1. In his essay, Paterniti uses “close 3rd” point of view as he describes each of the main characters. How does his choice of point of view impact your understanding and impression of motel owners Jack and Bout, specifically?

This was of thinking puts us in their heads and their shoes so much better until all of a sudden he says something like “can you feel it?” and pull you right out of that head space that you’re not actually in his head. I also think he did it so that you’d empathize a bit more with the character and really understand where they’re coming from as though their thoughts are your own.

  1. The dreaded question–what is this essay really about, in your own words? Frame one direct quote (using the quote sandwich method) to support your answer.

I don’t one hundred percent know what this is about. It very well could be a story about how some people may just need to talk to each other for things to be figured out. Or a story about how people will be content to hate and be hated because it’s easier than changing their mind set. Or it could be something like “Hills like White Elephants” by Hemingway where the story is about something not even mentioned. I think it’s a narrative about how so many people are content to hate and be hated even if something as simple as a conversation may open up lines of conversation. Although a lot of the patrons that came into the motels seemed to be hateful as well. So maybe it’s a commentary about how the whole world hates and is hated.

  1. What do you think Paterniti wants us, the reader, to think about once we finish his essay? Use two direct quotes to help support your answer.

I really have no idea. I kind of want to read it again but also I don’t know how much that will help. I think it may be a commentary on getting into people’s heads and understanding where they’re coming from no matter what outward appearance they give off. Or that at the end of the day no matter where you come from if you’ll have the same mentality “I hate and I’m hated.” I don’t know.

  1. What does it mean “to be American”? How do Jack and Bout support and/or challenge your definition of “American”?

I don’t know. I absolutely don’t agree with Jack about how native people aren’t American and about how Bout isn’t one even though she legally is. I think American is also more a state of mind than an actual thing? On paper I’m American because I was born in America and am an American citizen but I know plenty of people who would say I’m “not a true American” because of some of my views or because I’m not as patriotic as some think I should be. I think being American is a mindset but it’s the same mindset most people have no matter the country. I’d say an American mindset is working hard and bettering yourself but I think most people would say that’s a good mindset no matter the country. On top of the fact that people have all different ideas of what American is.

  1. How do the themes in “Eating Jack Hooker’s Cow” interact with themes in prior readings? Be specific.

I wonder if it’s a commentary on people eating away at Jack Hookers empathy like they eat “his” cows. I think this could relate to Bloom’s article on how empathy can be harmful to not only other people but themselves. I’m a little confused on the title I definitely want to know what the class thinks of it.