How the Millers are trying to take on the lives of the Stones. They are role playing - as if their lives begin when the Stones leave to go on vacation/business trip.
2. What catches your attention?
Bill's level of comfort whilst he walks around the Stones' home. How he is content with drinking their alcohol, trying on their clothes, taking medication, almost as if they owe it to him to be at ease. In short, you could say it is jealousy.
3. What questions do you have?
Are the Millers unhappy with their lives/lifestyle? Do they wish they were the Stones? Why aren't they telling eachother about what they're doing in the house?
Poetic
Metaphor/Simile:
“They leaned into the door as if against a wind, and braced themselves”. The Millers came to the realisation when they locked themselves out of the Stones apartment, that their secret lives were over.
The brass clock can be seen as a possession symbolising wealth.
The key is symbolic of the Millers dreams and desires.
Repetition: The Millers keep visiting the Stones' house; feeding cat; constant lying to each other about what they've been doing in the Stones' house.
Rhythm/voice: Arlene asking Bill why it's taken so long to feed the cat; what has Bill been doing at the at the Stones' house; Bill stealing alcohol, meds, cigarettes from the Stones;
Transitions & Contrasts
Moments in the story of meaningful tension or juxtaposition.
When Bill lay on the bed, he could not remember the Stones faces or their mannerisms, almost like he had morphed into them and their world.
When the Millers lock themselves out of the Stones apartment, they realise that the secret life that they were living was not as important than their "real" lives. It was like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
Shadows
Questions, missing pieces, elements that are oblique or not fully explained.
1. Why, when they seemed like a happy couple, did they want to take on the lives of the Stones family? 2. Why take another persons'medication? 3. Why cross dress? 4. Why lie to eachother?
Issues
Themes, ideas & arguments raised by text.
Entrapment, because the Millers felt their lives weren't up to the Stones' level, with their jobs, social standing, leisure activities.
Obsessed with staying at the apartment to make them feel better than they did in their ordinary lives; Betrayal, because they both lied about what they were doing in the apartment.
Neighbours - First Impressions
ReplyDelete1. What intrigues you about this story?
How the Millers are trying to take on the lives of the Stones. They are role playing - as if their lives begin when the Stones leave to go on vacation/business trip.
2. What catches your attention?
Bill's level of comfort whilst he walks around the Stones' home. How he is content with drinking their alcohol, trying on their clothes, taking medication, almost as if they owe it to him to be at ease. In short, you could say it is jealousy.
3. What questions do you have?
Are the Millers unhappy with their lives/lifestyle? Do they wish they were the Stones? Why aren't they telling eachother about what they're doing in the house?
Poetic
Metaphor/Simile:
“They leaned into the door as if against a wind, and braced themselves”. The Millers came to the realisation when they locked themselves out of the Stones apartment, that their secret lives were over.
The brass clock can be seen as a possession symbolising wealth.
The key is symbolic of the Millers dreams and desires.
Repetition: The Millers keep visiting the Stones' house; feeding cat; constant lying to each other about what they've been doing in the Stones' house.
Rhythm/voice: Arlene asking Bill why it's taken so long to feed the cat; what has Bill been doing at the at the Stones' house; Bill stealing alcohol, meds, cigarettes from the Stones;
Transitions & Contrasts
Moments in the story of meaningful tension or juxtaposition.
When Bill lay on the bed, he could not remember the Stones faces or their mannerisms, almost like he had morphed into them and their world.
When the Millers lock themselves out of the Stones apartment, they realise that the secret life that they were living was not as important than their "real" lives. It was like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.
Shadows
Questions, missing pieces, elements that are oblique or not fully explained.
1. Why, when they seemed like a happy couple, did they want to take on the lives of the Stones family?
2. Why take another persons'medication?
3. Why cross dress?
4. Why lie to eachother?
Issues
Themes, ideas & arguments raised by text.
Entrapment, because the Millers felt their lives weren't up to the Stones' level, with their jobs, social standing, leisure activities.
Obsessed with staying at the apartment to make them feel better than they did in their ordinary lives;
Betrayal, because they both lied about what they were doing in the apartment.