In 7-10 sentences, please discuss what LeGuine is trying to accomplish with her story. What is a scapegoat? Where have we seen a situation like this before? In what story? Use the SIFTT Method to expand your commentary. (Symbolism, Imagery, Figurative Language, Tone, Theme).
She is showing that not everything is as it seems, and this is a good theme for the story. The tone is nice from the sound but it is one of those that sounds like there is a lot of built up anger. She is also showing that even when you think your life is bad there is always someone that has it worse.
ReplyDeleteThe short story is about an village where everything is perfect. When a kid reach the age of 12 everyone in the city is introduced to the idea of keeping a little boy or girl prisoner in a broom closet. However, that is the way that the town survives in good order, because the boys or girls suffering takes away from the the others in villages suffering. It's like creating a life for others, and even though this is not acceptable in everyday culture people get away with it because they don't know that it is wrong. The tone of this story is nice but its also built with anger.
ReplyDeleteD.D
The author is trying to show that nothing can be perfect. Looks can be deceiving. Although the people of Omelas may appear to be living in a happy-go-lucky world, that does not necessarily come without a cost. In the city of Omelas, the cost was the misery of a single child who is locked in solitude. He would be considered the scapegoat, which is someone who is blamed for the wrong-doings of others. The city of Omelas was not the only city that had to pay a price for their happiness. In The Lottery, there is a village that appears to be having a festival with people entering a lottery. Although it may seem like a drawing for a prize, it was a lottery to determine who was going to be stoned to death. The "winner" was the scapegoat.
ReplyDeleteHL
she is showing that the outside of something can be beautiful but the inside can be horrible;this is like the lottery
ReplyDeleteS:the kid could represent the weird and disturbing things that people do for tradition.
I: when they describe the living conditions af the child after they describe the perfect city
F:the eyes peer in at it
T:the time to this could be is fake nice and friendly with the subtle hint of anger and corruption
T:a theme could be that the stupid traditions that people have to stay happy can be horrible and they dont even care
The author is trying to show that everything isn’t as perfect as it seems. For Example the citizens of Omelas seem like they are living in a wonderful life and community but the story doesn’t explain what it takes to create that good of lifestyle and so they reader just assumes that it is an easy task; although, there were punishments involved. A scapegoat is a person who is punished or blamed for doing wrong to another. The city of Omelas is like the city in The Lottery because they both had a community gathering that involved people entering into lotteries.
ReplyDeleteLeguine is telling is that how can we measure our happiness without comparing our happiness to the misfortunes of others? A scapegoat is someone who is blamed for the wrongdoings and mistakes of others. The scapegoat in this story is the little boy in the closet. He is made to suffer so that the rest of the town can be happy. This story is similar the the story, "the Lottery" because in both stories, the different towns use sacrifice as a way to relieve themselves of their sins and help the community.
ReplyDeleteH.N.
I think LeGuine is saying that there is alway some sort of balance in everything. Without balance in our lives some things would never be acknowledged. Luckily, the child in this story, the scapegoat, is at least known to everyone. A scapegoat is someone made to take the blame for others. In order for everyone in the city to be happy there must be one person that suffers. I think this story relates to Harrison Bergson because everyone is supposed to be happier with the new life they are leading, but really everyone is suffering more because everyone can never really be equal. The child in the story is the reason that everyone is happy, but also the reason for their sorrow.
ReplyDeleteI think that LeGuine is trying to point out that not everything is perfect. The people in Omelas may look like their lives are perfect, but on the inside everything is going wrong. Another situation like this was in "The Lottery" because in both the stories they have different ideas or ways of doing things. Also, they both use different type of sacrifices. Some of the symbolism in this story is that the child is a representation of all the weird doings of the town. The imagery is that after describing what a horrible town it was for the kids, they talk about what a perfect city it is. In the story, many of the people seem so nice on the outside, but on the inside they are just angry and corrupted.
ReplyDeleteLeGuine is telling a story about a wanna be "perfect" village. The point made is that nothing is perfect. They worked very hard to try and make it the village it is and have nothing go wrong when that is not possible. A scapegoat is a person who is punished or blamed for doing something wrong for the actions of another person. The city resembles the story of the Lottery because in both stories the town joined together for a "Lottery" but each Lottery had a completely different meaning.
ReplyDeleteLeGuine is saying that even though this city seems very perfect, things are not always as they seem. The city is almost perfect but a child between the ages of 8 - 12 can get placed in a tiny broom closet. The scapegoat is the person that takes the blame for another person. The scapegoat in the story is the child in the room. They are suffering on behalf of everyone else. This story is much like The Lottery. Towards the beginning of both stories they are both positive and happy stories. As the short stories go on, the tone changes. It changes from happy to sorrow. The stoning at the end of the Lottery is like the child in the Closet. No one knows why these things are still happening. They are both traditions of the culture.
ReplyDeleteC.J.
she is trying to say that even if something looks pretty or even bad its not always what you think. first impression isn't always right. like when she described the place it was a dreamy and glorious place that would be filled with joy. i found out that they do not believe in joy. like how they put the kids in little broom closet. the mood all changes from the begging of the story to the end of it you will see how your opinion changes as you read. the only weird thing is that both stories have weird traditions and both are part o the culture.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, people!
ReplyDeleteLeGuine is saying that there isn't really anywhere or anything that is perfect. A scapegoat is someone or something that is blamed for the actions of someone or something else. In this story, the scapegoat is the child in the basement. This situation is like the lottery, because the reader is led to believe one thing, but it is actually something completely different.
ReplyDeleteThe author is trying to show that nothing is as it seems and is also saying that nothing is perfect. The setting, which is in a "Utopia", is actually just a Euphoria. The reasoning being that at the age of 8 - 12 a child can get placed in a rather small broom closet and punished as a scapegoat. As Alex said, "This situation is like 'The Lottery', because the reader is led to believe one thing, but it is actually something completely different. This is a very interesting story.
ReplyDeleteLeGuine is trying to say that even though the story may seem perfect it will not be perfect. Because everything you read is not what they really think it is. Throughout the story the mood changes and so will your opinion of the story. A scapegoat is a person who is punished for someone else's mistakes. A story that is a good example of this is the Lottery because it shows how the two cities use sacrifice and a lottery to end the story.
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