Monday, January 26, 2009
Chapter 27 A Test Case
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 Is He Serious? And Other Ironies
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 ...And Rarely Just Illness
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 It's Never Just Heart Disease
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????
Chapter 22 He's Blind for a Reason, You Know
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.
Chpater 21 Marked for Greatness
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 ...So Does Season
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?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Chapter 19 Geography Matters...
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 If She Comes Up, It's Baptism
After reading this chapter, tell me your thoughts on the drowning of Ophelia. What did it mean? why did Shakespeare have her drown? What was the symbolic significance?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Chapter 17 Except Sex...
If you cannot respond to this chapter in a mature way--skip it.
In all honesty, I would say that very few of the books you will read for high school classes will contain much sex. I think there might be one scene in 1984 (but I think it's more like those scenes mentioned in the previous chapter), and it's been a couple of years since I read it, so I don't really remember!!
However, I think Foster makes some legitimate points. I would agree that the act itself in quality literature always has a deeper meaning. There is a reason beyond the physical act why the scene is included.
Have any of you read Lady Chatterley's Lover? I haven't, but I think I might now. I checked, but it's not on the AP list...(There are actually several books mentioned in this book so far that I would like to read!)
OK--so what should you write about? Well, what did you think about this chapter? Do you agree with him? Have you read any novels with sexual scenes--which have a deeper meaning?
In all honesty, I would say that very few of the books you will read for high school classes will contain much sex. I think there might be one scene in 1984 (but I think it's more like those scenes mentioned in the previous chapter), and it's been a couple of years since I read it, so I don't really remember!!
However, I think Foster makes some legitimate points. I would agree that the act itself in quality literature always has a deeper meaning. There is a reason beyond the physical act why the scene is included.
Have any of you read Lady Chatterley's Lover? I haven't, but I think I might now. I checked, but it's not on the AP list...(There are actually several books mentioned in this book so far that I would like to read!)
OK--so what should you write about? Well, what did you think about this chapter? Do you agree with him? Have you read any novels with sexual scenes--which have a deeper meaning?
Chapter 16 It's All About Sex...
If you cannot respond to this chapter in a mature way, skip it.
OK, so I definitely did not realize how "sexual" The Rocking Horse Winner was!
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?
OK, so I definitely did not realize how "sexual" The Rocking Horse Winner was!
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 Flights of Fancy
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.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Chapter 13 & 14
OK--so I'm definitely behind!!! To get caught up, for chapter 13 and 14, just write a brief response including one thing you learned/thought about/questioned during chapter thirteen and one for fourteen. Then--back to getting on track next week. I will do my best to stay on track!!
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