Ace of Diamonds UPDATED
In the short text “The Ace of Diamonds Gang” by Owen
Marshall, the author has used symbols to represent the significant ideas of
imagination, represented by the Ace of Diamonds. And the snap back to reality,
symbolized by the Library card.
The Ace of Diamonds is introduced to the text as the regalia of the narrator’s gang. The Ace of Diamonds is stamped on their masks in oil paint to become their symbol of anonymity, intrigue and mystique. The gangues this mask when executing calamity on pre-designated targets. After each of their exploits they left their calling card, the Ace of Diamonds stamped on the “…backs of cut out Christmas cards.” in hope of increasing their notoriety. These boys compare themselves to “Heroes of history” such as The Black Hand, The Boxers and The League of Spartacus proving the fantasy of their actions. This shows that the boys thought of this gang like a brotherhood, alliance or clan. To the narrator and Bernie it was much more, it was “…an escape from being 13 years old in a provincial town.” displaying further the idea of fantasy. The gang saw themselves as strong, heroic and brave, this is shown by the military language used like “rendezvous”, “reconnoitre” and “formation” to show an efficient, intelligent military like organization. This is proven during the raid on Jorgessons yard. They describe the yard as a war ground with “a field hospital in a desperate war of machines “and “Dismembered machines” creating a sense of a battlefield where a military like organization would usually be found. The gangs emotions about themselves is that they fantasize that they are amazing, magnificent heroes. This is channeled through the Ace of Diamonds which in turn is supported by fantasy and childhood imagination.
The second symbol which is discovered in the text is the Library Card. This is discovered in Jorgessons yard after the gangs’ raid on his residence after their latest exploit. In opposition to the Ace of Diamonds card this card represents reality, identity and juvenility. The library card incorporates the downside to the gang member’s reality like “Ashley’s wind”, “Bernie’s glasses” and “Hec Green having to be in by nine o’clock”. The Library card becomes the downfall of this gang; it shows that the thoughts of strength, power and immortality were in fact exactly that, thoughts. The Library card also strips away the anonymity and mystique of the gangs’ identity by identifying the narrator as a law abiding citizen, normal human being and disappointingly a bookworm. It also finally brings the fantasy world of the narrator to a quick and unhesitant destruction, this world being the fantasy world of boyhood and free imagination. “…it was the end of free imagination and of boyhood perhaps.”
The symbols used in the short text “The Ace of Diamonds Gang” were the Ace of Diamonds and The narrator’s library card. These cards contradict each other. The Ace of Diamonds represented fantasy, anonymity and immortality. This is negated by the effects of the library card which are the reality of the gangs’ importance, the identity of the gang members and the mortality of each of the boys. These two symbols helped me develop understanding of the text.
The Ace of Diamonds is introduced to the text as the regalia of the narrator’s gang. The Ace of Diamonds is stamped on their masks in oil paint to become their symbol of anonymity, intrigue and mystique. The gangues this mask when executing calamity on pre-designated targets. After each of their exploits they left their calling card, the Ace of Diamonds stamped on the “…backs of cut out Christmas cards.” in hope of increasing their notoriety. These boys compare themselves to “Heroes of history” such as The Black Hand, The Boxers and The League of Spartacus proving the fantasy of their actions. This shows that the boys thought of this gang like a brotherhood, alliance or clan. To the narrator and Bernie it was much more, it was “…an escape from being 13 years old in a provincial town.” displaying further the idea of fantasy. The gang saw themselves as strong, heroic and brave, this is shown by the military language used like “rendezvous”, “reconnoitre” and “formation” to show an efficient, intelligent military like organization. This is proven during the raid on Jorgessons yard. They describe the yard as a war ground with “a field hospital in a desperate war of machines “and “Dismembered machines” creating a sense of a battlefield where a military like organization would usually be found. The gangs emotions about themselves is that they fantasize that they are amazing, magnificent heroes. This is channeled through the Ace of Diamonds which in turn is supported by fantasy and childhood imagination.
The second symbol which is discovered in the text is the Library Card. This is discovered in Jorgessons yard after the gangs’ raid on his residence after their latest exploit. In opposition to the Ace of Diamonds card this card represents reality, identity and juvenility. The library card incorporates the downside to the gang member’s reality like “Ashley’s wind”, “Bernie’s glasses” and “Hec Green having to be in by nine o’clock”. The Library card becomes the downfall of this gang; it shows that the thoughts of strength, power and immortality were in fact exactly that, thoughts. The Library card also strips away the anonymity and mystique of the gangs’ identity by identifying the narrator as a law abiding citizen, normal human being and disappointingly a bookworm. It also finally brings the fantasy world of the narrator to a quick and unhesitant destruction, this world being the fantasy world of boyhood and free imagination. “…it was the end of free imagination and of boyhood perhaps.”
The symbols used in the short text “The Ace of Diamonds Gang” were the Ace of Diamonds and The narrator’s library card. These cards contradict each other. The Ace of Diamonds represented fantasy, anonymity and immortality. This is negated by the effects of the library card which are the reality of the gangs’ importance, the identity of the gang members and the mortality of each of the boys. These two symbols helped me develop understanding of the text.
PAPER PARCEL Updated!
Symbols have been used in the “Paper Parcel”, by Owen Marshall,
to develop my understanding of the ideas in this short text. The main ideas in
this short text are the discovery of sexual preferment and the lack of
understanding between parents and children. This is symbolized by the Paper
Parcel.
One of the main ideas of this text is the discovery of sexual preferment, and the transience of it. Before the school dance, in which the narrator discovers the transience of sexual preferment, he firstly discovers sexual preferment itself when he is asked to the dance by Kelly Howick. “…I felt for the first time the heady stuff of sexual preferment.” This shows the narrators amazement at the discovery of this attribute. When the narrator arrives at the school dance in his Paper Parcel Costume he is deeply, madly extremely disappointed in his attire. This is shown in the contrast of the descriptions of the costumes people at the dance were wearing: “Tony Poole had a curled Stetson, sheepskin chaps, and check shirt six-guns with matching handless…” “…Tommy was a fire chief with a crested helmet that glittered…” “Dusty’s Captain Marvel insignia was startling on his chest, and his cloak was cherry rich and heavy…” And contrasting theirs to his “…brown paper parcel which crinkled when I moved. A brown paper parcel with stamps drawn up and down in blue. It wasn’t right…” He compares his terribly awful costume to the heroic figures of these other students. He describes theirs in such detail the shows he is amazed in their stunning costumes but describes his in a short negative way. As the narrator goes to claim his date he is amazed at how she looks but as they dance it becomes obvious her expression towards the narrators costume is very sour, disapproving and outright disgusted. The narrator then realizes that “…it was a lesson for me in the transience of sexual preferment.” Showing he has now gained and understanding of how short lived the longevity of sexual preferment is. So this Paper Parcel has shown itself to symbolize not only the transience of sexual preferment but also a lesson the narrator could possibly put to use in the future and also helped me develop my understanding of this idea.
Another main idea in the text is the parent-childhood gap of understanding. This is shown in the text when the mother of the narrator decides that her son is going to a dance dressed as a paper parcel. His mother thinks it is an amazing idea because she thinks it would be a big hit like at her new year’s party, it is intriguingly original and also VERY cheap. The mother also thought that “…nobody comes to a dance till later…” showing her lack of understanding of “…how little adult conventions applies to the young”. Every one of these views is contradicted by the views of the narrator. He thinks that the Paper parcel is an imbecilic choice of a costume and is dreading having to wear this ridiculous idea of a costume. “A parcel; Jesus.” Shows his dismay towards his mothers appointed attire for him for his dance. “It said eight o’clock on the sheet didn’t it? Why would it day it if it didn’t mean it?” This quote shows his view on his mothers words on the time he should arrive to the dance. Another piece of evidence to display the gap of understanding between the narrator and his mother. The Paper Parcel represents the narrators views and parents views on dances, and helped me develop my understanding of how the narrators mother does not get what is going on in her sons life.
My understanding of ideas in this text has been increased significantly by the symbols of the text. The main symbol in this text is the Paper Parcel; this represents the discovery of the transience of sexual preferment and also finally the giant understanding gap of parents and their children’s emotions and dreams towards events such as the dance.
One of the main ideas of this text is the discovery of sexual preferment, and the transience of it. Before the school dance, in which the narrator discovers the transience of sexual preferment, he firstly discovers sexual preferment itself when he is asked to the dance by Kelly Howick. “…I felt for the first time the heady stuff of sexual preferment.” This shows the narrators amazement at the discovery of this attribute. When the narrator arrives at the school dance in his Paper Parcel Costume he is deeply, madly extremely disappointed in his attire. This is shown in the contrast of the descriptions of the costumes people at the dance were wearing: “Tony Poole had a curled Stetson, sheepskin chaps, and check shirt six-guns with matching handless…” “…Tommy was a fire chief with a crested helmet that glittered…” “Dusty’s Captain Marvel insignia was startling on his chest, and his cloak was cherry rich and heavy…” And contrasting theirs to his “…brown paper parcel which crinkled when I moved. A brown paper parcel with stamps drawn up and down in blue. It wasn’t right…” He compares his terribly awful costume to the heroic figures of these other students. He describes theirs in such detail the shows he is amazed in their stunning costumes but describes his in a short negative way. As the narrator goes to claim his date he is amazed at how she looks but as they dance it becomes obvious her expression towards the narrators costume is very sour, disapproving and outright disgusted. The narrator then realizes that “…it was a lesson for me in the transience of sexual preferment.” Showing he has now gained and understanding of how short lived the longevity of sexual preferment is. So this Paper Parcel has shown itself to symbolize not only the transience of sexual preferment but also a lesson the narrator could possibly put to use in the future and also helped me develop my understanding of this idea.
Another main idea in the text is the parent-childhood gap of understanding. This is shown in the text when the mother of the narrator decides that her son is going to a dance dressed as a paper parcel. His mother thinks it is an amazing idea because she thinks it would be a big hit like at her new year’s party, it is intriguingly original and also VERY cheap. The mother also thought that “…nobody comes to a dance till later…” showing her lack of understanding of “…how little adult conventions applies to the young”. Every one of these views is contradicted by the views of the narrator. He thinks that the Paper parcel is an imbecilic choice of a costume and is dreading having to wear this ridiculous idea of a costume. “A parcel; Jesus.” Shows his dismay towards his mothers appointed attire for him for his dance. “It said eight o’clock on the sheet didn’t it? Why would it day it if it didn’t mean it?” This quote shows his view on his mothers words on the time he should arrive to the dance. Another piece of evidence to display the gap of understanding between the narrator and his mother. The Paper Parcel represents the narrators views and parents views on dances, and helped me develop my understanding of how the narrators mother does not get what is going on in her sons life.
My understanding of ideas in this text has been increased significantly by the symbols of the text. The main symbol in this text is the Paper Parcel; this represents the discovery of the transience of sexual preferment and also finally the giant understanding gap of parents and their children’s emotions and dreams towards events such as the dance.
