completed paragraph

“That is impossible”, often this phrase is used as an exaggeration to state how unlikely it is that an event is taking place. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy uses this fact to take it to an extreme for humorous purpose. The idea behind it is the case of the impossible or at least the very unlikely. One theme therefore is the probability of the improbable, which recurs throughout the whole radio script. An important motif in service of this theme is the improbability drive which is invented precisely in this passage, supported by literary devices to help to evoke amusement. Examples of these literary devices are the intertextuality, irony and logical fallacy. The motif, the improbability drive, which is later revealed, enables a space ship to be at every point of the universe at the same time, is a rather absurd and impossible object. In order to make sense of it in a humorous way logical fallacy is applied. A student left behind in the lab to clean up after an unsuccessful party, which is irony, since one would expect that he would clean up an experiment, figured out that since it was impossible to invent a improbability drive he just needed to calculate how unlikely it actually was. The process as it is explained itself follows a logical structure that ends in the invention; however the end result is so absurd and impossible that this process is called logical fallacy. Precisely the fact that it is absurd causes the amusement in the reader. Also in service of that improbability is the use of intertextuality which is another literary device applied and references to the argument that if enough monkeys have a typewriter, eventually one types the script for Hamlet, again an absurd scenario and therefore amusing. The absurdity of the passage enforced by the literary devices is responsible in the humour of the probability of the improbable.

Outline

The ability to create custom made planets by using white holes in the “glorious days of the Former Galactic Empire” already give a clear indication of genre this passage taken from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy belongs in the category of Science fiction. The reason why this can already be seen only within the first sentence is the use of conventions. Just as in any other genre in any written piece the conventions in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy serve the codes, such as theme and characters to create a humorous science fiction radio play. The themes such as the insignificance of mankind and the relation of past and presence are enforced through a row of literary devices ranging from intertextuality to irony and sarcasm, which often create absurd scenarios, all for the humorous effect.



Paragraph 1:
Thesis: In this passage one of the main themes of the radio script on the big scale takes its beginning, the probability of the improbable.

Examples: Invention of the improbability drive
Examples: Jargon, logical fallacy

Paragraph 2:
Thesis: Furthermore another theme plays a vital role in the paragraph, the distinguishing between the cool and trendy objects and pastimes in the universe in contrast to the uncool part of the universe
Convention Examples: Irony, Juxtaposition, Physicists-uncool

Paragraph 3:
Another theme of the Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy finds it origin in this passage, the power of a cup of tea and motif of the cup of tea is a red thread though the whole book

Examples: Invention, it is ubiquitous


All of these themes, as well as other codes such as the characters and the plot built the base to define the genre of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The themes of the probability of the improbably, the power of a cup of tea and the argument what is cool and what is not keep on recurring throughout the whole script. Together with the use literary conventions of irony, logical fallacy, etc. to create humour through language it creates this parody of the genres science fiction and serial, which is highly successful in evoking amusement in the reader.

Copenhagen 2

During the protests in Copenhagen 200 activists were arrested, one times reporter amongst them. All but 13 were released the next day, however the demonstrators complain about the harsh police treatment. However it was justified in some cases as some riots broke out amongst the 40 000 demonstrators and vandalism occurred.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/copenhagen/article6954981.ece

Copenhagen

For the climate conference in Copenhagen it is not clear if it will be a success since there are problems between the US and China. The draft is that at least 50%, 85%, or 95% of the emissions are cut by 2050 compared with 1990. US does not want to give any money to China and other developing economies since they have large money reserves. China however demands the money since it argues that the West has the duty to provide money and technology. The EU also took an important step in trying to make the meeting successful by offering 2.4 billion Euros a year for developing countries for emission reduction

Original article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126053354299387331.html

Haiku

The soul of the earth,
Murdered through the hand of Adam,
Falling into darkness,

Calm lakes of green
With a golden spark
Of incredible depth

Ready for the last blow
Is the fading assassin,
With the breath of life.

Learningstyle

Reflective Learner: 7

Active learners tend to retain and understand information best by doing something active with it--discussing or applying it or explaining it to others. Reflective learners prefer to think about it quietly first

This is certainly true or me, since I prefere to think about topics and questions first before discussing them.

Sensing Learner: 5
Sensing learners tend to like learning facts, intuitive learners often prefer discovering possibilities and relationships.
I certainly tend to be a sensing

Visual/Verbal: slight preference towards visual but otherwise very much in the middle

Sequential Learner: 5

Irony ELIC

1.

“And then, all of a sudden, it made perfect sense. All of a sudden I understood why, when mom asked where I was going, and I said ‘Out,’ she didn’t ask any more questions. She didn’t have to, because she knew.”

The fact that the mother knew all the time that her son was looking for the key is ironic, since it is the opposite of what one would expect from a mother. Of course the reader asks him or herself how it is possible for the mother not to see that her son is wandering through New York, but it is actually not expected that she knows and therefore it is irony.

2.

When Oskar finds the owner of the key it has nothing to do with his father but has to do with the father of somebody else. It opens a safe deposit lock, but is irrelevant for the reasons why he was looking for the key. The reader expected the novel and the quest to make perfect sense when the key was found, however it turned out that this is not the case

3. When the grandmother writes down her life story for Thomas Sr. she only gives him white pages and he and the reader assume it is because the typewriter is broken and she does not see anymore. Later on the reader finds out that that was on purpose, irony, since it is unexpected.

4. Oskar is a very knowledgeable boy, even smart, but at the same time he is incredibly naive, such as in some of the theories and strategies he develops in his search.

5. The fact that on his search for his father he actually finds his grandfather. Clues such as the name written in the drawing shop lead to his grandfather.