![Tuesday Read The Great Gatsby Chapters 8-9
The Great Gatsby Post #17: Choose One
Marxist Criticism 1. Some of the characters in the novel symbolize a production
ethic; others symbolize a consumption ethic. Classify the
characters accordingly, and draw a conclusion about the
American Dream, as you understand it, from Fitzgerald.
2. How is the story an ironic twist of the American Dream?
Consider Daisy and Gatsby, Daisy and Tom, Myrtle and
George Wilson, Myrtle and Tom, Nick and Jordan.
3. Discuss this quotation in terms of class theory: “This is a valley
of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into
ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the
forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally,
with a transcendent effort, of ash-gray men who move dimly and
already crumbling through the powdery air.… [And the eyes of
Doctor T. J.Eckleburg] brood on over the solemn dumping
ground” (Chapter 2).
Wednesday Read: William Faulkner 695-98
The Great Gatsby “Barn Burning” 800-12
The American Dream and Post #18 Provide a brief character analysis or
discus
a
symbol
Class. A-B: de
Spain
Writing a character analysis C-F: Sarty
Author Introduction: G-J: Abner
Snopes
William Faulkner K-L:
Lennie
Snopes
M-P: Fire
Q-S: The soiled rug
T-Z: Blood
OR,
discuss
feminist
or
Marxist
theories
in
terms
of
“Barn
Burning.”
Thursday Post #19
Film Screening Discuss a significant difference between the film and movie. Then
explain both how the change influenced the meaning of the text and
why a director might make the decision to make that change.
6
Monday Langston
Hughes
May
“Barn Burning” “The
Negro
Speaks
of
Rivers,”
“I,
too,
sing
America,”
and
13-‐16
Historical Context, Themes, and
“The
Weary
Blues”
Style. Post
#20
Introduction: Langston 1. What
connections
can
be
made
between
race
and
blues
Hughes music
in
"The
Weary
Blues"?
2. What
do
you
think
it
means
to
have
a
soul
that
is
deep
as
rivers?
3. How
does
“I,
too,
sing
America”
make
you
think
about
what
it
means
to
be
an
American?
How
is
"America"
presented
in
this
poem,
and
how
does
it
make
you
feel
about
America?](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/48cpreliminarysyllabus-130407192308-phpapp02/85/48-c-preliminary-syllabus-4-320.jpg)
48 c preliminary syllabus
- 1. Week In Class Homework 1 Monday Establish your username, and explore the class webpage April Syllabus, Green sheet, Buy Your books 8-11 Website, Books, Read the introduction: pp. 3-22 Assignments, QHQ Post #1: QHQ introduction: For example, you might ask, “What does WWI have to do with American Literature?” or “Why are we discussing Science and Technology in a lit class?” Tuesday Read “Modernist Manifestos” pp. 335-350 Teams Post #2 QHQ from one of the sections/authors listed: Introduction 1914-1945 A-B: Intro C-F: Marinetti G-J: Loy K-L: Pound M-P: Cather Q-S: Williams T-Z: Hughes Wednesday Read “Trifles” (1916) pp. 252-262 American Modernism Post # 3 Trifles contains several important symbols. In literature, a Author Introduction: symbol is something that represents something else, and is often Susan Glaspell used to communicate deeper levels of meaning. What is one important symbol in Trifles? How does Glaspell use it to propel the plot and convey deeper levels of meaning about her characters or themes?? Thursday Post #4 QHQ “Trifles.” Consider its articulation with one of the The American Dream Manifestos, if you can. Historical Context: “Trifles” Read My Antonia (1918) Book I Introduction Chapters 1-10 Symbols, Themes, Style 2 Monday Read My Antonia (1918) Book I Chapters 11-19 April “Trifles” Post #5: Answer one of the following prompts 15-‐18 QHQs 1. Consider reasons why Willa Cather chose a male narrator and Author Introduction: why women dominate the novel. Willa Cather 2. Why do all these immigrants risk their lives to leave their homelands and attempt to start over on a harsh prairie with little or no money? 3. Compare and contrast the lives of Jim Burden and Antonia. Explain what drew them together and enabled them to become close friends. 5. Compare and contrast the relationship between Antonia and Jim in Section 1 (Chapters 1-10) and Section 2 (Chapters 11-19) Tuesday Read My Antonia (1918) Book II Chapters 1-8 My Antonia Post #6: Answer one of the following prompts Historical Context 1. Discuss the contrasts that are being developed between the characters Book II in this section. 2. Discuss the importance of independent women in this section, and wh Willa Cather has chosen to develop these characters here. 3. Write your own QHQ. Consider Cather’s Manifesto, if you can.
- 2. Wednesday Read My Antonia (1918) Book II Chapters 9-15 My Antonia Post #7: Answer one of the following prompts: Themes and Style 1. Discuss the differences Jim sees between the country girls and the Book II 1-8 town girls. 2. Explain the importance of the dance pavilion to both Jim and Antonia. 3. Write your own QHQ Thursday Read My Antonia (1918) Book III Chapters 1-4 and Book My Antonia IV Chapters 1-3 Book II 9-15 Read: Feminist Literary Criticism Post #8: Answer one of the following prompts: 1. Explain why Willa Cather has chosen to devote one of the books of her novel to Lena Lingard. 2. Discuss the importance of the narrator leaving Black Hawk for college life. 3. Compare and contrast Tiny Soderballs’ and Lena Lingard’s success with money. 4. Discuss the reasons why Willa Cather chose to have Antonia return to the Shimerda farm as an unwed mother. 3 Read My Antonia (1918) Book V Chapters 1-3 April Monday Post #9: Answer one of the following prompts: 22-‐25 Feminist Literary Criticism 1. Explain Antonia’s choice of names for each of her children and My Antonia how each of these names ties in to characters from her past. Books III and IV 2. Discuss the differences between the Cuzak household and the Shimerda household from many years before. 3. Write your own QHQ Tuesday Read: Mina Loy 295-‐96 My Antonia “Parturition” 296-‐99 1914 Book V Post #10 QHQ on the reading; consider Loy’s Manifesto if you Author Introduction would like. Mina Loy Wednesday Read New Criticism Mina Loy “Parturition” Post #11 Write two paragraphs about how you might apply feminist theory to Trifles, My Antonia, or “Parturition.” Thursday Read: Ezra Pound 314-‐315 Author Introduction: “Hugh Selwyn Mauberley” and New Criticism TBA Ezra Pound: make it new! Post #12 New Criticism 1. Discuss theme, genre, or figures of speech in the poem. Paraphrasing Poetry 2. Discuss the style of “HSM”; consider Point of View and How to write about Poetry Allusion 3. Paraphrase 6-10 lines from the poem. Make sure to do a section no one else has done.
- 3. 4 Monday Read: William Carlos William April “Hugh Selwyn Mauberley” “In a Station of the Metro,” “The Red Wheelbarrow,” and 29-‐ Historical Context, Theme, “To Elsie” May 2 and Style Post #13: QHQ on any one of the poems for today’s reading. Author Introduction: Or paraphrase “The Red Wheelbarrow or 6-9 lines from “To Elsie.” William Carlos William Try to do a section no one else has done. Tuesday Read: Wallace Stevens Imagist Poetry “The Snow Man” 283 1923 “In a Station of the “The Emperor of Ice Cream” 284 1923 Metro” 1913 Post #14: Paraphrase either poem. Be original! “The Red Wheelbarrow” Or discuss the modernist aspects of one or all these poems. “To Elsie” Or do a brief “new critical” reading of one poem. Author Introduction: Wallace Stevens Wednesday: Lyric Poetry Study for the exam by reviewing each of the authors and texts we “The Snow Man” 1923 have discussed so far. “The Emperor of Ice Cream” 1923 Introduce Exam #1 Thursday Read The Great Gatsby Chapters 1-5 Author Introduction: Post #15 Choose One F. Scott Fitzgerald 1. Write a character sketch of Daisy or Tom or Jordan, focusing Exam #1 on the recurring “tag” used to describe them. Daisy leans forward and talks in a low voice; Tom is restless and hulking; Jordan balances something on her chin almost in an athletic stance. What is Fitzgerald’s purpose in thus describing them? 2. Contrast the green light at the end of chapter 1 and the gray images in the Valley of Ashes in chapter 2. What thematic statement do the contrasting images reveal? 3. How can George Wilson be said to symbolize the American Dream? Consider the Horatio Alger’s (“rags-to-riches”) motif, as well as his undying desire to better his situation. 4. Is Nick a symbol of honesty and Jordan a symbol of dishonesty? Write a character sketch that reveals their likenesses and differences in terms of veracity and credibility. 5 Monday Read The Great Gatsby Chapters 6-7 May Choose new teams by Read Marxist Criticism 6-‐9 question Post #16: Choose One The Great Gatsby 1. Discuss how the reunion of Daisy and Gatsby signals both the Historical Context beginning and the end of Gatsby’s dream and of his success. Themes 2. Trace the recurring image of eyes, and ascertain the purposes of Style those images. Consider blindness on any level as well as sight. 3. Discuss one argument that supports a feminist theory approach.
- 4. Tuesday Read The Great Gatsby Chapters 8-9 The Great Gatsby Post #17: Choose One Marxist Criticism 1. Some of the characters in the novel symbolize a production ethic; others symbolize a consumption ethic. Classify the characters accordingly, and draw a conclusion about the American Dream, as you understand it, from Fitzgerald. 2. How is the story an ironic twist of the American Dream? Consider Daisy and Gatsby, Daisy and Tom, Myrtle and George Wilson, Myrtle and Tom, Nick and Jordan. 3. Discuss this quotation in terms of class theory: “This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of ash-gray men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.… [And the eyes of Doctor T. J.Eckleburg] brood on over the solemn dumping ground” (Chapter 2). Wednesday Read: William Faulkner 695-98 The Great Gatsby “Barn Burning” 800-12 The American Dream and Post #18 Provide a brief character analysis or discus a symbol Class. A-B: de Spain Writing a character analysis C-F: Sarty Author Introduction: G-J: Abner Snopes William Faulkner K-L: Lennie Snopes M-P: Fire Q-S: The soiled rug T-Z: Blood OR, discuss feminist or Marxist theories in terms of “Barn Burning.” Thursday Post #19 Film Screening Discuss a significant difference between the film and movie. Then explain both how the change influenced the meaning of the text and why a director might make the decision to make that change. 6 Monday Langston Hughes May “Barn Burning” “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” “I, too, sing America,” and 13-‐16 Historical Context, Themes, and “The Weary Blues” Style. Post #20 Introduction: Langston 1. What connections can be made between race and blues Hughes music in "The Weary Blues"? 2. What do you think it means to have a soul that is deep as rivers? 3. How does “I, too, sing America” make you think about what it means to be an American? How is "America" presented in this poem, and how does it make you feel about America?
- 5. Tuesday Read Zora Neale Hurston 528-30 The Harlem Renaissance “The Eatonville Anthology” 530-38 Historical Context “How it Feels to Be Colored Me” 538-541 The Poems of Langston African American (Minority) Criticism Hughes Post #21 Choose one Author Introduction: 1. Community is a consistent theme in the works of Zora Neale Zora Neale Hurston Hurston and the primary bond among the smaller stories contained in "The Eatonville Anthology." How does the image of a front porch act as a symbol of the social concept of community? Cite specific incidents from the story that prove this connection. 2. How does the narrator's viewpoint direct the reader's understanding and approval of the citizens presented in "The Eatonville Anthology"? Discuss specific examples. Wednesday Catch up on your reading or writing! Zora Neale Hurston Historical Context POV,Themes, and Style African American (Minority) Criticism Thursday Begin your essay. Introduction to Essay #1 Post #22: Your thesis How to write a response to Honors Group: Read Annotated Bibliography literature. assignment 7 Monday Read “American Literature since 1945” pp. 3-19 May Library Visit: Post #23 QHQ from introduction. 20-‐23 Honors Group Annotated Bibliography Tuesday Read Ralph Ellison 206-224 American Literature since Read “The Prologue,” and “Battle Royal” from Invisible Man. 1945 Post #24 Choose one Author Introduction: 1. What does the reader know about the narrator solely on Ralph Ellison the basis of the Prologue? Explain both what he reveals about himself explicitly and what inferences can be drawn, justifying your findings as you go along. 2. Why would the audience listening to the narrator’s speech have reacted so strongly to the narrator’s mistake? Discuss the implications of his slip of the tongue. Wednesday Read Saul Bellow 225-226 “Battle Royale” Read From The Adventures of Augie March 227- Author Introduction 235 Saul Bellow Post #25 QHQ
- 6. Thursday Read Arthur Miller pp. 236-38 The Adventures of Augie Death of a Salesman 238-303 March Post #26 Themes and Style 1. Discuss how Miller communicates Willy’s outlook and Author Introduction: emotions to the reader. Note Willy’s words, his appearance, Arthur Miller Linda’s reactions, the set design, and other means. Essay #1 due Friday at 2. Examine how Biff and Hap’s adult lives show the influence midnight of their childhood as seen in the flashback. 3. Describe how Willy has taken Ben’s life and his philosophy of the “jungle” as models for success. How has Willy shaped that philosophy to encompass life as a salesman? 4. Linda says that “attention must be paid” to Willy despite his faults. Do you support Linda’s claim or disagree with it? If Willy is a “fake,” as Biff calls him, then does he deserve respect? 5. Contrast Willy with Ben. Willy seems to think that he leads a life somehow like Ben’s. Besides the fact that Ben is rich and Willy is not, what separates them? 6. Describe why Willy believes committing suicide will provide a better life for his family. Will his plan work? 7. Explore the difference between Biff and Hap’s reactions to Willy’s death. 8 Monday Holiday May Holiday No Class No Class 27-‐30 Tuesday Conferences Individual Meetings by appointment Wednesday Read “Postmodern Manifestos” 400-17 Death of a Salesman Post #27 Historical Context Sukenick T1 Themes and Style. Gass T2 Introduce Postmodernism Thompson T3 New Teams 5-6 Olson T4 O’Hara T5 Bishop T6 Ammons T7 Lorde T8 Thursday Study for the exam by reviewing each of the authors and Postmodernism texts we have discussed so far. Author Intro: Jack Kerouac 9 Monday Read Jack Kerouac pp. 351-53 Exam #2 From Big Sur pp. 353-72 Post # 28: QHQ; consider postmodernism if you want.
- 7. Tuesday Read Lesbian, gay, and queer criticism The Beats Big Sur Historical Context Themes, Style Wednesday Read Allen Ginsberg pp. 490-492 Queer Theory Howl and “A Footnote to Howl” pp. 492-500 Author Introduction: Post #29 QHQ Allen Ginsberg Or paraphrase 8-10 lines from Howl. Howl Thursday Read Gloria Anzuldua pp. 837-38 Howl La conciencia de la mestizo/ Towards a New Consciousness Themes; forms and devices pp. 838-49 and “El Sonavabitche” pp. 858-62 Author Introduction: Post #30 QHQ La conciencia Gloria Anzuldua Or discuss themes or meaning in “El Sonavabitche” Or discuss Postmodernism or Minority Theory in terms of Anzuldua