Thursday, January 28, 2010
Othello - Female characters
Explore the way in which Shakespeare portrays the female characters in the play.
Othello - Language analysis
Compare and contrast Iago's and Othello's language throughout the play. How does each man's language illustrate his character? At what point do the characters begin to speak alike? What are the implications of this change?
Othello - Racism
Identify some of the racial remarks directed by Iago and other characters. Do these remarks make the play racist? Explain.
Othello - Handkerchief analysis
Discuss the dramatic function the handkerchief has in this play. How does it function as a symbol of Desdemona's fidelity to Othello?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
The Kite Runner chapters 20-end
Well, I'm going to leave the content of this week's posts up to you. Please don't rehash what's already been said, but here are some ideas....
Does Amir find redemption? Explain.
What do you think about the end of the novel? Are you satisfied? Explain
Thematic statements are sometimes implied, but sometimes they are explicitly stated in the text. See if you can identify a statement that a character actually says that reveals a universal truth.
Follow through with motifs and symbols you have mentioned. As they show up again in the novel, how does that intensify their meaning and make their use more complex?
I'm surprised no one mentioned the David and Goliath scenario that played out between Assef and Hassan in the first part of the book. See if you can recognize something similar happening during the reading for this week.
These are just some ideas. Maybe tackle 2 of them, or come up with some ideas of your own. Remember I'm looking for thoughtful comments that indicate careful and sophisticated reading. We will be digging into the novel when we meet in class. I am so looking forward to meeting all of you!!
Does Amir find redemption? Explain.
What do you think about the end of the novel? Are you satisfied? Explain
Thematic statements are sometimes implied, but sometimes they are explicitly stated in the text. See if you can identify a statement that a character actually says that reveals a universal truth.
Follow through with motifs and symbols you have mentioned. As they show up again in the novel, how does that intensify their meaning and make their use more complex?
I'm surprised no one mentioned the David and Goliath scenario that played out between Assef and Hassan in the first part of the book. See if you can recognize something similar happening during the reading for this week.
These are just some ideas. Maybe tackle 2 of them, or come up with some ideas of your own. Remember I'm looking for thoughtful comments that indicate careful and sophisticated reading. We will be digging into the novel when we meet in class. I am so looking forward to meeting all of you!!
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Kite Runner chapters 11-19
After this week's reading I'd like for you to focus on several things when you blog:
1) Comment on the structure of this novel. How is it organized and how does the organization aid or guide the reader?
2) Comment on Amir. How do you feel about him now as opposed to earlier in the novel?
3) Comment on Hosseni's style of writing. What are elements of his word choice, sentence structure, tone that make his writing style unique? Perhaps choose a short passage that illustrates what you notice.
4) If you didn't in the last post, write a thematic statement that indicates what Hosseni is trying to say about one of the subjects I listed. Remember that themes are universal statements that comment on the human condition. For instance, you wouldn't want to write on the AP exam that the theme of a passage is guilt. That is a subject, not a theme. A theme could be that guilt has the power to consume and destroy. That is a universal idea that relays what the author is trying to say about guilt.
Or how about love?? That is a subject, but what is the author trying to say about love?
Love is a double-edged sword; with the joy of love comes an equal amount of pain.
People exhibit love in many ways; some through kindness and tenderness, some through jealousy, some through obsession.
See how these are complete sentences that actually pinpoint what the author is trying to say about a particular subject????
Writing thematic statements will be a focus for us in class because you will be expected to identify them and compose them on the AP exam. Do the best you can.
1) Comment on the structure of this novel. How is it organized and how does the organization aid or guide the reader?
2) Comment on Amir. How do you feel about him now as opposed to earlier in the novel?
3) Comment on Hosseni's style of writing. What are elements of his word choice, sentence structure, tone that make his writing style unique? Perhaps choose a short passage that illustrates what you notice.
4) If you didn't in the last post, write a thematic statement that indicates what Hosseni is trying to say about one of the subjects I listed. Remember that themes are universal statements that comment on the human condition. For instance, you wouldn't want to write on the AP exam that the theme of a passage is guilt. That is a subject, not a theme. A theme could be that guilt has the power to consume and destroy. That is a universal idea that relays what the author is trying to say about guilt.
Or how about love?? That is a subject, but what is the author trying to say about love?
Love is a double-edged sword; with the joy of love comes an equal amount of pain.
People exhibit love in many ways; some through kindness and tenderness, some through jealousy, some through obsession.
See how these are complete sentences that actually pinpoint what the author is trying to say about a particular subject????
Writing thematic statements will be a focus for us in class because you will be expected to identify them and compose them on the AP exam. Do the best you can.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Kite Runner
Sorry I'm a little late posting this week, but I'm at the beach and my phone won't allow me to create a new post for some reason. Anyway, this week I have asked that you read chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner. I think you will find this book challenging in terms of content and engaging as well. As you read, think about the following subjects and comment about themes that are being developed as they relate to these subjects. Remember that a theme is a declarative statement that indicates what the author is trying to say about the particular subject.
-Role of books, literacy
-Friendship, guilt, redemption
-Father and son relationship
-Coming of Age
-Discrimination, prejudice, class structure
-Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion and duty
Please choose one of the subjects listed, then suggest a thematic statement related to that subject, then explain how that theme is relayed in the chapters you have read.
I would also like you to comment on some emerging symbols and motifs as related to Foster's book. There are several ironies that occur in these chapters, and there should be some things that jump out at you as symbols. Explore those in your responses as well. You did a great job with this in Hurston's novel. I think you'll find that Hosseini's novel is just as rich. I look forward to reading your responses.
-Role of books, literacy
-Friendship, guilt, redemption
-Father and son relationship
-Coming of Age
-Discrimination, prejudice, class structure
-Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion and duty
Please choose one of the subjects listed, then suggest a thematic statement related to that subject, then explain how that theme is relayed in the chapters you have read.
I would also like you to comment on some emerging symbols and motifs as related to Foster's book. There are several ironies that occur in these chapters, and there should be some things that jump out at you as symbols. Explore those in your responses as well. You did a great job with this in Hurston's novel. I think you'll find that Hosseini's novel is just as rich. I look forward to reading your responses.
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