You will need to post comments three times on the first play before pumpkin time on Monday, December 8. Read the directions!
When posting comments...
* Use your name and first initial as usual.
* Label the post 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
* In the first section of each post (labeled 1a, 2a, or 3a) analyze a specific passage and/or meaningfully connect related passages. Remember that some of the students reading your posts will not have read the same play, so make sure you provide adequate context. (This is the same problem faced by book, film, art, and music reviewers who analyze works of art that most of their audience hasn't yet experienced.) Remember to consider both what the play suggests (the themes) and how the play suggests it (the techniques).
* Leave an empty line.
* In the second section of each post (labeled 1b, 2b, 3b) respond to a comment or comments made by peers. You might respond to peers who are reading the same play by extending one of their ideas into new territory by connecting it to new a passage or by drawing new conclusions. You might offer an alternative interpretation of the same evidence offered by peers. You might also (or alternatively) respond to peers reading a different play. Since all of the plays deal at some level with the relationship between identity and family and since all of the plays in each section are either by the same author (Ibsen or Lorca) or by authors from the same country (Ireland and the U.S.A.) you will notice meaningful similarities and differences between the play you are reading and the others.
Each section of each post should be a couple hundred words or more (meaning each post will be several hundred words long). More importantly, however, is that you demonstrate an ability to analyze specific passages and eventually to synthesize the separate analyses into a convincing understanding of the whole.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Federico Garcia Lorca Plays
You will need to post comments three times on the first play before pumpkin time on Monday, December 8. Read the directions!
When posting comments...
* Use your name and first initial as usual.
* Label the post 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
* In the first section of each post (labeled 1a, 2a, or 3a) analyze a specific passage and/or meaningfully connect related passages. Remember that some of the students reading your posts will not have read the same play, so make sure you provide adequate context. (This is the same problem faced by book, film, art, and music reviewers who analyze works of art that most of their audience hasn't yet experienced.) Remember to consider both what the play suggests (the themes) and how the play suggests it (the techniques).
* Leave an empty line.
* In the second section of each post (labeled 1b, 2b, 3b) respond to a comment or comments made by peers. You might respond to peers who are reading the same play by extending one of their ideas into new territory by connecting it to new a passage or by drawing new conclusions. You might offer an alternative interpretation of the same evidence offered by peers. You might also (or alternatively) respond to peers reading a different play. Since all of the plays deal at some level with the relationship between identity and family and since all of the plays in each section are either by the same author (Ibsen or Lorca) or by authors from the same country (Ireland and the U.S.A.) you will notice meaningful similarities and differences between the play you are reading and the others.
Each section of each post should be a couple hundred words or more (meaning each post will be several hundred words long). More importantly, however, is that you demonstrate an ability to analyze specific passages and eventually to synthesize the separate analyses into a convincing understanding of the whole.
When posting comments...
* Use your name and first initial as usual.
* Label the post 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
* In the first section of each post (labeled 1a, 2a, or 3a) analyze a specific passage and/or meaningfully connect related passages. Remember that some of the students reading your posts will not have read the same play, so make sure you provide adequate context. (This is the same problem faced by book, film, art, and music reviewers who analyze works of art that most of their audience hasn't yet experienced.) Remember to consider both what the play suggests (the themes) and how the play suggests it (the techniques).
* Leave an empty line.
* In the second section of each post (labeled 1b, 2b, 3b) respond to a comment or comments made by peers. You might respond to peers who are reading the same play by extending one of their ideas into new territory by connecting it to new a passage or by drawing new conclusions. You might offer an alternative interpretation of the same evidence offered by peers. You might also (or alternatively) respond to peers reading a different play. Since all of the plays deal at some level with the relationship between identity and family and since all of the plays in each section are either by the same author (Ibsen or Lorca) or by authors from the same country (Ireland and the U.S.A.) you will notice meaningful similarities and differences between the play you are reading and the others.
Each section of each post should be a couple hundred words or more (meaning each post will be several hundred words long). More importantly, however, is that you demonstrate an ability to analyze specific passages and eventually to synthesize the separate analyses into a convincing understanding of the whole.
20th Century Irish Plays
You will need to post comments three times on the first play before pumpkin time on Monday, December 8. Read the directions!
When posting comments...
* Use your name and first initial as usual.
* Label the post 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
* In the first section of each post (labeled 1a, 2a, or 3a) analyze a specific passage and/or meaningfully connect related passages. Remember that some of the students reading your posts will not have read the same play, so make sure you provide adequate context. (This is the same problem faced by book, film, art, and music reviewers who analyze works of art that most of their audience hasn't yet experienced.) Remember to consider both what the play suggests (the themes) and how the play suggests it (the techniques).
* Leave an empty line.
* In the second section of each post (labeled 1b, 2b, 3b) respond to a comment or comments made by peers. You might respond to peers who are reading the same play by extending one of their ideas into new territory by connecting it to new a passage or by drawing new conclusions. You might offer an alternative interpretation of the same evidence offered by peers. You might also (or alternatively) respond to peers reading a different play. Since all of the plays deal at some level with the relationship between identity and family and since all of the plays in each section are either by the same author (Ibsen or Lorca) or by authors from the same country (Ireland and the U.S.A.) you will notice meaningful similarities and differences between the play you are reading and the others.
Each section of each post should be a couple hundred words or more (meaning each post will be several hundred words long). More importantly, however, is that you demonstrate an ability to analyze specific passages and eventually to synthesize the separate analyses into a convincing understanding of the whole.
Note: Since you must read two plays (one by 12/8 and another by 12/19) I recommend the following pairs: Ourselves Alone paired with either The Plough and the Stars or Juno and the Paycock (these plays deal with identity, family, and revolutionary politics) or Philadelphia, Here I Come paired with The Playboy of the Western World (which, it seems to me, offer different views of the difficulties of rural Irish life).
When posting comments...
* Use your name and first initial as usual.
* Label the post 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
* In the first section of each post (labeled 1a, 2a, or 3a) analyze a specific passage and/or meaningfully connect related passages. Remember that some of the students reading your posts will not have read the same play, so make sure you provide adequate context. (This is the same problem faced by book, film, art, and music reviewers who analyze works of art that most of their audience hasn't yet experienced.) Remember to consider both what the play suggests (the themes) and how the play suggests it (the techniques).
* Leave an empty line.
* In the second section of each post (labeled 1b, 2b, 3b) respond to a comment or comments made by peers. You might respond to peers who are reading the same play by extending one of their ideas into new territory by connecting it to new a passage or by drawing new conclusions. You might offer an alternative interpretation of the same evidence offered by peers. You might also (or alternatively) respond to peers reading a different play. Since all of the plays deal at some level with the relationship between identity and family and since all of the plays in each section are either by the same author (Ibsen or Lorca) or by authors from the same country (Ireland and the U.S.A.) you will notice meaningful similarities and differences between the play you are reading and the others.
Each section of each post should be a couple hundred words or more (meaning each post will be several hundred words long). More importantly, however, is that you demonstrate an ability to analyze specific passages and eventually to synthesize the separate analyses into a convincing understanding of the whole.
Note: Since you must read two plays (one by 12/8 and another by 12/19) I recommend the following pairs: Ourselves Alone paired with either The Plough and the Stars or Juno and the Paycock (these plays deal with identity, family, and revolutionary politics) or Philadelphia, Here I Come paired with The Playboy of the Western World (which, it seems to me, offer different views of the difficulties of rural Irish life).
20th Century USAmerican Plays
You will need to post comments three times on the first play before pumpkin time on Monday, December 8. Read the directions!
When posting comments...
* Use your name and first initial as usual.
* Label the post 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
* In the first section of each post (labeled 1a, 2a, or 3a) analyze a specific passage and/or meaningfully connect related passages. Remember that some of the students reading your posts will not have read the same play, so make sure you provide adequate context. (This is the same problem faced by book, film, art, and music reviewers who analyze works of art that most of their audience hasn't yet experienced.) Remember to consider both what the play suggests (the themes) and how the play suggests it (the techniques).
* Leave an empty line.
* In the second section of each post (labeled 1b, 2b, 3b) respond to a comment or comments made by peers. You might respond to peers who are reading the same play by extending one of their ideas into new territory by connecting it to new a passage or by drawing new conclusions. You might offer an alternative interpretation of the same evidence offered by peers. You might also (or alternatively) respond to peers reading a different play. Since all of the plays deal at some level with the relationship between identity and family and since all of the plays in each section are either by the same author (Ibsen or Lorca) or by authors from the same country (Ireland and the U.S.A.) you will notice meaningful similarities and differences between the play you are reading and the others.
Each section of each post should be a couple hundred words or more (meaning each post will be several hundred words long). More importantly, however, is that you demonstrate an ability to analyze specific passages and eventually to synthesize the separate analyses into a convincing understanding of the whole.
Note: Since you will have to read a second play as well, I think it will useful for you to think about which play you will read next as you read through your peers comments. Family tensions -- some hidden, some overt -- mark each of the American plays I've listed for you, so I think any pairing will yield productive comparisons. I look forward to reading the comment stream.
When posting comments...
* Use your name and first initial as usual.
* Label the post 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
* In the first section of each post (labeled 1a, 2a, or 3a) analyze a specific passage and/or meaningfully connect related passages. Remember that some of the students reading your posts will not have read the same play, so make sure you provide adequate context. (This is the same problem faced by book, film, art, and music reviewers who analyze works of art that most of their audience hasn't yet experienced.) Remember to consider both what the play suggests (the themes) and how the play suggests it (the techniques).
* Leave an empty line.
* In the second section of each post (labeled 1b, 2b, 3b) respond to a comment or comments made by peers. You might respond to peers who are reading the same play by extending one of their ideas into new territory by connecting it to new a passage or by drawing new conclusions. You might offer an alternative interpretation of the same evidence offered by peers. You might also (or alternatively) respond to peers reading a different play. Since all of the plays deal at some level with the relationship between identity and family and since all of the plays in each section are either by the same author (Ibsen or Lorca) or by authors from the same country (Ireland and the U.S.A.) you will notice meaningful similarities and differences between the play you are reading and the others.
Each section of each post should be a couple hundred words or more (meaning each post will be several hundred words long). More importantly, however, is that you demonstrate an ability to analyze specific passages and eventually to synthesize the separate analyses into a convincing understanding of the whole.
Note: Since you will have to read a second play as well, I think it will useful for you to think about which play you will read next as you read through your peers comments. Family tensions -- some hidden, some overt -- mark each of the American plays I've listed for you, so I think any pairing will yield productive comparisons. I look forward to reading the comment stream.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Celtic: SELL-tick & KELL-tick
Re: F-block's discussion on pronouncing words
Here is a good source for the history of "Celtic" as a word, especially with regard to pronunciation. Although it is not my original source for the information I gave you yesterday, it covers the same points.
Here is a good source for the history of "Celtic" as a word, especially with regard to pronunciation. Although it is not my original source for the information I gave you yesterday, it covers the same points.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
List of Plays and Links
Self, Family, and Society
List of Plays
Read two of these plays by Henrik Ibsen
Enemy of the People (Ibsen)** (Project Gutenberg translation here)
A Doll’s House (Ibsen) * (Project Gutenberg translation here)
The Wild Duck (Ibsen) ** (University of Virginia translation here)
Hedda Gabler (Ibsen) * (Project Gutenberg translation here)
OR
Read two of these plays by Federico Garcia Lorca
Blood Wedding (Lorca)# (translation online: Act I, Act II, Act III)
Yerma (Lorca)# (translation online: Act I, Act II, Act III)
House of Bernarda Alba (Lorca)# (translation online: Act I, Act II, Act III)
OR
Read two of these 20th Century Irish Plays
Juno and the Paycock (O'Casey)**
The Plough and the Stars (O'Casey)**
Ourselves Alone (Devlin)#
The Playboy of the Western World (Synge)* (etext here)
Philadelphia, Here I Come (Friel)
OR
Read two of these 20th Century American Plays
Glass Menagerie (Williams)*
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Williams)*
Death of a Salesman (Miller)*
Long Day’s Journey into Night (O’Neill)*
A Touch of the Poet (O'Neill)*
Fences (
* marks plays that are owned by
** marks plays that are available in the high school library
# marks plays that you could borrow from Mr. Cook
Monday, November 17, 2008
Bildungsroman: Jane Eyre and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Compare and Contrast Essay: Bildungsroman
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
The two novels we read as a class during the first semester are both generally considered to be bildungsromans, or “novels of formation.” However, although Bronte and Joyce both portray protagonists who to varying degrees “come of age” over the course of the novels, each writer utilizes and revises the conventions of the bildungsroman to achieve different artistic ends.
In a well-organized essay compare and contrast the ways the novelists honor and subvert bildungsroman conventions (listed below); be especially sure to compare and contrast how the particular ways the authors adhere to and deviate from bildungsroman conventions contribute to the overall meaning and effect of the two novels.
*******
Suzanne Hader developed the following list after reading Marianne Hirsch’s “The Novel of Formation as Genre"
1. A Bildungsroman is, most generally, the story of a single individual's growth and development within the context of a defined social order. The growth process, at its roots a quest story, has been described as both "an apprenticeship to life" and a "search for meaningful existence within society."
2. To spur the hero or heroine on to their journey, some form of loss or discontent must jar them at an early stage away from the home or family setting.
3. The process of maturity is long, arduous, and gradual, consisting of repeated clashes between the protagonist's needs and desires and the views and judgments enforced by an unbending social order.
4. Eventually, the spirit and values of the social order become manifest in the protagonist, who is then accommodated into society. The novel ends with an assessment by the protagonist of himself and his new place in that society.
~~~~~~~~~~
Also, perhaps of interest to Megan L. and others, here is a blogpost called "Joyce's Kunstleroman" (sic) that compares Stephen's sense of art to Dante's (author of The Divine Comedy). If you're interested in how this blogpost relates to what we've been talking about check out the comments box below.
Bring two copies of a first draft to class on Tuesday, November 24.
Final drafts are due December 5.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Introduction [to A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man & Dubliners] by Kevin J. H. Dettmar
Post comments below.
(Don't forget to dig into the essay. Read closely. Read imaginatively.)
(Don't forget to dig into the essay. Read closely. Read imaginatively.)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A Poem for Election Day by Our Great-Uncle Walt Whitman
Here's a link to a Boston Globe article written by BU professor and former US poet laureate Robert Pinsky about Walt Whitman's poem "Election Day, November, 1884". (I wonder what the conversation between Stephen Dedalus and the speaker of this poem would be like. The former wanting to fly above the political nets and skeptical of the wisdom of the "rabble" (cf. Joyce's The Day of Rabblement). The later glorying in the power of choosing one's leaders. The former perhaps overly cynical and more than a bit anti-social though still idealistic. The later perhaps overly naive and more than a bit optimistic though still recognizing the real divisions within a populace. Hm... Happy Election Day to All!!!
Here's the poem:
Here's the poem:
ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER, 1884
If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and show,'Twould not be you, Niagara - nor you, ye limitless prairies - nor your huge rifts of canyons, Colorado,
Nor you, Yosemite - nor Yellowstone, with all its spasmic geyserloops ascending to the skies, appearing and disappearing,
Nor Oregon's white cones - nor Huron's belt of mighty lakes - nor Mississippi's stream:
This seething hemisphere's humanity, as now, I'd name - the still small voice vibrating -America's choosing day,
(The heart of it not in the chosen - the act itself the main, the quadrennial choosing,)
The stretch of North and South arous'd - sea-board and inland - Texas to Maine - the Prairie States - Vermont, Virginia, California,
The final ballot-shower from East to West - the paradox and conflict,
The countless snow-flakes falling - (a swordless conflict,
Yet more than all Rome's wars of old, or modern Napoleon's): the peaceful choice of all,
Or good or ill humanity - welcoming the darker odds, the dross:
- Foams and ferments the wine? it serves to purify - while the heart pants, life glows:
These stormy gusts and winds waft precious ships,
Swell'd Washington's, Jefferson's, Lincoln's sails.
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