desiree's Baby Link

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/DesiBaby.shtml

A Real Conquistador named Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca

What makes someone a great explorer? What kind of qualities should one have to reach their greatest potential as a voyager? How about the quality of examination? Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca shows through certain rhetoric techniques how the characteristic of observation is essential to being a wise adventurer. One way he portrays this is through the rhetoric strategies of diction. Another way he establishes his qualities is through irony. One more way he accomplishes showing his audience his traits is through symbolism. Though he had shown how he was wise adventurer through both irony and symbolism, one of the simplest ways was through diction.
Is it not wonderful when one can see how the simplest structure of a paragraph can change the whole meaning of it, or how the simplest addition to the paragraph shows emphasis on a certain subject? Cabeza de Vaca writes in his journal about the things he observed while exploring, through these writings he conveyed how it is important to observe as an explorer and learn through these observations. One way he shows this is from the use of the rhetoric technique, diction. “Against Cabeza de Vaca’s advice, Narvaez sent the ships farther along the shore in search of a rumored port where his army might rejoin them, but the ships were never seen again… he told them…it was never a time when one should command another- that is every man for himself! With that, Narvaez and his crew disappeared, apparently lost at sea.” (pg 29 Cabeza packet). This shows how de Vaca knew what would happen. He had observed these habits and the words used by Narvaez to know that he would not keep up well enough with his men to avoid being lost. They also convey that the likeliness of Narvaez, with his men, surviving was slim to none by saying that “his army might rejoin them” might was the key word. It conveyed that he knew and readers of his journal, also, knew what would happen. If Narvaez would have observed his surroundings and took the time to observe his experience and leadership status at exploring like de Vaca, he might have not went on to disappear and not be seen again. But Cabeza did not just reveal that the quality of observation is important through diction. He also proved his point through irony.
Is it not weird when one can have different views from another when they were born in the same household? But the household only believed in one thing and one of the views happens to favor the household, therefore it is considered to be correct. However, the other outlook on the topic was correct and completely logical, and ironically proves to be very helpful. Confused? Cabeza de Vaca explains this through his writings in his journal. Theses entries convey how observation is vital for the success of survival when voyaging. One way they prove this is through irony. “The Relation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca sought to recount (with remarkable understatement) his sufferings and many brushes of death and to explore his complex feelings regarding the Native Americans and his own country men’s dealings with them.” (pg. 30 Cabeza packet). This explains how though Cabeza de Vaca was from Spain he thought differently than them. Spain’s whole outlooks on Native Americans were different than his. He respected them and treated them as people while Spain did not. This would later help de Vaca, for when the Spanish came to escort de Vaca home the Native Americans stood by his side still willing to help him. They refused to believe that Cabeza was Spanish like them, since he had treated them as people. Cabeza de Vaca had an army of his own without realizing it, which is why observation is critical. He knew if he was to be treated that way, he would dislike it, he would have no loyalty, or/ and he would want to fight back. The observation value was not just to observe what you can see but also what you cannot. He does not just capture that theory through irony, but also through symbolism.
A cane is a hollow lightweight stem of a tropical plant, especially bamboo, used in various ways in the house and garden (Encarta Dictionary). Why is cane so important? Cabeza de Vaca enlightens this word while writing his journal. He does this by using the rhetoric strategy, symbolism. “The people we come to know there are tall and well- built. Their only weapons are bones and arrows, which they use with great dexterity. The men bore through one of their nipples, some both, and insert a joint of cane two and a half palms long by two fingers thick. They also bore their lower lip and wear a piece of cane in it half a finger in diameter…..from October to the end of February every year, which is the season these Indians live on the island, they subsist on roots I have mentioned….in these two months, too, do they take fish in their cane weirs.” (pg. 30 Cabeza packet). This conveys why the term cane is so important. Cabeza uses symbolism along with repetition to emphasize it. Cane represented who the Native Americans were, their culture, their source of life, and their mannerisms. He uses the cane to describe things that he observed that he could not explain. The cane shows their strength by mentioning that it pierces them. It conveys how much pain they can take but also their flexibility. By stretching their skin they show that they were an easy society. The cane expressed the Native Americans more than one can describe, that is what Cabeza observed. Only a wise and successful voyager can truly understand the importance of the examination of the cane , and that is why Cabeza was an intelligent explorer. And he proved this through a variety of rhetoric methods.
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was an intelligent explorer. He proved this through rhetoric skills while writing in his journal. One way he proved he was wise was through diction. Another way he had established that he was clever was through irony. The last way he conveyed that he was a sensible conquistador was through symbolism. De Vaca proved that he was not just an ignorant conquistador like Christopher Columbus, but was, in fact, quite intelligent.

Christopher Columbus Is Who May I Ask Again?

Who is Christopher Columbus? Is he really the hero everyone has made him out to be? Or is he really just that guy who “in 1492 won the support of The Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for this enterprise of the Indies” (Stories of the Beginning of the World packet). Christopher Columbus answers these questions through letters sent to the Royals and some lady from the Spanish court. He conveys to his audience, ironically, how he is not this grand hero and how he is this imperialistic antagonist or shall we say conquistador. He conveys this through the use of rhetoric strategies. One way he establishes his contradiction to his so called heroicness is through pathos. Another way he accomplishes his antagonistic ways is through diction. But the most hilarious way that he had officiated his imperialist mindset is through irony. Hough irony happens to be the most comical of the ways that he proves his antagonistic manner; the element that will be shown first is pathos.

A hero is somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character (Encarta Dictionary). Sorry to say but what Christopher Columbus did is not an admirable quality. He conveys this in his own words. One way he accomplishes conveying what he does not have is through pathos. “I never think without weeping…they are in an exhausted state; although they are not dead, the infirmity is incurable or very extensive; let him who brought them to this state come now with a remedy…” (Christopher Columbus translated by Cecil Jane). Would a hero bring upon natives of a country disease and then speak of it as if he was not the one who started it. As if he is not the one at fault. He conveys his emotion of sadness through saying that he does, indeed, cry when he thinks of the natives. But is that enough? He should come forth with the remedy in which he speaks of. And what would be a good remedy? His retirement or draw back from the island of Hispaniola that he so rudely renamed Espanola. He explains how they are in an “exhausted state” but yet “not dead”. This shows how they were ill, sick, and to the point of death. If they were not at the point of death, then he would not have mentioned it. But still he wept for them. Meaning though Native Americans started getting sick by the numbers all around him and him and his men were in perfect shape, he stayed there and wept. Was Christopher Columbus that ignorant? But that is not the only time that his audience had to think of that question. Christopher Columbus showed his antagonistic ignorance through diction.

An arrangement of words could easily make you look like something that one did not want them to. Christopher Columbus himself has proved this. Christopher is now known as a protagonist but through the letters that he had written to the royals and some lady from the Spanish court, he contradicts this. He helps convey this through diction. “They traveled three days’ journey and found an infinity of small hamlets and people without number, but nothing of importance.” (Christopher Columbus translated by Cecil Jane). This conveys how Christopher Columbus, our hero, thought these natives, people actual people, were nothing of importance. How selfless right? This passage also conveys how there were many people there before Columbus and how he still felt they were nothing of importance. Even though they could have helped him explore the land, but no since they were not Europeans they were nothing of importance. This provides the proof of the ignorant imperialistic attitude Christopher Columbus had. But he would not have seemed this way is he would have worded the previous passage correctly. He could have said they traveled three days’ journey found nothing of importance except, an infinity of hamlets and people without number. That way he would have seemed like he cared for people. But no it was almighty Chris Columb. Was he, once again, just that ignorant? But diction was not the only way Christopher Columbus showed his antagonistic ignorance. He also conveyed those mannerisms through irony.

What one expects sometimes comes around and bites them in the butt. Christopher Columbus shows this in his letters. He conveys his antagonistic imperialistic mindset through his use of rhetoric strategies. One technique he uses is irony. “As I know that you will be pleased at the great victory with which Our Lord has crowned my voyage, I write this to you, from which you will learn how in thirty days, I passed from the Canary islands to the Indies with the fleet which the most illustrious king and queen our sovereigns gave to me.” (Christopher Columbus translated by Cecil Jane). This conveys how Christopher Columbus gloated at what he thought an successful voyage. Little did he know that his voyage was not the great success he thought it to be. But, in fact, he had landed on the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola. He had not reached the Indies, land of spices. His expedition was not triumphant. He also stated how the Royals must have been pleased with him. However, Columbus probably wasn’t expecting to be imprisoned and trialed by the same Royals that had to be pleased with him. Not only was his journey a failure at the time, but he also got imprisoned for his failure to manage the trip correctly. This is why irony happens to be one of the most hilarious techniques used by Christopher Columbus, this is only an opinion.

So what exactly is a hero? Simple, it is not Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus conveyed his antagonistic and imperialist outlook through his letters. These letters included rhetoric techniques that hinted on his frame of mind. One of these rhetoric techniques were pathos. Another one of those rhetoric strategies were diction. But the most hilarious of the rhetoric methods was, in fact, irony. So what is one left with when they think of Christopher Columbus: the one who did not accomplish what he had started? How about some words of wisdom to conclude who Christopher Columbus really is: “Done in the Indies in the island of Jamaica, on the seventh of July, in the year one thousand five hundred and three.” (Christopher Columbus translated by Cecil Jane).

Diction

A rowan like a lipsticked girl.

Other than a color what comes to mind when you think of a lipsticked girl?

My answer is simple a young sophisticated self pleased female. No she's not stuck-up or conceited, she's simply pleased with herself and is concerned about her appearance. To have lipstick shows how this female has the time or went out her way and taken the time to think about what she has on, wearing, smelling, feeling, or just what makes this unknown "lipsticked girl" that "lipsticked girl". What comes to mind is that it is not often that you see this lipsticked girl being plain or awkward, it seems as if she always goes and comes looking her best. She finds comfort in looking and feeling her best, and feels accomplished when she is complimented on it. She feels she has achieved something.

How would it change the meaning and the feeling of the line if instead of lipsticked girl, the author wrote girl with lipstick on?

When you change it to that sentence it just seems as if this girl is plain. This girl would go unnoticed among those with lipstick on and with those without lipstick. She's no longer the girl wearing the lipstick, and that the lipstick, if it did have feelings, should be proud that it is being worn by her, that it has even graced her lips. Now it only seems like the lipstick is wearing the girl. Meaning that the lipstick out does her...if someone had seen her they wouldn't want to talk to her, they would want to know where she got the lipstick from and then that's the end of the conversation. She, as the lipsticked girl, would have been able to hold that conversation and instead of just wanting the lipstick they want to be like her. When you just change the words around you get a totally different character.

Write a simile comparing a tree with a domesticated animal. In your simile, use a word that is normally used as a noun (like lipstick) as an adjective (like lipsticked).

An evergreen like an aged puppy.