Review for Jack Trammel's The sleeping stones

“The Sleeping Stone” by Jack Trammell is a first world short story which is written based on the period of the Civil War in United State of America.  In the story, Trammell tried to convey the effects of war in a wife’s perspective whose husband died during the war. Moreover, he implies wife’s strong desire to see her husband’ return.

The author

Jack Trammell is an American writer, researcher, and a professor who is born in Berea, Kentucky. According to the sources, he lives in a small village in Virginia with his wife and seven children. He has started his writing career when he was a teenager. So far he has written many poems, short stories, journal articles and novels vary from text books to award winning publications. Moreover, he has written regular military column for the Washington Times for several years. He has become a member of many associations related to literature work such as Poets & Writers association in New York, The Poetry Society of Virginia, and The Writer's Club of Virginia. “The Stepping Stones” is a short story of his “The Civil War Collection” along with “the thing you want,” “Spoon Boy,” “A Glimpse of Heaven,” and “Company G.”

Summary

This plot of this story intervened around Ellie whose husband, Horey, joint the army during the civil war. The story tells us how she deals with life hoping to see his husband returning after the war. However, she strengthens her mind to admit that her husband has died during the war and to live the rest of her life with her children.

Plot

The plot of this story arranged chronologically which begins in spring and ends in summer without changing the flow of the story. Moreover, the writer has used foreshadowing as plot devices. He has given clues using weather, “why was spring reluctant this year? Surely enduring such miserable, starving entitled them to decent planting weather.”

Exposition

In the exposition, we are introduced the main character who is Ellie and the hard life she spends. Furthermore, the exposition includes the setting the plot takes part which is spring.

““Spring is not meant to be cold.” This is what Ella thought as she bent over and picked up the sleeping stones she had placed outside several days ago. The way sun was shining made her feel as if the season was being cheated. She moved …”

This shows that even though it is spring, the weather seems like it is winter which predicts about an unfortunate omen. Besides, she implies awkwardness that she feels about her life. The man, Zebulon working in the farm makes her feel even more unease.

Rising Action

The incident which is going to happen in the story is shown when Ellie is standing and looking towards the road across the Big Sandy River. The narrator mentions that it is the direction that Ellie’s husband arrives home from the army. “That was the direction Horey would come from when he returned from army. She inadvertently blushed and immediately scurried back in to the house to see to breakfast.” These lines show that she is eager to see her man’s arrival. Moreover, the rising action provides a hint that this story is about Horey’s return after the war. In addition, when Ellie asked about the war from Mr. Franklin, he said that he reckon so and also said, “But you’d best not to get your hopes up too high. They will probably keep men like Horey longer than the rest.”  These lines also offer some clues that there’s no point of keeping much expectations of Horey.

Climax

The turning point of the story can be identified as when the woman receives the black letter which is the death notice of her beloved husband. When I was reading the story, I wanted to see how she would react if her husband died at the war. Thus, at the moment, she saw Mr. Franklin placed the envelope; I happened to think what would be next. Although Ellie needed to see Horey alive, she could only receive a death notification which she could even recognize it without wanting to open it. “The letter was black-rimmed and could only mean one thing. Ella didn’t have to read it to know that her husband is dead.” The conflict of the story is internal because she always struggles with her mind how to deal with society without her husband. “Ella said nothing to him, offering only a very subdued lift of narrow lip.” These lines imply that she doesn’t convey feelings or the tension she has after discovering that her husband is no long alive and she fights with her own heart to deal with her conflict.

Denouement

“When Franklin returned next day, he immediately noticed that Ella’s sleeping stones were missing. As he called out a lukewarm greeting to her, he also noticed someone cutting suckers off the burley several hundred yards away.”

Characters

There are four characters in the story. They are Ella, Franklin, Zebulon and Horey. Among these characters, the protagonist is Ella and the rest are antagonists who play minor roles in the story. Moreover, each and every character contributes to the story in an interesting way. Characters are described separately below.

Ella

Ella is tall and comparatively feeble who is a village woman married to a soldier. She is having a tendency to help others, thinking and eventually despair. She is the protagonist of the story. Moreover, she is defined as a round character because the author has given explanations about her, “She was his opposite in physical appearance (and other ways too), being tall and relatively frail.” “Ella was not a strong person in physical sense, coming from a family of small – boned, tended toward charity, philosophy, and ultimately depression.” In addition, she is a dynamic character because she changes her attitudes over the conflict. The sleeping stones represent her changes. “The sleeping stones went back out the same day. The rock seemed clean and unstained in their perfect smoothness, caressing her hands as she placed them down on the ground in the very front of the yard.” These lines mention that she used to keep sleeping stones before she got the news that her husband was dead. Simultaneously, she left them as she was aware of her husband, “he immediately noticed that Ella’s sleeping stones were missing.” The author has used showing method to present Ella’s character. ““You are right,” she said quickly.” Finally, Ella is a well-developed character in order to make the story interesting.

Horey

Horey is Ella’s husband. However, there is no physical description inserted to this antagonist character. Therefore, it can be mentioned as a flat character. Moreover, there are no information stated about Horey other than he is a soldier. Also it is a static character that plays the Ella’s husband’s role.

Mr. Franklin

Mr. Franklin, who is an antagonist of the story, is a stock and static character because he doesn’t change through the conflict. He is a seventy years old post master. He is helping Ella delivering messages and visiting to see if she is having a fine time. ““You okay Ellie?” Franklin, the seventy-year-old postmaster asked.” However, the author has made use of showing technique to present characters, “Of course, Ellie, the moment news arrives.”

Zebulon

Zebulon is the man who works for Ella in tobacco fields, in corn colleting, and taking care of fences. He is weighty, short man whose hair is untidy who is called as “Zeb.” Moreover, he is a round and static character because the author has described him in detail and he is immutable over the conflict. “The shadow took on the oblong shape of a man; a somewhat overweight and short man, with hair that struck out wildly from one side of his head like a snake lashing out.” In addition, the writer has used showing mechanism when presenting character as other characters. He uses dialogs, “I told you, Ellie, it was too early to turn the stones out. Didn’t I tell ‘e? I like to have frozen last night…”

Setting

This story takes part in a farming village in Kentucky. It shows how hard to get to know what is going on outside of their remote village. “President Lincoln had been dead a full two weeks when Ella found out that the war was over.”  It is implied when Zeb mentions about the work he does in the fields such as working on tobacco, collecting corn. This story begins during spring which is unexpectedly cold for a spring, “spring is not meant to be cold.” Moreover, the story ends during summer which symbolizes the infinite potential for the future which gives warmness.  Weather also provides even darker background to the story.

Point of View

Trammell has used third person limited point of view to make the flow of the story. He only illustrates thoughts of Ella, but he demonstrates dialogs of other characters including Ella. ““Where is the spring?” she thought again, picking up another slab.” When Zeb asked, “Am I hearing you co-rectly, Ellie?” Ellie said, “I want you to go. I’m a married woman.”  These show that the narrator has used third person point of view but he has been limited to Ella’s mind.

Symbolism

Symbolism is the outstanding technique which Trammell has used throughout this story. He has used many symbols to convey certain predictions such as colors, seasons, and weather.  “Spring is not meant to be cold.” This shows that although spring is meant to be refreshing and birth of new, the author has used its unusually cold during the spring predicting that some unfortunate happenings are going to occur. Furthermore, Trammell inserted black color which stands for bad omen at many occasions. For instance, “the letter was black-rimmed…” In addition, the sleeping stones also bear a symbolic meaning which is related to death because they are not just stones but also they are sleeping.

Theme

After effects of war

This story provides information about the Civil War which occurred in United States of America through their conversations. “Wouldn’t you think now that Morgan’s men would be disbanding soon, now that it’s all over?” Although Ella keeps hopes for Horey, Franklin suggests her not to keep high hopes because only a few men return from the war. Moreover, while they were discussing Ella’s five-year-old boy, Horey junior was trying to find out if there were any news available about his father. This illustrates that importance of father for a family. Because of the war, this family had lost their father. This family represents all the women and children who lost their husbands or fathers during the war.

Wife without her husband

This story demonstrates the difficulties a wife has to face when her husband is dead or away from the family. Since, Ella lives in a farming village, she has to work hard in order to make her living. Therefore, there is Zeb to work for her. Besides, Ella requested Zeb to leave because she was afraid of the society that the people would misunderstand her. “I want you to go. I’m a married woman.” Moreover, she thinks that working on tobacco, collecting corn and making fences can be done by her husband, but she will have to do all those activities alone if Zeb leaves when her husband has died. In addition, she has to bring up few children of hers who are not even six-years. She makes her kids’ minds when they ask for their Pa. Accordingly, this short story reveals smoothly how hard the life for a married woman who doesn’t have a husband.

Style

Trammell uses simple diction which can easy to understand the majority of readers. He has make use of techniques such as similes and metaphors. For example, “from one side of his head like a snake lashing out,”  “Ella’s emotions were like spring, long delayed and buried in a layer of frost covering the earth,” “Ella blossomed on a day late in May.” The sentence structure is also simple and has used indirect speech using dialogs. The boy spoke for all of them, “Does this mean that Pa is going to be home?” The author creates a sad tone mixed with anticipation through the story.

                                                                                                                                      

Contribution to the science from Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo

During the Middle Ages, there was a golden era for science and technology where the scientific revolution took place. The scientific knowledge began to grow by leaps and bounds. Scientists did many experiments and they concluded through their observations. Among the greatest scientists, Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo involved in a major role.

Firstly, Nicolas Copernicus, who was a Polish scientist, studied and checked status about motion of  heavenly objects. He mentioned after analyzing the observation that we should be in a heliocentric solar system.He also rejected the geocentric theory which the catholic church believed. Heliocentric theory means all the other planets rotate around the sun instead of the earth. Copernicus didn't have clear evidence to prove his claims. Afterwards, he kept it with his until he gets a mathematical and physical proof.

Secondly, Johanna Kepler who was a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer, studied about most significant applications of physics laws which were related to astronomy. He was able to prove that planets rotate in a elliptical orbits. However, he failed to conclude about the structure about the solar system. He was given many honors for his contribution to the science and technology. Some of the honors are Kepler's law of planetary motion, Kepler asteroid, Kepler's star, and Kepler's crater on the moon.


Thirdly,Galileo Galilee was an Italian scientist. He was a physicist, mathematician, astronomer and a philosopher. Moreover, he is called as father of modern observational astronomy, father of modern physics, father of science and father of modern science. He illustrated that gravity accelerated all objects towards the earth at the same rate. Furthermore, he accepted Copernicus on heliocentric theory. Galileo published Dialogue on the Two Chief Systems in the World which conveys more on heliocentric theory of the universe. He proved his claims with evidence taken from the study of physics.In addiction, he invented the telescope in order to look at the sky.

To sum up, many scientists contributed to this world in numerous ways. Among those characters, Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo play a vital role.They have done their responsibility as scientists. 

Bio-fuel and Sri Lanka

Bio-fuel which derived from bio waste or in other words, plant and animal waste has many benefits to mankind for their greater goodness. Although bio-fuel contains disadvantages, the advantages are greater than them according to the articles I referred. Consequently, bio-fuels of all matter are taken from nature. They have energy of sun stored in trees and animals. After some procedures, people can make use of bio-fuel in many ways.

Firstly, accordingly, firewood is a frequent mode of bio-fuel in Sri Lanka which helps to overcome hardships. Villagers can discover it from their surroundings easily as there are plenty of died parts of trees available. It allows many people to make profits from them. People in remote areas can collect and sell firewood, save their money for fuel that uses for cooking as wood is common in rural areas. Consequently, it improves the living standards of destitute in countryside as they gain extra amount.

 Secondly, Sri Lanka generates liquid bio-fuel as there are many plants that hold oil seed providing various benefits for rural people. Growing oil seed bearing trees need space. Thus, countryside people are the ones who are fortunate to take the advantage out of it. They receive revenue from growing plants, selling their items. It supports them to lessen hardships that they have to deal with. As they can use kerosene instead of natural kerosene oil, it gives then satisfaction because it reduces the cost for transportation to the town for kerosene, cooking and lightening or electricity. Hence, these conserve deposits of rural people by giving them a better living style. Moreover, on one hand, people get a better earning. On the other hand, they can afford for their children’s education. In addition, women are able to work and save for the family. Liquid bio-fuels contribute to the environment in a positive way reducing pollution and erosion. Also people can make use of barren land even.

Thirdly, people can produce bio gas, which is one of the most common forms of bio-fuels, at their home premises at an inexpensive rate. Villagers can easily install a bio gas unit at home. It reduces electricity and cooking costs. Also it diminishes transportation costs. Furthermore, bio-gas units help to make earnings from garbage that throw away from house and garden. As its setup cost and ingredient are cheap, people in rural areas can get a good net profit to enhance their living standard.

These kinds of bio-fuels have drawbacks. The government has to spend a huge amount of money to develop the technology to achieve large amount of profit. Farmers should be encouraged to cultivate oil bearing seeds though they don’t wish to give up their traditional cultivations. As there are not enough oil seeds currently in Sri Lanka, the government and relevant authorities have to wait till those trees produce their crops.

 In brief, considering all these facts and data, there are lots of advantage of bio-fuels while there is disadvantages it also.  However, I think that if Sri Lanka takes steps to develop and to overcome the barriers in implementing bio-fuels as the key source of energy generation, Sri Lanka is going to achieve a huge economic development in near future. It will contribute to reduce the poverty and hunger in all over the country avoiding being a 3^rd world country.

Gaseous Bio-fuels

Biogas or methane is the main form of gaseous biofuels. Biogas is produced through methane digester system called anaerobic digester. It decomposes organic in fertilizer to simple organic gaseous compounds (Demirbas, 2008).Continuous feed digesters( feed a few each day for regular production) and patch load digesters( filled all at one time as production of gas reduces when it is emptied ) are the main two types of biogas digesters used to yield methane. People use both methods to get a better number of crops (Hoard & Hoard, 2008).

It is not difficult to make a bio-gas plant at home. Only little equipment is needed to be found. They are: two or three barrels with lids, retaining rings, manure, tubes and manifolds (made with pipe). First, manure is filled into the barrels and kept in exposure to sun to warm. The nature by itself does the gas producing process. Second, Barrels must be connected with the help of tubing and it should be gone through two manifolds to gather produced gas. Furthermore, this tubing system should be placed in a shed a little away from the barrels and other buildings and weather. This process is an eco-friendly procedure and cheap too. As it consists of a few steps, it is easy to install this system in remote areas where there is empty spaces or gardens of villagers. (Wickramasinghe, 2008)  

When using bio-gas technology for a domestic plant, we can use it as a good cooking fuel which combustions with oxygen properly. Moreover, it’s sufficient to save 70% - 90% consumption of firewood or other expensive cooking gases such as LP Gas. Also it reduces the carbon dioxide emission to the environment. When we use a well improved cooking stove, the productivity of bio-gas also increases as it has more space to react with oxygen in the normal air (Holandia Biotech, 2005). In addition, this domestic gas unit is simple, cheap and effortlessly expandable without any electricity for operation. This method also encourages maintaining large gardens and to save money, besides, it keeps the environment clean. Hence, anyone who has a little money with their land can implement a bio-gas plant and make their expenses at a low rate.

Liquid Bio-fuels

Liquid biofuel consists of bioethanol and biodiesel. These are also derived from biomass. For instance, bio ethanol is taken from sugar cane, rice or sweet potatoes; bio diesel is derived from Jatropha oil or coconut oil. Furthermore, biodiesel can be obtained from woody biomass such as fast growing trees like Gliricidia (Nissanka, 2010). Indirectly, liquid biofuel is making use of solar energy. According to the article “Potential production of biodiesel”, Peterson says, “Photosynthesis is carried out many different organisms, ranging from plants to bacteria. Energy for the process is provided by light, which is absorbed by pigments such as chlorophylls and carotenoids. Thus, through the process of photosynthesis, the energy of sunlight is converted to a liquid fuel that with some additional processes” (Peterson, 2005, pg. 1).

In order to bring into being liquid bio fuel, people use many crops. Coconut is one of the main plants that can produce biodiesel. Other than that, there are newly introduced plants such as Gliricidia sepium, Jathropha, Pongamia pinnata, Azadirachta indica (Wickramasinghe, 2008) , Acacia auriculiformis and leucaenal eucocephala. Jathropha, castor, rubber seed, oil palm, soya bean and mustard are used to produce biodiesel while rice, maize, cassava, potatoes, soy beans and sugar cane are used to generate bioethanol. Gliricidia sepium has ability to become an inexpensive native energy stream with resident economic and employment opportunities (Nissanka, 2010).

 Producing liquid bio fuel brings several proceeds to the public. When people involve in collecting seeds, maintaining oil seed plantations and other farm work, they get paid. As a result, they can have an income. It lends a hand to poor people who only depend on farming to reduce their hunger and poverty. When their economy status increases, their domestic environments get in to a pleasant condition. It assists for children in ranch families to attend school and to have a better education. Moreover, it paves the way for women to empower themselves and to contribute to the family budgets (Wickramasinghe, 2008).

 The author notes that there are many more advantages in liquid bio-fuel. As Gliricidia and Leucena are nitrogen storing plants; these help to enrich the soil. In addition, it diminishes the soil erosion in when they are grown in slopes.  Farmers get profits from degraded lands because these plants can be grown in barren lands also (BEAS, 2007). People can decline their electricity costs replacing kerosene. Moreover, they can lessen the transportation expenditures to the city for kerosene. They can conserve some amount to get rid of their impoverishment (Wickramasinghe, 2008).

Further advantages are stated in the article, “Why Sri Lanka needs Dendro energy?” of Bio Energy Association of Sri Lanka. When country farmers gain extra cash from the Dendro or tree plantations, they can adopt animals. Hence, it leads to improve the dairy industry. Besides, people in country zones can have bio-fuel energy for those areas where electricity board cannot be reached. It causes to economic, social development in those remote places (BEAS, 2007). Bio-fuel reduces emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which are responsible for global warming and climate changes because plants absorb carbon dioxide from the environment (Endersby A., 2007). Consequently, liquid bio-fuel is a useful energy producing mode.

Myths, fairytales and stories of the God teach lessons about life in Sri Lanka

When we are kids, parents tell us many stories about myths, fairytales and stories about God. There is no matter where we live. It is the way that we pass our childhood with our guardians. Generally, as the majority of people are Buddhists, they believe in God as well as Lord Buddha. As a result, parents take those myths and stories to teach their children lessons in life.

Firstly, we believe in horoscopes as they help us to figure out which path of life to select. Although most of people ignore the concept of horoscopes, according to my personal view, we can have faith on them up to some extent. Life is unpredictable. When we walk on a dark way, we need at least a small light to find out the direction. We can find our abilities and potential of our decisions with the help of stars which are on the sky when we come to this world. Every person has an identical horoscope. The astrologers who know to read what stars tell can predict about our lives. Thus, we can make decisions according to them without blinding selecting choices

Secondly, stories about Lord Buddha teach us lessons to treat and help others who are in need of help. Parents take us to see wesak lanterns and pandols in the wesak season when we commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Lord Buddha. There are many coaching we can gain. He shows his followers how to treat people who are suffering with different diseases, poverty and blindness without considering their class or cast. He made himself as an example to the public. We also can become skilled at those qualities, such as passion and patience. Hence, it contributes us to be a successful person following stories of Buddha.

             Thirdly, past life stories of Buddha convey many qualities that can absorb to our selves. There is a book called 550 Jathaka katha which contains five hundred and fifty one stories about past lives of the Buddha. Each and every story has a lesson to be learned. It teaches us about what is going to happen if we don’t adopt pleasant attitudes. For instance, if we are too much greedy, what is going to be the result? In the story, “Golden Swan Story”, it shows the fact I mentions above how greediness affects. Moreover, in the epic of “Mahaushada Story”, it conveys how to make brainy decisions and how to analysis something wisely. Therefore, the stories of Buddha teach many lessons that one can move in a bright pathway.

In conclusion, there are many stories that we can educate ourselves. Horoscopes, Stories of Lord Buddha’s life and past life are the main sources that we can get examples. According to my point of view, I think that if someone lives in a religious back ground, he can live a prosperous life although it seems like boring.

Silencing the right of expressing ideas in Sri Lanka

The duty of media is conveying what is happening around us in a realistic way including economic, cultural and political facts. When journalists express their ideas freely regarding politics, many parties threat them to avoid their expressions. The right of delivering opinions has been violated due to political powers. There are many ways that the different parties have used to stop journalists even in Sri Lanka.  To avoid writers’ duties in Sri Lanka, they have been assassinated; they have been kid napped and put in to jails for lame fake reasons as the means of silencing their voice.

Firstly, many journalists were assassinated miserably to end their activities. For example, Mr. Lasantha Wickremathunga who was the editor of Sunday Leader newspaper was shot dead in a high security zone where the army soldiers mobilize in Sri Lanka. He was a well-known government critic. In order to stopover his straight forwardness against the government in power, he used his writing and presenting ability. It was a disadvantage for those who govern. Then finally they killed Mr. L. Wickremathunga while he was going to the office from home. That is how relevant parties make steps to stop the upcoming voices against them. Moreover, Mr. Prageeth Eknaligods who was maintaining a news website was missing. People believe that he also has already been murdered. However, no-one has taken steps for their security.

Secondly, the authorities attempt to put their opponents in to jail for fake reasons. In Sri Lanka, there was a presidential election in 2010. Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse and General Sarath Fonseka who was the former head of the army competed against each other to be elected as the president. Soon after Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse won the election, he ordered Mr. Sarath Fonseka to implement a military court for bringing unauthorized equipment to the country under his period of office. Currently, he was placed in Welikada jail for being in contradiction of the president. Besides, he lost his seat in the parliament after he was taken to jail. Consequently, no matter who they are, the relevant parties punish them for not obeying them. That is also another mean of silencing opponent ideas.

Finally, those who hold the power use their authority to destroy media stations to prevent revealing the ideas against them. There are many incidents occurred in Sri Lanka in the recent past. For instance, an armed gang has attacked the Siyatha TV station at Colombo with firebombs. The closest reason to the attack was that it is linked to the former opposition presidential candidate Sri Lanka. Furthermore, another gang attacked the office of MTV/MBC in the presence of police officers. However, even the police have not taken any steps alongside to put suspects to the custody though they got proofs of suspects. Sri Lankan authorities use their ultimate power to silence the media which make trouble to them.

In conclusion, there are many ways to silence the media against their right of expressing ideas for the justice. Many journalists have been kidnapped or assassinated. Some are taken in to custody while media stations are destroyed. Still there is a doubt remaining regarding media freedom.