agenda | 30 june 2009

Agenda

• Attendance Quiz
• Small Group Discussions of "The Conscience of the Court" & "The Man who was Almost a Man"
• Review time for final exam
  

Discussion Questions for "The Conscience of the Court":

• What do you think of Laura Lee's loyalty and dedication to Celestine? Is it deserved? Why or why not? Should Laura Lee taken the chance to leave one of the three times she could? If so, which time and why? If not, why?
• When the court offers Laura Lee a lawyer, she declines. Re-reading the two paragraphs at the bottom of page 683 and continuing on the top of page 684 (start with "There was a pause..."), what do you think Hurston means by these paragraphs? How did she "cover a lot of ground"? Why does the judge flush and think about law school?
• Does Laura Lee telling her own story in her own voice help the story? Or does her rambling slow down the action in the courtroom? Why do you think Hurston chose to include her testimony?
• How do you feel about the verdict in Laura Lee's trial? Is it hopeful? Or does it paint an unrealistic picture of how the legal system treated black defendants?
• What does this story show us about relationships and conflict across races less than 60 years ago?
• What conflicts does Laura Lee face in this story? Which one do you think is the most difficult for her to face?

Discussion Questions for "The Man Who Was Almost a Man"

• What does manhood seem to mean to Dave? How does he define being a man?
• What are the effect of dialogue, limited point of view, dialect, and setting? What about the switches between dialect throughout (especially in the contrast between an external narrator and Dave's perspective)?
  
• Re-read the final section of the story, starting at the break on page 1617. What do you notice in Wright's diction and syntax here? Based on the final few paragraphs, what do you expect in his future?
  
• What conflicts does Dave face in the story? How does he handle the conflicts?
• How does the tradition of gun ownership factor into the story? What about Dave's situation seems to support his desire for a gun? Why do you think Dave wants a gun so much?

Homework due 7/1

• Begin (or continue) studying for final exam
• Blog in response to these questions: what was your favorite story of the semester? why? least favorite? why?

review sheet for final exam

As you're beginning to prepare for the final exam on Thursday, you can find the review sheet we discussed in class here. You'll have time to work independently or in small groups on the review in class on Tuesday, and then we'll review as a whole class on Wednesday.

agenda | 29 june 2009

Agenda

• Attendance Quiz
• Group presentation on "A Worn Path"
• Discussion of "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"
• Discuss structure for final exam
  

Discussion Questions for "A Worn Path"

• Do a close reading on pg 1549 starting with “All right. The doctor said…”, and after reading, what is your opinion on Phoenix's grandson? Is he dead or alive?
• What effect do Phoenix’s conversations with herself have on the story?
• Do you think she is in a right state of mind? Or is this all in her head?
• What do you think of the interactions between the different characters and Phoenix? Do you think any one of them is significant?
• How do you feel about all the character being flat? How do you think the story would change if the characters were round?
• What types of conflict are in the story, and which one do you think drives the story?
• Are you sympathetic towards Phoenix, or any other characters?
• What's the effect of having an outside narrator?
• Since Phoenix is the only known person of African American decent, do you think race has a part in this story?
• What's the larger message of the story?
  

Discussion Questions for "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"

• Consider Porter's use of Granny Weatherall as a narrator. What is the effect of the first person narration? Is she a reliable narrator? What do you think we're missing by focusing on her view?
• The verb "to jilt" is defined as "to drop (as a lover) capriciously or unfeelingly." Often, it's used to indicated when someone is left on his/her wedding day. What does "the jilting" of the title refer to within the story? How many jiltings are there?
• Beyond the narration of the present scene on Granny's deathbed, there are a number of flashbacks. What types of things are included in the flashbacks? What do these flashbacks add to the story? What is their use?
• There is a significant religious aspect to the story with the moments of prayer and the inclusion of the priest, Father Connolly. How does Granny Weatherall's Catholic faith impact the story? Why is the priest there?
  

Homework due 6/30

• Read the story you didn't read on Monday, June 15: "The Conscience of the Court" or "The Man Who Was Almost a Man"
• Blog in response to one of the discussion questions
  

literature course in july session

This is a quick plug for a class that one of my close friends is teaching in the July session of summer school. If you need a literature course during that session, I definitely recommend taking her Major American Writers course. Here's a description of it:

Change. The idea of change functioned prominently in the recent presidential election, but Americans have been voting, working, fighting, praying, and writing for change since early colonial settlement. This Major American Writers course will explore how American literature has reacted to and revised a nation, addressing issues of nationality, race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion. We will begin at the end of the 18th century and work forward to the beginning of the 20th century, analyzing the methods and messages inherent in a time period fraught with literary and social change.

The course is English 20503.040, and the instructor is Amanda Irvin (a.irvin@tcu.edu). Please let me know if you have questions, or you can contact her directly.

agenda | 26 june 2009

Agenda

• Attendance Quiz
• Group Presentation on "A Spinster's Tale"
• Discussion of "Desiree's Baby"
  

Discussion Questions for "A Spinster's Tale"

• The story is a flashback to the past for the narrator. Explain why the author may have chosen to present the story in this manner. What is the significance of the title?
• What conflicts appear in the story? Which conflict do you think drives the story? What other conflicts do you see?
• What impact do you think this setting has on the plot of the story? It is set in the south in the early 1900s. Considering the time period, what themes emerge from the story? Would the story be different if it was in a different setting?
• Which character is most sympathetic to you? Explain why.
• Do you think Elizabeth has changed from the beginning to the end? If so, what causes her to develop and mature?
• How do you think her mother's death affect Elizabeth? What else does Elizabeth suffer from and how does it affect her youth and even her future adult life?
• There is a sense that sexual abuse may be to blame for Elizabeth’s slow upbringing. Did you sense this? Could it be true?
• Considering the character development of Elizabeth, do you think there is any significance to the existence of Mr. Speed’s character? What do you notice about his characteristics? What do you think if at all, was Taylor’s purpose in naming his character Mr. Speed? What overall role does he play in the story?
• Do you see a connection between the weather and Mr. Speed in the story? What other symbolism do you see in the story?
• Towards the end of the story, Elizabeth’s fear of Mr. Speed coming to her house becomes a reality. Thinking back in the story, does Taylor use any foreshadowing regarding Mr. Speed’s arrival?
• What do you think is the main theme of this story?

Homework due 6/29

• Read "A Worn Path" and "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"
• Blog in response to one of the discussion questions
  

agenda | 25 june 2009

Agenda

• Attendance Quiz over "The Lady with the Dog"
• Finish group presentation on "The Girls in their Summer Dresses"
  
• Group presentation on "The Lady with the Dog"
  

Discussion Questions for "The Lady with the Dog"

• What do you think of Dmitry when he is first introduced? Do you see any conflicts arising from his character?
• How does Anna's emotions and view point on the affair change from the beginning of the story to the end? Why do you think this is?
• Although Chekhov uses a third person narration, how does he seem more involved with Dmitry’s character?
• How would you describe Anna’s Character in the story? How would you describe Dmitry’s?
• How has Dmitry changed from the beginning of the story to the end?
• What are the character’s past disappointments? And what are their future hopes?
• Do you think the fact that Dmitry’s return to Moscow was at the start of winter has any significance? Why?
• Why is Dmitry so infuriated when the official says, “the sturgeon was just a leetle off?” (2nd to last paragraph pg. 291)
• The fence surrounding Anna’s house is mentioned a couple of times in the third section of the short story, do you think it holds any symbolism or has any additional meanings?
• There is a lot of conflict in the story as a whole. Would you say that the man vs man conflict is more prevalent or the man vs self conflict?
  
• The ending of this story almost leaves you wanting to know more about what happens in their relationship. If you had to add to the story and come up with an extended version, what would you add?
  
• In the author’s bio, there is information about him being a “people watcher”. Do you think that The Lady with the Dog stems from some of the people he had observed?
  

Homework due 6/26

• Read "A Spinster's Tale" (but not "Blackberry Winter")
• Review "Desiree's Baby" for discussion in class
• Blog in response to one of the discussion questions
  

song about "The Girls in their Summer Dresses"

The group presenting on "The Girls in their Summer Dresses" discovered the fact that there's a song based on the short story from Michael's perspective. You can find a video of the performance here and the lyrics to the song here.