Saturday, July 27, 2013

Signs

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"They clung to that certainty: for a while, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing." Why is this such a poignant passage? What makes speech so important to us?
Ida Paine...interesting name. Ida is described as being an oracle. What is an oracle? Do you know of any famous oracles, and if so, how are they like Ida?
What is eerie about Louisa Wilkes appearance at the Sawtelle farm?
Why is communication so important to humans? What does it do for us beyond expressing our basic wants and needs?

87 comments:

Unknown said...

An oracle is someone whose supposed to be able to foresee the future. Some other famous oracles mostly come from mythology. Most Famously the Oracle of Delphi from Greek mythology.

Ida is very similar to the description of the Oracles because they are usually someone who cant see and are surrounded by a mist or Smokey haze and don't say much other then what is needed to be said.

Jessica Maras said...

Communication is so important to humans because it helps us live life to the fullest. If we could never communicate, we wouldn't be able to express our feelings, no one would ever know how we felt. Everyone would also struggle to understand each other without communication. Communication comes in many forms. Sign language, verbal communication and physical communication are just some of the different types of communication. The world would be bland and boring if no communication could happen. I feel like everything would eventually die out because no one would understand what someone needed or what they were feeling. Communication is essential so there is no misunderstandings and so we can communicate what we need to. I believe communication is the key to survival, the backbone of humans.

Destiny Clements said...

An oracle is someone who can see the future or have predictions on what the future may hold. One famous oracle would be the Oracle of Delphi. Dating back to the time of Greek mythology, Pythia (or more commonly known as the Oracle of Delphi) was a priestess at the Temple of Apollo who would tell people the prophecies she saw. Both Ida Paine and Pythia were women who were able to see into the future. Ida’s last name “Paine” could also symbolize the pain that comes along with some of the fortunes she tells. Depending on the persons fate, they could either have a great future, or a painful one.

I thought Louisa Wilkes appearance on the farm was quite rude. She came in not knowing what for, but then she starts accusing Edgar of being deaf. I thought that she could have at least contacted Trudy and Gar before she came crashing into their home. It is hard enough on Edgar’s parents that they already lost children to a miscarriage and a stillbirth, but now they are being told by a stranger that their son is deaf.

Haley Browning said...

Louisa Wilkes was sent to the farm for reasons she hadn't known. The oracle, Ida, had sent here there. The reason i believe Louisa was sent there was to teach the Sawtelle family about sign language. Prior to Louisa's visit, Edgar had no way of communicating to the world around. Louisa taught Trudy and Gar a simply way they can teach their son to communicate. Without her, Edgar might not have ever been able to speak to the people around him.

Katelyn Trombley said...

An oracle is someone who can see into the future. In history class, I have learned about the Oracle bones of the late Shang Dynasty. The bones were believed to be equipped with magic powers that could make it possible to see into the future. The uses of these bones were helpful with crop planting; they were able to know the upcoming weather.

Communication is important to us humans because it is the key to every relationship. It makes us stand out as people because we can explain our thoughts and opinions. Without communication, a person would never be able to get ahead; nobody would understand what they want. Along with the words we use, we can get a feel of someone’s emotions by the tone in which they say it.

Corbin Leigh :) said...

I think its important because before Edgar, his parents had two babies that didn't live. So to them Edgar opening his eyes ans actually being alive J's a huge burden lifted off their shoulders. The fact that Edgar cant speak seems very unimportant. At least hes alive.

An oracle is someone that acts as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods. The only oracle I know of is a fictional character from the matrix.

Communication is very important to humans because it is the secret key to any successful relationship. Communication helps us let one another know how we are. How we feel. Our emotions. And everything in between.

Morgan McCullough said...

The Sawtelle family was so tired of losing small beginnings of life that it was a miracle enough that this baby continued to be alive each day, meaning that they really didn't mind the silence, because it wasn't harming the child. Speech is so important to us because it is a form of communicating who we are. Naturally, there are other ways. Our generation harbors our own little individual collections of twitter/tumblr/facebook feeds full of all of the things that amuse us and mean something to us and we naturally want to share it with other people, just as they have shared with us. A person is defined by the things they communicate. It will be harder for Edgar because he can't yell or sing or etcetera, but he will find other ways to communicate his thoughts and establish himself.

Unknown said...

This is such a poignant passage because it reveals that Edgar is silent and can’t speak. I don’t think that Gar and Trudy cared that Edgar couldn’t speak because at least he was living and that’s all that mattered to them, after having a previous miscarriage. Speech is always important to humans because that’s how we communicate. We always talk on a phone and express our ideas in a group with words that we speak, it is hard to express your thoughts and ideas when you can’t speak. I’m glad that Edgar is learning to sign, so he is able to communicate in some way to his family because otherwise he wouldn’t be able to express his wants and needs to people and would never get the things he needed. The eerie part about Louisa Wilkes coming to the Sawtelles’ place is that she doesn’t know them, and doesn’t know the reason that she’s even going to their house. She was just sent there by Ida Paine.

Elle Baum said...

The passage is sad because it shows that the parents are just happy that Edgar is alive. They don't care about the silence his life is enough; they have already experienced too much death.
Speech is so important to us because it's an ideal form of communication. We need to be able communicate the things we need so we can survive. As dependent children we need to be able to tell our parents the things we need like food, water, or rest. Obviously, speech isn't the only way to communicate; Edgar, and many others, communicate through sign language. Speech may be more ideal than sign language in scenarios where the people communicating are out of eyesight. If someone who couldn't make any noise was out of eyesight, they wouldn't be able to call for help.
Communication is also important to us because it allows us to be social. Most people don't talk only when they need something. Sure people can become upset and want to be left alone, but through the course of their life, they're going to want to talk to people for enjoyment. People typically, I think, like to be around others. People like to talk, laugh, and share feelings with others, more than just tell someone when their hungry or thirsty.

Bailee Wills said...

Louisa Wilkes' appearance is eerie because she just so happens to be exactly what the Sawtelle family needs at that time. She didn't know why she was there but somehow, Ida knew that Louisa would be able to help them. She also managed to appear shortly after they had given up on doctors and medical treatment and tests that were doing absolutely nothing.
Communication between people is very important. It helps express emotions between people. Being able to do so brings people closer together and creates bonds. It makes life worth living. Being unable to communicate would mean solitude and loneliness.

Maxwell Lezon said...

By this point, the Sawtelles were happy to have Edgar survive. After the miscarriage, having something that was living and breathing to call their own was good enough for them. As for us, speech is our primary way of communicating. Obviously body language takes an important role in face-to-face encounters, but speaking allows us to fully articulate. Oracles are people who supposedly possess clairvoyant powers.

Jenna Felkey said...

It is rather strange that Louisa Wilkes showed up at the Sawtelle residence. She said that Ida Paine had given her directions to their place, although she didn’t quite know where she was going or why she was there. When she finds out that Edgar couldn’t speak, she started to sign to him and explained the importance of speech to Edgar’s mother. She taught her some sign language and told her how she can teach Edgar.

Communication is important to humans in many different ways. Besides expressing our wants and needs, communication is a way for us to express ourselves. Communicating with others is a way to find similarities and make friendships. It is a way of life and is near impossible to make it through life without any form of communication.

Haley Barr said...

This chapter shows that Edgar is silent and can’t speak. Honestly, I think Gar and Trudy were just happy that Edgar was alive even if he couldn’t speak. They were just thankful they had a child to hold in their arms without having to let them go. Speech, I think has always been an important thing to humans. We depend on this as our way to communicate to one another. Much of our technology now days depend on our voice or the jobs we love need strong communication. This would make life very hard if you didn’t have the ability to talk. This is why I think it’s great that Edgar is learning sign language. This could make things easier on him and his family, allowing them to be able to have the communication skill every family needs.

Unknown said...

The narrator states,"They clung to that certainty: for a while, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing." This is so moving becuase Gar and Trudy love Edgar and are just thankful to have him, even if he does not speak. An oracle is a medium whom people would go seek prophecy. Ida Paine seems to be an oracle knowing what Trudy is asking for without using words. Ida sends Mrs. Wilkes to Gar and Trudy knowing she can help them understand and teach them about what Edgar is going through.

Communication is so important to humans because it helps us connect to each other. People communicate through speech and sign, music and poetry. There are so many different ways we as humans express ourselves, and people just want to be heard.

Karlyn Manera said...

An oracle is someone who can see or predict the future. Ida Paine can see that the Sawtelles need Louisa to help Edgar. Ida Paine tells Louisa that she ‘wants’ to go to the Sawtelle’s home. When she arrives, she can see why she was sent there and talks to the Sawtelles about how Edgar can use sign language to communicate. I also found that Edgar’s situation is opposite of Louisa’s; as Louisa’s parents both used sign while she could speak, both Edgar’s parents can speak while he uses sign. I also remembered the eerie man in the prologue who mixed the potion and killed a cat to the creepy feeling Ida Paine gave me.

Communication is vital to survival because it gives us a way to express our wants and needs. It is also how we create a relationship with one another. The saying, ‘it’s not what you said it’s how you said it,’ explains how important a person’s tone can be in a conversation. ‘Communication is key,’ is something I have learned since I was young whether it was sports or doing a group project in school. Communication is essential.

Abby Almomar said...


I was worried when Trudy made a visit to Ida Paine at the grocery store. I thought it was an incredibly sketchy situation. The rustle of leaves, the old building, and the flashing sign made me think something terrible was about to occur. A couple paragraphs later the sad news is confirmed- Edgar will never be able to speak. From taking mythology I remember someone who gave prophets in Greek legend, her name is Sibyl. Sibyl is old and very crazy… just like Ida Paine. After Trudy talked with Ida Paine, Ida sends Louisa Wilkes to talk to the Sawtelle family. I believe Louisa Wilkes brought hope to the saddened family. I couldn’t imagine not being able to converse with my child, but Louisa Wilkes shows the Sawtelles that they actually can. Just because he can’t talk, it doesn’t mean he can’t use any other functions. She demonstrates how they can use signs with Edgar. Communication is so important to our society. With communication we can express our wants and feelings. We can also make great relationships with people.

Emily Woods said...

The passage is so important because, yeh it's horrible that their son cant talk, but whats worse? Having a son who can't talk or one who couldn't even survive? When Ida Paine sends the lady to the Sawtelles house you think that Ida must be crazy. Why would she send some random lady to their house? It's actually pretty cool though because she gets to talking to Trudy about sign language. Edgar ends up making his own type of sign up, but this really helps Edgars parents to break that language barrier. Which always seems to be the problem...the language barrier...

Jessica Duran said...

The importance of this saying is that life is precious. Edgar's parents know this. They have lost more than one baby already and to them Edgar was a miracle no matter if he could speak or not. He was a healthy breathing baby, and that's more than they could have asked for.

Communication is key. Communication to humans is so important because it is a key point in life. It's how we teach things, how we learn, how we share, etc. Without communication what would life be? No matter if it's speech, sign language, writings, drawings, facial expressions, we need communication to work together and to live life. Communication is life.

Ali Baker said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Madison Hanson said...

The passage is important because after the miscarriages and stillbirth Trudy is just happy that Edgar is alive. It doesn't matter if he can talk but this time she is just lucky he is alive and that is all they ever wanted.
The visit from Louisa Wilkes is quite random. It has an eerie feeling because she just shows up on they're porch not knowing why she came. But after time it proves to be important that she made a visit to their house. She introduces them to sign language which is how they get Edgar to communicate, without it he would never be able to communicate.
Communication is an essential part of everyone's life. Without it no relationships could be formed and no progress would be made. Ideas couldn't be shared, so everyone would have to do everything on their own. That would make life a whole lot harder.

Ali Baker said...

I believe that Gar and Trudy are beyond thankful that their son is even living past one day. The situation of Edgar not being able to speak or make noise doesn't really matter to them. Just because he is silent doesn't mean he doesn't have the same emotions as a regular baby. They will have different ways of communication with Edgar but just because he is different doesn't mean they will love him less. He is still their son and he means everything to them. Speech is so important to us because it is our way of getting our feelings out in the open and expressing who we are. Imagine waking up and not being able to talk ever again. It would be difficult and I bet Edgar has a hard time with that. We have other ways to express ourselves like through the media, but chatting over the internet is not the same as face to face conversations. It is something we should be grateful for.
I think it is a bit odd that Louisa Wilkes shows up out of the blue. Though, I think it was a big blessing for the Sawtelle family. Louisa might have been a stranger, but she is most definitely what they needed at that time. She gave them knew ideas and the answers to being able to communicate with their son.

Erika Kackmeister said...

This passage was important to us because it shows how grateful the Sawtelle's were to just have a baby who was alive. A baby who woke up every day.A baby who was healthy, although mysteriously mute. They are taking the news very well, still loving their son and learning how to communicate with them. They know he can hear them and must want to communicate some way. Speech is so important to us because it is the main form of communication we use to describe how we feel, think, and believe.It is how we tell others what we think inside. Communication helps us persuade others to think like us. Communication shows an attitude or feeling in our speech.

Lauren Kuhn said...

The Sawtelles are just excited to have a baby that survived. After going through multiple losses, they are happy to be able to have a living and, for the most part, healthy baby. Speech is important to us because it allows us to express our needs and desires. It is a way to interact with others as well as share feelings. Without speech, it'd be very difficult to communicate with people and express your needs. The eerie thing about Louisa Wilkes appearance is how perfect she is for the Sawtelles. When she arrives at the Sawtelle's residence, Louisa doesn't know why she's been sent there. When she meets Edgar, however, she realizes that she is the help the Sawtelles have been searching for. With Louisa's help, Edgar's parents are able learn sign language. This knowledge allows Edgar to learn how to communicate without speaking.

Matthew Jackson said...

The "They clung to the certainty..." passage is particularly emotional because it shows that the Sawtelles, unlike anyone else who had seen Edgar, saw him as a human being instead of a medical mystery. Trudy and Gar had gone through so many failed pregnancies and hardships that Edgar was a blessing no matter what flaws he had. The passage was saddening, to me, because I think it foreshadows that Edgar won't be treated normally outside of his family.
Louisa's appearance at the farm was eerie because Ida Paine had sent her there after seeing Edgar. Somehow, Ida knew Louisa would see her, and knew she would be of use, which had me curious. Ida was never mentioned before this chapter, and we never even learned the extend of Trudy's knowledge of her.

Heather Matthews said...

When I read the quote, "They clung to that certainty: for awhile, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing.", I was moved in many ways. The quote upset me but also made me smile. This is such a poignant passage because they do not care that Edgar was not blessed with one of the five senses most humans take for granted. They love him for him. Speech is so important to us because it is used in our everyday lives. It is the way most people learn or express themselves. When one does not possess the ability to speak it makes life harder for them because it is the way we communicate with others. Not everyone can understand sign; it is like trying to understand someone who only knows French and all the other person knows is English.

Unknown said...

Speech is so important to us because it helps us express our feelings to others around us! It helps develop your personality and create bonds with people in your life. Without communication it's difficult to create that parent-child bond you're supposed to develop from birth. For Edagar it's hard for him to create this bond because he cannot talk. To be able to create this bond he will have to find a different way to communicate with his parents.
By definition an oracle is a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity. Ida is described as being an oracle because she gave Louisa directions without knowing why, but knowing Lousia would help whoever's there.

Austin Vc said...

What is eerie about Louisa Wilkes appearance at the Sawtelle farm?
Louisa had appeared at their house and responded by saying she didn't know why she was here, but she was sent by Ida, an oracle. As they talked Louisa mentioned she thought sign making her appearance much more important than before.

Do you know of any famous oracles, and if so, how are they like Ida?
I know of the Oracle of Delphi and that it was frequented by Apollo, another Greek god. I guess they are similar as all other oracles are in predicting the future and giving guidance.

Unknown said...

This passage was important because the sawtelles finally had a child- a living, breathing child. That's all that mattered; they would love him no matter what. That's powerful; it shows how much they care.
Ida was strange, yet all oracles seem to be. Another oracle is from Greek mythology, the Oracle at Delphi. How convenient, a sign language teacher appears at the Sawtelle farm just as Trudy is fed up with doctors telling her what isn't wrong with Edgar. It's quite wonderful though, he may never have learned to communicate beyond basics without her. Humans are needy creatures. We don't want just food, water, shelter, or children. Humans need to express themselves.They are intelligent beings who can carry out intricate tasks, shouldn't they want to express themselves.

Natalya D. said...

Communication is something all animals have. If someone is at the door, a dog will bark to communicate to everyone that there is someone at the door and to let the person at the door know that there is a dog on the other side of the door ready to protect its family. However, language is much more complex. Besides explaining what we want or need, speech tells others how we are feeling and what is going on in our life. Almost anything a person thinks can be expressed to others through words. Without speech we would still be able to have a language, like Edgar, sign language. If no one could speak, we would still be able to live the same way we do now, but if we did not have language, our lives would be completely different. We would basically be living like animals. We would still be able to communicate basic things like pointing at food, but there would not be schools, restaurants, etc. Our society would be flipped upside down, but we would still be able to survive. If we did not have any form of communication, we would not be alive. Humans need each other in order to sustain a population. Yes, we might be able to live on our own, but it does take two people to reproduce. After a certain amount of time humans would die off. Communication is something we need to survive. Language and speech are miracles that set us apart from other animals and help our society to grow.

KaylaTracy said...

This passage was sad because the Sawtelles finally got what they wanted but their was so much greif and loss that they had to deal with to get to this point. The passage did make me smile though because it showed that it didn't matter that he couldn't speak it just mattered that he was alive and he was theirs. Communication is important to us because it allows us to talk to one another and to accomplish tasks which allow our society to grow. The appearance of Louisa Wilkes was so eerie because it's exactly what the Sawtelles needed at that time, however, in the beginning no one knew why she was there. It was also eerie because Ida Paine told her to go there without knowing anything about her.

Megan Jeffries said...

An oracle is defined as being a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity. Ida was able to tell Trudy about Edgar, that he would not speak, but he would be able to use his hands. Trudy did not ask Ida about her baby, Ida just knew. Ida also gave Louisa directions to the Sawtelle farm, and the way that Ida had said it was like Louisa would want to go there. Ida knew that somehow, Louisa would be able to help the Sawtelles.
In the story of Oedipus, an oracle told Oedipus's parents, the King and Queen, that he would one day murder his father, and marry his mother. Despite their best efforts to stop this from happening, Oedipus eventually killed his father and married his mother. The oracle is like Ida because they don't decide the fate a person, they just tell it. And no matter what the efforts are to change it, it is destined to happen. Ida was right about Edgar's future just as the oracle was right about Oedipus's future.

Louie Vogel said...

The passage shows how insignificant the baby’s problem was compared to having the ability to live, unlike his ill-fated siblings. All they could ask for was that they have a healthy, able child. Speech allows us to share feelings, convey our needs, and maintain a mutual understanding with others needed to communicate. An oracle is a very wise person who can project their mind into the future to foresee events or someone who can talk to “god(s)” for advice, like the Greek Oracle of Delphi. Louisa Wilkes’ visit was eerie because she was directed by Ida Paine. Without communication, many art forms like poetry or music would be meaningless and have no form. History would be forgotten due to lack of records along with the ability to write. Let’s just say that without manageable words used to convey ideas and terms for us to understand, TV and radio would be pretty boring.

Ashlie Heller said...

An oracle, from the books I've read, is another name for a physic. They are wise people that believe they can predict the future. They believe everyone has a set destiny that can't be changed.I don't know of any famous oracles, but they are usually all the same. They have the same kind of dialect, same kind of dress(depending on their region), and same kind of thought process. Communication is very important to humans. Without communication we wouldn't be able to get to know people. Beyond expressing our basic wants and needs, communication expresses our feelings, and lets people know if we are happy or sad.

Natalie Ostas said...

Communication is very important to us because we can tell each other if something is wrong and how to fix it. When you're younger and you are hurt, communication with an adult can help make you feel better and get you the help that you need. This passage is very important because the Swatelles already lost three babies and a puppy. Also, in all four instances, neither the dog or the babies could tell the parents what was wrong.

Kim Shomo said...

Oracles are people who are able to see into the future and predict the fate of others. They are usually described as lonely people. Not lonely as in they wish for company, but enjoy the loneliness. Since they are burdened with the ability to foresee the future, they are more wise with life.

Communication is extremely important to the human race. Without communication, we wouldn't have a chance at survival. Humans are very independent, but only to a point. We need social interactions in order to grow and become wise and without properly communicating our feelings and emotions, we begin to fall apart. It is mainly important in love, family, and friend relationships.

Jake Kelly said...

When it is said "They clung to that certainty: for a while, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing.", it is a powerful quote because it shows that because of their stillbirth, the Sawtelles were glad to have a living son whether he could speak or not. An oracle is someone who knows about and can tell of the future, but usually only do so in riddles and small hints. Ida Paine is an oracle because she says things that seem to make no sense at the time, but later turn out to be predictions or advice about the future. Ida Paine directed Louisa Wilkes to the Sawtelle farm because she knew that eventually Edgar would need a method of communication, and Louisa Wilkes just taught sign language.

Jamie Geiger said...

An oracle is basically a fortune teller, in not so many words. They wish to believe that they can predict what is to come. I personally do not know of any famous oracles because in my opinion they are all fairly similar.

Communication is crucial in everyday life. Without communication, we would not be able to convey our thoughts, feelings, ideas or opinions on everyday situations. Whether it be verbal or physical communication, it is still a key factor in survival. In my opinion, communication is the base or backbone to society and human interaction.

Ashley Zeiler said...

An oracle is someone who can see the future, basically the older and more sought after version of a fortune teller. A famous oracle I know is the oracle of Delphi at the temple of Apollo. Communication is important among humans because it's how we express ourselves. It's how we show our views and beliefs. It transmits our mindsets and lets people know our personalities. Without speech the world would cease to exist.

Emily Meyer said...

The passage is so poignant because they had endured the miscarriages and stillbirth children. Edgar's parents were just glad they had him and that he was healthy, even if he couldn't speak. Speech is only important to us because we've grown up using it for as long as we can remember. We use speech daily and constantly, and without it it seems impossible to live life normally. An oracle is someone who can foresee future events to some extent, and can accurately do so. Louisa Wilkes appearance is eerie because she just so happens to be a teacher for sign language and can teach them to get Edgar to "speak".

caitiejohnson said...

Communication is everything in our society. We make connections with one another and through that we develop as people and as a whole. That passage is important because it shows that the Sawtelles are just thankful that they finally have a child. They don’t care if he doesn’t make a sound, all they care about is that he’s alive. After going through all of that pain with her past pregnancies, Trudy is grateful to have her son. Ida Paine, the oracle, sent Louisa Wilkes to the Sawtelles. She showed them a way to communicate with their son, which Ida said that Edgar would use his hands to communicate.

Anonymous said...

Speech is an important and necessary part of human life. When we hear something, it catches our attention, if only for a second or so. When someone is speaking, we try to listen to what they have to say. Although it is easy to communicate simple things by using hand motions (thumbs up for “I’m ok” or “good job”), when forming more complex sentences or trying to explain a situation it would be difficult. During the time when Edgar’s story takes place, many people were not accepting of those who were deaf or mute. Children who were born deaf or mute were sent to schools that would force them to use words instead of signs. Yet Edgar’s parents are so relieved to finally have a child that they don’t care. They know they can work through whatever problems this might bring. That is one of the reasons this is a strong family with a great relationship.

Joey Joly said...

Communication is one of the basic necessities of life. Without communication, nothing could happen. An Oracle is said to be able to see into the future. Ida is able to tell Edgar's mother that he won't be able to speak, but he can use his hands. She also sends Louisa Wilkes Wilkesto them to teach them how to sign.

Michael Pisanti said...

Speech is our way to communicate with others. With speech we have the ability to interact with others and that makes speech important. The human body has a natural need to be a part of something, and speech is our passage into where we want to be. An oracle is a person who can tell the future. They have a connection to the universe which allows them to do what they do. Since the novel uses the name Ida, it is blatantly clear that she is an oracle. It is eerie when Louisa shows up because she was there for an odd reason anyways, but it was as if Ida called upon spirits to send Louisa to the Sawtelle's house because Ida knew they needed help. Communication is important because as an individual one can only accomplish so much. When people communicate as a team, the goal can be bigger than the thoughts f jus one individual.

Taylor Watkins said...

Speech is a necessity for people to communicate. It's a way for everyone to understand thoughts and ideas. Humans have to fulfill the need to be a part of something, and talking helps to fulfill that need. The passage was important because it proved they didn't care he couldn't talk, his parents were happy to have him.

An oracle is one who can see into the future and fate of others. What made Louisa's appearance eerie was she knew about the Sawtelle's, yet never met them. She was able to help teach Edgar and his mom sign language.

Hannah Duschl said...

The quote really reminded me of how precious life is. Edgar's parents were just happy to have a son that was alive, no matter what the circumstances were. After the many miscarriages the parents had, I was happy for them to finally have a baby. It makes me think how lucky I am to be alive and well.

Without communication between humans it would take much longer to try to understand a person, and make it nearly impossible to love. Feeling would go unshared. I believe that the human race would've gone crazy a long time ago and we wouldn't be here today.

Dominic P said...

An oracle is a person that can predict the future. One famous oracle is the Oracle of Delphi. They are like Ida because they can be mysterious. Mostly, when I think of oracles being portrayed, I think of a dark, eerie feeling, and the scene with Ida had the same environment as any other oracle. The weird thing about Louisa Wilkes going to the farm is that she did not know what she was going for. In the end though she realizes why she is there- to tell Edgar's parents that they need to teach him sign. Communication is so important for many reasons- it is for interaction, being able to express your basic wants and needs. Communication does more than just expressing yourself; it helps relay ideas, and knowledge, causing evolution of society.

Unknown said...

Speech is so important because it's the clearest way of communicating with people and expressing your needs, wants, and desires. You get to know people through speech, you do business through speech, and you can help people through speech. You can communicate through body language, but it isn't nearly as effective. Gar and Trudy didn't care if he could speak or not, they cared about him and loved him just the same.

Mackenzie Wegener said...

Some famous oracles are often those of Greek mythology: they are Delphi, Cassandra and Apollo. Oracles are fortune tellers, they life for people. Ida is similar to an oracle because she relays the future of the Sawtelles. Ida Paine Talked to Trudy and told her about Edgar, she also told her that he would be able to communicate through sign language. Some similarities between Ida and oracles are that they portray mystery and majestic personas.
Communication is important for humans because it is our way of interacting. Besides the fact that we express our needs and wants through communication, it is also how we share our love and feelings. Communicating can solve issues; however, it can start problems. Humans are full of thoughts and feelings, if we were never able to express our thoughts and we kept things bottled up we would live in a sad evil world. In my opinion, talking is what keeps the human race alive. Aside from expressing feelings, communication helps us live together and learn. We learn by listening and talking to others.

Tristen Wilhelm said...

Communication is extremely important because without communication I think that human life would pretty much be nonexistent. When we communicate with one another we can establish our emotions, expectations, wants, and needs. Because there are so many types of communication including verbal, written, and sign. Without it, I don't think that we as humans would ever be able to function properly.

Anonymous said...

Communication is very important to humans whether its a teacher teaching a class or a cop arresting someone. Communication helps us to express a wide range of emotions and thoughts. When speech is inhibited (such as Edgar's case) communication not only becomes harder but it also becomes more of a necessity. It is necessary for Edgar's parents to be able to communicate with him so they can teach him about life and the world around him.

Anna Parrish said...

An oracle is a prophet of sorts that tells the future or helps to answer the questions of a person. One famous oracle is the oracle of delphi.The oracle of delphi was believed to gain her insight from the aun god, Apollo. Ida is like the oracle of delphi for she is mysterious, and even though a bit odd people still go to her for advice on their problems.

Anna Parrish said...

Communication is such a natural thing of life that sometimes we take if for granted. Edgar at the beginning as to jumo through hoops to be able to communicate with others. Not just to let others know about his needs and wants, but his feelings and questions. As humans we are usually curious creatures who yearn to know the reason why. Not being able to ask a simple such as why something works one way and not the other could drive a person mad. Another reason for communication is the telling people your feelings or ideas. Yes, a person could bottle their emotions up, but there comes a point where a person needs to let go.

Hannah Phillips said...

The passage is important because it shows how Edgar's parents are not focused on the bad things about how he can not speak but on the fact that he is alive and with them everyday. Having Edgar open his eyes everyday is good enough for his parents and having him alive and with them everyday is an amazing gift that Edgar gives to his parents even if he will never talk. Having no voice is a small sacrifice compared to not having a child at all.

Shiloh Jackson said...

They had a stillborn baby and that is obviously terrifying but that is still their baby. HE is just as special, just as important, and just as loved as a baby that is not mute. Speech is most important to us because from the time we are born that is how we express ourselves. We scream if we are hungry, then we learn to ask for specific things, then we learn to back talk our parents. It's a natural way of expression that no one ever really thinks is so important.

trentreynolds said...

An oracle is someone who can see into the future. The only oracle I know of is three witches in the movie “Clash of the Titans.”

Communication is important to us humans because it is the key to every relationship. It makes us stand out as people because we can explain our thoughts and opinions to one another. Without communication nobody would understand what they want. Along with the words we use, we can get a feel of someone’s emotions by the tone they use and the body language they show.


Harrison King said...

An oracle is someone or something that can see the future, future that is described as fate. Communication is by the system which humanity develops as a culture. It is necessary to understand and use many different forms of communication. It allows humans to form groups, groups into a community, and a community into a nation.

Meg Perry said...

The narrator says, "They clung to that certainty: for a while, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing." I think this passage is touching and it goes to show how thankful the Sawtelle’s are to have a child. After having miscarriages and a stillborn, Gar and Trudy could not be happier to be able to hold and keep their baby and Edgar makes up for all the disappointment. He is exactly what they wanted and his inability to use his voice doesn’t change the way they look at him. Besides expressing our basic needs and wants, communication is a vital part of bonding and allowing yourself to share thoughts and opinions. Without communication, it would be extremely hard and frustrating when trying to connect yourself with others.

Unknown said...

"They clung to that certainty: for a while, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing." This speech is important because it shows just how thankful the Sawtelle's really are for having a child that is alive after having so much death before hand. Because of their experiences, the Sawrelle's see what a blessing the gift of life really is and don't pay attention to the little details like the child not being able to speak.

Megan Waite said...

An oracle is someone who can see or make predicitons about the future. They are said to be portals that the Gods used to communicate with people. Oracles are of much importance to the Greek history.
Communication is so important to humans because it's how express ourselves and what we're feeling. Communication techniques are constantly evolving and have become easier to get information across. Without communicatiopn nothing would get done, people wouldn't evolve or develop relationships, countries or communities would be nothing, and the world would basically be at a stand still.

Chase DuVall said...

The passage about Edgar being ordinary is sad because its a reminder of his mothers complicated attempts at having children. So while speech and communication is important to work and cooperate with one and other, it wasn't as important as life itself.
An oracle is one that can see things about a person without being told anything about that person; past present and future.
Louisa Wilkes showing up on the farm is strange because she doesn't know the family nor does she live in the area. She is there purely based off the direction of Ida Paine who Edgar's mother saw shortly before.

Jack Nachtrab said...

An oracle is a prophetic type of person that was first introduced in Greek mythology. They are wise and almost always portrayed as older.
Communication is one of the most essential things in life. Talking is something most people take for granted. All interactions with people involve some sort of communication and without it, nothing would be accomplished. It is much more valuable than just stating basic needs and wants, it is how friends are made and problems are solved.

Unknown said...

This passage shows that the parents, yes may be happy about Edgar being alive, but they don’t care that he doesn’t speak… I’m not sure how I feel about that, but just to have someone back in your life that you may have thought you were going to lose, the presence seems to be enough for them which is more of a bittersweet feeling for me, because I know that they still may want to communicate with Edgar but are not able too. Although Edgar did learn how to sign to his parents, speech gets the point across quicker and it’s less frustrating trying to figure out what you could be saying. Communication is important throughout life, you will need it to make new friends, and if you are trying to communicate with new people and you have to sign, they aren’t going to want to take time trying to learn something new, they are going to want to do what is comfortable for them, that is just how I feel.

Brandon Sidoti said...

The only oracle I know about is the Oracle of Delphi from Greek Mythology. The only real similarities from Ida Paine and the Oracle of Delphi is that they are both creepy and indirect about what they see. Ida Paine saw the boy was mute and knew he wouldn't talk so she said he can use his hands. The Oracle of Delphi would tell prophecies that were always true, but never in the way you expected them to be.

Leah said...

An oracle is someone gives advice and predicts the future through spiritual acts. I personally know an oracle that I see once or twice a year for advice and classes. She is more of a psychic but she still can see things from the past, present, and future. She is like Ida because she gives advice about things going on in your life and carries mystery with her.

Unknown said...

The quote, "They clung to that certainty: for a while, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing." is such a touching passage because it shows how much Trudy and Gar love Edgar no matter what was wrong with him and were just happy he was alive.


Ida Paine is described as an oracle whcih is something people seek to be told a prophecy of some kind. When She tells Trudy that Edgar will never speak and that he can only use his hands, she was telling her more than she actually thought. By sending Louisa Wilkes to her she knew that she could help them with Edgar and teach them how to sign.

Vanessa said...

Communication is so important to us because it is the best way we know how to express ourselves. We can make others aware of how we feel, what we want, and much more by using different word combinations and tone. Often people take little things, such as speech, for granted. However, the Sawtelles had experienced so much loss and pain that they were just thankful for their child's life, even if he would not have a typical life. They appreciated the value of life, not the things that come along with it and learned to live with the "cards they were dealt".

AdamBlaida said...

The passage that says the lack of speech was okay in the face of still being alive is poignant because to us, speech and communication are a very necessary part of life. Though Edgar may be alive, what kind of living is a life without being able to connect to others? To us, that kind of life is meaningless. Speech is so important because it helps us relay thoughts and ideas, and connect with those around us. Communication is important to humans because it is a very easy medium to transmit ideas. Beyond just ideas, it also helps us understand ourselves and each other, it soothes us, and allows us to share and express our burdens so that others can help. Communication is so much more than just basic wants and needs, it is the very basis of all human development.

Jessica Kreger said...

I find this quote to be important because it shows the things in life that truly matter. The Sawtelle's were just happy and blessed for their son to be alive and breathing. The fact that he was unable to speak did not matter one bit to them, they love him just the same. In fact, I think this shows how much we take for granted. Most people would think their life is over if they couldn't speak, but there are so many people out there that can not. You should be grateful for what you have, and this shows that the ability to speak is nothing compared to actual life.
To humans, communication is so important. You use communication so many times and so many different ways throughout just one day. Communicating builds relationships and is part of who you are. The way you talk and present yourself shows your personality. I would find it very difficult to communicate without talking.

Emily Turigliatto said...

Edgar's parents don't care that he is mute because they've had so many problems with having kids before, they've learned to appreciate life and handle its difficulties. Speech is so important to us because it is how we communicate with one another. Beyond expressing our basic wants and needs, communication helps us to develop relationships with others.
An oracle is someone who predicts a persons future. I think that her last name being Paine tells that many fortunes that she tells are painful for people to hear.

Hannah Foreman said...

Edgar's parents are so happy to finally have a child survive that Edgar being mute doesn't really worry them right now. The parents are so thankful to actually have a child after trying for so long that nothing else really matters.

Speech is so important to us because it allows us to express what we need to say, speech is a mutual resource that almost every person uses. Speech is also a very big part in communication. Communication would be very complicated, as it is for Edgar, without the use of sound. However, Edgar knows nothing but signing so he probably feels as though things aren't very difficult for him. There are times when Edgar has difficulty communicating with others who don't sign.

Abbey Oswald said...

This passage shows that through all the complications the Sawtelle's have had with trying to have previous children that they're just happy they have a healthy baby, and Edgar not being able to talk is just a minor setback for them. It tells us that the Sawtelle's are strong and they see life as such a great gift that even if Edgar can't talk they will still be able to raise a healthy child that they so desperately wanted.
An oracle is a priest or priestess whom advise or prophesize about the future.

Leanne P. said...

Oracles are known for having special powers that enable them to see into the future and make prophecies.

Communication is key. It's what brings us together. Besides expressing our basic wants and needs, communication allows us to express our love for each other and our emotions.

Unknown said...

Edgar's parents were just hopeful that he would keep living day to day, and as long as that continued, they would rather him be silent than not have him at all. If you really think about it, communication through speech is what helps the world go round. Life would be total chaos if there was no communication. Communicating through speech is the most personable way to interact with others compared to physical gestures and also the quickest way to get one's point across.
Communication is probably the most important thing that humans have. It not only helps us to express our wants and needs, but has also helped us to evolve. With out our evolution of communication, humans would not be anymore advanced than animals. Our communication is how we create connections and ideas with the ones around us.

Bree Elwartoski said...

To his parents, Edgar was a miracle. They were finally able to have a child and they were hopeful that he would be able to thrive everyday as much as he could. To them it was more important to have a son who was mute than to have no son at all.
Communication is the building block of human life. It is how we share emotions, ideas, and interactions with other people. Communication through speech is one of the greatest things that we have been able evolve. It is something that is done every second of every day, and take for granted most of the time. As people, we do not think of how it would be to try and communicate without speech of some sort. It is how we thrive, without it, evolution would be a struggle.

breanna tidwell said...

This passage really shows how much love Edgar's parents have for him. They know what it is like to lose a baby and for that they are simply grateful they have a healthy, living child. Having a speech disability seems like the worst of their worries. Speech is so important to us because it is the only way many of us know how to communicate. Communication is not just a way to satisfy our basic needs, but to also get close with other humans. Communicating with others is what makes us feel less alone.

Nick Hoskins said...

The power of speech is so important to us because that is the simplest way to communicate with others about what we want. Since Edgar was unable to cry, his parents never knew if something was wrong with him. Oracles are people who have powers that enable them to see into the future. Communication can also help express emotions that someone is feeling.

mariah bellino said...

oracles know about life and can foretell the future. An example of an oracle would be Nostradamus.
Communication to humans helps to express our inner thoughts to others. Also, the way someone communicates shows how they feel and tells about who they are as a person.

Elizabeth Palmer said...

The passage describes that his parents were just happy that he was breathing and still alive and the fact that he couldn't speak met nothing to them. What makes speech so important to us is its our basic and one of the most important way of communicating with one another. An oracle is a person who is able to see in the future and knows about it. The eerie part of Louisa Wilkes appearance on the farm is that Ida told her that she would feel the need to go to the farm and she went.

Grant Morgan said...

The passage shows that the Sawtelle's were desperate for a child. It didn't matter what he or she looked like, acted like, or sounded like, the Sawtelle's would love their child as much as possible no matter what the circumstances. The fact that Edgar was mute and can't speak didn't matter to them because having a child alive was better than silence.

Communication may be the most important attribute a person can have. Without communication nothing would be possible because no matter how much knowledge a person may have, it is all put to waste without having the ability to communicate it to others. Communication is the one thing that relates all people to each other. No matter what language or dialect, communication allows businesses to operate, hospitals to function, inventors to create, students to learn, and people to love.

Mia Stroud said...

This passage is very important because it is revealed to us that Edgar is silent and he cannot speak. The Sawtelles do not care that he can't speak because after their heartbreak, they are just glad he is alive. Speech is so important to us because it allows us to say what we feel and have opinions. We communicate by talking on the phone, actors speaking give us entertainment, and our country is ran off of what our president says to us. An oracle is a person that tell prophecy's or see into the future.

Mallorie Sampson said...

Speech is so important to humans because it is how we communicate and express ideas and thoughts to other human beings. Without speech we would not be able to understand one another because we would no idea what the other was trying to express. When Louisa Wilkes showed up at the Sawtelle farm it was very strange because she really did not know why she was there in the first place. She had just showed up.

Samuel Ansara said...

Without communication, we couldn't function everyday. It's very essential for our every day lives. Communication evolves further more than wants and needs. Communication can help humans connect with one another by sharing their thoughts and feelings. Without communication, how would you be able to do anything? Would it even be possible to function? The answers to those questions is obvious. Without communication you wouldn't be able to connect with anyone, let alone do and obtain the things you need and want.

Sarah Balazs said...

Louisa Wilkes' apperance is kind of scary because she just happened to appear just as the Sawtelle family needs at the time. She doesn't know why she was there but somehow, Ida knew that Louisa would be just what they would need.

Tara F. said...

"They clung to that certainty: for a while, at least, it didn't matter what in him was special and what ordinary. he was alive. What mattered was that he opened his eyes every single morning. Compared to that, silence was nothing.” This message shows Gar and Trudy Sawtelle’s unending love for their newborn son. In any parent’s case, especially the Sawtelle’s, when their baby is born they are anticipating life and health. I think Gar and Trudy were grateful for a child of their own, and their dedication would guide them through the speech barrier when it became necessary.
Communication comes “naturally” to most, but when a complication occurs, changes must be made. This barrier proves that communication can be done in many other ways besides speaking. Sign language, gestures, and writing (just like Thomas Sr. in “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”), are some of the most common ways to communicate. Communication is a valuable tool for all humans because it is one of the necessities of everyday life. It allows us to express our basic wants and needs, as well as a personal characteristics, interests, and feelings.

Ashley Franklin said...

communication is very vital to human life and relations. Well atleast I believe so. Without
some sort of communication whether it be sign language or talking itd be hard to make human relations. No one would know what anyone is feeling or thinking. It'd be hard to help each other if you can't tell what they need. You can't connect to form the relationship whether it be the relationship between friends, lovers or family. You also can't share culture or ideas nothing would progress or improve.
An oracle is a person , usually a priestess, who give wise decisions or opinions and answers to people in need. One famous oracle is the oracle of delphi. Ida can be compared to an oracle because she is sort of a fortune teller .

Jeremy Thomas said...

The passage you mentioned is so sad because it discusses the first baby the mother had that wasn't a miscarriage, and they didn't care if it had any disabilities as long as his heart was still beating the mother would be happy. They enjoyed seeing their first successful birth and it brought happiness to them, so much that they could live with and overlook Edgar's silence. Speech is the primary method of communication for humans; it's one of the reason humans thrive as a species. We can express ourselves and let others know if something is wrong so they can come and help. Communication allows us to directly express our emotions so others won't need to guess. It's almost as if we can see into another person's brain with communication, roughly resembling a hive mind. We have evolved as a species and adapted to situations like Edgar's. We now have several more ways of communication; sign language, Braille and writing are just a few. Another revolutionary way of communication is the Internet and the mobile phone, we can contact someone who is across the world instantaneously. An oracle is a person who can foretell the future and most were granted the gift from a god. There aren't many (if any) modern day famous oracles since humans have taken a more scientific/realistic approach to life. Religion is still a huge part of life for some people, they just have strayed away from the idea of polytheism and have moved toward the idea of either monotheism or atheism. An example of a famous oracle from Greek mythology is Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi.

emilie easton said...

This was such a poignant passage because it showed how the Sawtelle's did not care what was wrong with their child, they loved and accepted Edgar for who he was, and so there were able to look past the flaws and be solely content with their baby being alive and well.

An oracle is a clairvoyant person/spirit that can foresee and/or predict the future.An infamous oracle that comes to mind in my case is the Oracle of Delphi since I took mythology. This oracle is a shriveled corpse that speaks in mystic rhymes and meter, telling of a prophecy that is to be fulfilled. Another oracle that comes to mind is Professor Trelawney from Harry Potter. Professor Trelawney is often looked down on and harshly judged for her wayward ways even though she predicts the great prophecy of Harry and Voldemort. Likewise, Ida Paine is a strange soul in society just like Trelawney and Delphi and is also judged for her waywardness though she is very clever and clairvoyant underneath her chilling appearance.In addition, I did some research on the name Ida Paine and turns out Ida Paine was actually the spouse of the famous American author Thomas Paine. This was purposeful most likely because just like the Ida Paine of the 1800s this Ida Paine has a different, yet helpful and influential, sense of philosophy.