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Argument: The Giver is not just a 'controversial' and 'banned' book, but it also has much more depth in it that meets the eye; set within a distopic setting, Lowry uses the setting to construct a way to see into today's morality code as well as the reader's. Claims: *Irony over the censorship of the book *different views on what the book's meaning(s) are Evidence: *Lowry foreshadows this perplexing but hopeful ending when she describes Jonas as Keeper of the "memories of the whole world." Her message, finally, is that one cannot ignore uncomfortable memories; one must embrace a "whole" vision, which contains joy as well as pain, if one (or one's children) is/are ever to feel "at home" in the world. *Through Jonas, Lowry argues for the preservation of a kind of creative vision, a vision which every community needs if it is to benefit from its citizens' differences and input. *The irony of censorship attacks on the novel is that The Giver dramatizes the plight of an individual living in a society that censors its peoples' language, emotions, and behaviors. This irony is compounded by the fact that most who would like to see The Giver censored confess that they have never read the novel in its entirety.

Argument - Ray Bradbury's main goal is to employ the ideas of the goal and joy of living. Claims- Bradbury holds a hopefullness for humanity. -Bradbury's interest with the stars and other worlds is the depiction of his interest in the unknown and new fronteirs. -Bradbury is only acutely aware of the evil nature of humans and their potential to cause destruction. -Bradbury seeks to depict a rebirth in society representing his trust in mankind to destroy the bad and create new. Evidence - Fahrenheit 451 - The destruction of the city as symbolized by the phoenix, depicts rebirth of a new phoenix from the ashes. - "Charles points out, however, that humanity is not free of temptation, for the desire for empty impossibilities is in them all, and there will be many other attempts to exploit this desire in their long lives" - By the pricking of my thumbs,! something wicked this way comes." In William Shakespeare's Macbeth (c. 1605), the witches speak these lines as Macbeth approaches for his second meeting with them"

Argument - Bradbury's work is a representative of dystopian fiction, a subgenre of utopian literature. Claims - Bradbury's protaganists begin their journey as well adapted perfect members of society. -Bradbury uses vivid and ambiguous imagery to display his point. -Bradbury uses his characters to demonstrate the differences in society and the expanding barriers between one side and the other. Evidence - Clarisse and Mildred display the differences between cold and mechanical and wild and free. -Books symbolize the ideal differences and interchange of ideas in society, in Fahrenheit 451 these are destroyed, represeting Bradbury's understanding of how society has a dark side but will always burn and be reborn.

The criticism starts on pg. 332 about half way through starting with "Julie Anne Peters.." Argument- "A decade after M. E. Kerr's straight-up look at lesbian gender roles in Deliver Us from Evie...Peters's book may score lower on social realism than Kerr's... but it packs more heat." Claim-Peters sets another strong-willed butch lesbian in a small town in the Midwest, while maintaining constant dramatic appeal, "The parade of human drama is a bit excessive here..." Evidence-  "Peters translates this [Mike's acceptance] nicely by allowing Mike to introduce herself in the first chapter without mentioning gender at all."  " Her [Mike's] hunger for Xanadu is achingly apparent, and Peters plays this well; Xanadu knows what Mike wants and her responses are unpredictable, to both Mike and the reader."

Argument: Ray Bradbury's novels are written to prevent the fallings of society Claim: After the atomic coming during world war II, Bradbury sought to write about how to redirect the course of technology in order to prevent the possible negative consequences society might endure. Evidence: "The colonization of Mars, like the colonization of the Americas by Europeans, is characterized by greed and ignorance, fear of the natives, exploitation of the new world, and acts of genocide" (Harlow). "The romantic notion of the power of the imagination to reinvent ourselves, to make the world over and to place ourselves in history,in time, in the comos, is explored by Bradbury..."(Harlow). "...a pivotal work which has influenced the course of literature and the thinking of scientists and of ordinary citizens who face the task... of advancing human nature and values into an age of which atomic warfare and space travel have become part of the human experience" (harlow).

Argument: Comparison of two authors and how they depict their characters as impassioned lovers who overcome obstacles and end up married. Claims: Jane Eyre is stuck in somewhat of a love triangle with St. John and Mr. Rochester, but returns to Mr. Rochester where she knows she will be truly happy. Jane determines he is best for her in marriage because he loves her as an educated woman, and she feels a more passionate love for him. Evidence: "Both novels here conclude with depictions of the impassioned lovers overcoming all obstacles to enter into the happy and fruitful (each with a child) estate of matrimony," (Bubel 295). "This 'death to self' enables her to break free from an imprisoning triangular desire of a different kind," (Bubel 304).

Argument: A comparison of Jane Austen's writing and Charlotte Bronte's. Claims: Charlotte Bronte creates educated characters to play her female roles so that they can excercise reason. Her uneducated women are foolish. Her female leads are all reasonable and rational -two characteristics she probably appreciated in herself. Evidence: "Jane Eyre dramaticizes its manifesto that women must be educated to excercise their reason, with Adele Varens and Blanche Ingram proving that uneducated women become coquettes," (Harris 102).

The main argument of this article is that ultimately, our faith affects our perceptions of other religions, and increases conflicts. He argues that religions have trouble accepting the validity of other religions due to the exclusivity of their belief system, and that exclusivity makes peaceful negotiation much harder. -"All inter-religious relationships and dialogue, particularly among members of the monotheistic faiths, are ultimately based on conflict because of their mutual and seemingly exclusive truth claims" Hames goes on to claim that the conviction that they are right makes fundamentalists very difficult to argue and compromise with. -"It is very difficult to speak to religious fundamentalists of any persuasion because they are not prepared to question, or to admit uncertainty"

The main argument of this passage is that coexistence is an idea that rarely crosses people's minds when religion is involved. Conflict is very rarely a simple thing. He argues this and goes on to say that insisting on associating religion and conflict oversimplifies the matter. -"The relentless association of religion and conflict compresses the complexity of human lives into one narrow band" Karabell also mentions that both the conflicts, and the solutions to those conflicts, tend to be viewed through the lenses of religion. -"Part of the problem may be the tendency to view both the current conflicts and their solutions in strictly religious terms"

Argument: By writing the story in Huck's own words, Twain uses Huck's point of view to reveal the conflict between innocence and goodness throughout the story. Claim: The author claims that the best in an individual, by helping Jim escape, reveals Huck's innocent side in knowing helping Jim is the right choice. By refusing to turn in Jim, Huck goes against his own society and what they have taught him all throughout his life. Slavery, to Huck, in a way doesn't exist because in his world, life is an adventure, regardless of race. Evidence: Twain uses the idea of slavery as a metaphor for all social bondage and injustice (Grant). Twain compellingly establishes the irony that Huck's "sin" against the social establishment affirms the best that is possible in the individual (Grant). Twain maintains an almost perfect fidelity to Huck's point of view in order to dramatize the conflict between Huck's innate innocence and natural goodness and the dictates of a corrupt society (Grant).

Argument: Powerful and mezmorizing, The Adevtnures of Tom Sawyer cannot be traced to just one specific audience. Claim: As a book that portarys the adventures of boyhood, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is also a book for adults, as well as young children. Adults and younger kids can relate to any part of the story from adventure, to love, to a life of secrets. Evidence: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is also for those who have long since passed from boyhood: "[It] is not a boy's book at all. It will be read only by adults. It is written only for adults" (4). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a delicate balance of the romantic and realistic, humor and pathos, innocence and evil, the book defies simple analysis (4). In contrast to Huck's self-reliant, unschooled, parentless existence, his passive preference for being a follower, and his abhorrence of civilization, Tom is adventurous, shrewd in the ways of civilization, and a leader (4).

Argument: The American dream is something that George and Lennie want in their lives. Claim: Each of their "dreams" consists of owning a farm