I'm planning to say this to my teacher!

[Abdi]

Lately I’ve been wondering about how unique English is. Unlike any of my other scientific and mathematical subjects, it has no right or wrong answer, something a scientific person like myself can’t comprehend to. It’s even harder to write about something that totally contradicts your beliefs. That’s what Life of Pi does. Not only does it contradict my beliefs, but it contradicts itself too. That’s not all, but English examiners expect to write about how great this novel is. Let me present you with my metaphor of this situation. It’s like smelling shit and complimenting the delightful odour. Not only that, but making ‘shit’ a perfume for the public and advertising it on TV, and to make it more desirable we’ll have Miley Cyrus in the commercial. It’s then that you will see millions of teenagers standing in queue to buy my ‘shit’ perfume. This is the perfect metaphor of Life of Pi. Not only is it a shit book, but its support from the Canadian government gave it a rank it didn’t deserve. Moreover, it started becoming more famous due to the false compliments it received. But it was too late to return the book, just as it was too late to return my ‘shit’ perfume. I made my money already! You can withdraw it from shops; you lost your money already! Actually psychologically speaking, after awhile, humans will adapt to my ‘shit’ perfume and will believe that it has a great smell. Have you heard the story of ‘Charlie who lived in a garbage pit’? He smelled trash in the morning, afternoon and night that he started regarding it as an odour of refreshment. Once he passed a rich woman with Chanel perfume on and thought to himself, ‘why does she smell like crap?’ Poor Charlie. How do you explain his case?

[shinny]

Actually VCE English barely requires you to write about your beliefs or praise the novel. It's all about writing about how the writer constructs meaning within their book. It does not require you to (and pretty much prevents you from) critiquing the book itself. Sure, hating a book might dissuade you from studying it, but it shouldn't get in the way of writing a relatively objective piece explaining how a writer has presented their ideas and themes.

On another note, if a 'scientific person like yourself can't comprehend' something that has no right or wrong answer, and can't go against contradicting your own beliefs and opinions even on an issue as trivial as what a book says, maybe you should think over your aspirations of going into law.

EDIT: And in regards to saying this to your teacher; don't. Out of all subjects, having your English teacher hate on you is the most detrimental considering that English can become quite subjective if one wishes it to be.

[Toothpaste]

What the hell, Life of Pi is a VCE text? I didn't like that book either, but I read it voluntarily because of the tiger on the front cover.

... but yeah, just don't get on your teacher's bad side. If you're just giving feedback - do it in a way that won't offend anyone. The thing is, students don't really get a say in which texts are chosen for them and this sucks, but part of getting through English is just being able to effectively bullshit your way through any book even if you feel like burning the pages.

[Abdi]

LOL! thanks for the advise.... I think you've changed my mind now about saying it or not!

[Eriny]

Nobody cares whether or not you like a novel. You have to write an analytical essay on it, not a review.

You might not like 'Life of Pi', but that doesn't make it shit. It doesn't mean that there is nothing to talk about and it. It doesn't mean that people who do like it and talk about how good it is are bullshitting. There's something in there that they have had the intellectual faculty to relate to or understand, and you undermine those honest reactions when you say things like that. Literary circles are not conspirators, there is a reason why some books are well-appreciated and it has to do with being sensitive to the novel and its purpose.

You may think that maths and science is black and white and completely objective now, when the maths and science you've been exposed to is fairly simple. However, once you get to a certain stage you will realise that there are many paths to a correct answer. It's not entirely procedural and you will have to rely on your own knowledge and reasoning to get there. For instance, there are many different ways to prove certain things mathematically. In English, as in any subject, a 'correct answer' is in the content of your reasoning. It is problematic for your future if you cannot 'comprehend to' the processes surrounding reasoning, regardless of your academic interests.

Perhaps if you'd like to impress your English teacher, you should also work on your general coherency.

[lynt.br]

Just as an aside, if you don't like subjects where there is no clear right or wrong answer' then you may find law very challenging. Law is inherently ambiguous (otherwise there wouldn't be lawyers) and contains quite a lot of grey areas. Like English, your success depends on your ability to argue your point rather than find the 'correct' law to use.

Furthermore you'll often find yourself having to argue things you may not agree with, however, you aren't really given a latitude of choice on the matter because you are expected to cite the law and not your opinions (at least in legal problem exams, I believe you get to critique judgments in policy questions?).

[Abdi]

hey everyone.... this was actually my friend that wrote this...she just wanted to see what the reactions would be, I'm not the maths and science type, and I LOVE LAW... so let's get that straight. so this isn't actually my own opinion to Life of Pi.. I'm actually planning on doing that for my English exam, It's full of philosophy and I enjoy philo soo yeah sorry about that! LOL 

[Toothpaste]

<insert Fifa World Cup trumpet/bees noise>

[shinny]

<insert Fifa World Cup trumpet/bees noise>

BRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHDFKLHDIGHDIGHDIOEDDGN#$()^&$()^&$*(%&#*(&%#%&#

[Fyrefly]

<insert Fifa World Cup trumpet/bees noise>

BRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHDFKLHDIGHDIGHDIOEDDGN#$()^&$()^&$*(%&#*(&%#%&#

+1

[matty.k]

hahaha this is one of the  funniest things ive read all day xD

[monokekie]

...lol

[Abdi]

I hate hidden contacts. Whose been checking this post for the past 5 minutes? Reveal your identity!

[Abdi]

HELP! I wanna be a hidden contact too.

[Fyrefly]

HELP! I wanna be a hidden contact too.

Profile => Account-related settings => uncheck 'show others your online status' box.