Vocabulary #7

Words from Latin Roots #7

Roots and Derivatives

1. duc(t), duce: to lead
2. fed(er), fid(e): faith, trust
3. fin(e): end, limit
4. flect, flex: to bend

Word List:

1. aqueduct (n): a large pipe or other conduit made to bring water from a great distance

• The Romans were the first civilization to enjoy aqueducts as they brought fresh water to their cities. 

2. conducive (a): tending to lead, help, assist, or result in

• Teachers are conducive in helping students to succeed in class. 

3. definitive (a): completely accurate, reliable, and authoritative; decisive or conclusive

• It is definitive that George Washington was the first president of the United States because of the historical evidence. 

4. fidelity (n): faithfulness to one's promises or obligations; steadfast faithfulness; technological faithfulness

• Marriage requires that both partners have fidelity in their wedding vows.

5. fiduciary (n): an individual who holds something in trust for another; a trustee

• Bank workers are fiduciaries for clients as clients trust them to deposit and withdraw money. 

6. finale (n): a "grand" conclusion, as of a performance; the last scene of a play 

• The finale of  Cinderella ended with the couple living happily ever after. 

7. finite (a): limited or bordered by time or by any measurement; measurable 

• The universe is not finite as scientists don't know how far it stretches. 

8. flexuous (a): winding in and out; bending or wavering

• Gymnasts are very flexuous as they can do amazing tricks and flips with their bodies.

9. inducement (n): anything used or given to persuade or motivate; an incentive

• Scientific studies and research are inducements used to prove a new idea in science.  

10. inflection (n): a slight change in tone or modulation of the voice, as in a point of emphasis

• Students can identify what the teacher deems important due to their inflections when talking.   

11. perfidious (a): characteristic of one who would intentionally betray a faith or trust; treacherous 

• In the bible, Judas was perfidious as he betrayed Jesus helping those who opposed Jesus arrest him. 

12. traduce (v): to speak falsely of; to slander or defame; to disgrace another's good name; to vilify

• Usually with large companies, people traduce of one another in order to gain more customers. 

The Joy Luck Club: Literary Analysis

     In the novel, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, one of the four mother-daughter relationships is between Suyuan Woo and Jing-Mei. Much like the other relationships, Jing-Mei and her mother had a broken one. Throughout Jing-Mei’s life, she faced miscommunication and criticism from her mother. However, their relationship soon changes when Suyuan Woo suddenly dies from a cerebral aneurysm. Jing-Mei must now step up and fulfill her mother’s legacy, which she does so successfully by growing as a person, accepting her mother’s legacy, and finally completing Suyuan’s wish.  

  The joy luck club was created by Suyuan Woo with the intention of forgetting previous miseries and hardships. Each member of the joy luck club took turns hosting the gathering and everybody converged to share happy moments. Unfortunately, after Suyuan dies, Jing-Mei must take over. Jing-Mei feels incapable of filling her mother’s footsteps. Even Jing-Mei’s mother previously stated, “You don’t even know little percent of me! How can you be me (page 27)?” Jing-Mei has always felt insecure and unsure about herself and her abilities. However, Jing-Mei, with some coaxing and encouragement, manages to crawl out of her shell and participate in the gathering by playing mah jong. This is the first step to following her mother’s legacy. Jing-Mei is beginning to connect herself to her mother and really fill her mother’s footsteps. 

The second part to fulfilling Suyuan Woo’s legacy was accepting Woo’s wish of finding her lost twin daughters and meeting them. “ She knew they were alive, and before she died she wanted to find her daughters in China (page 39).” Jing-Mei accepted the request of visiting her long lost sisters. By doing so she further took over for her mother. This wish, once Suyuan’s, soon turns to be Jing-Mei’s wish as well. Jing-Mei, later in the book, though hesitant and unsure, feels as though  it her objective to inform her siblings about their mother’s death and who she was as a person. By accepting her mother’s wish, it soon turns to be Jing-Mei’s wish to give her sisters the opportunity to “meet” their mother, thus growing closer to her mother and even resembling her intentions. Jing-Mei herself begins to realize how she reflects her mother. “ And I am sitting at my mother’s place at the mah jong table, on the East, where things begin (page 41).” Jing-Mei honors her mother’s legacy by accepting to complete her mother’s aspiration. 

By the end of the novel, Jing-Mei has completed Suyuan’s legacy. Jing Mei has gone to China to meet her older sisters to tell them about their mother. Her mother’s wish has always been for her daughter to get in touch with her Chinese heritage and to know about her past. Jing-Mei succeeds in this as she discovers the Chinese element within herself. “ And now I see what part of me is Chinese (page 288).” She understands the deep and confusing connection with her mother. Jing- Mei realizes that her mother’s criticism was her way of expressing love and encouragement. Her mother believed she could do so much and more. Suyuan Woo’s aspiration was to reunite herself with her “lost daughters.” Though Suyuan did not herself complete this objective, her daughter certainly did. Jing-Mei builds connects herself to China and her sisters. Jing-Mei realizes that she and her mother are very much alike. She states, “ Together we look like our mother. Her same eyes, her same mouth…(page 288).” Readers can understand that Jing- Mei has truly completed her mother’s wish. Jing-Mei feels the Chinese half inside her and she finally understands her mother’s intentions. 

    Suyaun Woo longed to reunite herself with her long lost daughters. She finally found them, but died before she had the chance to meet. Therefore, she passed down this wish onto her daughter, Jing-Mei Woo. Jing-Mei, with great will, completed the legacy her mother wanted her to. The journey to China not only only helped Jing-Mei grow as a person, but strengthened the relationship with her mother. Jing-Mei both honors and fulfills her mother’s legacy. Jing-Mei unites herself with China as well as with her family. 

Tom Leppard: First Reading

9. Tom Leppard is called "Leopard Man" because Tom Leppard has transformed himself into a "leopard." He has leopard spot tattoos all over his body, as well as living in solitude.
10. The author thinks about people with tattoos and piercings as people who are desperate for society's attention. They tend to shock society to get famous. The author has these opinions because he is unimpressed and sees a pattern among these types of people.
11.  Leopard man is different from other tattooed and pierced people in that he doesn't live for attention and he lives alone, away from society.
12. Leopard man lives in a small cabin in the Scottish wilderness by himself.
13. According to Feys, society fears "freakish and extraordinary individuals" or different people because people fear what they don't understand.
14. The "World's most common but dangerous psychological disorder" is conformity because people give up whatever makes them unique and do everything to fit in society.
15.  Leopard man is so happy because he is happy. He does not need to conform to society's expectations nor does he have the desire to do so. Leppard is living in solitude, but he is living life the way he wants to.