Instead of writing an essay, you are required to answer 5 questions in the blog below. There cannot be more than 10 replies to each question – so all questions get covered. First 10 comments only will be looked at. Make sure your name is attached to each post. A response has “facts” and at least three STRONG supporting statements. A response should be at least 6 sentences. Read the previous posts before you make a comment.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Henry and Amy
Describe what Henry saw in Amy.Why did he have an instant connection?
Throughout the movie we see him always drawn to Amy – how did he view her?
I think that Henry and Amy instantly shared a connection for multiple reasons, but the most prominent is that they're both outsiders. Henry is the only deaf kid that likes mixing with the blind kids, and Amy is a woman who ran away from her husband and defied the social norm. This defiance of normalized negativity connects them.
I agree with your observations. I also think they connected because Amy never shot him down. She encouraged him to say curiouse and learn more. I think this encouragement was something Henry rairly saw so he felt even more special with Amy. For Amy, Henry was the first student that had success in her speech program so she felt validated and stronger thanks to him. These two things helped to strongly bond Amy and Henry for life.
I agree with what you said Nikki in that the unconventional nature of Amy and Henry is what brought them together. I believe that Henry could sense that Amy is also different and believes and does things that others don’t. Although Henry is deaf, he still interacts with the blind children, likely because his mother is blind, even though most deaf children did not. Amy believe she could teach deaf children to speak even though most people disagreed. Henry was consistently drawn to Amy because he knew she believed in him and his ability to teach him how to speak. Henry had faith in himself and just needed someone to believe in him too.
And to further my point, we see that Henry is drawn to Amy from the first moment he sees her. Amy is also drawn to Henry, and he becomes the star pupil. While this may have to do with a crush that Henry has, it is undeniable that they have a connection to each other. -Nikki
I never really thought about the fact that they were both "outcasts". But I agree with you. Another factor could be that he desperately is searching for a mother-like figure. Since him and his mom have never been able to communicate since she's blind and he's deaf. Another reason could be that Henry has a crush on Amy and wants to please her by learning to speak and being the best student. But they are also both breaking through social norms in order to test the limits of society. -J-RAM
I agree that it’s not because of them both being outcasts, it is true that Amy is isolated from the other teachers and students, but Henry shares a connection with both the blind children and the deaf children. I believe that there was an instant connection between the two because 1) Henry thought she was attractive. And 2) because when she wa sintroduced she was introduced as he speech teacher so he saw her as a way to connect with his own mother. I agree that he sees her as a sort of mother figure, however, he still badly wanted the connection with his own mother. Henry wanting to please Amy is also very obvious in the film and he is constantly seeking approval, possibly because in contrast to some of the other teachers, Amy treats them more as intellectual people rather than idiots who need assistance in every form of life. - Eli
I feel that the reason Henry bonded so quickly with Amy wasn't just because of her "outcast" qualities, but also the fact that, in Henry's eyes, Amy might've appeared as a mother-like figure to him. Since Henry didn't have a strong relationship with his own mother, Amy was like a guardian to him. She couldn't fully communicate with him, but she was at least kind towards him and didn't treat him as lesser than herself. She saw Henry almost as a son and Henry viewed her as a parental figure. -Emma
I agree with Emma about how Amy could have been a mother figure to Henry; however I feel there are more aspects that make their relationship unique. The fact that Amy was so passionate in her work allowed Henry to believe in her. This sparked the first of the relationship. Henry saw how Amy wasn’t a pushover which reassured them that Amy was at the school for the kids. Henry loved seeing progress in his speaking because he personally knew that he would be able to talk to his mother for the first time. The viewer did not realize that until later, however it furthered Henry’s motive to be so dedicated. Amy was able to give him a voice. This caused Henry to feel special and like he was needed as proof of Amy’s great work which gave him purpose and a love for her. -Noellie
I think that Henry and Amy instantly shared a connection for multiple reasons, but the most prominent is that they're both outsiders. Henry is the only deaf kid that likes mixing with the blind kids, and Amy is a woman who ran away from her husband and defied the social norm. This defiance of normalized negativity connects them.
ReplyDelete-Nikki Wolman
Nikki,
DeleteI agree with your observations. I also think they connected because Amy never shot him down. She encouraged him to say curiouse and learn more. I think this encouragement was something Henry rairly saw so he felt even more special with Amy. For Amy, Henry was the first student that had success in her speech program so she felt validated and stronger thanks to him. These two things helped to strongly bond Amy and Henry for life.
-Jake Wrentmore
I agree with what you said Nikki in that the unconventional nature of Amy and Henry is what brought them together. I believe that Henry could sense that Amy is also different and believes and does things that others don’t. Although Henry is deaf, he still interacts with the blind children, likely because his mother is blind, even though most deaf children did not. Amy believe she could teach deaf children to speak even though most people disagreed. Henry was consistently drawn to Amy because he knew she believed in him and his ability to teach him how to speak. Henry had faith in himself and just needed someone to believe in him too.
DeleteMikayla Henne
And to further my point, we see that Henry is drawn to Amy from the first moment he sees her. Amy is also drawn to Henry, and he becomes the star pupil. While this may have to do with a crush that Henry has, it is undeniable that they have a connection to each other.
Delete-Nikki
I never really thought about the fact that they were both "outcasts". But I agree with you. Another factor could be that he desperately is searching for a mother-like figure. Since him and his mom have never been able to communicate since she's blind and he's deaf. Another reason could be that Henry has a crush on Amy and wants to please her by learning to speak and being the best student. But they are also both breaking through social norms in order to test the limits of society.
ReplyDelete-J-RAM
I agree that it’s not because of them both being outcasts, it is true that Amy is isolated from the other teachers and students, but Henry shares a connection with both the blind children and the deaf children. I believe that there was an instant connection between the two because 1) Henry thought she was attractive. And 2) because when she wa sintroduced she was introduced as he speech teacher so he saw her as a way to connect with his own mother. I agree that he sees her as a sort of mother figure, however, he still badly wanted the connection with his own mother. Henry wanting to please Amy is also very obvious in the film and he is constantly seeking approval, possibly because in contrast to some of the other teachers, Amy treats them more as intellectual people rather than idiots who need assistance in every form of life.
Delete- Eli
I feel that the reason Henry bonded so quickly with Amy wasn't just because of her "outcast" qualities, but also the fact that, in Henry's eyes, Amy might've appeared as a mother-like figure to him. Since Henry didn't have a strong relationship with his own mother, Amy was like a guardian to him. She couldn't fully communicate with him, but she was at least kind towards him and didn't treat him as lesser than herself. She saw Henry almost as a son and Henry viewed her as a parental figure.
ReplyDelete-Emma
I agree with Emma about how Amy could have been a mother figure to Henry; however I feel there are more aspects that make their relationship unique. The fact that Amy was so passionate in her work allowed Henry to believe in her. This sparked the first of the relationship. Henry saw how Amy wasn’t a pushover which reassured them that Amy was at the school for the kids. Henry loved seeing progress in his speaking because he personally knew that he would be able to talk to his mother for the first time. The viewer did not realize that until later, however it furthered Henry’s motive to be so dedicated. Amy was able to give him a voice. This caused Henry to feel special and like he was needed as proof of Amy’s great work which gave him purpose and a love for her.
Delete-Noellie