Siekmeier
An American Childhood
connections 2
CH.
PAGE
INITIAL APPEARANCE
COMPLEMENT (PAGE)
1
4
squirrel on trees in Penn.
movement akin to squirrel (15)
2
6
"father's reading went to his head"
2
12
observer-observable
"I knew what I was doing at Paw Paw" (150-5)
2
12
stepping into tub
continuity with aware self (249)
5
25
messing w/ sleeping mom
"not dead" (139)
7
34
scared of nuns
rode by careless (68)
7
35
Calder sculpture
213
8
36
kids awakened by Mom
"Mom keeps us awake" (117)
9
39
found coin
layers underground (146)
9
41
effort-work
results (107) and Il faut travailler (168)
11
45
flung self wholeheartedly
an adult knew: fling yourself (47)
11
45
flung yourself in fb
throw yourself at books (83)
14
68
Ralph Kiner
ibid. (97)
16
82 (a)
preview of next ch.
relative freedom of men vs. women (83) (b)
17
90-1 (c) self-control; resp.; info.
107 and Ch. 32--all
16
83
"When you open a book."
quote from poem in context (179)
18
95
words reappear later
in chapter 38 on quitting church (228)
18
97
trollish Pirates
1960 W.S. victors over Yankees (229)
18
99
Bill Mazeroski (2b)
Mazeroski's home run for victory (229)
19
101
literal live wire
figurative live wire (224)
19
105ff.
Why turn over a street car?
Pin Ford (124); Why fly ? (pp. 107ff.)
24
133
Psalm 19 allusion
Psalm 19 reappears (195)
24
135
The Bible inputted into her brain as other fragmented memories in previous chapter.
28
160
Polyphemus moth
243
28
163
rhinocerous beetle
238
For Annie: 183, 214
What is the significance of these connections individually and as a method?
In what way are the connections brought up and then revisited?
How much separates the various mentions? Are these punch lines (i.e., the brick)?
Are there less direct correlations (e.g., Kidnapped in Ch. 2 and On the Road in Ch. 42)?
World Languages--What significance do these phrases have in the book?
11 in medias res = in the middle of; 151 O Augenblick verweile = Oh fleeting moment, stay; 168 Il faut
travailler = it is necessary to work
Images--11; 17; 21; 44; 74; 86; 107; 120-1; 149; 150; 155; 170-3; 183; 213; 224-5; 248-249-250
Vocabulary: 3-topology; 4-solipsistic (suggested); 73-palimpsest; 126-totemic, petrels; 127-eidetically; 129oblate; Ch. 25—all rocks; 164-bilious; 172-quondam; 210-plinth; 215-depilated; 217-sempiternal,
interstitial; 239-etiolated. Illuminate or tell the story of one of these words.
February 12, 2016