A. T or F: Birdboot has his own kind of cleverness.
B. T or F: Sometimes Birdboot and Moon talk at cross-purposes; for example, when one is talking about the murder-mystery play-within-the-play, the other thinks he is talking about life outside the play.
C. T or F: Funny things happen in this section.
D. T or F: Exposition is handled in an unconventional manner. For a definition of exposition, see the Department Handbook, terms of literary analysis, at www.walnuthillfaculty.org.
E. Birdboot is also concerned with his status as a theater critic.
F. There is evidence that Birdboot is a womanizer despite his denials.
Statement C is true. Birdboot is talking about how he should not have anything to hide from his Myrtle and Moon asks,"Can I have a chocolate? What?- Oh- Oh yes- my dear fellow- let's have a chocolate- No point in - yes, good show. Which one do you fancy?- Cherry? Strawberry? Coffee Cream? Turkish delight?" He goes on to list which chocolate he wants and Birdboot finally mentions that Myrtle does not like the theatre. This whole conversation seems funny because here Birdboot is talking about himself and that he has nothing to hide and Moon casually asks for a chocolate. Earlier in the play Birdboot offered Moon one, but he said no and know it is the other way around. This time instead of Moon being the one the talking and then being interrupted it is Moon that interrupts Birdboot. This part seems in particular funny to me because it is as if they kind of switched places for a second. These chocolates are perhaps a way they forget about their discussion.
ReplyDeleteThe first comment on the blog was by Katie Burch. Sorry I forgot to say who it was.
ReplyDeleteI think that statement F is true. When Moon makes even the slightest mention of Birdboot being seen with another woman, Birdboot protests extremely and unecessarily loudly. This over-reaction is evidence in itself that Birdboot is in fact a womanizer however, once he has calmed down with the chocolates he says, "Incidentally, old chap, I'd be grateful if you didn't mention-I mean, you know how these misunderstandings get about..." He is obviously implying that Moon should not mention anything about him being with other women because his wife will know the truth.
ReplyDeleteKatie Taylor
statement b is true. although both of them are theater critics, they seem like they don't really care about the play. They concern about their private lifes too much so that they hardly focus on the play.
ReplyDeletefor instance, when BIRDBOOT talks about play, MOON is absorbed in Higgs and give him an irrelevant answer; 'You keep chattering on about Higgs and Puckeridge- what's the matter with you?- i wonder if they talk about me(p.1065)',or on page 1061, BIRDFOOT asked MOON to tell him the truth about his rumors, even if the play is going on; 'Oh, i know what goes on behind my back-what have you heard?'
Statement E is true. Moon mentions Birdboot's review that was published at the Theatre Royal in neon. "BIRDBOOT: [pleased] Oh...that old thing. MOON: You've seen it, of course, BIRDBOOT: Well, I was passing... MOON: I definitely want to take a second look when it has settled down. BIRDBOOT: As a matter of fact I have a few colour transparencies-I don't know whether you'd care to...?" In this conversation, Birdboot is being praised for an article he had written, and tries to hide how proud he is, even though he secretly tries to boast about it.
ReplyDeleteStatement C is true. I could see the imitating of birdboot from Moon. On p.1060, while Birdboot was explaing about his integrity and devotion for his family,moon said "Can I have a chocolate?" It was a definitely unexpected sentence in that situation, and I think it also showed that moon was not paying attention to what Birdboot was saying. Which is a same behavior of birdboot in the beginning, and also part of his personality. I think Moon imitated Birdboot purposely. Also, Birdboot described himself as a man who has scrupulous integrity after he made something that needed to be hidden. It was really funny.
ReplyDeleteStatement E is true because when Birdboot accuses Moon for being a player, Birdboot loses his temper: "I have nothing to hide! -why, if this should reach the ears of my beloved Myrtle-" I believe that not only does Birdboot wants to keep his true nature hidden from his wife, he doesn't want the public to know because that would hurt his reputation as a theater critic.
ReplyDeleteI think that statement F is true. Birdboot is constantly commenting on the girl in the play and trying to get Moon to give her a good review. The fact that he is trying to help her to succeed makes it seem like Birdboot and her must have some kind of relationship. The way Birdboot acts after he realizes that Moon might know about his "womanizer" traits is very suspicious. Birdboot tries to make it very clear that he is loyal to his wife, the fact that he says this so many times though makes the audience believe that he is trying to cover up something and he continually refers to his marriage when it is unnecessary: "Tittle tattle. Tittle, my dear fellow, tattle. I take no notice of it-the sly envy of scandal mongers-I can afford to ignore them, I'm a respectable married man-". Also Birdboot has two other lines that are very suspicious:
ReplyDeleteBirdboot: Incidentally, old chap, I'd be grateful if you didn't mention-I mean, you know how these misunderstandings get about....
Moon: What?
Birdbook: The fact is, Myrtle simply doesn't like the theatre....
Birdboot seems very concerned that his wife will find out about this. If he didn't "have anything to hide" though I don't see why he would be so worked up. Also we know that he is only meeting with girls for there looks, as is proved in the following line: "-don't be absurd, wouldn't be seen dead with the old-ah". He cuts himself off because he realizes that he is giving himself away.
Statement F is true. Usually, when wanting to deny something that is untrue about themselves, a person will go to extreme odds to do so, however, this is not the case with Birdboot. After speaking of this issue to Moon, and when Moon changes the subject by saying, "Can I have a chocolate,?" Birdboot almost dismisses what they were previously talking about by asking Moon what flavor he likes the best. It is clear Birdboot wants to steer clear of the subject.
ReplyDeleteI think statement C is true. The police announcements are really funny.The language is informal and unrealistic for a serious police announcement.The words 'Darkish', 'lightish' and ' youngish' are used when describing a murderer on the run. I can just imagine this serious Anouncement voice with the child- like language talking about this very serious issue as being very hunourous for the audience.
ReplyDeleteE ) False
ReplyDeleteI don't feel Birdboot is really very concerned with his status with regards to his job. In Mackenzie's quoted text I disagree a bit, I interpret this man as someone who would accept a compliment any day,as an inflation of his ego. But I am not so sure he cares a good deal about his work. He seems more concerned with the status he holds for his wife...or maybe the status his wife holds for him. I think he is a philanderer, especially after Moon comments " Who was the lady I saw you with last night", he then is "unexpectedly stung into fury" he would not have had an outburst if his relationship status did not matter to him. So basically I think this man is distracted by other things rather then his career.
F. (T) I think that Birdboot's denial is the biggest give away. Though there is not a piece of evidence that says, "Birdboot is not loyal", there are several that suggest so. Birdboot is SO keen on defending his status as a theatre critic, and must be afraid of losing credibility if he were to be caught cheating on his wife. " - I can afford to ignore them, I'm a respectable married man." The word 'respectable' indicates Birdboot's sure footedness about the matter, maybe that he thinks he can get away with whatever he's doing. The word 'married' indicates more of the same. (There are implications of the word 'married' that somebody is loyal honest to their spouse.) Also, when Moon asks, "Who was that lady I saw you with last night?", Birdboot is sent into a tumultuos outburst. (He's trying to avoid calling attention to the fact he is alone with another woman, and pretends to be upset with such accusations).
ReplyDelete(Trevor on strange google account)
Statement D is true. The conversation between Moon and Birdboot is informative as far as characterizing those two, but is very scattered. Moon brings up Higgs without warning, which is to show that he is insecure and very bothered by what was only mentioned in the third line, yet has continued to play a part in that character's development. It's an odd way of building this, to say the least. You could easily build the same character through normal conversation. It's stranger to have long stretches of conversations before bringing this topic up again randomly, but I also find it to be more effective.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that there is evidence that Birdboot is a womanizer despite his denials. Every chance he gets, he says he is a married man and a family man. It seems that if it wasn’t an issue, he wouldn’t feel he needs to say it all the time. When he says “Tittle tattle. Tittle, my dear fellow, tattle. I take no notice of it-the sly envy of scandle mongers- I can afford to ignore them, I’m a respectable married man-“ , he is showing how he is trying to show he is not paying attention to what others might be saying about him. But the way he tells Moon to watch the girl seems strange. Moon assumes he is saying to watch her because he thinks Birdboot thinks she is the killer, but he says, “No, no- the girl, watch her.” And his behavior is described as suspicious. Throughout the part we read, there are several references to Birdboot knowing or being with a female other than his wife and each time he quickly gets angry and denies it; too angry. It makes the reader think that something else is definitely going on.
ReplyDeleteStatement A is true. Moon is clever and he knows just how to calm Birdboot when he gets upset. He uses the same tactic Birdboot used on him earlier - the chocolate: "Can I have a chocolate?" he asks and immediately Birdfoot's rant is stopped with "What? Oh -- [Mollfied]" The definition of to mollify is to appease the anger or anxiety of someone. Therefore, Moon was clever and got himself out of that unpleasant situation.
ReplyDeleteStatement A is false that Birdboot is clever. "Oh, I know what goes on behind my back-sniggers-slanders-hole-in-corner-innuendo-what have you heard?" A clever man would not bring up that he had done something wrong. Moon catches up on this. Moon and remembered seeing him with another woman. Birdboot is very upset after Moon's statement. I beleieve he is upset because he knows Moon is right. If he was clever he wouldn't of brought up his mistakes. He could of avoided the situation.
ReplyDeleteI think tat statement C is true. There is alot humor throughout. Moon uses alot of sarcasm, while birdboot in somesilly way does really stupid things. I love the way Moon constantly winds birdboot up. Also when birdboot thanks Moon for taking a sweet is very funny. Who does that?
ReplyDelete