Critical Lens Response

Rockaway Park HS

Joseph Kindred

November 21 2011

English 10th

Critical Lens Response

Quote: "The only worthwhile literature is that which makes you think about your own life."

To me the above quote means that a specific type of literature will be more interesting to a reader if it connects with their personal life more than to a reader who has no personal connection with it. However, no I do not agree with the above quote. The reason why I believe the quote is not agreeable is because I read several types of literatures that didn't connect with my personal lifestyle. Some of these literatures were "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers, "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, and "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck.

According to the literature I mentioned they can all support my argument. In the book "Animal Farm" it's about animals that are controlled by a guy name Mr. Jones who isn't doing a very clumsy job looking over them. The animals then listen to Old Major who was a pig and told them to rebel against the owner and to take complete control over the farm. And they did just what the old pig told them to do but he dies. Since the pigs are considered the smartest animals they were considered in charge. After the pigs become in charge Snowball and Napoleon has a big feud. The cause of this feud is because Napoleon wants to sit around and give orders while Snowball wants to teach the animals. Napoleon then gets dogs to chase Snowball off the farm which leaves Napoleon in charge. After the death of Snowball everything goes back to how it was before and the animals forgets Old Major dream for the farm.

"Monster" is another piece of literature I read. This book is about a young teenage boy whom is on trial for murder. He is on trial because he is accused of being a lookout for the person who really murdered and robbed the guy at his drugstore. This story takes place in Harlem. The book is from his perspective and journal entries from him while he was on trial and might be facing jail time for the rest of his life.

The last piece of literature is "Of Mice and Men". This book is based on two guys who are best friends names are George and Lennie. They travel together to get a job in Northern California on a farm. However Lennie and George are poor they have no money at all but they dream of having their own farm one day. They both have traits that would help them run this farm Lennie is physically strong but mentally ill while George is very intelligent and when it comes down to answer questions he is the guy who does so. Lennie and George held several jobs but because of Lennie's childlike mind and of petting soft things they lose their