Summer of My German Soldier Essay Example for Free

Summer of My German Soldier Essay The Historical Fiction novel Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene takes place during World War II. It describes the life of a twelve-year old girl, Patty Bergen. This book concentrates on the relationship between Patty and her new friend Anton, a German escapee. Patty meets her new friend in her father’s shop, when a troop of POWs enter the store. The two protect and teach each other thought the story. In this review, readers will discover what it’s like to live during the time of Theodore Roosevelt and World War II. 12 year-old Patty Bergen, living in Jenkinsville, Arkansas during World War II, meets a German POW, Anton Rieker, when he purchases items at her father’s department store. She then agrees to hide Anton above her families’ garage, and steal food from her family to feed him. Soon enough news breaks out that a German POW has escaped, which puts the whole town on edge. Patty and her family are questioned. As Anton continues to live above the family garage, Patty becomes very angry with Anton because he had not asked her to leave with him after the war. Patty then realizes she needs to make a decision within her; she needed to choose between her father and Anton, she feels if turns Anton in her father will become popular and will love her, but Anton won’t. But soon enough her decision was made. Later that evening, Patty met Anton in the hideout with intentions of leaving with him, but was told otherwise. Before Anton jumped into the train, he gives her a kiss and a valuable ring that has been in his family for generations. When Anton left, Patty wore it around her neck as remembrance. When Patty begins to show it off she is questioned, she tells several people that â€Å"I saw this man walking down the road†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , â€Å"He asked me if I lived nearby and if I could spare a piece of bread with maybe a bit of butter on it.† (140) â€Å"Well, after he finished eating he thanked me and said that because I was obviously a person o value he was going to reward me with his most valuable possession.† (140) Patty confessed and soon found out what happened to Anton .Patty is charged and sent away, she ends up losing the one person she has left. Readers will find the different elements of the book attention grabbing. If you (the reader) are interested in romance, important lessons and danger this is a book for you. But the reader may not like the beginning of this book; it becomes useless to the plot of the story. When Patty meets Anton the story accelerates. â€Å"Now it so happens Aunt Dorothy is no beautiful thing.† (29) Upon completion the reader will find, as my example shows, the begging of the novel is pointless. As a reader, the middle of the story was more intriguing to me. A future reader that is interested in the time of World War II and the time of Theodore Roosevelt will also enjoy this novel. Though the book does not specifically explain this era it still is considered a part of it. I recommend this to risk takers, romantic novel readers and history involved book readers.

Anti-semitism And Sartre :: essays research papers

In Sartre's Anti-Semite and Jew, he makes reference to the notion that anti-Semitism arises not against individual Jews, but against the " idea of the Jew." That is to say that the Jew is recognized only as a member of a group associated with fear and disgust, not as an individual capable of being anything but the stereotype of the Jew. I agree with Sartre's theory as I have seen first hand the disgust associated with being Jewish. The Jew is judged not by his action or words but simply by the fact that he is a Jew, and the preconceived idea of what this means. As discussed in class, Jews have been used as scapegoats throughout history. They have been blamed for countless economical and social problems simply because of the predisposition towards anti-Semitism that most have. To understand this predisposition is easy. It has come from years of unwillingness to assimilate by the Jews. Because of this unwillingness, the Jews have come to be recognized as different and therefore bad, because, as discussed in class, most identify easiest with what is different with the automatic assumption that it is bad. I think another reason for this assumption is the fact that it is easier to judge people than to understand them, as we can clearly see gentiles have done continuously throughout history to the Jews.Consequently, throughout history, the anti-Semite has come to adopt an "idea of the Jew", of his nature, and of his role in society. As Sartre explains, "the Jew whom the anti-Semite wishes to lay hands upon is not a schematic being defined solely by his function, as under administrative law; or by status or acts, as under the Code. He is a Jew, the son of a Jew, recognizable by his physique, by the colour of his hair, by his clothing perhaps, and, so they say, by his character." To the anti-Semite, the Jew's character is oily, tactless, intriguing, selfish and greedy. He believes that all Jews are this way, and therefore treats them all the same, with hatred and repulsion. While a Jew might be a successful business man, a doctor, lawyer, or teacher etc. he is also a Jew, and that is all he is recognized for in the eyes of the anti-Semite.Furthermore, Sartre argues that "if the Jew did not exist, the Anti-Semite would invent him." This is self explanatory by the fact that Jews have been used as scapegoats and will continuously be used as such in the future.

Robin Hood

Hero or Criminal? Many people consider Robin Hood a hero. He was definitely a hero to the peasants of Nottingham. After all he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. If I were poor he would have been my hero, too. But to the rich people of Nottingham he was nothing more than a criminal. I'm sure I wouldn't think too highly of someone that stole my money. What Robin Hood never took into consideration was that even though the outcome was good the course of action he took wasn't right. So was he a hero or a criminal? Some people consider him a kind hearted hero. Others think of him as a cold hearted criminal. So which is it? It all depends on your perspective. The legend of Robin Hood is one of the most famous legends around. â€Å"He is the subject of nearly forty English and Scottish ballads and numerous tales, plays, and films† (Wilhelm â€Å"Robin Hood†). But a legend isn't always a fact. â€Å"Practically all that is known of the medieval legend of Robin Hood is derived from five surviving poems or ballads and a fragment of a play† (Holt 15). â€Å"The first literary reference to Robin Hood is in 1377. Much of the social background in the early ballads resembles the 14th century. But there are some reasons to believe that the Robin Hood legend was alive and well in the 13th century too. Hence, some historians like J. C. Holt prefer an earlier real Robin Hood† (Robin Hood-The Search for the Real Robin Hood 9). No one knows for sure if Robin Hood is even a real character. â€Å"According to one traditional story, Robin Hood was actually the Earl of Huntingdon, and his real name was Robert Fitzooth. But many scholars believe Robin Hood is completely fictitious. (â€Å"Robin Hood† 346). Roger Dodsworth, one of the greatest figures of the antiquarian movement of the seventeenth century, noted: Robert Locksley, born in Bradfield parish, in Hallamshire [S. Yorkshire], wounded his stepfather to death at plough: fled into the woods, and was relieved by his mother till he was discovered. Then he came to Clifton upon Calder, and came acquainted with Little John, that kept the ki ne, which said John is buried at Hathershed in Derbyshire, where he hath a fair tombstone with an inscription. Mr. Long saith that Fabyan saith, Little John was an Earl Huntingdon . After he joined with Much, the Miller's son. (Holt 44) There are also some other people that could have inspired the Robin Hood legend. Perhaps the earliest outlaw Robin Hood is Robert Hood, servant of the Abbot of Cirencester. Sometime between 1213 and 1216, he murdered a man named Ralph in the abbot's garden. Most Robin Hood legends stories do give the legendary outlaw a grudge against the church. But J. C. Holt dismisses this one as being too far from Robin's usual setting. (Robin Hood-The Search for the Real Robin Hood 9) There is also evidence to support the legend. A tombstone has been found with the following inscription: Here underneath this little stone Lies Robert, Earl of Huntington. Ne'er archer was as he so good And people called him Robin Hood. Such outlaws as he and his men Will England never see again. (Lapman v) This leads some people to believe that Robin Hood is based on a real person. Real or fictitious it is still a legend.

Slavery And The Civil War - 1641 Words

The American civil war was in no doubt the most crucial event in history. No other war compares or even comes close to the casualties suffered. It helped conserve and maintain the Union, drastically changed the relationship between the federal and states government, and led to slavery’s abolition. This war has also stirred up many conflicts until this day about the conflicts and causes. Among the countless and even undiscovered questions comes the most common as being why the Southern states were withdrawn and to what extent was it slavery that influenced it and also why the North did not let the Confederacy peacefully quit. Many historians from back then until now continue to discuss and dispute the reasons for the North’s victory and the South’s defeat. Even before the beginning of the mid-twentieth century, historians have used slavery and the Civil war as an inspiration to bring to light the works and questions that most historians have: citizenship, freedom, race, federalism, morality, if there s a possibility of making a moral choice, and the Constitution. These questions have no end to in clear and mysterious arguments of Civil War historiography, for example, the discussion of issues between Kenneth M. Stampp and Eugene Genovese over the economic aspect of American slavery, also David Brion Davis, and Thomas Haskell s argued over abolitionist motives, and the list goes on. Intellectual historians can and should most likely consider examining the historiography ofShow MoreRelatedSlavery And The Civil War958 Words   |  4 Pagesblood in slavery so that many parts of America could become prosperous and recognized in the world†, this is quote from Josephine Baker, one of America’s early prominent black performers. Slavery, which will be discussed in greater detail, affected Africans kidnapped from their homeland and brought to the Americas to be sold and forced to work in horrible, vile, disgusting conditions. Slavery was also a great economic boosts for the United States due to cotton, however, overtime slavery began toRead MoreSlavery And The Civil War1706 Words   |  7 Pagesitself. The United States were no longer united, mainly over the issue of slavery. In fact, many historians believe that, â€Å"From the nation’s founding, the issue of slavery threatened to tear the United States apart.† (â€Å"The Civil War† 1 ). The issue of slavery was always kept at bay through the utilization of various compromises; however a permanent solution was never sought after by the government. The peoples’ perspective of slavery differed by region. In the South, the economy was extremely reliant onRead MoreSlavery and the Civil War1281 Words   |  5 PagesEscaped slaves from the South helped the north to win the Civil War by increasing the number of soldiers fighting in the war for the north and by spying on the south for the north. With the help of escaped slaves fighting the South, the north outnumbered the south in battles, which eventually led to the North’s victory in the Civil War. Escaped slaves form the south also helped the north by spying on the south and reporting to Union officials who reported the information to the Union army. TheRead MoreSlavery And The Civil War1527 Words   |  7 PagesSlavery is a lawful or monetary framework in which standards of property law are connect ed to people permitting them to be named property, to be possessed, purchased and sold as needs be, and they can t pull back singularly from the course of action. While a man is a slave, the proprietor is qualified for the efficiency of the slave s work, with no compensation. The rights and security of the slave might be controlled by laws and traditions in a specific time and put, and a man may turn into aRead MoreThe Civil War And The Slavery986 Words   |  4 PagesThe Civil War contributed to the enslaved period being terminated. The union allowed slaves to fight for them and this imposed on the slave masters throughout the south. During this period the slaves were very rebellious and violent towards their masters. They beat them, tortured them, and some even killed some of the slave masters. They all truly deserved it after the treatment that had been rendered towards the African Americans when they first arrived from the West Indies to the United StatesRead MoreSlavery And Th e Civil War1447 Words   |  6 PagesSlavery and The Civil War When most people think of Abraham Lincoln, They remember him as the one President, or the one single entity , who freed the slaves. Most are not aware that before slavery the young nation was going though growing pains there were years of political strife and social upheaval that culminated in to Civil war that actually resulted in the Emancipation of Slaves. Slavery was pivotal to the compromises and conflicts of national politics in the decades leadingRead MoreSlavery And The Civil War1084 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery Slavery was one of the biggest controversies in American history. The beliefs about slavery mostly varied from the North to the South but also varied from state to state and sometimes even among family members. All of these different views caused conflicts to arise in America and slavery soon became a huge contributing factor to the Civil War. The core beliefs of anti-slavery societies differed from those of the slavery societies. Abolitionists believed that slavery was a moral and nationalRead MoreThe Civil War Of Slavery1699 Words   |  7 PagesIn the 1800s the Institution of Slavery became very dominant in the United States, but mainly in the South. Due to the climate and their type of economy, their agriculture productions required a great amount of labor that was performed by the slaves. In the south, â€Å"slavery was key to the way of life†1 the majority of the south relied on the slaves to do all of the hard work for them and maximize the profit of their owners. The northern states however had a different type of economy and did not requireRead MoreThe Slavery Of The Civil War1701 Words   |  7 PagesIn pre-Civil War America, it was a common occurrence to witness Black families torn apart, sold off as property, and treated in hateful, vile manors in the name of a higher God. Many slave owners retained t he firm belief that due to slavery being beneficial to them and the lack of clear-cut condemnation in scripture, it was a divine institution beneficial to both the slave and slave owner themselves. As a result, these ideals led to further enslavement and abuse, exploiting Blacks so that the slaveRead MoreSlavery And The Civil War Essay1963 Words   |  8 PagesSociety relates slavery to the civil war and most would argue that slavery ended in 1865. With this standpoint, we often brush off or neglect to further investigate slavery in its most modern forms. Over the course of history, there are hardly any situations where a social problem was solved. Starvation still exists, as does poverty, racism, war, segregation, injustice within government systems, and yes, even slavery. Human trafficking is modern day slavery and it exists everywhere with two different