Identify a particular image that stood out for you in Chapter 1. Describe in detail what you envision and why you think it struck you. End your post w/ a question. Also, reply to at least one student's post.
So far I think the book is very detailed and there are many things I could pick that stuck out for me and that could be envisioned very clearly, but the thing that really caught my attention and that I thought about throughout reading the whole chapter was the quote in the beginning. I specifically like the last line. "It is hard for a free fish to understand what is happening to a hooked one." This quote seems so beautiful and, I thought, was present in some ways in the first chapter. It talks about mistakes and how you will only be remembered for the problems you did not overcome. They might have almost beat the other team, but at the end they did not and so as far as anyone is concerned they lost and no one will notice how they pulled together so well to play against this 'monster' team. They didn't win the race but they were still there, they still ran it. Just because you have been put into an awful situation in your life does not mean you are weak because you can't handle it. But to others it very well might seem that way. After all 'it is hard for a free fish to understand what is happening to a hooked one.' What is a situation in your life where you have felt like a hooked fish?
One image that I found really interesting in the first chapter of The Chosen was the rabbi who came with the yeshiva team. I love the way he just sits there praying, not even focusing on the players in the game, and only looking up every once and a while when someone makes a run or something. Mr. Galanter is running back and forth, sweating like crazy and yelling at the players, calling them in for a huddle, picking arguments with the umpire, making suggestions, etc., which is such a contrast to the rabbi from the parochial school. He is so confident in his connection with Adonai that he doesn't feel the need to do all of the things Mr. Galanter does, but rather, as the game builds, he simply prays more and more passionately and intensely. I thought his silent prayer was a really interesting and powerful image.
What do you think the significance of this contrast between Mr. Galanter and the rabbi from the parochial school was?
I think the extensive comparison is made to assist the contrast between Reuven and Danny. Danny and the Rabbi have more faith in God than the other players, while Mr. Galanter and Reuven believe that improvement is the responsibility of the team not God, heightening the difference between the two boys.
I think that it shows that Danny's team is overconfident of their skills. During the beginning of the game, we saw Danny's coach/rabbi very calm and collected, letting the boys play out the game. But when they started losing, suddenly it was as though he realized that he needed to help them out. Mr. Galanter never overestimated Rueven's team, but instead always knew there was a chance he could lose, so he constantly helped the boys and told them what to do.
I just think Mr. Galanter is a very funny man. With his skullcap and his enthusiasm. He also treats the game as a war, it's serious. The yeshiva team seems more "chill". They sent a rabbi along instead of a coach! The significance is a little funny. The Hadsidim have confidence and it's that weird "I'm better than you" confidence.
I think that the difference between the two men was added to the book to show how different these two groups of jewish people are. In any religion, there are people who are more religious, and their are people who are less religious and I think that this was added to strengthen that image. I think that it may be important to the story to show that these two different groups look at the same religion differently. I have already gotten the sense that there may be more of a conflict between the two groups that just a baseball game.
I think this is interesting as well. I agree with Hallie that it is a way to contrast the two groups of Jews. It's a small representation of a larger group. Judaism is in some ways its own culture, but when you look at these two groups, it is clear how different they are. Although they live very near to each other, they have lived in very different ways their whole lives.
The image I love is the rivalry between Danny and Reuven. It kind of confuses me. These two boys are both smart, both good athletes, and although they are both Jewish, the difference between them is tangible. Reuven seems like the kind of person who attempts to get along with anyone, and despite the similarities Danny is disgusted by Reuven. Why does a small difference in appearance and a smaller difference in reverence constitute hatred? The intensity of Danny's hatred of apikorsim, something that could pass unnoticed by an outsider .
How do you think will Danny and Reuven will interact? Will Danny still hate Reuven without the peer pressure from the team?
I think that Danny and Rueven will eventually overcome their hatred/loathing for each other. They could be great friends, seeing as they have so much in common, like you said. I hope that they will become close friends as a result of this event. I think the only reason that Danny and Reuven appear to hate each other is because of the baseball team's peer pressure sort of thing.
Reuven and Danny’s hatred of each other is not related to who they are as individuals. In this situation, Reuven hates what Danny stands for, and vice versa. I don’t think that they will instantly become friends when put in a different situation, but I do believe that they will gradually grow to tolerate each other, and that will eventually develop into friendship. The way they acted in the baseball game was partially due to peer pressure, but the two teams are not simply divided by the fact that they were playing against each other. There are also major differences in how their schools and families approach their religion, differences which are clearly viewed as important in their society, that will cause tension next time Reuven and Danny meet.
I thought it was very interesting that baseball is such a huge part of their lives. From what I understood, not many friends or even parents come to watch their games, yet they all are completely invested in it. I wonder where it all started. Why do you think they all are so completely invested in baseball?
I also wondered about this -- it is clear that the boys are very committed to baseball, but as I continued reading, it began to seem like their larger commitment is to their religion, especially referring to the yeshiva team. Their religion seems to affect certain aspects of the game, such as their uniforms and how they wear them. What really got me thinking was when, on page ten, the rabbi tells his team, "Remember why and for whom we play" before they went out to warm up. This phrase perhaps indicates that baseball holds some sort of significance in their religion, and their commitment to that crosses over and becomes their commitment to playing.
At the beginning it says that they all loved baseball because it proved how "truly American" they are. The presence of Jews has always been an uneasy one, when will we be pushed out, when will we be killed, how soon until we have to pack up and go. The more Americanized they become, people will see that they are part of the country. Assimilation has always been a constant in Jewish history, and that's what's going on here.
I questioned their commitment to basketball too. They said physical education proved how they fit into the society. After reading I agree with Grace, their commitment seems more like to religion instead of basketball itself. They really attach importance to their religion.Religion is their life's the most important thing I guess.
I agree that it's not so much about baseball, but rather proving themselves to the other team. The yeshiva team wants to prove that God favors them. The team from the secular school, Reuven's team, want to prove that their way of life is valuable, too, and they are just as Jewish as the yeshiva team. I liked the thing about the yeshiva school playing baseball to prove how "American" they are, but I don't think that's what the conflict is about in this particular game.
They are kids and sports are an important thing. I think any kid who plays a highschool sport takes it very seriously. Especially with Mr, Galanter making it a war :)
The image that stood out to me in the first chapter was when, on page twenty-four, Reuven begins to regard the baseball game not as a friendly scrimmage, but as a war between righteousness and sinfulness. Not only is he feeling attacked by Danny Saunders’ obvious aggression and the team’s hunger to win, but he suddenly feels bullied and angry after realizing that his father is right about the Orthodox Jews’ air of superiority over other Jews, and that his teammates are right about their intensity on the baseball field. Mr. Galanter and others mention war frequently throughout the chapter, and multiple comparisons are made between the game and fighting, such as on page seventeen when Mr. Galanter tells Reuven, Sidney, and Schwartzie, “I want live soldiers, not dead heroes. . . . Just keep our side of this war fighting”. This image especially stuck out for me because the novel takes place during the end of World War II; I’m sure that war is a concept often on Reuven’s – and others’ – minds. Shortly after making this realization, Reuven has a moment of feeling like the game is all that matters. He calls the game “my entire world now” on page twenty-five, and is frightened by these thoughts.
Why do you think Reuven’s anger toward the “yeshiva team” hits him so suddenly, when others have been referring to the game as a war since the beginning? Could there be more connections to the war to which his changed perspective of the game alludes?
I think that Reuven himself is generally averse to conflict. We see him very often joking around, like he wants the people around him to remain at ease. We especially see this with Davey Cantor. He might also not like the idea that a war is going on in Europe, and he wants to prevent conflict at home as much as he can. I think internally, Reuven was always surprised with, and confused by, the intensity of the yeshiva team, but he always puts it to the back of his mind, saying repeatedly: "'Some murderers.'" But then, Reuven starts to comprehend the intensity of the yeshiva team. I think he starts to become more aware of their need to prove themselves superior. He starts to become frustrated and hurt that his belief in God and Torah wasn't enough to them, even though it was enough to him. It's like saying that he isn't trying enough at being the perfect Jew, even though it's a huge part of his identity, and he gets angry because of that, even overcoming his aversion to conflict. That's my opinion, at least.
One image that struck me was on page 30, right after Reuven has made the amazing catch of Danny Saunder's hit. The image that particularly interested me was Danny's reaction to Reuven's catch: "Danny Saunders stood on the base line a few feet from first, where he had stopped after I had caught the ball, staring out at me, his face frozen to stone." I think the reason why this image struck me was because it gives so much insight into Danny's character. Before this, we know Danny as really intense, highly motivated, strictly religious, and son of a well-known Hasid. We know of his severe determination to win the game, at all costs, and how much he motivates his team to win. We don't really know of why he needs to win the game, except to prove the superiority of his branch of Judaism over Reuven's. But when Reuven catches that ball, Danny is so stunned that he did it. Here, his one trick that always wins the games for them has been foiled by this person that until then he has insisted is lesser to him. We can really see with this image just how much Danny needs to win, but we still don't know quite why, except for the superiority complex we've already seen established. It's also still confusing why he cares so much, since the more serious Hasids look down upon playing sports, as it distracts from their studies of Judaism. You'd think that Hasids as serious as Danny and his father wouldn't want to care about a game, but it's clear through this image that Danny does.
Why do you think winning the games means so much to Danny? Do you think it has to do with religion, or something more personal to him?
My favorite image in the first chapter was of Mr. Galanter with his skullcap perched on top of his head awkwardly. It reminds me of my and my brother's bar and bat mitsvah's , seeing our relatives who so obviously had no idea what was going on. It gives perspective in the different word that we live in. Maybe there is also a slight insight to normalization. Things we may find normal others find quite strange. People are always amazed at stories about Hebrew school and songs I always knew. I always feel a little start when I see G-d written out. My entire hebrew school class panicked the first time we saw it written on the whiteboard in class. We thought we'd have to bury the whiteboard. What things have you normalized that you've realized are strange? Do you think their religions mean a lot to them? Will it change throughout the book?
In the first few pages in the start of the chapter I had struggles understanding all the religious aspects of the book, but as it transferred to the baseball games the religion kind of disappeared other then their clothes. In my opinion religion will always be in the story but stronger in some parts more than others.
For me the image that stood out the most was the way Reuven described Danny. At first he doubted Danny was much more than another Jewish player, not exceptional but not horrible. Then as the game went on, Reuven was left in amazement at the fact that Danny could hit like a pro and field even better. As he watched Danny's skills become more apparent, his hatred grew. This image stood out for me because I can relate to some level. I have never hated a player as much as Reuven had begun disliking Danny, but I still have disliked a player for being good or better then me. Also it was interesting the way Danny and Reuven interacted with each other on the field. At first they were just sizing each other up, but then as the game went on Reuven tried complementing Danny after a good hit to be returned with smack talk. I really enjoyed this image because it is an ordinary thing that occurs in most sporting events and that I could relate to something happening in the book so early on. I wonder if the two competitive boys will become friends in the end?
I have a feeling that they will become friends, mostly due to the introduction of the novel. Even if they do not, it seems clear that much of the plot will be based on both Danny and Reuven. However, this leads me to wonder how the differences in their religion will play out in their relationship. I am also curious as to the fact that they both knew of each other through whom their fathers are. Danny even confronts Reuven: “‘Your father is David Malter, the one who writes articles on the Talmud?’”(18). I am interested to learn more about the relationships between the boys and their family, and if anything happened in the past that connects the two of them.
My favorite image is the streets of Williamsburg. On the first page, Reuven is describing the area of New York where a couple of Hasidic sects reside. "The sidewalks of \Williamsburg were cracked squares of cement, the streets paved with asphalt that had softened in the stifling summers and broke apart into potholes in the winter. many of the houses were brownstones,set tightly together, none taller than three or four stories." Apart from being wonderfully detailed, this description brings to mind a question. This book appears to be set in or just after the Great Depression. But all the Hasidic Jews, no matter what sect, seem to live in one of these houses. Reuven doesn't mention any homeless in this part of the New York, and a three or four story house is expensive. What is the financial situation of Reuven Malter, and how will it affect his life throughout the course of the book?
One image that stood out for me in Chapter 1 was an image on the top of page 26. This was the part when Reuven is anticipating the way that the ball is going to be hit and is preparing to catch it. When I was reading this quote, I pictured what was happening in slow motion as it happened. I could see every last detail that was told. This was not the only passage that struck me, but this one was so clear and I could understand everything that was going on. Usually when a book talks about sports, I get sort of lost due to the fact that I do not know a lot about them. But in this book, I could understand everything that was happening. I think that the author wanted this part to be something that people remembered because he wanted to show that Reuven can act in a calm way even when something stressful and somewhat intense is going on. He wanted to show that Reuven is a clear thinker and can work clearly and efficiently. I am curious if this will become important late on in the book.
What words, phrases, or other elements do you think the author used to create these detailed parts of the story?
I was also very surprised by the great amount of detail that was used to describe the baseball game. When I first started reading about the game that was going to take place, I got this feeling of boredom, and I was almost hesitant to keep reading as I thought it was going to be extremely boring. However, the author describes Rueven's feelings in a way that everyone is able to relate to in one way or another. He describes the interactions that Rueven has with his teammates in a way that expresses who Rueven is even without directly stating his feelings. He uses comparisons such as: "He stood there like a bear, the bat looking like a matchstick in his beefy hands." (p. 25). By using great amount of detail, imagery, expression of feelings and interactions, as well as comparisons, we the readers are able to clearly experience the novel as if we were Rueven.
One image that stood out to me was on page 28. Reuven is angry that the yeshiva team is calling them apikoros. He explains that to the yeshiva team, the word apikoros refers to somebody does not have the exact same beliefs as them or doesn’t pursue Judaism in the same way. An example of their differences is that they don’t have side curls or may not believe in God. Reuven is very aware of the tension around this on the field and says that “the game has stopped being mererly a game and became a war.” I thought that this was a descriptive way to put his thoughts in to words. I can understand his frustration at feeling that the other team doesn’t think his team is good enough. How do you think the conflict between these two groups of people will become part of the story in the future?
After completing chapter one, I noticed many specific details and images that stood out to me. Since the author uses very descriptive language, it was rather easy to realize and question many images throughout the first chapter. One image, in particular, that stood out to me was on page 25, when Reuven is suddenly engulfed with the pressure of this specific ball game. This image stuck out to me for many reasons. Most importantly, I can easily relate to how Rueven is feeling. His coach is getting frustrated with the team, only adding on unnecessary pressure to the young, frightened boys on Rueven's team. When competing in any type of athletic event, frustration and nerves can affect people in many different ways. It can be had to stay calm and focused when your coach is over on the sidelines screaming that you are in the wrong position, or that you should have had that ball. In Rueven's case, anger is rising inside of him, as he just realized this game isn't just a game, but a war. When he takes off his glasses (on page 25), he begins to realize how pathetic his feelings of pressure are. He experiences a feeling that all his future years would depend on this game. However, rather than become more frustrated with himself, like I assumed he would have, he settles down, and questions himself of his feelings. In my opinion, this took a great amount of bravery. Before this scene, he is angry, frustrated, mad at how good the other team is. But rather than take his feelings out on his team, he takes of them himself. Rueven is showing signs of bravery and self control that were not visible earlier in the chapter. How do you think losing this very important baseball game will effect the relationships in the novel? Have you ever been in a similar situation that Rueven was in?
An image that struck out to me was when Reuven first describes Danny Saunders before the game as he is walking by with his teammate. He illustrates the scenario in great detail, explaining both his attributes and the “disheveled” way he walks. All from this slight interaction, Reuven instantly feels reluctant about him. “I told myself that I did not like his Hasidic-bred sense of superiority”(12). It is interesting to me that Reuven so quickly found a reason to dislike Danny, specifically associating it to his religion. Later on in the chapter, this tension amplifies to the point of Reuven feeling as though he is fighting a war. It seems that while the rest of his team had already resorted to that notion, he had tried to keep an open mind. “What annoyed him was their fanatic sense of righteousness, their absolute certainty that they and they alone had God’s ear, and every other Jew was wrong”(24). The game seemingly turned into a battle for supremacy. I wonder if had the Hasidic team not been so aggressive, would Reuven still have resorted to this warlike feeling? It is clear that he began with preconceived opinions about them, due to his quick judgements of Danny.
Do you think the major conflict in this chapter is thus not between two teams from different branches of Judaism, but in fact between groups who view each other with a sense of disrespect?
One image that struck me was after Danny hit the baseball incredibly hard right at Rueven's face, and Rueven sort of caught it. Once Rueven recovered from being hit in the face by the ball, Danny had gotten to first. Rueven says he saw Danny smiling triumphantly. Do you think Danny was actually smiling because he injured Rueven badly, or was Rueven suffering from the head injury and seeing what he thought he would see? If so, why did he see that?
The image that stood out for me is how he describes Mr. Galanter on page 11. He shows how they thought about physical education and long studying hours. He shows me a picture of how Jewish parochial schools' system work. He uses a lot of words to describe his outfit. I thought he's kind of funny when I read through the half of the paragraph. But when he starts to write about his coaching's patience and manipulation, I started to think of his capability. I like the author uses specific examples of his special postures. How do you think of Danny and "I"'s feelings about Mr. Galanter?
All the images that stood out for me are related to language, which seems to be important in this novel. Mainly, I was intrigued by Mr. Galanter’s use of military langauge in coaching the baseball team. He goes as far as to call the game a war. At times, due to the heated conflict between the two teams over concepts that go far beyond this one baseball game, Mr. Galanter’s war analogies make sense. However, it’s clear that Mr. Galanter uses military terminology consistently, not just in this one game. In the initial description of Mr. Galanter, Reuven wonders why he is not currently fighting, as most men his age are. Why does Mr. Galanter use military langauge in coaching the team? Does he have previous military experience? Why is he not fighting in the war?
So far I think the book is very detailed and there are many things I could pick that stuck out for me and that could be envisioned very clearly, but the thing that really caught my attention and that I thought about throughout reading the whole chapter was the quote in the beginning. I specifically like the last line. "It is hard for a free fish to understand what is happening to a hooked one." This quote seems so beautiful and, I thought, was present in some ways in the first chapter. It talks about mistakes and how you will only be remembered for the problems you did not overcome. They might have almost beat the other team, but at the end they did not and so as far as anyone is concerned they lost and no one will notice how they pulled together so well to play against this 'monster' team. They didn't win the race but they were still there, they still ran it. Just because you have been put into an awful situation in your life does not mean you are weak because you can't handle it. But to others it very well might seem that way. After all 'it is hard for a free fish to understand what is happening to a hooked one.'
ReplyDeleteWhat is a situation in your life where you have felt like a hooked fish?
One image that I found really interesting in the first chapter of The Chosen was the rabbi who came with the yeshiva team. I love the way he just sits there praying, not even focusing on the players in the game, and only looking up every once and a while when someone makes a run or something. Mr. Galanter is running back and forth, sweating like crazy and yelling at the players, calling them in for a huddle, picking arguments with the umpire, making suggestions, etc., which is such a contrast to the rabbi from the parochial school. He is so confident in his connection with Adonai that he doesn't feel the need to do all of the things Mr. Galanter does, but rather, as the game builds, he simply prays more and more passionately and intensely. I thought his silent prayer was a really interesting and powerful image.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think the significance of this contrast between Mr. Galanter and the rabbi from the parochial school was?
I think the extensive comparison is made to assist the contrast between Reuven and Danny. Danny and the Rabbi have more faith in God than the other players, while Mr. Galanter and Reuven believe that improvement is the responsibility of the team not God, heightening the difference between the two boys.
DeleteI think that it shows that Danny's team is overconfident of their skills. During the beginning of the game, we saw Danny's coach/rabbi very calm and collected, letting the boys play out the game. But when they started losing, suddenly it was as though he realized that he needed to help them out. Mr. Galanter never overestimated Rueven's team, but instead always knew there was a chance he could lose, so he constantly helped the boys and told them what to do.
DeleteI just think Mr. Galanter is a very funny man. With his skullcap and his enthusiasm. He also treats the game as a war, it's serious. The yeshiva team seems more "chill". They sent a rabbi along instead of a coach! The significance is a little funny. The Hadsidim have confidence and it's that weird "I'm better than you" confidence.
DeleteI think that the difference between the two men was added to the book to show how different these two groups of jewish people are. In any religion, there are people who are more religious, and their are people who are less religious and I think that this was added to strengthen that image. I think that it may be important to the story to show that these two different groups look at the same religion differently. I have already gotten the sense that there may be more of a conflict between the two groups that just a baseball game.
DeleteI think this is interesting as well. I agree with Hallie that it is a way to contrast the two groups of Jews. It's a small representation of a larger group. Judaism is in some ways its own culture, but when you look at these two groups, it is clear how different they are. Although they live very near to each other, they have lived in very different ways their whole lives.
DeleteThat's a great point Isabelle. Thougout the whole first chapter these two teams seemed so different from each other even though in theory they aren't.
DeleteThe image I love is the rivalry between Danny and Reuven. It kind of confuses me. These two boys are both smart, both good athletes, and although they are both Jewish, the difference between them is tangible. Reuven seems like the kind of person who attempts to get along with anyone, and despite the similarities Danny is disgusted by Reuven. Why does a small difference in appearance and a smaller difference in reverence constitute hatred?
ReplyDeleteThe intensity of Danny's hatred of apikorsim, something that could pass unnoticed by an outsider .
How do you think will Danny and Reuven will interact? Will Danny still hate Reuven without the peer pressure from the team?
I think that Danny and Rueven will eventually overcome their hatred/loathing for each other. They could be great friends, seeing as they have so much in common, like you said. I hope that they will become close friends as a result of this event. I think the only reason that Danny and Reuven appear to hate each other is because of the baseball team's peer pressure sort of thing.
DeletePosting for Clare...
DeleteReuven and Danny’s hatred of each other is not related to who they are as individuals. In this situation, Reuven hates what Danny stands for, and vice versa. I don’t think that they will instantly become friends when put in a different situation, but I do believe that they will gradually grow to tolerate each other, and that will eventually develop into friendship. The way they acted in the baseball game was partially due to peer pressure, but the two teams are not simply divided by the fact that they were playing against each other. There are also major differences in how their schools and families approach their religion, differences which are clearly viewed as important in their society, that will cause tension next time Reuven and Danny meet.
I thought it was very interesting that baseball is such a huge part of their lives. From what I understood, not many friends or even parents come to watch their games, yet they all are completely invested in it. I wonder where it all started.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think they all are so completely invested in baseball?
I also wondered about this -- it is clear that the boys are very committed to baseball, but as I continued reading, it began to seem like their larger commitment is to their religion, especially referring to the yeshiva team. Their religion seems to affect certain aspects of the game, such as their uniforms and how they wear them. What really got me thinking was when, on page ten, the rabbi tells his team, "Remember why and for whom we play" before they went out to warm up. This phrase perhaps indicates that baseball holds some sort of significance in their religion, and their commitment to that crosses over and becomes their commitment to playing.
DeleteAt the beginning it says that they all loved baseball because it proved how "truly American" they are. The presence of Jews has always been an uneasy one, when will we be pushed out, when will we be killed, how soon until we have to pack up and go. The more Americanized they become, people will see that they are part of the country. Assimilation has always been a constant in Jewish history, and that's what's going on here.
DeleteI questioned their commitment to basketball too. They said physical education proved how they fit into the society. After reading I agree with Grace, their commitment seems more like to religion instead of basketball itself. They really attach importance to their religion.Religion is their life's the most important thing I guess.
DeleteI agree that it's not so much about baseball, but rather proving themselves to the other team. The yeshiva team wants to prove that God favors them. The team from the secular school, Reuven's team, want to prove that their way of life is valuable, too, and they are just as Jewish as the yeshiva team. I liked the thing about the yeshiva school playing baseball to prove how "American" they are, but I don't think that's what the conflict is about in this particular game.
DeleteRemember that it is baseball and not basketball, though, right?
DeleteThey are kids and sports are an important thing. I think any kid who plays a highschool sport takes it very seriously. Especially with Mr, Galanter making it a war :)
DeleteThe image that stood out to me in the first chapter was when, on page twenty-four, Reuven begins to regard the baseball game not as a friendly scrimmage, but as a war between righteousness and sinfulness. Not only is he feeling attacked by Danny Saunders’ obvious aggression and the team’s hunger to win, but he suddenly feels bullied and angry after realizing that his father is right about the Orthodox Jews’ air of superiority over other Jews, and that his teammates are right about their intensity on the baseball field. Mr. Galanter and others mention war frequently throughout the chapter, and multiple comparisons are made between the game and fighting, such as on page seventeen when Mr. Galanter tells Reuven, Sidney, and Schwartzie, “I want live soldiers, not dead heroes. . . . Just keep our side of this war fighting”. This image especially stuck out for me because the novel takes place during the end of World War II; I’m sure that war is a concept often on Reuven’s – and others’ – minds. Shortly after making this realization, Reuven has a moment of feeling like the game is all that matters. He calls the game “my entire world now” on page twenty-five, and is frightened by these thoughts.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Reuven’s anger toward the “yeshiva team” hits him so suddenly, when others have been referring to the game as a war since the beginning? Could there be more connections to the war to which his changed perspective of the game alludes?
I think that Reuven himself is generally averse to conflict. We see him very often joking around, like he wants the people around him to remain at ease. We especially see this with Davey Cantor. He might also not like the idea that a war is going on in Europe, and he wants to prevent conflict at home as much as he can. I think internally, Reuven was always surprised with, and confused by, the intensity of the yeshiva team, but he always puts it to the back of his mind, saying repeatedly: "'Some murderers.'" But then, Reuven starts to comprehend the intensity of the yeshiva team. I think he starts to become more aware of their need to prove themselves superior. He starts to become frustrated and hurt that his belief in God and Torah wasn't enough to them, even though it was enough to him. It's like saying that he isn't trying enough at being the perfect Jew, even though it's a huge part of his identity, and he gets angry because of that, even overcoming his aversion to conflict. That's my opinion, at least.
DeleteOne image that struck me was on page 30, right after Reuven has made the amazing catch of Danny Saunder's hit. The image that particularly interested me was Danny's reaction to Reuven's catch: "Danny Saunders stood on the base line a few feet from first, where he had stopped after I had caught the ball, staring out at me, his face frozen to stone." I think the reason why this image struck me was because it gives so much insight into Danny's character. Before this, we know Danny as really intense, highly motivated, strictly religious, and son of a well-known Hasid. We know of his severe determination to win the game, at all costs, and how much he motivates his team to win. We don't really know of why he needs to win the game, except to prove the superiority of his branch of Judaism over Reuven's.
ReplyDeleteBut when Reuven catches that ball, Danny is so stunned that he did it. Here, his one trick that always wins the games for them has been foiled by this person that until then he has insisted is lesser to him. We can really see with this image just how much Danny needs to win, but we still don't know quite why, except for the superiority complex we've already seen established. It's also still confusing why he cares so much, since the more serious Hasids look down upon playing sports, as it distracts from their studies of Judaism. You'd think that Hasids as serious as Danny and his father wouldn't want to care about a game, but it's clear through this image that Danny does.
Why do you think winning the games means so much to Danny? Do you think it has to do with religion, or something more personal to him?
My favorite image in the first chapter was of Mr. Galanter with his skullcap perched on top of his head awkwardly. It reminds me of my and my brother's bar and bat mitsvah's , seeing our relatives who so obviously had no idea what was going on. It gives perspective in the different word that we live in. Maybe there is also a slight insight to normalization. Things we may find normal others find quite strange. People are always amazed at stories about Hebrew school and songs I always knew. I always feel a little start when I see G-d written out. My entire hebrew school class panicked the first time we saw it written on the whiteboard in class. We thought we'd have to bury the whiteboard.
ReplyDeleteWhat things have you normalized that you've realized are strange? Do you think their religions mean a lot to them? Will it change throughout the book?
In the first few pages in the start of the chapter I had struggles understanding all the religious aspects of the book, but as it transferred to the baseball games the religion kind of disappeared other then their clothes. In my opinion religion will always be in the story but stronger in some parts more than others.
DeleteFor me the image that stood out the most was the way Reuven described Danny. At first he doubted Danny was much more than another Jewish player, not exceptional but not horrible. Then as the game went on, Reuven was left in amazement at the fact that Danny could hit like a pro and field even better. As he watched Danny's skills become more apparent, his hatred grew. This image stood out for me because I can relate to some level. I have never hated a player as much as Reuven had begun disliking Danny, but I still have disliked a player for being good or better then me. Also it was interesting the way Danny and Reuven interacted with each other on the field. At first they were just sizing each other up, but then as the game went on Reuven tried complementing Danny after a good hit to be returned with smack talk. I really enjoyed this image because it is an ordinary thing that occurs in most sporting events and that I could relate to something happening in the book so early on. I wonder if the two competitive boys will become friends in the end?
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that they will become friends, mostly due to the introduction of the novel. Even if they do not, it seems clear that much of the plot will be based on both Danny and Reuven. However, this leads me to wonder how the differences in their religion will play out in their relationship. I am also curious as to the fact that they both knew of each other through whom their fathers are. Danny even confronts Reuven: “‘Your father is David Malter, the one who writes articles on the Talmud?’”(18). I am interested to learn more about the relationships between the boys and their family, and if anything happened in the past that connects the two of them.
DeleteMy favorite image is the streets of Williamsburg. On the first page, Reuven is describing the area of New York where a couple of Hasidic sects reside. "The sidewalks of \Williamsburg were cracked squares of cement, the streets paved with asphalt that had softened in the stifling summers and broke apart into potholes in the winter. many of the houses were brownstones,set tightly together, none taller than three or four stories." Apart from being wonderfully detailed, this description brings to mind a question. This book appears to be set in or just after the Great Depression. But all the Hasidic Jews, no matter what sect, seem to live in one of these houses. Reuven doesn't mention any homeless in this part of the New York, and a three or four story house is expensive.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the financial situation of Reuven Malter, and how will it affect his life throughout the course of the book?
One image that stood out for me in Chapter 1 was an image on the top of page 26. This was the part when Reuven is anticipating the way that the ball is going to be hit and is preparing to catch it. When I was reading this quote, I pictured what was happening in slow motion as it happened. I could see every last detail that was told. This was not the only passage that struck me, but this one was so clear and I could understand everything that was going on. Usually when a book talks about sports, I get sort of lost due to the fact that I do not know a lot about them. But in this book, I could understand everything that was happening. I think that the author wanted this part to be something that people remembered because he wanted to show that Reuven can act in a calm way even when something stressful and somewhat intense is going on. He wanted to show that Reuven is a clear thinker and can work clearly and efficiently. I am curious if this will become important late on in the book.
ReplyDeleteWhat words, phrases, or other elements do you think the author used to create these detailed parts of the story?
I was also very surprised by the great amount of detail that was used to describe the baseball game. When I first started reading about the game that was going to take place, I got this feeling of boredom, and I was almost hesitant to keep reading as I thought it was going to be extremely boring. However, the author describes Rueven's feelings in a way that everyone is able to relate to in one way or another. He describes the interactions that Rueven has with his teammates in a way that expresses who Rueven is even without directly stating his feelings. He uses comparisons such as: "He stood there like a bear, the bat looking like a matchstick in his beefy hands." (p. 25). By using great amount of detail, imagery, expression of feelings and interactions, as well as comparisons, we the readers are able to clearly experience the novel as if we were Rueven.
DeleteOne image that stood out to me was on page 28. Reuven is angry that the yeshiva team is calling them apikoros. He explains that to the yeshiva team, the word apikoros refers to somebody does not have the exact same beliefs as them or doesn’t pursue Judaism in the same way. An example of their differences is that they don’t have side curls or may not believe in God. Reuven is very aware of the tension around this on the field and says that “the game has stopped being mererly a game and became a war.” I thought that this was a descriptive way to put his thoughts in to words. I can understand his frustration at feeling that the other team doesn’t think his team is good enough.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think the conflict between these two groups of people will become part of the story in the future?
After completing chapter one, I noticed many specific details and images that stood out to me. Since the author uses very descriptive language, it was rather easy to realize and question many images throughout the first chapter. One image, in particular, that stood out to me was on page 25, when Reuven is suddenly engulfed with the pressure of this specific ball game. This image stuck out to me for many reasons. Most importantly, I can easily relate to how Rueven is feeling. His coach is getting frustrated with the team, only adding on unnecessary pressure to the young, frightened boys on Rueven's team. When competing in any type of athletic event, frustration and nerves can affect people in many different ways. It can be had to stay calm and focused when your coach is over on the sidelines screaming that you are in the wrong position, or that you should have had that ball. In Rueven's case, anger is rising inside of him, as he just realized this game isn't just a game, but a war. When he takes off his glasses (on page 25), he begins to realize how pathetic his feelings of pressure are. He experiences a feeling that all his future years would depend on this game. However, rather than become more frustrated with himself, like I assumed he would have, he settles down, and questions himself of his feelings. In my opinion, this took a great amount of bravery. Before this scene, he is angry, frustrated, mad at how good the other team is. But rather than take his feelings out on his team, he takes of them himself. Rueven is showing signs of bravery and self control that were not visible earlier in the chapter.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think losing this very important baseball game will effect the relationships in the novel? Have you ever been in a similar situation that Rueven was in?
An image that struck out to me was when Reuven first describes Danny Saunders before the game as he is walking by with his teammate. He illustrates the scenario in great detail, explaining both his attributes and the “disheveled” way he walks. All from this slight interaction, Reuven instantly feels reluctant about him. “I told myself that I did not like his Hasidic-bred sense of superiority”(12). It is interesting to me that Reuven so quickly found a reason to dislike Danny, specifically associating it to his religion. Later on in the chapter, this tension amplifies to the point of Reuven feeling as though he is fighting a war. It seems that while the rest of his team had already resorted to that notion, he had tried to keep an open mind. “What annoyed him was their fanatic sense of righteousness, their absolute certainty that they and they alone had God’s ear, and every other Jew was wrong”(24). The game seemingly turned into a battle for supremacy. I wonder if had the Hasidic team not been so aggressive, would Reuven still have resorted to this warlike feeling? It is clear that he began with preconceived opinions about them, due to his quick judgements of Danny.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the major conflict in this chapter is thus not between two teams from different branches of Judaism, but in fact between groups who view each other with a sense of disrespect?
One image that struck me was after Danny hit the baseball incredibly hard right at Rueven's face, and Rueven sort of caught it. Once Rueven recovered from being hit in the face by the ball, Danny had gotten to first. Rueven says he saw Danny smiling triumphantly. Do you think Danny was actually smiling because he injured Rueven badly, or was Rueven suffering from the head injury and seeing what he thought he would see? If so, why did he see that?
ReplyDeleteThe image that stood out for me is how he describes Mr. Galanter on page 11. He shows how they thought about physical education and long studying hours. He shows me a picture of how Jewish parochial schools' system work. He uses a lot of words to describe his outfit. I thought he's kind of funny when I read through the half of the paragraph. But when he starts to write about his coaching's patience and manipulation, I started to think of his capability. I like the author uses specific examples of his special postures. How do you think of Danny and "I"'s feelings about Mr. Galanter?
ReplyDeletePosting for Clare
ReplyDeleteAll the images that stood out for me are related to language, which seems to be important in this novel. Mainly, I was intrigued by Mr. Galanter’s use of military langauge in coaching the baseball team. He goes as far as to call the game a war. At times, due to the heated conflict between the two teams over concepts that go far beyond this one baseball game, Mr. Galanter’s war analogies make sense. However, it’s clear that Mr. Galanter uses military terminology consistently, not just in this one game. In the initial description of Mr. Galanter, Reuven wonders why he is not currently fighting, as most men his age are.
Why does Mr. Galanter use military langauge in coaching the team? Does he have previous military experience? Why is he not fighting in the war?