Maymont is...

In Maymont

We build roofs,

out of arms.

We kill and we save

yet we are not hypocrites.

We just really enjoy

our pancakes.

World Began Questions

When the World Began

1. “A place of jubilation and of mourning, horrible and beautiful.”, “A place of incredible happenings, splendours and revelations, despairs like multitudinous pits of isolated hell.” The tone established by the opening paragraph is melancholy.

2. According to Lawrence small towns are described as bizarre and agonizingly repressive or cruel at times. She agrees that there are times where small towns are like this but they are never boring. There are some small towns that could fit that description but not the one I live in currently. The people are friendly and you can make your own fun.

3. The author did not like that in small towns girls can be very mean behind each others backs. She also did not like how the recently deceased seemed to cast a gloom over a town.

4. No I don’t, at least not now that I am living in Radisson. Radisson is a growing place, the people are nice, homes are cheaper and it is close to Saskatchewan’s biggest urban centre. It is a quiet and happy village. It is possible to stay in Radisson and still have many opportunities available to you. If I was still in Caroline I would not feel the same way. People were not as nice and it seemed like there was little opportunity for you to move on with your life by staying there.

5. The evidence I have that Lawrence thinks that Canadians are too modest comes from a couple sentences in one paragraph midway through her essay. “Why on earth did generations of Canadians pretend to believe this country dull? We knew perfectly well it wasn’t.” and “If our upsurge of so-called nationalism seems odd or irrelevant to outsiders, and even to some of our own people (what’s all the fuss about?), they might try to understand that for so many years we valued ourselves insufficiently...” The United States exudes so much national pride and power that all that we do seems insubstantial in comparison. It is harder to shout something to the world if someone beside you is shouting louder. It is intimidating as we feel we have to match their amount of pride in order to have our own.

6. I think what she means is that we have such a vast land deprived of people that we are almost like pioneers when we build a life for ourselves outside of urban areas. However, we are “phony” because it is actually not that difficult. She is reminding herself that though we might look gruff or have that stereotype we are just like any other western society.

7. I feel that “You are where you are from - no matter how much you fight it.” is an accurate assumption that can be made about the theme of this essay. Throughout the essay she debates with herself over the statements she has tried to convince herself as true. She realizes that prairie living had its ups and downs but no matter what she remembers of it, it shaped her current worldview.

Hiking

The air is crisp, cool and thin. I can feel every breath I take. The smell is sublime, no trace of the unnatural perfumes of civilization. The sun breaks through the intense green, pressing a warm hand against the back of my neck. I trudge onward, the trail a mix of crusted mud and dead foliage, forming an indiscernible mosaic. The spruce spread out seemingly endless on either side of the path, fallen needles forming a massive carpet. With my eyes closed I can hear the symphony of nature. Birds provide a chorus over the roaring of the river as it clashes with rock. The wind whistles through the evergreens. Leaves rustle in appreciation. Opening my eyes I can see what my ears caught first. The river; it is a clear, pure blue. What I have only seen in pictures has become the subject of my reality. My gaze lifts upward, following the erratic outline of the mountain as it reaches to play with the clouds. Perfect moments are few and far between but this is one of them.

I am Canadian

1. The thoughts provoked when I looked at the poem’s title are ones of patriotism and remembering all that I have done that help me identify with Canada.

2. The poem is saying that the identity of Canada is made up by the people who live here and what they do.

5.
Rocket Richard- distinguished hockey player
Jean Believeau- distinguished hockey player
Sir John A McDonald- first prime minister of Canada.
Alexander Graham Bell- inventor of the telephone.
Louis Riel- Metis leader of the red river rebellion.

6.
1. The Forum- Original home rink of the Montreal Canadiens.
2. Quebec- Where majority of francophones live in Canada. It’s capital is Quebec City.
3. Northwest Territories- Territory located directly north of Alberta. It has Great Slave Lake (deepest lake in North America) and Great Bear Lake (largest lake in Canada). Has a bunch of waterfalls by Alberta border.
4. Edmonton- Capital of Alberta, home of the Eskimos and the Oilers.
5. Prairies- Farming is very big and we have a continental climate.
6. The Rockies- Large mountain range marking the border between Alberta and B.C. It has many awesome ski hills (Sunshine Village, Marmot Basin, Lake Louise, Castle Mountain, Fernie, Whistler etc.).
7. “the island”- Vancouver Island is where the capital of British Columbia is located. It has many prime diving areas.

Poetic Views of Canada

Not Just a Platform for my Dance
1) This poem fits into the theme “A Vast and Varied Land” as it is describing one area of Canada, that may or may not be different from the area of Canada that readers are from. It gives the reader another view of the land. Helping them to understand that Canada differs from place to place.
2) The author views the land as a part of her. The author feels connected to the land, she does not see the land as just something that she walks and lives on (not just a platform for her dance). The land is something that is a part of her life. She also experiences the land.
3) Metaphor- “...this land is my tongue my eyes my mouth...”
4) “...this land is not just a plot to bury my dead...” The land is not just something for her to use. The land makes up a part of her.
5) The theme is that the land we grow up in is not just a background it is something that can define who we are.

The Lonely Land
1) The lonely land fits into the theme “A Vast and Varied Land” as it describes a scene that occurs in various regions around Canada. It is again an alternate view of the land that some might no be familiar with.
2) The author views the land as strong and that that strength is beautiful. He is connected to the land because he feels its strength.
3) Simile- “...this smoky cry curled over a black pine like a broken and wind-battered branch...”
4) “This is the beauty of strength broken by strength and still strong.” He ends the poem by explaining the beauty he found in the scene described.
5) The theme of this poem is that the land is beautiful, but this beauty comes from its strength.

Survival
1) This poem fits into the theme “A Vast and Varied Land” as it describes life growing up on a farm. Farming being big in many parts of Canada. It showcases a different view on growing up in Canada that some might not be familiar with.
2) The author views the land as harsh, where things that are not functional don’t last. She is connected to the land in that she has experienced the negative parts of it as well so she has a good understanding of it.
3) Personification- “...the guilty blood all over him...”
4) “There was never gentleness.” This line sets the tone of the poem. She is not going to create an image of wonder and beauty.
5) The theme of this poem is that things that are romanticized often have a brutal side that people don’t see or choose not to believe.

Canadian Poem Analysis

POETRY ANALYSIS
Before Reading
1. The last poem I remember reading in English class was I am Canadian by Duke Redbird. We read this in ELA A30.

2. The poem will be about Canada. Canada is usually said to be from sea to sea (between two furious oceans) and we are currently doing a unit on Canada.

During the Reading
1. Parts that stood out most for me are underlined.

2. The poem is centered around the narrator being asked by an unknown identity to tell the identity what it is. This unknown identity is Canada and the narrator moves from coast to coast picking out and describing dominant landforms in regions throughout out the country. Canada wanted to know what it was and the narrator described Canada for an answer.

3. The words I highlighted are not literal descriptions. Instead, they are personifications that the landforms a sense of movement and life. The way they are described makes them seem either more vibrant or dark creating sharp contrast.

The subject of the poem is Canada. They author is talking about the identity of Canada; what it looks like. The author, in my opinion, wrote the poem because he was inspired by the scenery of Canada and wished to share what he experienced. The poem does not specify when or where it is taking place. The poem’s attitude is positive. It says Canada is beautiful and tries to make it come alive. There isn’t a shift from person to person in this poem. The author instead picks up where the narrator repeats the question he was asked to show that he understood the question.

4. Poetic Devices
Simile: No.

Metaphor: Blazing with consuming crimson golden lights with beacon flames.
Creates image of intense brightness.

Personification: reckless foothills clambering down the eastern slopes.
Makes landform seem alive and vibrant.

Tone: Positive, Ethereal
Puts Canada in good standing. Ethereal descriptions make Canada have an air of magic.

Point of View: 1st person.
Looking at Canada through narrators eyes. He controls what you see.

Imagery: You are the maple groves that undulate, mile upon mile,
Over the wave-like hills of the Maritimes, mantling them
With rich green in the summer, kindling them with a million fires,
Blazing with consuming crimson golden lights with beacon flames
To proclaim the season’s death when crackling autumn days explode,
Leaving them black and naked in the waning year, tracing
Their lonely fingers against the leaden sky.
Helps you picture exactly what the author is describing. Put yourself in the place the author is describing.

Alliteration: Cold current. Adds to the poem by making the description stand out more, as it is not that striking in of itself.

Other: Symbolism: Eternal rocks that rise in columned ranks to meet the dawn.
Adds to poem by likening rocks to an image we are familiar with, helping us picture what is being described.

5. Connection
Connection to self:
This poem reminds me of the beauty of the country I live in. It connects to our unit because we are focusing on Canada and establishing a Canadian identity. I liked this poem, it used very strong descriptors and gives me quite the picturesque mental image.

Connection to text:
This poem is similar to “I am a Canadian” by Duke Redbird. Both poems deal with Canadian identity. However, “Between Two Furious Oceans” does this by describing the land and “I am Canadian” does this by describing the people of Canada and what they do for recreation.

Connection to world:

The main thought or message the poet is trying to make is that Canada is a vast land and each region has its own unique landforms. There is much to see and experience in Canada. The identity of Canada is made up of these many regions and landforms.

Good Old A.B.

From the northern border to Pincher Creek,
Alberta and I have seen much of each other.
Ranks of spruce, pine and birch stand on guard in the north,
an ocean of rolling plains rushes to meet them.
Moving south, massive, white tipped rocky forms pierce through the waving grass,
with only curvaceous hills to warn of their approach.
In central Alberta forest and prairie have reached a compromise,
the vibrant parkland is dominant.
Parkland dwindles back into golden vastness,
the land land begins dry.
Soon you are in basking under a desert sun,
trees give way to hoodoos and grass gives way to sand.
Once past this river valley so deprived of precipitation,
an immense flat greets you.
The sky and earth meet,
guiding you through a maze of limitless direction.
A new kind of form rises up to stop the tour,
marking the end of Alberta.
As high as mountains,
as green as parkland,
Cypress Hills.

Canadian vs. American Stereotypes (Canadian Bacon)

In the movie Canadian Bacon the Canadian and American stereotypes are almost complete opposites. Canadians are presented as overly kind, saying sorry when others run into them, ignoring outlandish statements against Canada written on the side of a van (choosing instead to make the perpetrators follow language laws by writing it all again in french) and arresting the CEO of a company that did a hostile takeover over many smaller companies. Canadians are also very clean, have a more stable economy (more jobs) and are more peaceful.

Americans are much less well mannered. They are stereotyped as rednecks. They all have guns, dress in old, dirty clothes and are very unkempt. America itself is shown to be polluted, there are layoffs and easy access to high grade weapons. The country has romanticized war, when a president besides to go to war his ratings increase. American people are presented as gullible blindly following their president and believing what ever is shown on t.v.

Many of these stereotypes I do not agree with. The ones I see some truth to are very exaggerated. Let me start with the Canadian stereotypes. We do say sorry a lot, even when its not our fault. This does not include getting bowled over from behind. In that case someone is obviously at fault. Only the the aggressor would say sorry in that case. We do have language laws but those are almost exclusive to Quebec. We do not arrest people for doing things generally regarded as cruel or disrespectful. We are a clean country, we do have signs saying "thank you for not littering" and have fines for littering but it is not an obsession of ours. The American stereotypes I can not accurately explain. However, I do know that although there are times when there is easy access to weapons, the weapons easily available are not rocket launchers or military rifles. In recent years due to the recession there has been a lot of layoffs. That stereotype is true for modern times. America has made its presence felt in many theatres of wars. Wars have made or broken presidencies. North American society has romanticized war, not just the states. Movies until very recently have made war seem almost glamorous. I would not label the U.S. as warmongers as there is a lot of public outcry against their presence in Iraq. Many people in North America have a tendency to believe what ever is said on t.v., but this is not exclusive to the USA. I have trouble analyzing the stereotypes of Americans.

I have seen all these stereotypes show up in many movies, both the American and Canadian ones. I think this is because people are used to those stereotypes and to suddenly show a true image of Canada or the USA in a film would seem too foreign and unbelievable to audiences.

Canadian Stereotypes (Strange Brew)

Stereotypes.
Toques- Yes, Canadians wear toques; in winter. We do not wear them all year round.

Plaid, Flannel Lumberjack shirts- This is not the Canadian style of choice but you will catch some people wearing them. We typically wear what you see in your average lululemon, Stitches, West 49, American Eagle, etc.

Love Beer- Many Canadians enjoy beer. However, we also drink other alcoholic beverages. Beer is not sacred to our culture.

Love Donuts- Donuts are also a food that Canadians enjoy. However, we don’t lust for them.

Everyone Can Skate- Many Canadians can skate, in rural areas most people can skate. However, not everyone has the desire or opportunity to learn how to skate.

Love Hockey- Canadians are passionate about hockey. This does not include everyone. I know plenty of Canadians who don’t pay attention to it at all.

Language and Expression.
Canadians do not say “hoser”, “hosehead” or “take off”. “Beauty” is occasionally tossed around but is not used to describe everything good. Canadians do say “eh”. However, we only use it in certain scenarios. We will use it if we are trying to see if someone agrees with us (use it the same way some say “huh”). ex. That was a good game eh?

Proud, Ashamed?
Over all I am proud of our stereotypes. None of them have a negative connotation (like Canadians are bad drivers). This shows that Canadians are respected. We have not been aggressive, tried to push our culture on others or create a huge sphere of influence. People like us because of this. When you are getting teased in such a positive way it means that you are liked.

Canadianananess

In technical terms if you are born in Canada you are Canadian. If you have lived in Canada for three years, know how to speak English or French and have passed the citizenship test and taken the citizen oath then you are also considered Canadian. As a Canadian I view Canadians as a kinder folk, we are more down to earth, less competitive and enjoy a slower pace of life. Canadians have been stereotyped heavily. Our police always wear red surge. We say “eh” all the time and talk “aboot” hockey. We are toqued lumberjacks and Inuit riding around on polar bears and moose and sleeping in our igloos and teepees. Well, not all at once but many of these things come to mind when people think of Canadians. Canadian society is all about diversity. We are a cultural mosaic. In our society we respect and learn about the different cultures that share this country. This is important to Canadian identity because as a result of the way we treat other cultures, other countries respect us and treat us well.