerd but as time passed, he changed into a more open-minded, free man who  just wanted to start a new life in Yellowknife. This is proven by the following passage: You’re little lady’s not going to like it. She’s more upscale than my Elsie. â€Å"You’re right. She won’t see the potential. But like I said – this is the end of the road for me. † This shows that Norman wanted to be free from the stress Jennifer caused him, even if he were to be left behind. It was just Jennifer’s presence that was dragging him down to get to where he really wanted to be. In Bluffing, Gabriella changed from being committed and wanting to continue living with Liam to just simply leaving him and lying about how she felt about what had happened. Both Norman and Gabriella changed throughout the story, which made them dynamic characters while Jennifer and Liam remained the same, as a result of being static characters. By the use of characterization, the two stories are easily comparable. Both stories consisted of two main characters, as it was affected by another individual Also, throughout the stories, both couples faced challenges in which reveal their true selves. Lastly, the author used one dynamic character while the other remained a static character. Thus, these are the reasons why the characters from The Prospector’s Trail and Bluffing are very much similar.