Monday, November 22, 2010

"If the literature we are reading does not wake us, why do we read it? A literary work must be an ice-axe to break the sea frozen inside us."

-Franz Kafka
Adapted

What does this quote mean?

Interpret this quote in your own words, and tell in you agree or disagree. Then explain why.

Comment on someone else's opinion.

45 comments:

NEW ERA said...

if the literature we are reading does not wake us we read it because you still never no if it is instresting so we continue to read.
i think the quote means to really get into the story so you can enjoy it


clifford philias 272

Shawn Alexis said...

It means that if you do something wrong and it doesn't wake up and tell what you did is wrong then why do. Book wise: If you like it should stick inside your head. I agree with this. It sounds right or sophisticated.

Shawn Alexis 270

Jenning213 said...

He is saying that books are written for a reason-- to tell a story, express a meaning, make a difference-- and then why would we read them unless we wanted to understand that meaning and somehow have it affect us?

Tai said...

I think that this quote means that even though we read a passage that does not wake us we can still read the passage and understand it even though you do not have to read it.

Anonymous said...

even if we do'nt we the passage we can still understand the passage

Anonymous said...

mathew pearson 271

arnold rambally said...

i think this mean that if u do something that u was not soppost do and u dont tell anyone it should wake u up to tell someone and i agree becuse u should not be doing anything wrong in the first place

ArnoldRambally
270

taiyabarnes said...

I think this quote means that if something doesn't make since why even bother messing over and over again. I like what Jenny is saying because she used many details to support her answer.

Anonymous said...

i think this quote means that if the literature does not wake us up why are we wasting our time still reading it.i agree with this quote because if i start reading a book and it does not catch my attention i really dont want to continue reading the book being bored. i agree with clifford and jenning because they were descriptive about what they said.

Anonymous said...

sorry i forgot my name
fiona larmond 271

angelelan98 said...

I think this qoute means if we are reading a text and it doesnt interset us then there is no point reading it. - Elan Mcginty

Anonymous said...

If the literature we are reading does not wake us because we don't really understand the literature.i think the quote means that people is not really waking up to it.


Spouney Paul

272

Anonymous said...

I think that this quote means that certant pieces of work brings you attention but some doesn't. I dis agree with the quote because even though the literature doesn't bring attention to you can still try to read it and find out stuff that wasn't in the sunopses.

Kemari Best 271

Anonymous said...

I feel the quote means when you read something it should hit you deep inside and make you want to ask questions and if it doesn't you should stop reading it.
I also think that the phrase "A literary work must be an ice-axe to break the sea frozen inside us" means that we should let the figurative axe hit the frozen sea in our soul and let the ice crack and let the questions,hypothesis,and comments rush out of us.


Justin Delerme 271 :3

Unknown said...

This quote means that why bother doing something that you dont know how to do or dont understand. i agree with this quote because why read something when it doesnt wake you up and make you feel like you are in the book, or a character. i agree with what Stevenson says because he was very descriptive in expaining what he thought the quote ment and by breaking the quote down.
Brianna Merilus Class 271

Anonymous said...

i think that this quote means that if you are reading something and you don't have an intrest in that text then why would you read it.you should have a type of text to make you so intrested that it can make make you forget all the things that you had on your mind.i agree with fiona because she told the meaning of the text and how a lecture that can't catch your attition can make you wast your time.

randy said...

the word quote mean when you reading a story and then you take a phrase from the story and then you talk about it or taking notes from a passage then you start wrting a summary you wrting quotes and I think this mean the word qoute.I agree with this qoute because that every one write quote.
I agree with jenny.

my name is randy ramirez from class 272

Anonymous said...

i think that this quote means that if book,poem,or short story that we are reading doesnt intrest us why are we reading when they are to awaken us and entertain us. i agree with this quote because when i read a book the book becomes apart of me like i am the main character in the book and it entertains me. i agree with fiona because when you read a book you should be interested in it and not be bored reading it.
Alyson St.Omer
Class:271

Anonymous said...

this literature means that if we are reading a book and it does not give us interest why are we still reading it..when all its going to do is make us bored.i disagree with shawn because it does not make any sense to me. Javel Kellier

Anonymous said...

i agree with this qoute.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Fion and Alyson because when you are reading any type of passage ypu shoul be able to understand it and want to read and read more. You dont wand to not understand it because you would be bored. While reading a book you want to fell like your in the story as Alyson said.

Paula Dorismond
271

terry said...

we read to gain knowledge.
terry denis 272

Anonymous said...

I think this quote means that why waist you time on something that you don't find understand or know. I agree with this quote because why read a book that does not wake you, help you to visualize and comprehend the book. I agree with Brianna and Stevenson because they both explained the poem and what they are basically saying.


Shainya Caesar
Of class 271

Anonymous said...

SORRY I MEANT TO SAY THIS

I think this quote means that why waist you time on something that you don't understand or know. I agree with this quote because why read a book that does not wake you, help you to visualize and comprehend with the book. I agree with Brianna and Stevenson because they both explained the poem and what they are basically saying.


Shainya Caesar
Of class 271

Anonymous said...

I think that this quote means that if you don't read something deeply,you won't understand it.I agree with what Brianna says because if you are reading something,you need to feel what its saying.
Megane A. Nacier 272

Anonymous said...

I thtink the quote means that you are reading a book and you don't understand it. The book has to be the foundation not the things. I agree with Brianna because she explained the quote through a question.
Oluwatobi Kolawole
272

Anonymous said...

I thtink the quote means that you are reading a book and you don't understand it. The book has to be the foundation not the things. I agree with Brianna because she explained the quote through a question.
Oluwatobi Kolawole
272

Anonymous said...

I thtink the quote means that you are reading a book and you don't understand it. The book has to be the foundation not the things. I agree with Brianna because she explained the quote through a question.
Oluwatobi Kolawole
272

Anonymous said...

i agree with clifford,tai and fiona and brianna
mathew pearson 271

Anonymous said...

it means that if the literature we are reading does not teach you a lesson, why do you still read it, and the literary will help you wake you up. its like axe to break the sea frozen inside of us.

andrew pacaud
270

Theola said...

This is Theola from class 271. I think this quote means that if your reading a passage why would we read it if it deosnt catch your attention or leave you wanting for more."a literary work must be an ice-axe to break the sea frozen inside us" means that the passage must make you feel something inside like an ice-axe breaking the sea frozen.

Theola said...

i do agree with this quote.

Aliyah Patterson said...

I think this quote means why read something if you don't have any interest in it , and you should read literature that you could relate to and make connections with the characters or just the story.I agree with Fiona and Brianna. - Aliyah Patterson 271

Unknown said...

If we are reading a poem and you know it doesn't make any sense to why do you read it. When reading something like a poem you have to think outside the box.
-Carliese Wright 271

Anonymous said...

I think this quote means that when we read a book we shouldn't be bored while reading. we should be excited to see what happens next or not able to put the book down.
I agree with this quote and I agree with Alyson and Fiona.
Kristina Wells 271

Anonymous said...

My name is Jade Compton from class 271 and I think this poem is relevant for us and it can be used as a skill for us. If the literature we are reading does not wake us, why do we read it? A literary work must be an ice-axe to break the sea frozen inside us, means despite the fact if we do not have interest in something what is the point of reading it. I notice that this poem, in some way, is affecting the way we think and act. This quote means that if a piece of work doesn't inspire or satisfy you, you would say then what is the purpose of reading it? You might find something else that might satisfy you. I agree with Alyson and Fiona. I think that because even though you do not get the attention of a passage, then what is the point of reading it, but you should read it to understand.
-Jade Compton 271

Shuffle said...

He is saying that books are written for a reason. To tell a story, express a meaning, make a difference and then why would we read them unless we wanted to understand that meaning and somehow have it affect us.
-Kingsley Samuel 270

Elischa Edouard said...

This quote means that if you are reading a literature and nothing in it makes you learn or believe in something its not really necessary to read it.

Edouard Elischa 272

Elischa Edouard said...

I agree with the quote because if you are reading something that does not help you on anything you need to read it or even know about it

Anonymous said...

I think this quote means that its not worth reading/obsserving something that has no life to it but if we read or observe good literature then that will break the foolishness of the literature we read that doesn't awaken us. I agree with this quote because personally I think bad literature is boring to read according to the fact that it has no life to it.


-Terrence Anuku
270

Joshua Weller said...

this quote means if you read something and it does not interest you why should you read it and the professional work should be able to interest you.
I agree because some passages may not interest us but an author know how to interest you.

Anonymous said...

This quote means if you are reading a book that doesn't interest you,you shouldn't read it and you should change your book.

By:Isaiah Taylor 270

Anonymous said...

I agree with Joshua because every professional book should interest you

Unknown said...

I think this literature mean that if a story dont really intrest you if you still read it it mite get more interesting
Kenneth Baron 272

Unknown said...

this quote mean if the book doesn't get your mind.why read it. it because your never know when coming together and it make sense. because you can relate to the story.