Wuthering Heights
1. The gothic style of literature was popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It is characterized by gloomy settings and an atmosphere of terror or mystery. Do you think this is a popular style today? Does the gothic style of literature appeal to you as a reader? Discuss.
2. What is a "soulmate?" Look up some of the history of the soulmate belief. Do you believe in the concept of soulmates? Do you think everyone has one? Discuss.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
January 30-February 3
Brave New World
1. Leisure-time activites were of great importance in the World State. Are Americans filling leisure time intelligently or are we allowing ourselves to be shaped by the media and Big Business?
2. Compare Brave New World with other dystopian novels you have read (1984, Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm). Note the differences in the ways the characters of each novel are kept in complete submission.
1. Leisure-time activites were of great importance in the World State. Are Americans filling leisure time intelligently or are we allowing ourselves to be shaped by the media and Big Business?
2. Compare Brave New World with other dystopian novels you have read (1984, Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm). Note the differences in the ways the characters of each novel are kept in complete submission.
Monday, January 23, 2012
January 23-27
Brave New World
1. If you had to choose between happiness or truth, which would you choose? Discuss.
2. How accurate is Huxley's vision of the future (remember Brave New World was first published in 1932)? Think about America as you know it today.
3. What about the novel do you find the most disturbing so far? Discuss.
1. If you had to choose between happiness or truth, which would you choose? Discuss.
2. How accurate is Huxley's vision of the future (remember Brave New World was first published in 1932)? Think about America as you know it today.
3. What about the novel do you find the most disturbing so far? Discuss.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
January 16-20
The Tempest
1. Caliban and Ariel are both supernatural beings, but they are very different. Contrast their characters. What might each character symbolize?
2. How could you write a contemporary screenplay for The Tempest? What would you add or change in terms of setting, characters, and special effects while maintaining the original integrity of the play?
3. Create the perfect cast of characters for a fantasy stage production of The Tempest.
4. Do you think that Prospero was merely practicing self-interest by forgiving those who had plotted against him? Think of a time in your life when you forgave someone for a wrong. Was the forgiveness unconditional, or did you hope to gain something from the person you were forgiving?
1. Caliban and Ariel are both supernatural beings, but they are very different. Contrast their characters. What might each character symbolize?
2. How could you write a contemporary screenplay for The Tempest? What would you add or change in terms of setting, characters, and special effects while maintaining the original integrity of the play?
3. Create the perfect cast of characters for a fantasy stage production of The Tempest.
4. Do you think that Prospero was merely practicing self-interest by forgiving those who had plotted against him? Think of a time in your life when you forgave someone for a wrong. Was the forgiveness unconditional, or did you hope to gain something from the person you were forgiving?
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
January 2-13
Othello
1. We are constantly being persuaded by our friends, family members, teachers, advertisements, and many other sources. The art of persuasion is an important tool to have; if you are really good at it, you can convince most people of just about anything. Discuss in terms of Othello and connect with life as you know it.
2. Are Othello's actions believably motivated? Explain why or why not.
3. Are Iago's actions believably motivated? Explain why or why not.
4. What would you have done if you were Othello? Would you have believed Desdemona (your spouse) or Iago (your friend)?
1. We are constantly being persuaded by our friends, family members, teachers, advertisements, and many other sources. The art of persuasion is an important tool to have; if you are really good at it, you can convince most people of just about anything. Discuss in terms of Othello and connect with life as you know it.
2. Are Othello's actions believably motivated? Explain why or why not.
3. Are Iago's actions believably motivated? Explain why or why not.
4. What would you have done if you were Othello? Would you have believed Desdemona (your spouse) or Iago (your friend)?
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
December 12-16
"The Jewels" by Guy de Maupassant
1. Madame Lantin is the key character in "The Jewels," yet we are told scarcely anything about her--not even her first name. However, from the few details that Maupassant does provide, we are given some clues to help us understand her personality. Describe your vision of Madame Lantin. What does she look like? How does she behave? Would you be a friend to her? Discuss.
2. Would you forgive someone who had disappointed or betrayed you, if you ultimately benefited from his or her behavior? Explain.
"How Much Land Does a Man Need?" by Leo Tolstoy
1. In "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" Tolstoy presents us with an allegory, a story that has both a literal and a symbolic meaning. Discuss the symbolism of Tolstoy's story.
2. Discuss how the desire to have material goods and status in nineteenth-century Russia and in twenty-first-century America are comparable.
3. Have you ever "grasped too much and ruined the whole affair"--that is, lost something because you were too ambitious? Can you think of examples of people from current events, history, or other fictional stories who have failed by being greedy or attempting too much?
1. Madame Lantin is the key character in "The Jewels," yet we are told scarcely anything about her--not even her first name. However, from the few details that Maupassant does provide, we are given some clues to help us understand her personality. Describe your vision of Madame Lantin. What does she look like? How does she behave? Would you be a friend to her? Discuss.
2. Would you forgive someone who had disappointed or betrayed you, if you ultimately benefited from his or her behavior? Explain.
"How Much Land Does a Man Need?" by Leo Tolstoy
1. In "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" Tolstoy presents us with an allegory, a story that has both a literal and a symbolic meaning. Discuss the symbolism of Tolstoy's story.
2. Discuss how the desire to have material goods and status in nineteenth-century Russia and in twenty-first-century America are comparable.
3. Have you ever "grasped too much and ruined the whole affair"--that is, lost something because you were too ambitious? Can you think of examples of people from current events, history, or other fictional stories who have failed by being greedy or attempting too much?
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
December 5-9
Pride and Prejudice
1. What was your favorite "connection" we read in class? Discuss.
2. Mr. Bennett, though troubled and angry over Lydia's behavior, "naturally returned to all his former indolence" and finally allows the family to receive the newlyweds at Longbourn. Do you agree with the relative lack of punishment Lydia receives from her father, or from the other characters, in light of her actions?
3. Identify a dyanmic character from the novel. Explain. Identify a static character from the novel. Explain.
4. Do you like narrative structure that uses letters between characters to reveal information about other characters and advance the action of the plot? Discuss.
1. What was your favorite "connection" we read in class? Discuss.
2. Mr. Bennett, though troubled and angry over Lydia's behavior, "naturally returned to all his former indolence" and finally allows the family to receive the newlyweds at Longbourn. Do you agree with the relative lack of punishment Lydia receives from her father, or from the other characters, in light of her actions?
3. Identify a dyanmic character from the novel. Explain. Identify a static character from the novel. Explain.
4. Do you like narrative structure that uses letters between characters to reveal information about other characters and advance the action of the plot? Discuss.
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