Friday, July 23, 2010

A Raisin in the Sun - the rest of it...

A Raisin in the Sun is all about decisions. Discuss the significant decisions made by the different characters as well as how these decisions affect plot, character development, and theme.

Friday, July 16, 2010

A Raisin in the Sun Act One July 19-25

Act One establishes relationships and conflicts. Which character do you believe struggles the most? In what way does this character struggle? Which character do you think is most entitled to part of the insurance money? Discuss. Which character is least entitled to the money? Why? Do you think that Walter and Ruth have a solid marriage? Discuss.

Friday, July 2, 2010

The Great Gatsby Chapters 6-9

In the preface to The Great Gatsby (Simon and Schuster 1992 edition), Matthew J. Bruccoli writes, “ The Great Gatsby does not proclaim the nobility of the human spirit; it is not politically correct; it does not reveal how to solve the problems of life; it delivers no fashionable or comforting messages. It is just a masterpiece.” Discuss the many parts of this quote in terms of the characters and the plot. Is it a masterpiece? Explain.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Great Gatsby Chapters 1-5

The Great Gatsby Chapters 1-5

In chapter one, Nick states that his father believed “…a sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth.” Discuss this belief in terms of the characters you have met thus far. Explore the idea further to show how the American Dream has been corrupted in terms of these characters.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Final East of Eden Blog

Blog for Chapters 45-55 (the end) of East of Eden

Explain how Steinbeck uses these chapters to tie up the loose ends to his story. Discuss the fate of the characters and the end of the novel. Comment on the ending.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Blog 3 Chapters 30-44 June 12-18

East of Eden Blog 3 Chapters 30-44 June 12-18

These chapters are full of conflicts and struggles for the Hamiltons, the Trasks, and Cathy (Kate). Discuss the conflicts and struggles as they apply to the different characters. Themes of man’s loneliness, failure, and guilt dominate these chapters. Furthermore, we see how man searches for truth in an attempt to make sense of life’s hardships. Discuss these emerging themes in terms of the characters.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Blog 2

East of Eden Blog #2 Chapters 15-29 June 5-11

Steinbeck uses these chapters to form various relationships and to show how those relationships change throughout time. In this blog, I want you to discuss those relationships. Make sure that you discuss these relationships as they are presented early on in the chapters as well as how the relationships have changed by the time you have made it though chapter 29. I have listed possible topics…

Adam and Cathy
Adam and Lee
Adam and Samuel
Samuel and Cathy
Kate (Cathy) and Faye
Adam and the twins
Lee and the twins
Samuel and his children
Cathy and men in general
Cal and Aaron

Also…
Steinbeck discusses the brothel as an instituition as vital to men in those days as church. What do you think?
Steinbeck explores the concept of guilt and its impact on mankind…your thoughts?
Steinbeck introduces prejudice through which characters?
Feel free to comment on the discussion about Cain and Able.
Finally, I would love to see some discussion about the irony that Steinbeck employs in these chapters.