"Twighlight came upon us. at I climbed on Rocket, the other guys got on their bikes, and we left the ball field and our summer dreams. Our faces no were turned toward autumn... We pedaled on, four buddies with the wind at our backs and the roads leading to the future" (McCammon 270). Continuing to build on our understanding of the seasons as representing something more than changes in the weather, what does the language of this quote represent for Cory, his friends and his childhood? Consider everything we read in section two and remember to think about where we have been and where we are going.
Kelsey p.1
4/9/2014 04:08:30 am
The fall is another season that can represent change. However, the fall, I would think, would be more towards the change of life dying rather than being born. Fall is the season where the plants stop growing and the trees she'd their beautiful leaves. For Cory and his friends it has been a crazy summer, and a scary one at that. After all of this happening, Cory now feels that he has "to figure out what was in that wooden box... [and] help [his] father find peace" (Mccammon 248). This is a very grown-up thing of Cory to say, and for something to feel he has to do at such an age. This is another summer gone where Cory is still just a kid. He's changing very slowly as he looses this town's magic. However, I believe his friends will also age with him and perhaps be able to help him in this growing-up story.
James Jones P:2
4/9/2014 12:52:59 pm
I agree with you on the prediction that Corey and the other boys will be life-time friends. So far in the novel the only friends that Corey has described to the reader are his best friends (Ben, Davey, and Jonny) (Nemo is an exception). I am sure that Corey had other friends as a boy; however Corey is writing this story as an adult, and as an adult, the only friends you usually remember are the ones who made an impact on your life. For Corey, those friends are Davey, Ben, Jonny, and Nemo, which is why they are the only friends with several cameos in the novel. When looking at the quotation, my favorite section is when all four of the boys ride away together instead of going separate ways. This quotation describes their friendship well. Using the word buddies instead of friends, pals, or even brothers gives the relationship a young feel while also describing its strength, as they head towards the their future together.
Emily F 5
4/9/2014 06:22:49 am
The changing of seasons, again, represents change in Cory’s life. In the summer, Cory was very free to do whatever he wished. A lot of crazy things happened and there was no uniform schedule he had to follow. Things were very unpredictiable. At the end of the summer, Cory said, “We were ready to be regulated, so we could fly again next summer” (McCammon 226). It seems like things might settle down in Cory’s life, but he still has many things he has to do. Cory has to “tell someone about the four black girls… read [his] story about the man at the bottom of Saxon Lake… figure out what was in the wooden box… [and] help [his] father find peace” (McCammon 370). Although Cory might not be as free as he was in the summer, he still has a lot to do in his future. He will try to find answers to his questions.
Morganne J period 5
4/14/2014 10:24:52 am
I really like the quotes you used to illustrate how the above quote effects Cory and how he is maturing with his friends. I also feel that Cory will go on to search for many of his wanted answers about the murder at Saxon lake, how it is affecting his father, and about his reoccurring dream.
Rachel H. Period 4
4/9/2014 07:56:46 am
I feel like this quote really represents the growth, and how they are changing from boys into men. They have their backs faced towards summer, as it comes to a close. This is significant, because summer is a time of relaxation and fun; as they did have several adventures and Cory felt as if "[he] wasn't as grown-up [that day] as [he] thought [he was the day before]" (McCammon 252). However, as fall begins, it is a season of change, and new beginnings; they will be the oldest they have ever been, and will never be as young as they used to be. They are growing up into men; the boys slowly begin to get more and more freedoms and privileges. It is a new turning point in their lives. As a side note, summer is generally looked at as a fun, happy and bright time, whereas fall is looked at as a darker, gloomier time.
Giancarlo G. Period 1
4/13/2014 11:08:10 am
Rachel, I really like your view on this, as I have had the same thought. I do think that fall brings out more evil, gloominess, and darkness, because of the weather old and the scenery changing. Fall is a season of change, not only will the area around where Cory lives change, but Cory and his town of Zephyr will experience a change. As the boys are growing up, they are starting to lose their innocence. During the summer, children are able to adventure into the world and experience new things. The boys get new challenges in their lives, and along with new challenges come new responsibilities.
Mackenzie K. period 1
4/9/2014 08:55:55 am
Fall is the season with the most change. The leaves change color and start to fall off, children get new teachers, and everything changes. In the book, when the fall comes, Cory goes through a significant change. He grows older, mentally. During the summer he had a lot of freedom and did a lot of childish things like pretend like he was flying. When autumn comes, he has gone through the camping trip and grown older because of that. Also, he saw a girl naked for the first time, and his teacher passed away. Even more change awaits Cory during the fall and this quote foreshadows that a little bit. In the summer they are boys, but as they transition into fall, they turn into men.
Lyssa L P4
4/11/2014 01:28:28 am
I really like how you mentioned the foreshadowing the season of fall provokes. Knowing that because the leaves are changing and dying and kids are returning to school as a year older, we can see Cory's transition into an adult because of the many issues he is faced with prior to fall and how they make him grow as a person. That's how we can see some foreshadowing because we know as the season shows maturity, we know Cory will mature too by being faced with more problems.
Matt R 2
4/13/2014 08:34:34 am
I think you made a good point concerning the growth of corey throughout the seasons. Corey truly did become older on the camping trip, and as a reader, one would notice how each of these events change corey to a point where he cannot return to the way he was. The seasons are similar to this idea, where as time passes one will no longer be able to return to the a time in the past. They will only be 12 during the summer once in their lifetime.
Andrea Birtles period 2
4/15/2014 11:20:15 am
I liked how you talked about Cory is going to be changing from a boy to a man. I think his change as the season's change is significant, and he is growing slowly out of the young and reckless "boys" age.
Harshita K P:1
4/9/2014 09:34:39 am
Fall is the season in which maturing season symbolically represents ageing. In Boy's Life, Corey and his friends say goodbye to summer and hello to Fall. so what it is just another season of change;in this book the reader sees the truth behind the meaning of each season. Like the natural world that he observes he too has reached his prime and now must look forward to the inevitability of old age and maturity. After experiencing being on his own and seeing a girl naked for the first time and falling in love. Oh how mature he has become from the start of summer to now as he faces his back from yesterday since,"[he] wasn't as grown-up [that day] as [he] thought [he was the day before]" (McCammon 252). Summer as a kid is so relaxing it is a time for lay back and fun., but as a teenager summer is just so busy there really is so relax time. The same thing goes for school when your kid you have the time and energy since school doesn't give you that much homework. As a older kid it feels as though saying good bye to summer means a new school year which stands for new beginnings and you turn a year older. As mentioned before Corey and his buds say goodbye to another summer and hello to a new year where everything will seem different than the last, the view of the world that comes with maturity.
Miranda L P4
4/9/2014 10:05:33 am
I think this quote not only signifies the change of seasons but also shows changes that will soon take place in Cory's life. Cory is going to begin attending school again and I think this quote might also be foreshadowing things that are going to happen in the future. Cory is gonna continue to investigate the Saxon Lake murder and also hopefully find out what he saw that night in the forest with his friends. I also think this quote shows how Cory and his friends are moving forward and continuing to grow up.
Rachel H. Period 4
4/13/2014 10:49:03 am
I totally agree with you, Miranda! I think that the fall could definitely be foreshadowing what will happen with the murder mystery, because it really shapes a time of somewhat darkness, especially as winter will quickly approach throughout the fall.
Ryan C. 4
4/14/2014 12:51:12 pm
Rachel, I agree with you. I think that we are being set up for a very interesting ending with the murder mystery in winter. Some things are beginning to get tied together and we see some people for who they really are.
Jen Moss P1
4/9/2014 11:26:22 am
Judging by how we see Cory throughout each of the seasons, and the experiences we're exposed to along with him, I believe the seasons represent the cycle of his maturing. Spring begins with all of Cory's childlike curiosity, filling readers with his sense of expression and imagination. As the book progresses into summer, there is still that feeling of youthful wonder, as in the first chapter when Cory and his friends are 'flying.' But some of the initial innocence starts to fade with various evils Cory comes to face and the many questions he has left unanswered. In the final lines of the second section, McCammon uses the end of summer as a form of closure; it is the start of the end of Cory's childhood. All of the more mature experiences Cory and his friends have faced in the past two seasons act as "the wind at [their] backs," pushing them towards "the roads leading to the future" (McCammon 270). They are leaving childbood, like summer, behind, and moving on to face the grown-up challenges that await in fall.
Harshita K.
4/11/2014 12:15:45 am
i afree with you completley and i liked how you explained how Corey matured throughout the seasons, transforming into an olderman throughout the coarse of he novel. The end of summer symbolizes the end of fun and games and the start of school. They turn another year older. In addition to this McCammon's word choice: "roads leading to the future" (270) he is hinting that Corey will mature and learn from the mistakes he has figuratively turned his back on his childhood. As he gains these new experiences he turns into an older man, even if he's just a kid.
Matt R 2
4/9/2014 11:54:11 am
The purpose of the seasons and this quote support the message of the value of time theoughout the story. Turning their backs on the summer is extremely important in understanding how valuable childhood is, and the time that people are given in their youth. This quote can be related to what Cory said about Johnny, who would never again be 12 in june. McCammond portrays how precious the innocence of youth is, and how once it is gone one will never have be young again.
Jen Moss P1
4/13/2014 10:45:12 am
Although I agree with you in the aspect that Cory and his friends are moving on and growing up, I feel as though this is being perceived as something negative. When in actuality, I think McCammon is leaving it as something positive. Cory is maturing, taking on new responsibilities and dealing with more adult situations. One of his main priorties he intends to see to at the end of the second section is "to help [his] father find peace" (McCammon 270). This resolution is a brave and mature one, and does indeed make Cory out to be less of a child. But I find the new development to be a good one nonetheless.
Riley S Period 2
4/9/2014 12:18:34 pm
The seasons are used by McCammon to represent change in Cory's life. The spring was renewal and growth of his understanding. The summer gave Cory freedom, with which he experienced good and bad things. Like spring, fall is a transition season, but rather than growth, fall means death. The trees start to die and the wind turns cold. I'm not saying Cory will die, by all means, but he will never be as young as he is this summer. His innocence, is slowly dying within him as Zephyr becomes less magical to him daily.
Megan J P4
4/13/2014 02:40:05 am
I completely agree with you Riley about how fall represents more of a negative transition, one of loss rather than growth. Corey's child-like innocence peaked during summer and now this innocence is dying as he begins to face challenging events, such as Rebel's death, which force him to make adult decisions.
Mahia P - Per. 1
4/9/2014 12:38:24 pm
This particular quote from Boy's Life discusses the transition between Summer and Fall for Cory and his friends. In this quote, Cory says (referring to him and his friends, "...we left the ball field and our summer dreams..." (McCammon 270). I think this means that Summer was slowly fading away, and that just like Spring turned into Summer, Summer was turning into Fall. Summer was a time of freedom for the boys - they were so excited to get out of school at the end of the year. To me, the transition to Fall in the book seems as if things are going to get more "serious" for Cory, for lack of a better term. This transition makes it seem like everything is "back to business" after Summer is over, and that's how it is for us today. In my opinion, Spring symbolizes a time of new beginnings, but it can also bring difficult times. Summer symbolizes freedom and a fresh start. Fall symbolizes getting back into a routine and everything going back to the very beginning again. This is how it is for Cory and his friends in the book.
Paulette D 5th period
4/13/2014 05:01:39 am
I like your reasoning for the seasonal change as a change of attitude. "..we left the ball field and our summer dreams.." represents them growing up (McCammon 270). I did not see the connection between the seasons and the way it affect the behavior and events that the boys faced.
James J
4/9/2014 12:41:41 pm
From the events of the section the reader knows that summer symbolizes freedom, adventure, and fun. To me, Corey's tone in this quotation is nostalgic, as if they were thanking summer for all the memories, and were leaving on good terms with it. I think that is also important that while riding away, none of the boys look back to the "baseball field" or their "summer dreams" but focus on the road to the future. This shows that even though summer is enjoyable, the boys are still looking forward to experiencing the rest of their lives.
P2
4/9/2014 12:42:00 pm
James J period 2
4/9/2014 01:02:35 pm
Also, fall can symbolize the end of the life, as it is in the fall that most plants, and insects end their life cycle and die off. This symbol leads me to wonder what is going to "die" in Corey's life during the fall. It could be more of his innocence, more magic, or even the end of the murder mystery. I think that one thing that will "die "inside" of Corey is the last of his childish perception of his parents, especially his father, who is becoming more and more unstable.
Paula R. Period 5
4/13/2014 02:19:47 pm
I agree with you, James. While Cory tells us about his journeys in each chapter, there are some that he never really talks about again, so I agree that he'll be focused more on the future. I also agree with you that something will die off in the fall. In the spring, Mr. Thornberry almost died, as well as Gavin and Cory because of the flood. In the summer, the Branlins nearly killed Johnny and the boy's encounter in the woods could have also gotten them killed. All of this leads me to think that someone or something will die, but it will be important to the story. I also think that in the fall, the suspect of the murder will be uncovered!
Giancarlo G. Period 1
4/9/2014 12:43:51 pm
I think this quote signifies how the boys are maturing; they are changing from boys into men. Summer is coming to an end, and the school year is about to begin. Summer is a time to have fun, relax, and sleep in, thus summer is viewed as a happy time. McCammon truly explains time and youth throughout the novel thus far. I truly felt McCammon’s use of time as he has Cory even mention that the twins have stolen Johnny’s summer, “Once again the Branlins had robbed him” (McCammon 237). Johnny will never have another summer where he is only 12 years old, as each new age brings on their own responsibilities. However, once fall starts, it is a time for change. Fall is usually cold, gray, and gloomier than summer due to students adjusting back into school. As a new season begins, the boys are the oldest they have been, but the youngest they will ever be. The boys are gaining valuable knowledge as they are growing into men. For example, their parents trusted them to go camping in the woods, and when things got too crazy, they were smart enough to manage their way back Zephyr. As the men wise up, they face new responsibilities and privileges for the rest of their lives.
Emma S. P2
4/10/2014 09:19:05 am
I like how you explained the way Johnny was able to start a new chance once fall hit. He spent most of the summer having to be careful and now he is able to let go. Johnny is able to star the year off with a new chapter open.
Andrea C. 2
4/9/2014 12:54:38 pm
I think this quote represents another transition in Cory's childhood. At the beginning of summer, Cory and his friends are free and innocent and living life as twelve-year-olds should. By the time summer ends and the transition into fall begins, Cory and his friends have changed and grown into more mature and understanding kids. The language McCammon uses show that there is a long journey ahead of them and there are many things to look forward to into their change from children to adolescents. Fall represents a change from being wild in youth to becoming more mature.
Riley S Period 2
4/13/2014 08:17:28 am
I liked how you mentioned the wildness of youth. To be young, is to be free and carefree. Children are able to run and play and worry about so many things growing up brings. The maturity children gain takes away that childish streak (I can't say the wild streak, because even after growing up adults can be wild...). The journey the boys have ahead of them through fall and winter will be interesting.
Alyssa Z. p4
4/13/2014 02:11:43 pm
I agree with your comment Andrea and I like the way you saw fall as a transition rather than just a stage in his life. I think fall represented much more than just a few changes.. It was a huge turning point in his life where he started to grow up
Trevor K 4
4/13/2014 10:42:43 pm
I agree with what you have to say about the seasons maturing relating to Cory's maturation. For example at the beginning of section two Cory and his friends were "flying above Zephyr" which is an innocent act of a child. It also represents the magic that is left in Zephyr. Nearing the end of the summer Cory is faced with problems that aren't for children. He witnesses a known killer and is able to make it out safely. He also grows by entering the writing contest to pay tribute to Mrs. Neville. I also agree that McCammon sets up the rest of the novel as a long journey because Cory has to try to help his father reach peace.
Ambreen M ( period 1)
4/9/2014 01:18:40 pm
This quote is wrapping up the summer and concluding it, leaving behind the memories and moving on. The boys are readying for what is coming and all ready to grow up and experience more of life.The upcoming section leads into the season of fall, which can represent and transition into more changes which will occur throughout the book. Fall is the time school is in session and the boys are expecting an upcoming year full of surprises. There will be more clues and reads on who killed the man in the car and possibly figuring out who committed the crime.
Anna W. 1st
4/9/2014 01:41:39 pm
Essentially twilight is the time between daylight and nighttime and that could represent exactly what Cory is transitioning into in his life. In section 2 when the the spider monkey Lucifer escaped into the town, Cory states: "Lucifer stayed pretty much to himself during the day, but sometimes when night fell he shrieked and screamed..." (199). Lucifer's namesake represents the Devil, and with that he represents darkness and evil. The fact that he usually only comes out at night relates to McCammon's use of the word "twilight". At that moment Cory was in twilight, summer (daylight) had already past. I think that in the changing seasons from summer to fall, the fall season will bring out more of the darkness and evil that Cory realizes exists in his town. Fall also being a universally symbolic season of change, a transition season, I think there will also be a lot more of Cory losing the childhood innocence that he has left.
Amanna V (4)
4/10/2014 09:54:27 am
I really like your view on this matter, as I have not thought of the quote this way. I agree that the fall will bring out more evil and darkness because of the bitter cold and the changing scenery. Since fall is a transition season as you said, not only will the area around where Corey lives change, but Corey and his neighbors will experience a change in themselves as well. In Corey, I agree that he will loose the innocence he has, since he is growing up. In summer he was able to let loose and be a child with no responsibility, but in autumn more maturity will be called upon him.
Jelani P 2
4/9/2014 01:47:05 pm
Fall is a time of change, and it will be a time of change for Corey because he must lose the carefree attitude he had during the summer and begin to focus on school. By McCammon word choice: "roads leading to the future" (270) he is hinting that Corey will mature and learn from the mistakes he has figuratively turned his back on. Throughout the book he progress as a boy and here McCammon is describing a continued improvement in Corey.
Becca K Period 4
4/13/2014 02:40:50 am
Jean I I also saw the coming of fall to show that Cory is maturing. Since the emphasis of his summer was on the freedom of the season, I saw that season coming to an end to symbolize how he is growing up and starting to learn that life isn't always so carefree and happy like spring. He is starting to realize that with life comes great challenges, but each obstacle he has come across has made him wiser. I think fall will bring with it life lessons that will force him to grow up faster.
Becca K Period 4
4/13/2014 02:41:35 am
As carefree and happy as *summer
Jimmy M p2
4/13/2014 02:42:45 pm
I completely agree with you about how fall represents more of a negative transition, one of loss rather than growth. Corey's child-like innocence peaked during summer and now this innocence is dying as he begins to face challenging events, such as Rebel's death, which force him to make adult decisions.
Chandler Stich period 5
4/16/2014 12:42:14 pm
I completely agree with you J.P. After reading the Summer of Devil and Angels part of the novel, we can only assume as readers that more as to happen to Corey and his friends. It is only expected that he has to go through some type of "coming of age" in his life and there is no better time to place that into a season than the season of fall. It is by far the season when we see fluid change in the weather and I think we will see that in Corey too.
Elizabeth Z Period 2
4/9/2014 01:53:59 pm
I have always seen autumn as a very gloomy season. The days start to get a bit shorter, all of the beautiful greens then to dark reds and browns, and it begins to get colder. Overall, it is dark and grim in my eyes. With Nemo announcing that his family is moving yet again, and the end of summer (as season reminiscent of freedom and happiness), all of the boys are preparing himself for the grimness that is coming. As much as they seem to want to stay in that summer endlessly, the wind is pushing them forward into the next season of their life, which could end up leading almost anywhere.
Daniella A period 4
4/9/2014 01:55:15 pm
McCammon uses the seasons to represent change in Cory's life. As he and his friends were excited for summer, they were looking forward to the freedom that came with it. As fall came, the children had matured and weren't those immature 12 year olds anymore. Fall can represent death. It's when the trees don't grow anymore, and the grass and flowers begin to die. With that, I think the idea that it is now fall, the youth and innocence is going to "die" in Cory, only because he is maturing. I think that is what McCammon is trying to get across with this quote.
Rose Amodea P4
4/13/2014 10:59:26 am
I really liked how you related the fall to maturity because i thinking the exact same thing! Cory is learning to act more mature in this part of the novel and i do think that that sparks a fire within him to handle situations with more reason and thought. The innocence is going to "die" in Cory because he does want to learn how to solve his own problems with the previous mysteries they have yet to solve as well.
Jordan Chenoweth 5
4/9/2014 02:05:43 pm
I really believe the change in seasons represents Cory taking all these steps through growing up and life in general. Spring kind of represented being born, not just plants and animal life, but Cory's mannerisms as well. All of the innocence Cory portrayed was mostly seen in the spring time. Then came the summer, a time of freedom and discovery. This is when Cory started making changes in his mannerisms and discovering new things about himself that he never new, such as a newfound attraction for girls. Most of the time spent in summer was of Cory climbing the wall of innocence into maturity and young adulthood just as summer is about being free to explore and discover. I feel that fall is leading us to see Cory really express his manhood. Fall is when the plants mature, the leaves change colors, etc. I feel with all Cory has been through, this will be the time where his colors change and he kind of takes the biggest step thus far away from his innocence and into his adult life.
Zak D period 2
4/10/2014 11:35:30 pm
Jordan I like how you are inferring that Cory will have a big change as a person. His maturity will grow immensely over the season of change. His past experiences have shown us that Cory is ready to become a more mature person.
Ryan Dowler P5
4/13/2014 10:52:30 am
I like the way you described each season as a change in Corys life and him growing up. I feel like the summer time is the greatest time of change for Cory as he learned new things and discovered new things about himself.
Zak D period 2
4/9/2014 11:11:11 pm
With the changing of the seasons, I think Cory will become more mature because fall is a differen time than summer. In summer, kids are outside and they play and they forget about the world. In the fall, reality sets in. They return back to school and the idea of death becomes more prevalent because of the decaying trees and dying plants. Also, the celebration of Halloween could have an effec on Cory because it is considered a scary holiday and I think that something important will happen on that very night.
Josh S. 4
4/13/2014 12:10:03 pm
I agree with you Zak, the idea of returning to school and hitting that reality go hand in hand. The decaying nature life also could represent that loss of youth as you mentioned as well. And I also agree with you that something very important could happen Halloween night.
Bailey F p2
4/10/2014 12:43:02 am
The changing seasons represent Cory's life, and how he is growing older. Twilight represents his childhood, and the fact that Cory is riding his bicycle home after playing ball at twilight, it signifies the end of his childhood, and his transition into adulthood. Summer was a time where Cory and his friends were able to do whatever they wanted freely with the exception of the complicated situations the arose throughout the novel. Autumn is approaching, and I think that Cory is going become more mature and handle his situations with more reason and knowledge. I think this because autumn is a time of maturing in terms of nature. The leaves on the trees turn colors, and all the plants are preparing for the winter to come.
Juila C. p2
4/10/2014 10:48:51 am
Bailey, I totally agree with you that Cory is in a transition to adulthood. He has been facing obstacles along the way, and I think that they were used to prepare him for his future. Also, I agree that the symbol of the maturing nature, like the leaves changing colors, represent Cory maturing and growing up.
Brandon K P4
4/10/2014 03:25:48 am
Over the course of the second section Cory has had a lot of crazy experiences. Those events have undoubtedly changed and matured him. Through the language in the quote it seems like those experiences are recognized and realized, but it is moving on to a new time. Fall is where freedom is lost for children as life returns to the usual structured schedule of school. For Cory this will mean a change in what is possible in what he can do and where he can go. This will influence how the events that have happened in the book so far will carry over into the story. Lastly, I also think that the transition into fall also is representing and continuing how Cory is starting to see the evil and the loss of magic in Zephyr. Fall is a time where the weather gets colder and things start to change like the color of leafs. I think that will be symbolic to the continuation of the harsh realizations of Cory.
Corey K (period 5)
4/10/2014 04:29:54 am
McCammon does a great job of using the seasons as more than just a time of the year. As spring comes to an end, the boys let loose during summer with the thrill of endless possibilities. They open up their wings to freedom. But as summer comes to an end, the twilight of fall approaches quickly. They must leave the freedoms they enjoyed and the memories they made in the past and move forward. Twilight is the period between light and dark. They are leaving the light of childhood, with all it's mysteries and wonders, into the dark cruel- real world. Another way of looking at it is that Fall is a season of aging leaves. The boys are become more mature as a green leaf changes to an orange one. They pedal on towards their futures and farther and farther away from the magic of childhood.
Alexis B. Period 1
4/13/2014 11:02:41 am
I agree that as the season change the boys are coming of age and maturing. I also like that you compared fall to the boys change, and how as leaves change colors the boys are changing also. I think that was a good observation. The boys are maturing as time goes on, and events within the story have caused them to grow
Lebron James
4/10/2014 04:30:55 am
I haven't read this book but....I plan to win another ring this season. My team is fighting for the number 1 seed in the east this year and I don't plan on losing. I know you don't think this is the real Lebron James but from time to time I actually go find random blogs to post on. As such a famous and impact player in the NBA its not easy just venting to the nation. So this is my only was to unveil how I feel. If you guys were to try and tell others about this..nobody would believe you and I would just deny it if it asked. Thank you all for the opportunity to communicate with the world at a normal level. Good day :')
KD
4/10/2014 06:27:36 am
you still flop tho...........
Lebron James
4/10/2014 12:34:30 pm
KD.....How many rings and/or MVP's do you have. You don't want this 😤✋
Lebron's Hairline
4/10/2014 02:33:07 pm
....
MJ
4/11/2014 03:38:18 pm
Both of y'all ain't shit lmaooo
Ryan Dowler P5
4/10/2014 06:23:36 am
I feel like the fall brings a transition from what Cory had learned in the summer, and to him actually utilizing what he learned. The seasons all symbolize different parts of Cory and his development in life. The summer time taught him so important lessons and he discovered new things that he never really knew where there; like his feelings for Chile Willow. The fall time brings back school for Cory but it also brings a sense of optimism for the future. The last sentence of the chapter summarizes it perfectly, "We pedaled on, four buddies with the wind at out backs and all roads leading to the future" (270 McCammon). The wind was the crazy life of summer and the fall is the future Cory and his friends have together.
Carissa Corpuz P4
4/10/2014 06:39:40 am
With the season change, Cory is beginning to mature even more. He starts to come to new realizations, such as feelings for girls as seen through Chile Willow, and an understanding of how his dad is deeply affected by the event the two of them witnessed. Cory sees his dad as a strong man, able to venture through anything, but I believe his view changes when his dad states, "I've been pretendin' for a long time that I'm stronger than I am. That I could put that dead man in the car behind me and let him go. But I can't, Cory. He calls to me" (McCannon 232). I think that Cory realizes that his dad is trying to stay strong for the sake of the family and provide a sense of normalcy for them. With all the absurdness going on in Cory's life, I feel that the magic will slowly start to disappear as a result, but not wholly because he promised Mrs. Neville, his former teacher, that he will always have it. Although Cory is maturing, he will keep the magic as he gets older and have the sense of freedom and boyhood portrayed in the novel.
Jennifer C. Period 1
4/10/2014 01:00:25 pm
I agree with you Carissa especially when you point out how Cory's father is getting weaker and more distant with his family as he continues to live with the emotions of seeing the body sink into the lake. As a result, he feels obligated to support his family as best as he can by being there for his father. We read his thoughts about how he feels about his dad and how he "prayed for Dad [so] that he could find his way up out of the dark" (McCammon 32). He still believes in the magic that he has always grown up with, however all these situations that he is encountering slowly will change his perspectives on his life.
Angel A5
4/10/2014 06:59:10 am
I think that each season brings its own lessons and as a person, Cory is able to mature more. During the fall, Cory saw the man sink into the lake, he saw his dad cry, he began to change. The summer was different, he had different experiences such as seeing Chile and having emotions for a female. With everything that is happening in Cory's life, the magic that once was will begin to disappear and he will begin to cross into adulthood. Now as summer is ending, a whole new cycle of lessons begins for Cory once Fall comes around again.
Chris Q p1
4/13/2014 07:24:46 am
I agree with you. Fall is a time of change. The leaves fall off the trees, and the weather becomes colder. This is representative in Cory's life. The magic he once had is "falling" like leaves from trees.
Scott A. 5th
4/13/2014 11:41:34 am
I liked how you stated how Cory is losing the magic he once had. His imagination is slowly fading as time progresses. The seasons represent change just like how Cory is changing from a young boy to a man. He now makes decisions and is more independent in the summer.
Megan J. P4
4/10/2014 07:00:51 am
While summer is symbolically the best time of one’s life, fall represents transitioning away from this into more gloomy events. Fall is filled with loss, such as when trees lose their leaves. Corey & his friends begin summer completely carefree and joyous as they “kept going, fighting the wind and then flying before it” (McCammon 137). The closer the boys get to fall, the more they mature due to events like getting beat up by the Branlins, Corey getting a crush on a girl, etc. I find it interesting how the quote in the question states how at the end of summer the boys had “the wind at [their] backs and the roads leading to the future” (270). At the beginning of the summer, the boys fought the wind and flew but now that same wind is pushing them into the future. This shows how the boys are growing up, possibly against their will, and probably will continue to lose their childlike innocence in the coming chapters taking place in fall, the season of loss.
madyson b 2
4/10/2014 07:17:37 am
I think that quote is showing not just the transition form summer to fall but cory's development from a little kid to more of an adult. Fall is a major season and when the world has a lot of colors. Because Cory is a kid and tell us this story from his forties makes sense as to why is told in seasons rather than dates. As a kid you don't remember things that way. You remember it by summer or spring. I like this abd think that it makes Cory more endearing to the readers
Alayna D. Period 1
4/10/2014 07:49:29 am
Summer ending brings fall, which is another season representing change. However, I feel the fall will be more towards the change of life dying rather than being born. Fall is the season where plants start to die for the winter. For Cory and his friends it has been a crazy summer, and after all that happened, Cory now feels the need to solve the fear in his father and find out what is in the wooden box. This shows the progress of Cory and how he has grown up so much, he now sees the importance of solving these issues in his life and yet he is still so young. I feel like since Cory is maturing so fast his friends will have to catch up to him, and try to understand the grown up decisions he will have to make this upcoming fall.
Bailey F p2
4/14/2014 10:37:49 am
I totally agree with you Alayna. Fall will be more towards the change of life dying rather than being born. The leaves on the trees start to change colors, and I relate this to the boys and the way that they are maturing. Leaves change colors before they fall off the tree, so the boys do have to grow older before they descend out of this world. I also feel that Cory is maturing very quickly, and he is going to be able to handle his situations with more reason and knowledge.
Becca K Period 4
4/10/2014 08:31:02 am
I think the boys turning their backs on summer and facing fall is symbolic of them growing up. As they move away from their childhood innocence, they begin to grow into adults. For them, the summer represented summer and freedom. They were care free and did what they wanted. While they enjoyed it while it lasted, they eventually had to leave that stage of freedom and face what was next. Autumn was approaching without that same feeling of freedom. Fall brings along with it new struggles to overcome and lessons to learn. Realistically they were welcoming autumn, but symbolically they were welcoming maturity.
Haley M Period 4
4/13/2014 01:25:29 pm
I agree with your point on the boys turning their backs on summer as a symbol of moving on and growing up. The next summer they won't have the same innocence that they have had over this summer. I also agree with your point about how fall has less freedom than summer.
Rachel VB 4
4/14/2014 01:56:43 pm
I agree with you Becca. I think everyone can relate to the moment where you realize you must act mature again for the incoming school year. During the summer Cory didn't have much to worry about. I think you are right about how he grows up and the fall resembles his new journey beginning. The change will make a big impact on Cory and the rest of his friends.
Dong L. Period 5
4/10/2014 09:00:38 am
With the change of seasons transitions Cory's growth and development. Each season have a deeper meaning than its weather and colors such as the events that can happen. Spring can be a season with mischief since Cory saw a murder that happen in the spring. Also, his summer is hectic with the bullies and Lucifer wrecking havoc. I feel that everytime Cory experiences these events, he slowly learn something about the world and the people around him.
Tyler K. 1
4/10/2014 12:29:50 pm
I agree with you and feel that the colors of the season help visualize the events that take place in the seasons. I can predict that winter could bring depression and sadness (the color blue). The story is based around events that affect Cory in different ways, but all the events signify growth within Cory towards his understanding of the world.
Emma S. P2
4/10/2014 09:16:07 am
During the summer, the boys grw up. They encountered a bully and had to fend for themselves. They also went on a camping trip deep in the woods, by themselves. I feel like summer is when many do their growing up because usually towards the end of the year, at school, you have many new friends and hangout in the summer. These people show you different things and help you grow. Cory made new friends with Nemo, who's mother is a little crazy and it showed Cory that not everybody is innocent. The boys turning their back to summer shows them accepting the change of growing up but also shows the boys sticking together as they ride their bikes away from the field together.
Amanna V (4)
4/10/2014 09:46:39 am
This quote basically prepares the readers for what to expect in the coming chapters. From this statement, we can tell that a growth from the characters is to come. They turned their backs from the ball field and their "dreams" to focus on more important matters. With the change from summer to autumn, comes the change from youthfulness to maturity. The boys have experienced so much the past summer that when autumn comes around, they have already matured due to these events. They no longer are the same boys that they were in the beginning of the summer. Also in summer, so many questions arose and are still left unanswered. Since summer has ended and autumn is beginning, we will start to see new changes and hopefully some answers, hence why Corey stated, "We pedaled on, four buddies with the wind at our backs and the roads leading to the future". They put some of their problems on hold to enjoy summer, however with autumn approaching they need to start to find solutions for these problems.
Miranda L P4
4/10/2014 10:46:37 am
I agree with you Amanna. I feel like this quote is foreshadowing what may take place in the next couple of chapters. Summer has ended and now a new chapter of the boys lives are going to unfold. This also shows that the boys are continuing to grow up.
Nick Wolf (1)
4/10/2014 10:14:41 am
I think that the quote refers to the idea that Cory and his friends will no longer have the freedom to question as much for themselves; they turn their backs on the “summer dreams” (McCammon 270). When Cory is allowed to stay up late during the summer nights, he narrates that “When enough lights were extinguished, the stars became much brighter. You could look up into the heart of the universe” (McCammon 179). It is only because he has the freedom to stay up later at night with few responsibilities that he is able to look and see the center of everything, the “heart” than can display entire worlds before him. The entire summer the universe was opened up to a level of examination that simply cannot be observed in the time of Autumn because society and civilization surrounds Cory and his friends in things such as school and routine.
Brandon K Period 4
4/14/2014 03:03:50 am
I definitely agree with you. The fall is bringing structure and rules, which were not around as much during the summer, to Cory and his friends. During that time of freedom a lot was discovered and learned but school and rules are going to change how things go in the book.
Nadim. K
4/10/2014 10:42:51 am
In Boy's life, the season's all represent some stage in life. Summer represented freedom and no responsibilities and that is slowly going away. Now that Fall is starting to approach them, you get the understanding that it represents change and maturity in life and understanding of real-life problems. Also, now that fall has approached, characters begin to make life changing and important decisions that would either help or hurt their upcoming future.
Julia C. 2
4/10/2014 10:45:33 am
I think that the changing of seasons shows how Cory is growing up and he will not always have the freedom of being young, and they show the changes that are taking place in Cory's life. I think that when it says that they left their summer behind that it shows how they are growing up and ready to move on to a new season of life. When they are riding their bikes on the roads that are leading to the future, I think that this represents the new adventures and beginnings that Cory will have.
Emily F 5
4/11/2014 12:20:20 am
I agree with you that the changing season represents Cory changing. I also like how you brought up that Cory is also becoming more nature. He realizes that he will not be as free as he was in the summer and he is okay with that and says that he would “fly again next summer” (McCammon 266). I think the road that he is traveling down at the end of section 2 represents his future and the things he will have to do in the future. There are many parts of his life that are unresolved. He needs to find out what his dream means, read his story, and help his dad find peace. He will need to find out the truth about the murder, which remains a mystery at this point of the story.
TJ A. period 2
4/10/2014 11:53:25 am
One thing the quote represents for Cory is the harsh reality that life is not the world in his head. Fantastic as it may be, it is filled with many hard truths. Hence them "le[aving] the ball field and [their] summer dreams."(McCammon 270). The beginning of summer, Corey and his friends have many adventures,from discovering Nemo's hidden talent to discovering the beach boys, though these adventures weren't entirely positive, they were riveting and fantastical nonetheless. But, as the summer wanes, the demons of truth rear their ugle heads from the Preachers rant on the song (the monkey was literally called Lucifer. C'mon), and Nemo having to leave because he constantly moved, Cory rides on into the autumn, realizing it is time to abandon the dream that was a childhood summer, in exchange for coming face to face with the realities that lie ahead.
Angel A5
4/13/2014 12:47:11 pm
I agree with you. All the magic that Cory says he sees in the town is beginning to fade. Reality is starting to hit Cory and he is realizing that no matter how hard he tries to make the magic a reality, it can never happen. The harshness and truth will always overshadow the magic.
Vasudha P. (1)
4/10/2014 11:59:22 am
It is to my belief that the altering in seasons demonstrate Cory overcoming the process of maturing and just life generally. Spring represented being born, not just plants and animal life, but Cory's characteristics additionally. All of the innocence Cory displayed was mostly in spring. Eventually arrived summer, a time of freedom and discovery. This is when Cory began making changes in himself and discovered a greater depth to him that he never noticed, such as attraction to females. Most of the time spent in summer was of Cory transferring from innocence into maturity and young adulthood just as summer is about venturing and experimenting. Fall is when maturation occurs, the leaves change colors, light becomes dark. I feel with all Cory has been through, this will be the time where his colors change and he kind of takes the biggest step thus far away from his innocence and into his adult life. he has finally adapted faced is seasons or (stages) of life and has come of age.
Chris b 5
4/10/2014 12:01:05 pm
Typically fall is not a happy month in literature it is used to symbolize closure or finality, so given that while the summer was rough there was no lasting damage. And there is a lot of loose ends that still need to be closed in the book and it can lead us to wonder is that what lays ahead for Cory. Maybe we will see the conclusion to the biggest mystery of the murder.
Shelby D 5
4/10/2014 12:01:27 pm
The seasons represent a continuous change happening in life. Cory along with his friends are transforming from their childhood to adulthood. Robert McCammon states that these changes are the “roads leading to the future” (McCannon 270). This idea relates to Cory specifically because he is beginning to grasp an idea of the evils within the world. He is beginning to see the abnormalities within the behavior of people. And he is also beginning to understand the simple gratifications within the world. These new understandings Corey is adventuring himself into are the changes of life which are compared to the changes in the seasons.
Hailey A. 2
4/10/2014 12:02:08 pm
I think the changing of the seasons represent death because the leaves being to die and fall off. I think this connects to Cory because now that the leaves begin to die so does his summer and freedom with the open world and he now has to go to school, which to a young boy is probably worse than death. Going back to school means another year he is growing up, and with growing up, the magic in the town and the magic in the him begins to die.
Daniella A 4
4/15/2014 03:09:25 am
Hailey, I completely agree with you. I really like how you said the magiv in him begins to die, because I said the same thing, I think as he gets older, the picture perfect idea of life begins to fade. He knows that bad things happen and he has to start maturing to realize this.
Kevin T Period 1
4/10/2014 12:05:34 pm
The seasons represent life. With each season, brings new memories, and experiences. With Cory, he has changed. He sums it up well in his own words “I wasn’t as grown-up today as I thought I’d been yesterday” (McCammon252). He has grown a bit more. He witnessed his first naked girl. He made a new friend, who left him. One of his teachers died. All this impacted his life. Each adding a bit to his character. I believe all of these events, are a sort of foreshadowing that something big, is about to happen in Zephyr that will drastically change his life.
Hailey A 2
4/15/2014 03:15:51 am
I like the quote you used here to explain how the seasons changes Cory and it seams grow with him as he handles each experiance and takes life lessions from them and become a grown up.
Paulette D. period 5
4/10/2014 12:07:24 pm
During their summer, a whole bunch of things happen to them that normal 12 year olds do not face. I think the fall represents the end of their childhood/ innocence. As the new season rolls in, Cory and his friends won’t remember each event word by word, but the impact of it will stay with them at the start of the new year. As the trees and plants begin to die in preparation of winter, Cory will have to face an even more upsetting situation. Cory’s problems won’t go away even his dreams where they stand “beneath a leafless tree calling [his] name again and again and again“ (McCammon 264).
Elainie K Period 1
4/10/2014 12:13:18 pm
The changing of the seasons into fall continues Cory's path from childhood and innocence to adulthood and maturity. This quote reminds me of what Cory says about Johnny and his concussion, how he would never be 12 years old in June again. Although it is said about Johnny, it directly applies to Cory as well, as this summer is the last summer he will be a child unexposed to the real world. I think the continuation into the fall season will bring upon more mystery and surprises to Zephyr, all contributing to Cory's development into an adult.
Matt C 1
4/10/2014 12:17:15 pm
I think this quote means that Cory an his friends are growing up and maturing, and that they will someday not have the freedoms of summer that enjoy now. When Cory says he is heading toward autumn, he means he is maturing and entering a life of adolescents, and he is starting to leave his childhood behind him
Kathryn P P2
4/10/2014 12:21:39 pm
I believe the change in seasons symbolizes Cory's growth and knowledge of the world. In the spring, we begin to remember what the sun feels like on our skin and we start over, knowing that summer is coming soon. In the summer, it marks the end of school, a time when kids no longer have to follow strict guidelines and can be free. The longer days and shorter nights allow us to experience more things. When autumn approaches, it signifies that we have learned stuff over the summer and become older and wiser, preparing us for the new school year. Such as in the quote when the twilight draws near and they pedal on into the future, knowing they have gained a better friendship and more knowledge of the world. Therefore, the seasons are the times for children to understand how the world works in its mysterious ways.
Tyler Ken. 1
4/10/2014 12:22:03 pm
"Twighlight came upon us. at I climbed on Rocket, the other guys got on their bikes, and we left the ball field and our summer dreams. Our faces no were turned toward autumn... We pedaled on, four buddies with the wind at our backs and the roads leading to the future" (McCammon 270). I believe that the quote represents the growth and departure of the season and youth. Summer tends to represent youth, freedom, and the heart of the year. As summer ends, Cory realizes that the heart of year has passed, but more importantly the youth and freedom of his 12th summer has expired. Cory’s great memories of the summer and freedom he felt through the camping trip have also passed too. As summer passes the presents of school, harshness of winter, and the ending of the year come closer.
Shivam P. period 2
4/10/2014 12:22:16 pm
The change in seasons again has a lot to do with how life Is going to be in that specific section. In spring we had life being born, but in the fall I feel like life is slowly dying. That the people around Cory slowly fall to their demise and it's up to Cory to help them out. It's up to Cory to assist his father with the dead man's nightmares. The quote itself suggest that Cory and his only friends will remain lifelong friends even if they might not always be in touch
Corey K. (period 5)
4/13/2014 12:16:27 pm
I really like the idea how Spring brought upon life and opportunity, were as Fall brings death and the loose of freedom. Cory is going to have to face harsh realities in the near future and grow up. Just like you said, he is going to have to help people and become less of a child. The idea of Twilight is that it is between light and dark. Cory is heading away from the light of childhood and summer into adulthood and Fall.
Jesse S. Period 4
4/10/2014 12:23:34 pm
In this case they talk about how their leaving behind thier dreams like summer. Change is inevitable, it's only a matter of time. The dreams of their childhood are being swapt out with reality. Play time is over, the boys must focus on the future, until next summer. As time passes on, they become more aware of how close death really is. Fall is certainly one of the most colorful seasons, the colors of leaves change vividly as they die. Demonstrating that death isn't only bad, in some cases death can be a beautiful thing. The leaves don't just die suddenly. They transition slowly, giving time to see the changes, almost giving time to reflect on life itself.
Jordan C 2
4/10/2014 12:33:27 pm
That quote really speaks about how that particular summer is changing Cory. This summer was another summer that he began learning new things and the fact he wants to grow up. In general, summer is known for starting new things for people, especially for students or kids. Summers allow young people's days become less hectic and more adventurous, which is exactly what Cory and his friends did during the summer months. Besides that, Cory mentions in the quote that there were roads that lead to the future. This connects to Cory by the fact that based on what he is learning he is developing what he might see in the future and what might happen in the future. This also relates to the thought of what we have been and what we are going to see. Summer only happens once a year and it brings change to everything just like any other time, but the events in this summer for Cory allows him to see what is probably going to happen during the next years or months for him in the future or even the longer drawn out future.
Chris Q P1
4/10/2014 12:33:38 pm
This quote represents the maturing of Cory. As he grows older he has more responsibility and less time for "magic." The summer allowed him to have free range of what he wanted to do. With school approaching in the fall he is no longer free to do as he pleases. With this maturation, Cory develops a closer bond with his friends. I feel that the word buddy portrays a closer relationship than the word friend.
Jake S P4
4/13/2014 01:52:08 pm
I agree with you that Cory is becoming much more mature and this quote is a great example of that. In addition to more responsibility and a greater relationship with his friends I feel like the wind at his back also represents a new found confidence that is a result of his maturity. In this Mccammon might be trying to show the reader that although "magic" is lost when growing up, there are positives also.
Joe S. Period 1
4/10/2014 12:34:21 pm
From this quote, one can consider that it signifies the mature transformation the boys are going through. They are growing up and "[have] the wind at [their] backs and the roads leading to the future" (McCammon 270). Earlier in the book the summer blossomed, bringing a time of true freedom and adventurous possibilities for the boys. As the summer simmers down, the boys actions and freedoms do too. They face a new era of the real world and leave their freedom behind to now reach roads that will take them through grown up paths. Time progresses quickly in the novel and is incorporated thoroughly throughout. As fall approaches, the four boys are growing up fast while at the same time still young. As a new season emerges, the boys are faced with gloomier days of adjustment back into the school mode. Their sense of freedom and adventurous abilities are still present, but in less amounts. They know follow the path of knowledge to much more advanced responsibilities. One example that can support this is when the boys go camping. The freedom of them going camping allows them to experience independent responsibility for a short period of time, yet allowing them to experience a sample part of growing up. Through that experience, the boys gained knowledge and were mature enough to make a smart decision and split up. The boys are faced with new rigorous challenges, that thus far, seem to push them away from the magic of their childhood.
Katelyn B period 2
4/10/2014 12:34:57 pm
The seasons incorporated throughout the novel by McCammon represent change in Cory's life as he transitions from an innocent child, into a maturing adolescent/adult. The spring brought renewal and growth to his viewpoint and understanding of life, transitioning into the events of summer. Summer gave Cory and his friends freedom from the harsh restraints embedded in reality, “[They] deserved to fly…for what [they] had endured on the ground” (McCammon 139). The summer also brought some negative events as well, such as the camping trip his friends went on, further exposing the evil in society when they witnessed a trade with a few men and the Blaylocks. Similar to spring, fall serves as a transition season, but rather than growth (flowers, birds, etc.), fall shifts into a phase of death (trees die and cold, harsh weather is brought in). By the time winter works its way into the novel, Cory’s childhood innocence will deteriorate inside him as the magic in Zephyr becomes less apparent in his everyday life. Instead of having the imagination suggested by the image of spring; Cory will start to have more narrow-minded thoughts, conforming to society, becoming restricted within himself, much like how the winter keeps people trapped indoors.
Joe S. Period 1
4/13/2014 06:51:48 am
I agree with your points, Katelyn. He renews his viewpoints every season and as a different sense towards things. I like how you thoroughly describe the transitions. It's like each season has its feeling where, through Cory's narration, is deeply described. I also agree that the occurrences in the novel will progress Cory's view deeply. His thoughts will seem more serious and different, with not that much presence of magic. I too think that winter will impact Cory and the town like never before.
Tyler Kol period 5
4/10/2014 12:40:30 pm
The seasons are used by McCammon to represent change in Cory's life. As spring is used as a transitional phase of happiness, bringing upon the freedom of summer, fall symbolizes the death of that freedom. Cory realizes that his summer is gone, and he too “will never be 12 in June again”. He is slowly growing up, killing the magic within him
Lizzy K P4
4/10/2014 01:53:22 pm
Tyler, although I do not disagree with you, I think the changing of the seasons has much more meaning to the plot line than watching Cory's growth. I think the seasons changing is going to bring new events to the plot that will help with the solving of the murder. As the seasons change, something important to the murder is discovered and so McCammon is foreshadowing an event that could change the plot yet again.
Jennifer C. Period 1
4/10/2014 12:50:08 pm
As far as season go, a year is frequently illustrated as a lifetime with spring being birth and winter being death. In Cory’s case, it represents his childhood. In the beginning of the novel, we see Cory as an eleven-year-old boy with an active imagination living in a world of magic with good people. As summer comes around and the murder takes place, Cory begins to question the world around him and the people in it. Cory also begins to act and want to be older than what he really is, especially when he goes camping, but “what would hurt most would be admitting [that he] wasn’t as grown up as [he] thought I’d been” (McCammon 252). Seeing as winter could represent death, I feel that it foreshadows something bad happening to Cory or his childhood ending when he has to face an even difficult situation. As readers, we can also expect many of our questions being answered about the murder and Cory’s reoccurring dream as he progresses to get older and his curiosity brings about new situations and solutions.
Monica E P1
4/10/2014 12:57:36 pm
I think that the changing of the seasons represents Corey's growth of maturity and knowledge. In the spring, Corey seemed a little immature and did not really seem to grasp much about the world. However, as summer approaches, Corey starts to discover more about the world and himself. For example, he finds himself analyzing the scene of the accident and the man in the green feathered hat, he understands more than he thinks. This quote refers to looking forward towards the future and maturing in stages. McCammon tries to show the stages of maturity through nature and the seasons.
Kevin H p.4
4/10/2014 01:03:27 pm
I thinki that the language of the quote really reflects how the boys have grown up just a little bit more, and that they will never again be the same that they were at the beginning of the summer. It is similar to when Corey is talking about Davy Ray and his concussion, he says "he would never again be twelve years old in June" (187). This has the same sort of meaning to it, that they really can't turn things around, and that life is going to continue to move forward.
Haley M Period 4
4/10/2014 01:06:30 pm
Summer ending means the boys must go back to school and start a new year. They will never have the same summer and will never be the same age during a summer again. The next summer they will have grown and changed and will not have the same innocence that they had this summer. Their childhood is slowly growing smaller as they get older their childless begins to dwindle away. When it states that they left their summer dreams, it is referring to all the opportunities that they left behind and did not take. They could possibly take these opportunities in the future but some of them they will not be able to ever complete. The wind on their back not allowing them to turn around and go back into the path only to continue of the continuous road moving forward and into the future.
Scott A. 5th
4/10/2014 01:07:49 pm
I think the seasons represent a time of change and truly illustrates how the boys are changing in the novel. Cory and his friends are growing up and are becoming young men. With age comes freedom and responsibility. There is no school in the summer and no real order, kids can stay up late and sleep in with freedom. Cory realized that he is growing up and is losing the magic inside of him. The winter keeps emotion bundled up inside. The fall regains order in everyone. Seasons in this story represent changes in the characters.
Hannah B. P1
4/10/2014 01:15:30 pm
Fall displays similar changes like spring, however in reverse. Instead of rebirth we see more of a “dying” aspect. Leaves must die in preparation for new ones to come in. At the beginning of summer the boys are lighthearted and blissful. As fall approaches, they mature in response to the events that occur, such as being beat up. Like trees, the group has to change to adapt to the surroundings and conflicts Zephyr throws at them. Cory and his friends are being forced to grow up quickly; they lose their innocence as the seasons continue to change.
Katelyn B period 2
4/13/2014 12:30:57 pm
Hannah, I strongly agree with your viewpoint on this! Like you, I connected the presence of fall being opposite to that of spring based on the "dying" aspect of nature, symbolizing the innocence within Cory and the other boys. The beginning of summer suggested freedom and happiness as the boys continued their ritual in the woods, flying around over Zephyr. As summer starts to wind down though more conflicts seem to arise, possibly foreshadowing future actions that are detrimental to Zephyr, such as the Blaylock encounter in the woods. Again, agreeing with what you said about the trees adapting, Cory inevitably will in some form start maturing through the upcoming events that the fall and winter bring to him, making him lose his innocence.
Imani B. P5
4/13/2014 01:26:06 pm
I also really like what you've noticed Hannah. I feel like the changing seasons have an affect to how the boys change and adapt their surroundings and also connect their feelings to the change of the seasons. The events that are happening in their lives correlate to the changing seasons which causes them to grow up fast but I think that they aren't the only reason that causes the boys to lose their innocence, I think that it's ironic that they are losing their innocence as the seasons drift from summer to fall.
Eric F Period 2
4/10/2014 01:21:11 pm
Both twilight and autumn are both used as symbols of transition to darker times in tons of media, and this is no exception. Cory has witnessed murder and shady deals in his hometown, and is shocked by the images of John F. Kennedy, the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, and Thich Quang Duc have transformed his world from an easy-going fantasy to the harsh truths that manifest themselves in fake smiles. For such an idealistic era, Cory is faced with a lot of scary sort of pain.
Jake Shea Period 4
4/10/2014 01:29:03 pm
Corey not only accepting the end of summer but embracing it symbolizes his maturity from childhood to more of an adult. Where as a child at the beginning of the novel he was much more reluctant to make difficult decisions and face hardships, which is represented by the coming autumn season, he is now facing them will full confidence which is represented by the wind at his back because of his life changing experiences during the summer.
Stephanie Brown;Period 5
4/10/2014 01:33:37 pm
The changes in seasons represent the stages in Cory's life, more specifically, how he is starting to mature. Since the beginning of spring to the start of the fall, Cory has changed as a person. He has become significantly more perceptive and observant of his surroundings. He starts to notice things about people that he has not pondered before. And the seasons act as milestones in Cory's development as a person. When he enters school in the fall, he is more grown up than in the previous seasons. I believe the fall acts as a transition from his childhood to adulthood. Slowly, the plants start to die and as the winter comes, which I believe parallels Cory losing his sense of magic while he's becoming an adult. There are many indications that this is Cory's last summer of being a child. During the summer, there were many sequential events that altered his perspective on other people and just life in general. During the summer, he witnesses the cruel act of the Branlins beating up Johnny, as well as discovering how sad of a life Nemo has. He also defies Grandaddy Jaybird when he becomes sick of the way his grandfather is treating him. Also, he starts to better understand his father's pain. I believe the most defining moment where he becomes more like an adult is when he goes on the camping trip without adult supervision and develops his first significant crush, Chile Willow. As we discussed in class, having a romantic attraction towards another person for the first time is an important milestone in one's maturity, and indicates a loss of innocence. Cory himself knows that adulthood is approaching him when he says "We were growing up now, and it was high time they understood our childhood days were numbered" (240).
Rachel VB period 4
4/10/2014 01:35:05 pm
As far as seasons go, fall is the opposite of spring. Now os the time for the leaves to die, the weather to get cooler, and school to begin again. After the freedom of summer is over, Cory begins acting more mature. Indtead of doing things like flying, Cory and his friends go on a csmping trip by themselves. A big moment in Cory's life is when he must problem solve to find his way back home after getting lost lost in the forest. I think somebody will die in this season because that is a major characteristic of Fall.
Daisy Oce Period 4
4/13/2014 12:35:42 pm
I really like what you said about Cory being mature, Rachel. I think that summer came with many life-changing experiences that he can now go back to school as a slightly different person. Besides, finding his way back home after getting lost in the forest, Cory also enters a short-story into the town’s writing contest and actually wins third place. Fall is a huge representation of change, and I believe that Cory will change a lot within section 3.
Daisy Oce period 4
4/10/2014 01:38:06 pm
In McCammon’s Boy’s Life, the seasons mean more than just changes in weather; they represent changes in the life of Cory Mackenson. Spring represents change and new life, while the summer represents the growing up with many adventures/experiences. When Cory says "we pedaled on, four buddies with the wind at out backs and all roads leading to the future" (270 McCammon), he is talking about the end of summer; their life as children is ending. By Cory saying this, readers realize that he knows he is growing up every day and that he will not always remain a child. This represents a lot to Cory and his friends because he helps them to understand how important it is to appreciate every day.
Lizzy K P4
4/10/2014 01:41:46 pm
As fall arrives in Zephyr, Cory and his friends begin to discover more and more of the mystery murder that happens earlier in the year. I think the seasons' weather changes represent the growth of maturity we witness from Cory. At the beginning of the novel, we look at Cory as a small, innocent boy, but as they year goes on and the story progresses, we see the capacity of his thoughts increase to be much deeper. Cory realizes that he "wasn't as grown-up as [he] thought..." (McCammon 252), and so we get to watch the growth of his thought process as he realizes everything that is corrupt in Zephyr. I think with a weather change coming near again, something important is going to be revealed as all the leaves leave the trees naked.
Alayna D. Period 1
4/14/2014 11:43:14 am
I agree with you Lizzy, as well as seeing Cory's maturity developing I also see him going through harder events this year as the seasons change. He goes through things typical kids don't expect in their life. For example Rebel dying, most kids don't see death as something that can come so easily. Yet Rebel's life was taken away by a car so suddenly to Cory it is a huge struggle for him. Fall brings hardships and new issues for Cory moving into the hardest season of all, winter.
Carl A., Period 5
4/10/2014 01:42:23 pm
Similarly to the other Seasons, Fall represents something. It represents change, but a different kind of change from Spring. More importantly, the quote represents that Cory as a person is changing as well. He starts to mature and begins to realize what life really is. As they leave that baseball field they are leaving behind, essentially, their childhood is ending on that field to become young adults. His friends will grow as well and they might even grow apart, but that is part of life. They began as mere children, but will mature into adults that will now the realities of life.
Dong L. Period 5
4/12/2014 03:37:47 am
I agree with you Carl since Fall can represent change from the other seasons. It is also true that Cory is changing as he experience what is happening in his life. In life the people you meet will leave you sooner or later to a new place just like Nemo leaving Cory soon. However seeing a good friend moving away doesn't mean it's he will be gone forever, he experience a bond between his friend.
Josh S. 5
4/10/2014 01:44:39 pm
For Cory and his friends the language of this quote strongly suggests that the seasons have a deeper meaning to them. To them, summer represents a time of freedom and carefree living. They did not have to follow a certain schedule everyday. Similarly, the end of summer and the coming of fall represents a loss of this freedom, or even a representation of the loss of a childhood innocence. Towards this time Cory says “We were ready to be regulated, so we could fly again next summer.” He was getting ready to go back to the strict schedule of the end of summer.
Kathryn P P2
4/14/2014 03:09:49 pm
I feel the same way! When summer rolls around, all people want to do is be free and experience new things. They are tired of being constrained and having to constantly do homework. However, when fall comes around, you are ready to have some structure and restrictions back in your life to regulate it. In Cory's point of view, the freedom and regulation help each other to allow one to desire the other.
Paula R. Period 5
4/10/2014 01:45:27 pm
In regards to the change in seasons, summer has ended and fall is coming soon. Relating this to something more than weather, I think the change from summer to fall will focus more on Corey's maturity. During Summer, Cory experienced freedom, something that comes along maturity but he also experienced more life threatening situations that more kids his age will experience. With that in mind, he also began to feel what love was about. With summer behind him and fall coming, I think Cory will finally meet the murderer or know the identity of the victim, I also think that rather than getting in lost somewhere in the forest, he will find himself lost in the sense that he will face multiple decisions that he cannot pick because he still will not be mature or experienced enough.
Stefan Cefali Per 5
4/10/2014 01:59:22 pm
With the changing of the seasons it corresponds to the lives of the boys' but Cory's in specific. With the changes in the spring Cory's life starts to change dramatically with his experiences. With the change from spring to summer the reader begins to see the stability back in Cory's life and his freedom from his struggles that have been developing. Also this time gives Cory and his friends time to grow, emotionally and help him get though these struggles in a brighter and a time that tends to be more joyful, time of the year.
Richard W. Period 5
4/10/2014 01:59:52 pm
I think that this quote represents a new chapter that Cory and his friends are about to begin in their lives. Cory's 3 months of freedom as a 12 year old were now over and the structured routine of the school year was now upon him. The shift to Autumn represents another change that is taking place in Cory's life. He is taking another step towards maturity, which also means that more of his magic will be lost. All though he no real control over this continued loss, Cory shows that he is ready to see what the future holds, and growing up happens to be a very significant factor.
Stefan Cefali Per. 5
4/13/2014 12:07:41 pm
Richard I really like your ideas the integrate the idea of the changing of the seasons with that changing in the boys' life. I also agree with the idea that the summer os the time for freedom with the boys give them that time to experience, and with the changing to a new school season its giving the boys' life more structure. but it may also bring more troubles and more confusion just like the last changing of the seasons brought to Cory.
Jimmy M P2
4/10/2014 02:07:33 pm
The changing of seasons represents change in Cory’s life. During summer Cory was very free to do whatever he wanted to do. A lot of crazy things happened and everything in his life seemed extremely unpredictable. At the end of the summer it seemed like things might have settled down in Cory’s life but he still has many things he has to do. Although Cory might not be as free as he was in the summer, he still has a lot to do in his future. He will try to find answers to his questions.
Imani B. P5
4/10/2014 02:09:43 pm
In my opinion, the language of the quote is representing the changes occurring in Cory's life, mainly through the fall season. He is just starting to grow up and mature into a young man and that is proven as the summer starts to become a part of the past. I think some of the drastic changes that take place in Cory's life also have an effect to how he has to grow up a little quicker than usual,
Justin C Period 2
4/10/2014 02:10:51 pm
I believe that McCammon is trying to portray how important childhood is. McCammon uses the seasons of the year as a time period. He does not use days, or week, but the months and seasons. In a kids childhood, they look forward to summer every year, to finally be let out of school. Each summer is like a new beginning of a year for kids, they move into new grades, maybe even new schools and everything is constantly changing for them over summer. When McCammon says, "we left the ball field and our summer dreams... We pedaled on, four buddies with the wind at our backs and the roads leading to the future" he is trying to say how part of their childhood is over and they only are getting older from here. There is no turning back to being a kid, only moving forward towards being an adult.
Yousuf A Period 5
4/10/2014 02:27:24 pm
The seasonal changes represent the how Cory is starting to mature. From the beginning of spring to the start of the fall, Cory changed as a person. He has become significantly more perceptive and observant of his surroundings. He starts to notice things about people that he has not pondered before. And the seasons act as milestones in Cory's development as a person. When he enters school in the fall, he is more grown up than in the previous seasons. I believe the fall acts as a transition from his childhood to adulthood. Slowly, the plants start to die and as the winter comes, which I believe parallels Cory losing his sense of magic while he's becoming an adult.
Richard Webb Period 5
4/13/2014 09:39:13 am
Yousuf I agree with you in the sense that Autumn brings a higher level of maturity that Cory has to adapt to. However, I don't really feel that it is a transition to adulthood. I see it as more of a preparation for Cory's upcoming years as a teenager. Cory still has an abundance of magic left in him and I do not feel that a significant amount of it will be lost in the near future.
Morganne J period 5
4/10/2014 02:33:02 pm
Summer is a time to relax, have fun, and be carefree for once. When fall comes around though, times become more serious and we have to prepare ourselves to put our memories behind us, and take them forward with us into the fall in order to grow. Cory and his friends say goodbye to summer's fun and warmth as they enter the season of fall. Along with fall comes a new school year as well. The times of summer are to be savored and cherished as fall arrives because then summer is able to hold its specialty. As McCammon describes the transition from summer to fall, the maturity of Cory and his friends also changes. The memories will always stay true to their hearts and minds, however the time has come to enter the world with a new perspective.
Hannah B P.1
4/13/2014 12:51:13 pm
I completely agree with you! I really like how you mentioned that we need to put memories behind us in order to allow growth and maturity. I too feel like Cory is impacted the most with this idea because his transition happens to be under more pressure than his friends'.
Emylee F. Period 5
4/10/2014 02:33:55 pm
There is going to be much change for Cory and everyone else. Fall is the season of the opening eye to winter and cold; which could be represented in Cory's case as truth and growing up. Growing up is meaning to face reality and that is exactly where Cory is headed. Him and his buddies' summer dream didn't exactly live up to its potential and I think, somewhere inside Cory, he knew it would happen. I also believe he has an idea, from then on, things were never going to be truly the same. Just how things are in nature during fall.
Caleb Smith Period 5
4/13/2014 02:04:52 pm
Emily I really like what you said! I like how you related the season changing to the "seasons" in Cory's life changing. And now that you mention it I also think that from that moment Cory knew that things would never be the same. And I Love the way you end you post "Just how things are in nature during fall", great way to conclude it.
Caleb Smith, Period 5
4/10/2014 02:34:16 pm
Ever sense I was a kid I’ve felt like autumn was a gloomy and in some was a dark season. At the beginning the days begin to get shorter, it begins to get colder, and all of the bright green trees and grass turn to dark. Overall it’s black and shady to me. With Nemo announcing that his family is moving once again and end summer is ending (as season reminiscent of freedom and happiness), the boys are preparing him for the dark and shadiness that is coming. Even though they seem like they want to stay in during the summer the wind is pushing them forward into the next season of their life. And in the end that can lead them anywhere.
Yousuf A Period 5
4/13/2014 02:13:17 pm
I agree with you that the changing season represents Cory changing. I also like how you brought up that Cory is also becoming more nature. He realizes that he will not be as free as he was in the summer and he is okay with that. I think the road that he is traveling down at the end of section two represents his future and the things he will have to do in the future. There are many parts of his life that are unresolved. He needs to find out what his dream means, read his story, and help his dad find peace. He will need to find out the truth about the murder, which remains a mystery at this point of the story.
Casey D p4
4/10/2014 02:39:11 pm
Just as the seasons start to mature, so does Corey and his friends. They no longer continue living as they have before, carefree and without responsibility. Just as summer eventually has to come to an end, so too does their childhood. They have to accept responsibility for their involvement in the illegal activities they witnessed earlier and actually contribute to society. In the next chapter, when Corey visits the mayor, cold rain starts to pour down, signaling a new, more mature chapter in his life.
Alyssa Z. p4
4/10/2014 02:53:59 pm
The quote is resembling a change in the season as well as the end of summer. This is the last summer Cory will have at this age and even though he has many more years to go, each summer brings on change as he gets older. And the quote mentions going down the path into the future, it is resembling how Cory is growing up whether he wants to or not, and the events that took place within that summer have all contributed to the way he views things and even have managed to replace some of his childhood magic with reality. Although Cory will always have the magic of a child in him, his friends may not just as Johnny lost some of his after being beat up. As all the boys age they might end up focusing more on the big pictures in life and forget what it's like to be a young boy which is bound to come eventually.
Emylee Frank Period 5
4/18/2014 03:20:25 pm
I really love how you mentioned Johnny in this. It allows everyone to see that Cory is not the only person who grows up. I know people know about it, but it's more hard-hitting with that. Plus, with Johnny, Cory does change a little bit. Almost as though his eyes are opening to that he is not the only one who loses magic.
Ammara A
4/10/2014 02:58:06 pm
I think the changing of seasons represents the changes in Cory's life. During the summer, there were alot of events that took place that doesnt usually happen to 12 year olds. The transition from the summer shows how Cory devolped and became morknowledgeable. Summer is coming to an end and Cory and his friends are soon riding into the age of growing up.
Dan Moran 4
4/10/2014 09:27:54 pm
The seasons in a literary sense represent change and the tone of the piece that will be relevant throughout the rest of the seasons duration in the novel. With the quote from Cory about him and his buddies riding off in their bikes towards a new future, we can see how he has matured to understand the terrible happenings in his town. As spring and summer draw to a close, it's easy to see that Cory has changed from this happy innocent child, reflective of the tones of spring and summer, to a young man full of understanding and realization of how bad the world can be, reflective of the tones of fall and winter. With fall and winter the next in line for the seasons, it would be safe to say the these next two sections will be some of the most trying times in Cory's life as he is going to face many hardships and tough choices. But with his matured mind he will be able to make these right choices and endure until the next spring.
Alexis B. Period 1
4/10/2014 09:49:02 pm
I think the change in the weather not only represents the change in the weather from spring to summer, but also the maturity level of Corey as we see him become more mature. He understand the world more than he did when we first met him as a main character. The murder of the man in the river also seems to play a part in the change in the weather as Corey opens up to more people of the realities of the figure he sees, as well as the green feather he found. It seems that as the weather changes, Corey finds more clues about the murder of the man. Hopefully such events are foreshadowing to the killer of the murder
Costa D. (period 2)
4/10/2014 10:08:27 pm
This quote relates to Cory in the sense that he will be departing from his summer memories and the lessons he's learned to explore the vast world that is the future and on into the school year. The seasons are important to Cory because they mark time in the progressions in which events happen. Next summer will be new experiences and new things to learn. It's just that sumer is really a magical time because brings a sense of self renewal and relaxation. Cory does indeed become more mature.
Jordan C 2
4/13/2014 11:39:19 am
I agree with you Costa that the quote relates fully back to Cory and the memories and the lessons he learned about the coming future after summer was declared over. Same with your description of the seasons and how they are important to Cory as a way of marking time in the events that occur. I do like your connection between magic and summer. It almost is true to see that summer can be the most magical time where everything seems to happen for no apparent reason it just does and it's unexplainable.
Ryan F 2
4/10/2014 10:12:31 pm
The changing of the seasons very much represents changes that Corey is going through. Mainly the changes he goes through going from summer, where he is free to do anything, to fall, where he must go back to school and be forced to go by a schedule once again.
Dan Moran 4
4/13/2014 09:09:48 pm
I think the seasons represent more than just how Cory is to live his life, they represent how it is he views his life and his world. Like I said in my post as he is growing older he is noticing the wrong I'm the world and it's affecting his happiness represented by fall, the season accosiated with death in a literary sense.
Ryan F 2
4/20/2014 12:30:55 pm
I agree with you Dan, it is more his view on his life and the world, the fall is the end and as he's growing older it reminds me of how I was as I was growing up and when I finally hit the age where I understood what was truly going on in the world.
Kelly B. P1
4/10/2014 10:12:55 pm
I think fall is symbolizing a start to "coming of age" for Cory. During fall trees start to shed their leaves and wait for newer, brighter leaves to grow. Cory at this point in the story is still a child in age. However throughout this summer he has endured more challenges and experiences that most children don't ever go through. For example Cory decides he needs "to figure out what was in that wooden box... [and] help [his] father find peace" (Mccammon 248). This is an act not required for someone so young. However Cory is taking it upon him as his own responsibility because he feels he can handle it and that he should. This summer is requiring Cory to mature and grow faster than his age requires. He starts coming of age as summer changes to fall.
Taylor d. Period 4
4/10/2014 10:14:53 pm
The change from summer to fall is much different than the change from spring to summer. Summer brings out the child in many people. It is a symbol of fun & relaxing time. Changing to fall is a sign of growing up and changing into more responsible people. This is a good sign of what is going to happen in the following sections.
Trevor K 4
4/10/2014 10:48:46 pm
The changing seasons in Boy's Life represent Cory growing up. The quote, "we pedaled on, four buddies with the wind at our backs and the roads leading to the future" is a resemblance of taking a new step in their childhood. Spring represents Cory learning about the world and experiencing the world. Summer represents freedom as shown by him "flying" above Zephyr. Fall represents further understanding in his life and loss of magic. As the seasons progress, Zephyr becomes less and less innocent as Cory learns more about the world around him. For example, Grandad Jaybird's poker game exposes Cory to the nasty nature of grandad Jaybird, who previously was seen as imaginative by Cory.
Bri D. P 2
4/10/2014 11:00:04 pm
Fall is the season with the most change. This is because the leaves change color and start to fall off, the kids get new teachers, and everything changes. When the fall comes, Cory goes through a significant change. He starts to mature. During the summer he had a lot of freedom and did a lot of childish things. When autumn comes, he has grown older because of the camping trip and a few other events like seeing a naked girl for the first time and his teacher passing away. This quote foreshadows that more change is coming and he will mature more. In the autumn, the boys start transitioning into men.
Tyler S Period 4
4/14/2014 12:22:19 am
Great point Bri, another example of this is in section four when Rebel starts to die. Cory prays death away from Rebel out of immaturity. Eventually he realizes that he must let go of things he loves. He learns this after rebel suffers night after night. This is a moment of ultimate maturity and it makes sense because it comes in November, the end of fall.
Renick W. 1
4/10/2014 11:23:57 pm
I think that the quote represents how much the boys have matured over the summer. They have gotten through so much together, like their hectic camping trip and the Branlin brothers, and now even more change is upon them. Similar to fall which bring much change. The leaves change colors and begin to fall off the trees. And for Cory the hardships of school and losing the independence and freedom of summer is on hand.
Tyler S Period 4
4/11/2014 12:18:29 am
I view fall as a time of maturity. It is not total death because not everything is dead in the fall, that seems to be more of a winter thing. Cory seems to understand that he has matured. He realizes that he must go back to school and be a student. He leaves his dreams behind because he knows he must do that. Corey realizes that he has matured and that he will continue to mature in the near future.
Lyssa L. P4
4/11/2014 01:20:08 am
This quote provokes the image of the season changing from summer to fall, the weather getting colder, the leaves changing color and dying, and kids returning to school. This represents how a part of Cory is left behind in that summer as if the childish side of him dies like the leaves falling of trees. Cory was free that summer, opening his mind to new things and learning some important lessons. But as summer ends, kids go back to school as a year older than next year going into a new grade with new teachers. This is true for Cory in his life in the way he has grown into an adult mentally and will have to tackle many hardships as he has matured.
Ali D P4
4/11/2014 02:37:46 am
This quote is a representation of reality setting back in, school will start again and the boys will have a routine again. Cory had many experiences during the summer with his friends, many fun ones by many learning times. Cory now will go back to school and grow another year and learn another year of education. This quote shows the moving on of Cory and the other boys and how they are becoming more mature but still are young because they are still riding their bikes and exploring what Zephyr has in store.
Bri D. P 2
4/13/2014 10:33:19 pm
I totally agree with what you said. I think the boys are maturing and growing older. Also, I do still feel like they are just young boys because they still ride their bikes around town and explore Zephyr.
Trevor B. 5
4/13/2014 07:44:18 am
Seasons bring change, this has been a constant in the novel. The change here being Corey. In the Autumn, Cory matures from his former self. He watches as the man sinks into the lake, watches as his own father cries, and he began to change. The summer's change brought feelings for a female and brought different experiences. As Corey begins to cross into adulthood, the magic that was once there will now fade. Now that summer is ending, everything will start changing again.
Carl A., Period 5
4/13/2014 08:45:35 am
I agree, as he matures into adulthood, he might lose some of that "magic" he has inside of him. But I think Cory is different from others, he will maintain that magic inside of him. As Vernon Thaxter told him, don't let anyone take away your dreams or something along those lines, like what happened with Vernon and his father. He needs to pursue what is right in his mind and write about what he thinks is necessary. Just like later on when his father decides to join up Sheriff Amory.
Stephanie Brown; Period 5
4/14/2014 11:33:11 am
I agree with you, Trevor. I do believe that since the summer is ending, everything will start to change again. Each new season has appeared to bring a different chain of events, and I believe these events will bring about more change in Cory. As a character, Cory will mature even more, and his maturity may even be tested in certain situations. However, like Carl, I believe that Cory will be able to retain some of his childhood "magic". He may not necessarily be able to keep all of it, since it is clear he is no longer an innocent young boy, but I do believe that certain aspects of his childhood will stick with him as he becomes an adult, and unlike many other people, he still may be able to balance his adult responsibilities in the future with the "magic".
Rose Amodea P4
4/13/2014 10:53:13 am
The changing seasons represent different stages throughout Cory's life. Twilight represents his childhood, and when Cory rides his bike home after playing baseball at twilight, it signifies the end of his childhood and the transition into adulthood. Summer came around and allowed Cory to be free and make unforgettable memories with his friends, but were forced to remember situations that arose in the beginning of the novel. Autumn is now approaching and i think Cory is going to act more mature and handle his problems with more reason. The reason i can infer this is because autumn translates to maturity by nature taking necessary precautions to survive through winter.
Ashlee P. (5)
4/15/2014 07:36:07 am
I completely agree with you, and I specifically like how you mention twilight a lot. I thought that was a very significant word because when its twilight its not necessary night yet but the day is almost over. Cory's childhood is not completely over yet, but it is changing and getting to the point where he is reaching adulthood
Ryan Carmody
4/14/2014 12:49:01 pm
As the seasons change, so does Cory. He is constantly learning more about himself and the world as he goes on through this year. One example of this is when he enters the writing contest, as advised by Mrs. Neville. He is quickly learning how to step out of his comfort zone and continually does so as he moves forward. I predict that Cory will learn more about what the world is really like and continue to grow both in maturity and as a person
Ashlee P (5)
4/15/2014 07:32:34 am
I think Robert Mccammon separated this book with the seasons because they are very symbolic to Cory and this point in his life. He is at the age in his life with he is still a child but is coming into the teen years and will begin to mature rapidly. Each season brings something new to Cory and as the seasons change so does Cory because of the new experiences. Due to the accident, Cory has been facing his father coming apart, and as talked about in class, as children parents represent something almost unbreakable to children. Cory seeing his dad going through such a tough time really makes him grow up and realize that life is only going to get harder from hear on out, and this last summer is really is last summer with his innocence.
Andrea B period 2
4/15/2014 11:18:39 am
The season's changing means that Cory is changing. As they are leaving all their summer dreams behind them and are starting to look onto the future, they are leaving behind their mischievous summer, the time boys can be boys and parents don't tell you to do your homework or to study. So the fall is going to be a more serious time as they have to get back into the routine of school. The seasons once again represent how Cory is changing as different and significant events correspond with the season.
Chandler Stich period 5
4/16/2014 12:36:00 pm
I believe the quote keeps us away from things more than it exposes them. The seasons play a big rule in the novel. There is something about the season of fall or autumn that is very important to the novel. To me autumn represents a warning to the start of something new. Fall warns us about winter which is more than likely very drastic. In the we know that Corey and his fiends just came off of a pretty descent summer and getting back into the groove of school is not what they want to be thinking about. Then we get something so drastic like Corey's dog dying or Johnny getting into a fight we as readers know that those aren't as drastic as finding out who the killer is, but as growing into this role of becoming a man and understanding his surroundings, he needs to go through these events just like we need to go through mediocre seasons like fall to get to something exciting and drastic like winter.
Justin S. Period 8
4/20/2014 08:31:02 am
I believe that this quote represents that Corey and his friends are now longer kids, but they are beginning there man hood. As we know fall is the season where everything changes. The leaves start to change colors and they also begin to fall of trees and the weather starts to get a little cooler than summer. As Corey and his friends enter the autumn season, I believe they will change in themselves and also there life will change dramatically too. Also in the fall season I can see that the boys will never be the same again after all the things they have seen during the summer especially Corey. Having feelings for a girl the first time and meeting Nemo Curliss. Also his father telling the truth about his dreams about the man underneath the lake. That is what I believe this quote represents about Corey and his friends.
Lauren S. p8
4/20/2014 09:48:55 am
I totally agree with you Justin. As the boys enter into the Fall and fall back into their school routine they wont be the young kids that they were when they first entered summer. They have all witnessed situations that they probably didn’t want to but it will help them to mature even more. However, I do think that they are still going to be the children that they should be at their age. The “magic” that is in the town of Zephyr may start to slip away but I feel that a part of the magic will remain inside them.
Sergio N. Period 8.
4/21/2014 04:27:34 am
Justin, I agree with you for the most part, however, I must say I dont see how you can infere how "the boys will become young men", because in my perspectice you dont have to be a certain age to know right from wrong. I see the kids maturing rather than becoming young men.
Lauren S. p8
4/20/2014 09:35:22 am
The changing of seasons throughout the novel represents change in Cory’s life. Spring is the season of rebirth, growth, or changing for the better. Summer gave Cory the chance to be free and have fun with his friends. Throughout the summer he experience both positive and negative situations. Fall, like spring, is a transition of seasons. Fall is the season that signifies death. During the fall the trees start to lose their leaves and the flowers start to die. The grass turns brown and is no longer that bright green like it is in the spring. Fall is the season that prepares us for winter and all the dead, frozen nature around us. As summer approaches fall the boys will no longer b e the same as they were when the summer began. They have gained knowledge that they probably thought they never would. They have grown up to where their parents trusted themselves to go camping in the woods alone. When they got into the situation with the Blaylocks they were smart enough to get themselves back to Zephyr.
Justin S. Period 8
4/20/2014 10:44:19 am
I totally agree on how Lauren talks about how the season relates to Corey's life and what he has been though the novel. Also how she talks about how Corey summer has made Corey grow out of his shell of a life that his parents has been protecting him from. Also how the belay lock situation in the woods will help them improve. However, from all the things corey and his friends have saw. They will no longer act like kids, but as young teens.
Aaron B. period 8
4/20/2014 12:18:30 pm
I disagree here because I don't necessarily think that each season is directly correlating with what is happening. I think that it is more so that his life is changing just like the seasons do but at the same time it all comes back around and starts all over again. Like the fact that even though we grow up, things stay more or less the same. There are still bullies and nerds and jocks and everything else.
I agree with both of you at the same time. I do believe that each section correlates with what is going on, because the seasons directly interpret how we feel. But I think more than anything, this is all about Cory’s life changing along with the seasons, and I think that all these things compiled together show us how not only Cory is changing throughout the novel, but also how the world around him is changing.
Tyler A P8
4/21/2014 03:38:10 am
This wouldnt let me chain off Shaggys comment but i have more of the same opinion as nick as he says that both sides are promenet with the ideas here as the seasons do play a heavy role in Corys story but they aren't the direct reasons for his changes its more of the over all feelings of the season he's currently in and then the experiences that happen to him during those times.
Aaron B. period 8
4/20/2014 12:13:16 pm
Because this story is a coming of age story I feel the seasons changing is similarly o him changing. In this section we see Cory and his friends appreciating Nemo for his talents rather than pointing out his flaws. They are by most accounts good people.However, the Branlins are not so nice in this section. They bully them and hurt them and this makes them all mad. Later in the story the boys stumble across the Blaylocks making a deal and are discovered. When they're discovered they chase them and with the intent to hurt them. I feel as though this helps Cory realize that bullies like the Branlins don't go away. As Cory loves his life he realizes that the trials of his childhood life only get harder and more serious as he grows up.
Sergio N. Period 8.
4/21/2014 12:43:16 am
Just as the seasons start to mature, so does Corey and his friends. They no longer continue living as they have before, carefree and without responsibility. Just as summer eventually has to come to an end, so too does their childhood. They have to accept responsibility for their involvement in the illegal activities they witnessed earlier and actually contribute to society.
Ana D
4/21/2014 02:30:22 am
I 110% agree with you Sergio. I mostly agree with your statement about how when summer comes to an end, so does their childhood. When we look back on what we did as kids during the summer it seemed so long and felt like forever but as soon as school started that meant we "moved up" in the school and we got older with new responsibilities. Corey is slowly but surely beginning to realize that he's not going to be a kid forever so he is savoring every second.
The changing of seasons yet again shows a change in Cory. It seems to me that Cory is on his own a lot more in this section. He spends the whole night alone in the woods, and here we see the coming of age aspect in full swing, because Cory starts to mature and he ages along with the seasons. I think this quote really shows the pure freedom that is Cory’s childhood summer. He is ready to go, breaking free of his parents, his schoolwork, and for the first time we see him not worrying about the murder, or anything eels that could possibly be plaguing him. But he soon realizes that all good things must come to an end as he pedals away into the next season, and possibly changing himself once again.
Christina O
4/21/2014 04:30:13 am
I agree with Nick on how Cory ages along with the seasons and as he goes through summer he begins to want more freedom for himself. In section 2, most of the chapters were transitions into how Cory is becoming more of a man for himself rather than being a little kid and this is where we being to realize that Corey is changing and won't be a kid forever.
Noah A Per.8
5/6/2014 02:07:05 pm
I really like what you said here Nick. I feel like you got a good understanding about this whole coming of age thing. I like how you put it saying he pedals away into the next season. Really good work!
Adriana Rodriguez P8
4/21/2014 03:29:30 am
I believe the seasons represent the realization for Cory. The beginning of spring he thinks the word is made up good people and intentions but then he realizes the “difference of two worlds” when he rides with his dad. As spring flies by he notices how the world really is, with how some people did not want to help save Bruton because they were black. In the summer Cory begins to become more aware with the problems going around, like what his grandfather does when he goes out, and how he witnesses poverty with a pretty lady. The seasons are the milestones of Cory’s realization of finding the other side of that perfect world he lives in.
Tyler A. P8
4/21/2014 03:33:38 am
I believe that Cory see that the seasons show him that he will rise and fall, though good times and bad, whether it’s the mischief of spring and then the freedom of summer as he is able to spread his wings and imagine that he was unbound by his school and now had a whole life time to explore his curiosities but he soon became to a realization the he wasn’t the only one who was free to do as they pleases, as the Branlins came to him on the baseball field and then proceeded to bully the crap out of Nemo and those kids all left changed by that experience while I believe that his fall will bring a lot of reality back into his life and then the winter will be harsh and unforgiving.
Alex Heim P.8
4/21/2014 04:18:56 am
I aggre with Tyler mainly because of his outlook on how Cory sees the changes in seasons as a sort of rise and fall kind of deal. Sooner or later, everyone will rise to the peak of thier existence only to discover that they are now going to fall to the bottom.
Maira A p8
4/21/2014 01:39:57 pm
I agree with Tyler because throughout spring he was a little boy creating memories for his childhood, but as soon as summer came he was free and he came to a realization that its time for him to group up. I agree with winter being harsh, because since he is basically going into adulthood he will have many more tragedies and fights happening. Cory will realized sooner or later that he will have ups and downs in his life.
Adriana Rodriguez
4/21/2014 03:36:21 am
I agree with Nick that the seasons show his maturity but I also think the seasons show him realizing that, “he does not know who he thought he knew”. Like his grandfather, he finds out that Jaybird has a gambling problem, and that the mailman has some dirty business. He also finds out not all children have the luxury that he has like Nemo. His parents don’t allow him to have to go outside because he’s fragile. And the girl, Chile who was stuck in a relationship with a grown man who treats her poorly.
Alex Heim P.8
4/21/2014 04:15:59 am
The fall can represent change. But, the fall, would be more towards life ending rather than it begining. Fall is the season where the plants stop growing and the leaves on the tree die. For Cory and his friends it has been a crazy summer, and a scary one at that. After all of this happening, Cory now feels that he has "to figure out what was in that wooden box... [and] help [his] father find peace" (Mccammon 248). This is a very grown-up thing of Cory to say, and for something to feel he has to do at such an age. He's changing very slowly as he looses this town's changing capabilities. But, I feel like his friends will also grow with him and perhaps be able to help him in this maturing story.
Christina Origel P.8
4/21/2014 04:22:23 am
As the seasons are changing this represents a change in the boy's lives, and how they are starting to grow up. With the summer coming to an end and fall being just around the corner. Corey, Ben, Johnny, and Davy realize that they have been through one hectic summer wich was supposed to be fun and relaxing for them. However, now that a new season is beginning to start, the boys are given more freedom then they can handle. When all 3 boys (Corey, Ben, Davy) find themselves hearing a discussion between Mr.Hargison, Dick Moultry, and Mr.Blaylock and his son in the woods. But now that summer is coming to an end, the boys have gained a lot of knowledge due to all their adventures over the summer and they realize that since fall is starting they will no longer be the same as they were when summer first started.
Derrick C. period 8
4/21/2014 04:24:20 am
I believe the changes in seasons symbolizes cory maturing. He starts to gain more and more responsibilities. He starts to see what jaybird is all about. the ending of summer is the ending of their childhood and the beginning of his past
Maira A p8
4/21/2014 01:27:56 pm
I think Cory’s lifestyle is changing the same time as the seasons change. During summer the events that happened in the story usually isn’t normal for a twelve year old to experience. As summer is coming to an end Cory and his friends realize that’s its time to grow up. As summer is going by Cory finds more clues of the murder and will hopefully have events coming up where he will finally know who he was. As the weather change Cory notices some things about people, which he didn’t notice before. Fall is the transition for Cory from childhood to adulthood.
Ashley A Period 8
5/1/2014 11:34:17 pm
As the seasons change, readers begin to notice a change in Cory. In this section, Cory seems to spend a lot more time alone than any other part of the book. For example, the time he spent a night, alone, in the woods. I believe that in this section we begin to see Cory mature and start to have a better understanding on more and more situations that occur. In the beginning of the book Cory has the innocence of a little boy, but as the book goes on he starts to experience things he never imagined, and he starts to mature and lose the innocence he once had.
Marissa S period 8
5/6/2014 09:51:37 am
Cory is changing along with the seasons and in this section he starts to mature and come of age. Summer gives the boys a chance to grow up and learn to take care of themselves and live up to their responsibilities. The summer is the time where schedules, and the stress of school and the same routine over and over disperse. As we grow older, summer between each school year seems to grow shorter and shorter but in reality, it's has been the same since kindergarten. The summer of devils and angels section shows this realization to each of the boys.
Noah A period8
5/6/2014 02:00:58 pm
I feel like the changing of the seasons again represents another change in Cory's life. I kind of get the feeling that they are growing up and becoming more mature. i can relate that with the season of fall. The boys are ageing just like the leaves in fall. But you could also look at this and say that fall represents death, because of that happens to wildlife in the fall. With that being said with it being fall now, it could be slowly killing cory’s innocence.
Khalil D. P8
5/6/2014 02:24:05 pm
I agree because every season in the book something happens to Cory in which he learns from as far as becomes more mature and can better handle situations. I also really agree with your idea of killing Cory's innocence because he does go from sweet an innocent as you can tell with dealing with death and how he reacts to everything. He to me also every season changes and loses more and more of his innocense thus growing up.
Khalil D. P8
5/6/2014 02:18:51 pm
Every season in the book shows basically how Corey is growing or becoming more mature. Summer for most kids is a chance to have fun and experience new things with friends. Corey's summer is life changing because he see's how things actually are as far as growing up and maturing. In the beginning Corey is innocent and very respectful to his parents but as time progresses you can acknowledge the big changes Corey is going through such as his attitude and also his actions. The title "Summer of Devils and Angels" to me represents what the summer is to most kids, alot of bad things happen in the summer an also alot of good things happen. The overall symbolism of the Summer itself is change either for the good or bad in someone. The Summer for Corey is his sort of "calling" to grow up due to the events he has and will go through further along in the book.
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