Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Chapter 27
Ok--we're finished!!! Answer the questions on page 265. (1) What does the story signify? What is Mansfield saying in the story? What do you see as its meaning? AND (2) What does it signify? What elements does Mansfield employ to cause the story to signify whatever it signifies? What elements, in other words, cause it to mean the things you take it to mean?
Chapter 26
On the last page of this chapter, Foster states that "irony doesn't work for everyone." What does he mean by that? Why doesn't it? What does he mean by multivocal and univocal?
Chapter 24
Re-read the last paragraph carefully and then respond. Do you agree? What has been lost in modern writing--if you do agree? If you don't--why not?
Chapter 23
This one is short--what was the short story we read in which a woman's heart disease was "heart disease"? What happened to her and why????
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Chapter 22
Write about a novel or short story you've read (or a movie if you have to) in which you learn something early on that seems minor but becomes very important later.
Chapter 21
Again, choose a sentence or two from this chapter that you found interesting and comment on it. (Include the sentence and page number.) Why did it stand out? Do you agree with what he said? Why or why not?
Interlude One Story
"There is only one story." What does he mean by this? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Chapter 20
Choose a sentence or two from this chapter that you agreed with/disagreed with, write the sentence and page number, and then respond to it. Why did you choose it? What do you agree/disagree with and why?
Chapter 19
Discuss a short story, poem, or novel in which the geography (the location) was significant to the meaning.
One example for me would be The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. The novel is about a missionary and his family who travel to Africa on a mission trip. The area where they spend several years is somewhat uncivilized and very basic--similar to the relationships between the family members. It is also interesting to note that though they go there to change the lives of those they "teach," it is the family themselves who change the most. Sending them to spend a year somewhere else would not have had the same effect. The geography of Africa was very important to the overall theme.
One example for me would be The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. The novel is about a missionary and his family who travel to Africa on a mission trip. The area where they spend several years is somewhat uncivilized and very basic--similar to the relationships between the family members. It is also interesting to note that though they go there to change the lives of those they "teach," it is the family themselves who change the most. Sending them to spend a year somewhere else would not have had the same effect. The geography of Africa was very important to the overall theme.
Chapter 18
Ok, this one is a free write. We haven't really read enough yet, so there hasn't been a story where someone gets wet or drowns. (There will be a big one though...)
Just comment on the chapter. What did you think? Do you think reading this book and hearing about things like the symbolic meanings of drowning and submersion will change the way you read? How so?
Just comment on the chapter. What did you think? Do you think reading this book and hearing about things like the symbolic meanings of drowning and submersion will change the way you read? How so?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Chapter 16
OK, so get ready, we will be reading "The Rocking Horse Winner"!
I think times have changed quite a bit from the early nineteen hundreds. there are no more twin beds and no more trains and tunnels. If an author or a movie director want to create a sex scene today, they pretty much just do it.What do you think about that? Are those kinds of scenes best left to the imagination (curtains blowing, waves crashing...) Were TV and movies better off when the characters had twin beds? Didn't that force the viewer/reader to use his/her imagination? Didn't we have to put more thought into what we were watching/reading? Are we better off now--when there is no way you could read most novels at the breakfast table with the whole family? What do you think?
I think times have changed quite a bit from the early nineteen hundreds. there are no more twin beds and no more trains and tunnels. If an author or a movie director want to create a sex scene today, they pretty much just do it.What do you think about that? Are those kinds of scenes best left to the imagination (curtains blowing, waves crashing...) Were TV and movies better off when the characters had twin beds? Didn't that force the viewer/reader to use his/her imagination? Didn't we have to put more thought into what we were watching/reading? Are we better off now--when there is no way you could read most novels at the breakfast table with the whole family? What do you think?
Chapter 15
OK, so why are we humans so fascinated with flight? Have you ever wished you could fly? Why? What would it mean if we could?
Can you name any books/stories you've read where a character flies? (Literally or figuratively?) I've read a couple of novels by James Patterson in which a doctor has figured out how to create children who will be born part-human and part-bird. While the children love the ability to fly, their situation is much like the one mentioned in the book--the ability to fly is what traps them. The whole world wants to study them, see them, put them on display. The ability prevents their freedom instead of giving it to them.
Can you name any books/stories you've read where a character flies? (Literally or figuratively?) I've read a couple of novels by James Patterson in which a doctor has figured out how to create children who will be born part-human and part-bird. While the children love the ability to fly, their situation is much like the one mentioned in the book--the ability to fly is what traps them. The whole world wants to study them, see them, put them on display. The ability prevents their freedom instead of giving it to them.
Chapter 14
OK, so I was stumped for a little while. It wasn't easy to think of a character in a story I think could be a Christ figure. .
This chapter, like many others in this book, does one main thing--it makes me think. It makes me think back over books, stories, and poems I've read to try to identify some of the issues this author has discussed. It's amazing how much you miss if you don't read closely. Is Hamlet a Christ figure? No. Macbeth? No. The one character I came up with (and don't exactly agree completely) is the little boy character from The Road. The sacrifices he has to make and the relationship with his father have led many critics to say he is a Christ figure. when we read it next semester, you guys will have to help me decide...
For this chapter, just tell me what you think about it. Also--can you think of any stories where there is a Christ figure?
This chapter, like many others in this book, does one main thing--it makes me think. It makes me think back over books, stories, and poems I've read to try to identify some of the issues this author has discussed. It's amazing how much you miss if you don't read closely. Is Hamlet a Christ figure? No. Macbeth? No. The one character I came up with (and don't exactly agree completely) is the little boy character from The Road. The sacrifices he has to make and the relationship with his father have led many critics to say he is a Christ figure. when we read it next semester, you guys will have to help me decide...
For this chapter, just tell me what you think about it. Also--can you think of any stories where there is a Christ figure?
Chapter 13
I have to agree that many of the things we read are political in one sense or another.
We are going to read a play soon called The Importance of Being Earnest. It is a comedy, and I think you guys will really like it, but it is very political. It is what's called a satire. That's when a writer uses comedy/humor to make a more serious point. Think Saturday Night Live--many of the great skits (especailly the political ones) are really meant to send a more serious message.
Why do you think writers disguise their points in fiction? Why not just write an essay about what they really think?
We are going to read a play soon called The Importance of Being Earnest. It is a comedy, and I think you guys will really like it, but it is very political. It is what's called a satire. That's when a writer uses comedy/humor to make a more serious point. Think Saturday Night Live--many of the great skits (especailly the political ones) are really meant to send a more serious message.
Why do you think writers disguise their points in fiction? Why not just write an essay about what they really think?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Chapter 12
I really liked this chapter. It was nice to finally hear an "authority" tell me that not every symbol has to mean the same thing to every reader. I think I am more like those of you who want someone to tell me exactly what the symbol stands for, but it is nice to realize that I can figure it out for myself and get it right--even if it's only right for me.
I agree with him that there are things that have a certain meaning--The Road Not Taken is always going to symbolize a choice we did not make--but that choice is different for everyone.
So what do you think about symbols? Are you one of those readers who sees symbolization in everything? Do you have difficulty identifying symbols? What books, stories, or poems can you think of with a symbol? What did it symbolize?
I agree with him that there are things that have a certain meaning--The Road Not Taken is always going to symbolize a choice we did not make--but that choice is different for everyone.
So what do you think about symbols? Are you one of those readers who sees symbolization in everything? Do you have difficulty identifying symbols? What books, stories, or poems can you think of with a symbol? What did it symbolize?
Chapter 11
OK--so can you think of any novels without violence? Without injury or death? I'm sure you can--but I can think of many more that have some sort of violence. Even some of the short stories we have read have violence. For example, in The Chaser we know eventually there will be violence.
If any of you have read The Lord of the Flies, you would probably agree that the author thinks most humans are violent when given the chance and in the absence of rules.
What do you think about this? What books have you read that include violence? What kind of violence was it? What does it say about human nature? How did it impact the novel? Is violence in literature necessary? Why?
If any of you have read The Lord of the Flies, you would probably agree that the author thinks most humans are violent when given the chance and in the absence of rules.
What do you think about this? What books have you read that include violence? What kind of violence was it? What does it say about human nature? How did it impact the novel? Is violence in literature necessary? Why?
Interlude
I am so glad that he addressed this topic. I think it about it a lot. (Well mainly when I'm studying/teaching difficult poems or when I'm reading the answers to the AP Hamlet study guide we will use--did Shakespeare REALLY think that deeply when he was writing about the child actors? I don't know.)
However, I do think Foster brought up some good points. Those of you who love to read are probably stronger writers--you learn something from every book you read, even if you don't realize it. While I'm not sure that every classical author truly meant for us to interpret themes and ideas in the ways that we have, I think they definitely had to put much more thought into what we are reading than we can even imagine.
I know that when I write something it takes much longer to write it than it takes for someone to read it--and I'm not trying to relay some subtle theme...What do you guys think? Is everything on purpose? Do the authors really intend for us to make all the connections to all the allusions and all the symbols and all the themes etc...???????
However, I do think Foster brought up some good points. Those of you who love to read are probably stronger writers--you learn something from every book you read, even if you don't realize it. While I'm not sure that every classical author truly meant for us to interpret themes and ideas in the ways that we have, I think they definitely had to put much more thought into what we are reading than we can even imagine.
I know that when I write something it takes much longer to write it than it takes for someone to read it--and I'm not trying to relay some subtle theme...What do you guys think? Is everything on purpose? Do the authors really intend for us to make all the connections to all the allusions and all the symbols and all the themes etc...???????
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Chapter 10
I think this is a topic we all probably understood before we read this chapter--we just may not have recognized it.
The weather in a story or poem (or movie) definitely helps set the mood. In Macbeth, the weather plays a huge role--a major storm and earthquakes occur on the night of a murder. The weather is a reflection of what the characters are doing and feeling.
So what about what you've read before? Can you think of any stories where the weather was a factor? What about the novels you've read? I have begun reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck. It takes place in a very dry part of California, and the quest for water is very important. The characters can't wait for the rain. It reminds me of their lives--for the most part they are very dry--but every once in a while something major happens (a rain storm????) and things get very interesting.
So now it's your turn. think of a story, poem, or movie where rain or snow is a factor and/or a reflection of what's going on.
The weather in a story or poem (or movie) definitely helps set the mood. In Macbeth, the weather plays a huge role--a major storm and earthquakes occur on the night of a murder. The weather is a reflection of what the characters are doing and feeling.
So what about what you've read before? Can you think of any stories where the weather was a factor? What about the novels you've read? I have begun reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck. It takes place in a very dry part of California, and the quest for water is very important. The characters can't wait for the rain. It reminds me of their lives--for the most part they are very dry--but every once in a while something major happens (a rain storm????) and things get very interesting.
So now it's your turn. think of a story, poem, or movie where rain or snow is a factor and/or a reflection of what's going on.
Chapter 9
Hopefully now you will see why we'll spend some time this year on Greek mythology!!
What do you think? Will having some knowledge of Greek mythology enrich your reading experience? Does using mythology make the writing better? What about naming characters after mythological characters? Can you think of any? (Do you remember the name of the girl Alan was trying to "woo" in The Chaser????)
What do you think? Will having some knowledge of Greek mythology enrich your reading experience? Does using mythology make the writing better? What about naming characters after mythological characters? Can you think of any? (Do you remember the name of the girl Alan was trying to "woo" in The Chaser????)
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