Place a main character in the past, present or future and describe his or her reaction to the new world
(Charlie’s view on the 21st century) I never imagined the 21st century to be like this. It’s so fascinating to me. The world now revolves around this magical thing called the ‘internet’, which millions of people use worldwide. Fascinating. And they ‘surf’ this ‘internet’ by using this thing that looks like something out of Doctor Who – A mobile phone. Once again this stuff is like magic to me. You literally just tap on it, and it lights up, and you can press virtual buttons on it and it can do all sorts of marvellous things. However, it’s not as confusing as the computer. It’s so weird, because it’s like a mini television, yet twenty four times thinner, and has all these magical colours that change and do stuff according to what you do with your ‘mouse’. I see why they named it a mouse...very smart, 21st century. Also, the computer has this other thing called a keyboard, which drove me nuts trying to use it. It’s like one of those typewriter things, but once again looked like it belonged in Doctor Who. I tried writing a poem using it, but it took a minute to find every individual damn letter of the alphabet so I gave up after typing the first two words. Anyway, back to the point. It’s just so surreal and awesome; someone showed me how to ‘surf the web’, and within an hour or too I was getting to hang of it. I began to think how much life was easier with a computer. I didn’t have to walk to the library and borrow a book to learn about Mark Twain because with the help of the computer screen and this internet thing, I could just do that right here. Oh, did I mention how I can watch movies and videos on this computer thing? Yeah, it’s really quite some amazing stuff. How did they fit all those strips of film in this thin-as-hell computer screen? I am as confused as I am excited. But in saying that, not only has the world changed technologically, but also socially. It seems like everyone is always home now, just either surfing the web on their computers or watching television; a four million coloured, car sized one. It is really strange. What ever happened to playing outside or going over to a friend’s house? It seems like in the society today, everyone is restricted only in the boundaries of their own home and most of the time, locked in their dark rooms with their computer thing. I don’t understand. Maybe we can now communicate using this magical ‘internet’? Who knows. If Jeffrey was here, he’d also say the same thing. But it’s even weirder how much more supposedly dangerous now on the streets. Kids can’t go missing for more than one hour without parents going crazy, but honestly I find that bullshit. In saying this, I’d point out just how much quieter this generation has become. Quiet and antisocial, nothing like our generation. But it is extremely fascinating, I do admit. |
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Write a poem that expresses the issues explored in the novel
Society
Imagine a perfect world of purity,
A peaceful, undisturbed palace of Heaven.
Where the skies always shine crystal blue,
And the wind is calm and motionless.
A Utopia where everyone is happy,
People are talking, people are laughing.
Life is not a chore, but more rather a privilege
The journey is worth the challenge that awaits.
But as the earth spins along with time,
An evil force lurks, growing in the horizon.
The pure clouds begin to darken and distort,
And the wind has now picked up, no longer subtle.
However, everyone is still happy in life,
Still talking together and still laughing together.
With the exception of one lonely black boy,
A minor in them all.
Rain finds the earth as he looks up,
People are still laughing together.
Yet he sits in the rain as thunder roars,
Isolated, excluded from them all.
He looks at himself, looks at his skin,
Parallel with the dark clouds above.
He looks at their white faces, wondering why,
As grotesque shadows cast atop.
No longer are there patches of grey above,
But rather ugly, distorted figures of darkness.
Not a single person in sight anymore,
But the young boy still sits there, deep in thought.
The raging storm rampages boundlessly,
Ravaging through the earth, exposing her core.
As the poor boy is picked on endlessly,
His waterfall of tears as cold as the rain.
Until finally, the storm succumbs,
Leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Scarred Mother Nature, a permanent mess,
While the boy has disappeared elsewhere.
But still, society never seems to ask,
Where the boy went or how the storm came.
They have no idea what his life was like,
Though society still remains clueless.
We cannot imagine a world of perfection.
Society will be naturally scarred,
And so will the poor boy,
Time is only another excuse for expiry,
Expiry of our once clean society.
Society
Imagine a perfect world of purity,
A peaceful, undisturbed palace of Heaven.
Where the skies always shine crystal blue,
And the wind is calm and motionless.
A Utopia where everyone is happy,
People are talking, people are laughing.
Life is not a chore, but more rather a privilege
The journey is worth the challenge that awaits.
But as the earth spins along with time,
An evil force lurks, growing in the horizon.
The pure clouds begin to darken and distort,
And the wind has now picked up, no longer subtle.
However, everyone is still happy in life,
Still talking together and still laughing together.
With the exception of one lonely black boy,
A minor in them all.
Rain finds the earth as he looks up,
People are still laughing together.
Yet he sits in the rain as thunder roars,
Isolated, excluded from them all.
He looks at himself, looks at his skin,
Parallel with the dark clouds above.
He looks at their white faces, wondering why,
As grotesque shadows cast atop.
No longer are there patches of grey above,
But rather ugly, distorted figures of darkness.
Not a single person in sight anymore,
But the young boy still sits there, deep in thought.
The raging storm rampages boundlessly,
Ravaging through the earth, exposing her core.
As the poor boy is picked on endlessly,
His waterfall of tears as cold as the rain.
Until finally, the storm succumbs,
Leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Scarred Mother Nature, a permanent mess,
While the boy has disappeared elsewhere.
But still, society never seems to ask,
Where the boy went or how the storm came.
They have no idea what his life was like,
Though society still remains clueless.
We cannot imagine a world of perfection.
Society will be naturally scarred,
And so will the poor boy,
Time is only another excuse for expiry,
Expiry of our once clean society.