October Country - Basics, Analysis and Connections 1.

The basics - Just the facts, please Where does this story take place?It takes place in east coast in Mohawk Valley, New York How many generations do we hear about in the stories? We here about five generations. Where do these people work? Don was in the military, worked at the Remington Factory, and a sheriff. Danieal was a bartender. Is anyone in prison or has a criminal history? Yes, Chris went to jail. The father of deserie charged against child molestation. Where do they go to school? They went to a school in New York. Did they go to college? None of them went to college, some didnt even finish high school. Have they traveled to other places? No. What do they do for fun? They smoke, go to walmart, play gamecube, party. Do they seem physically healthy? They do not seem physically healthy they look fat and have nasty teeth. Do they seem emotionally/mentally healthy? No they are all troubled by their ghosts Where is Ruby at the end of the movie? Ruby is at her fathers house no longer living with her mother. 2. A little deeper - Here you will analyze and speculate Why does Don find it difficult to express his love? He is really troubled by his past as a veteran the suicide of a man and his fathers death. Is Don troubled by his relationship with his sister Denise? How do you know? He is troubled by his relationship with denise because before he went to war she said that she wished he died in there. Why do you think that Denise lives alone? Do you think that she is happy? She live alone because her family doesnt like her beliefs and she is not happy. Why does Daneal choose one abusive man after another? She chooses abusive men because she is used to it and she likes Strong, Controlling man who are sometimes abusive. Why does Chris steal? He steals because he likes to get attention and he likes the rush. Do you think that Chris is bothered by the problems in his current foster home? Chris is bothered by the problems because he chooses to run away and he comes back to say goodbye. Do you think that Desi gets good grades? No she doesnt because she comes from such a dumb family. Do you think she has graduated from high school by now? How about college? No she hasnt because she would be in high school or dropped out by now.

3. Connections to our lives -

a. Is Daneal haunted by memories/stories from her past? What might those ghosts be? How might they affect her in the future? Yes she is because her past haunts her. She was around the abuse of her father. The fact that she was a victim of that affects her in a negative way. This might affect her in the future because she will not be able to be mentally healthy and she will probably be traumatized by the events of her childhood. Will Desi be haunted by memories/stories from her past? What might those ghosts be? How might they affect her in the future? Desis ghosts are that she is the only one that is able to get a decent education and that she grew up without a father. She is exposed to many things that a young child should never be in. This could affect her future by not trying hard in school and denying herself an education. Will Ruby be haunted by memories/stories from her past? What might those ghosts be? How might they affect her in the future? Ruby might be haunted by not growing up without a mom and living with a dad that has a criminal record. She might grow up to be a women with a corrupt childhood. b. Do you know anyone who lives in an abusive relationship? Are there kids in the house? Are the parents college-educated? Do you know whether they grew up in an abusive household? No I do not know of any abusive relationship. c. Do you know anyone who has been or is being raised by someone other than their two original parents? Is that person haunted by memories of dad or mom or their original family? No I do not know of anyone that has been or is being raised by someone other than their two original parents.

4. You analyzed your poems to find themes about your life. Repetitive playing out of a theme can become a pattern. Desi and her grandmother talk about negative cycles and patterns in their family. Are there any of those in your family? Do you think that you will be able to break them?

There are patterns of negativity in my family. Two of my uncles have alcohol problems and they have started to stop drinking as much because they are getting older. My brother now drinks a lot. I think that I will not have this same problem at all. 5. In separate Google Doc (3 Leslie Lipton Oct Comparison), write a paragraph in which you compare and contrast the patterns in this family to patterns or themes in your own family. Be specific about similarities and differences. TIEA, approximately 125 words. (10 points) Use at least three of these words: pattern; theme; repetition; haunt; ghost