The Things They Carried: Web Questions

***Answer the Following Questions on a Separate Sheet***

1.Read the epigraph at the beginning of the text of The Things They Carried.

a. What is an epigraph? How do writers use them?

b. This epigraph is a citation from John Ransom's Andersonville Diary. Go to the website below and answer the following questions: Who was he? What was Andersonville? What is the book about?

http://www.amazon.com/Ransoms-Andersonville-Diary-Bruce-Catton/dp/0425141462/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237213843&sr=1-1

c. Given what you discover about the “Andersonville Diary” epigraph and what it introduces, what do you think is the purpose of it introducing The Things They Carried?

2."On the Rainy River" questions the American war in Vietnam, referring to a series of names and places. Look them up.

a. What was the USS Maddox?
b. Where is the Gulf of Tonkin and what is its relationship to the Vietnamese War?
c. Who was Ho Chi Minh?
d. What was SEATO? What were the Geneva Accords?
e. What was the Cold War and why are dominoes mentioned?

3. Browse the photos on the following websites. Warning: some photos are graphic. Choose any three photos and write: 1) a description of the photo, 2) the significance of the imagery in the photo, 3) the emotion or tone of the photo

a. Vietnam War Pix: On this site, browse the categories near the top. (Note: the “Hippies” category sometimes freezes).
http://www.vietnampix.com/

b. Vietnam Gear (Photos arranged by category).
http://vietnamgear.com/gallery.aspx

4.At the end of "On the Rainy River," the narrator makes a kind of confession: "The day was cloudy. I passed through towns with familiar names, through the pine forests and down to the prairie, and then to Vietnam, where I was a soldier, and then home again. I survived, but it's not a happy ending. I was a coward. I went to the war" (p. 61). What does this mean?

5. Carefully read the following quote by author Tim O’Brien. Then write your personal reaction to the quote. For example, do you agree with O’Brien, or disagree? Explain your response.

"Good movies -- and good novels, too -- do not depend upon 'accurate portrayals.' Accuracy is irrelevant. Is the Mona Lisa an 'accurate' representation of the actual human model for the painting? Who knows? Who cares? It's a great piece of art. It moves us. It makes us wonder, makes us gape; finally makes us look inward at ourselves."

MacBeth: Critical Essay Assignment

Critical Essay: MacBeth

DUE DATE:
Ø TUESDAY, MARCH 10th, 2009

-Friday, March 6th: “Essay Workshop”

DESCRIPTION

Length: 2-3 pages

Format: typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12 point

Ø The requirements for the actual body of your paper are included on the rubric.
Ø For this essay, there will be 1 draft for revision and 1 final draft
Ø This essay will be assigned a letter grade, and will be worth a total of 50 points.
Ø Mr. Julius’ email address: ajulius@lvlhs.org


ESSAY PROMPT

--- Choose themes, conflicts, or literary elements in Shakespeare’s MacBeth. Form a thesis about how these aspects of the play contribute to the overall meaning, or how they play an important role in the story of the play. Write a well-structured essay in which you support your thesis, remembering to use textual quotes, as well as notes from class handouts and discussions.

This is more of an ‘open question’ essay, so make sure you have a good idea for a thesis and a good outline before you start writing. Don’t wait to start your essay- start soon. On Friday, March 6th, we will have an “essay workshop” in which to share ideas, comments, and guide you through your essay. Please have some kind of outline or draft at that point.

Critical Essay: "The Stranger"

Critial Essay: The Stranger
DUE DATES:
FIRST DRAFT: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd
FINAL DRAFT: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th
DESCRIPTION

Length: 2 pages

Format: typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12 point

Ø The requirements for the actual body of your paper are included on the rubric.
Ø For this essay, there will be 1 draft for revision and 1 final draft
Ø A copy description of this assignment can be found on the AP Lit blog, at http://www.juliusaplit.blogspot.com/
Ø This essay will be assigned a letter grade, and will be worth a total of 50 points.
Ø Mr. Julius’ email address: ajulius@lvlhs.org
Ø Choose only ONE of the following prompts.


ESSAY PROMPTS

1. Discuss the questions: Is Meursault really a threat to his society? Does he deserve the death penalty? Is he more dangerous, or less dangerous, than a criminal who commits a clearly motivated crime? Use specific quotes from Meursault’s own thoughts and dialogue that express whether Meursault (and people like him) might be considered ‘dangerous.’

2. How does The Stranger explore the theme of the ‘meaningless of human life’? Choose and discuss specific scenes or internal dialogue in which the novel expresses this concept, which is one of the central themes of the novel. Focus on Meursault’s worldview, and tackle the question as to why you think Meursault becomes so detached from the world, and so seemingly indifferent or emotionless.

3. Since Meursault is the first person narrator of the novel, the reader sees characters through his eyes only. Using the information that Meursault provides, choose three characters and analyze them closely. For example, what does Meursault really think of each character, and how do they react to (and interact with) Meursault, and what general role do they play in Meursault’s story?

4. Compare and contrast the relationship between Salamano and his dog with the relationship between Meursault and his mother. What are the similarities? What are the differences? Comment on the role of emotions in each relationship; such as love, antagonism, unhappiness, etc.

5. Analyze the role that heat, the sun, and general weather plays in The Stranger. At what plot points in the story does Meursault comment the heat and the sun, and what effects do they have on him? What relationships can be drawn between the heat, the action taking place, and Meursault’s outlook on life?

John Milton (1608-1674)

A very nice resource on John Milton, author of the epic poem Paradise Lost:

http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/

PARADISE LOST

Here's a pretty good study guide:

http://www.paradiselost.org/novel.html

Another decent study guide to help with the reading:

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/ParadiseLost.html#Milton

"The Oedipus Complex"

ACTIVITY 1

What is the "Oedipus Complex?" On a separate sheet, give a 1-2 paragraph overview of what this means. Use the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_complex

ACTIVIITY 2

Modern day detectives and scholars commonly refer to the story of Oedipus Rex when talking about a child rape case. A young boy falling for his mother or a mother figure is what some people like to call the Oedipus Complex. Mary Kay Letourneau was a schoolteacher that ended up falling in love with a young student. However, the young student also had fallen for the teacher.

Instructions: “Be a Detective:”
By using these links, gather up information on the Letourneau child rape case. Answer the following questions to determine whether Vili Fualaau had an Oedipus Complex when he fell for his teacher.

1. Do you think that a thirteen year old is capable of love?

2. Do you believe that May Kay “brainwashed” Vili?

3. Include a few comments on their marriage.

http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/marykay_letourneau/1.html
http://www.courttv.com/archive/onair/shows/mugshots/indepth/letourneau/
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/24/earlyshow/leisure/main697489.shtml
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13064459/

ACTIVITY 3

In activity one, you were introduced to the Oedipus Complex. In this activity, you will go more into depth about who first came up with the theory and what it really means. Click on these links to get better knowledge on the subject. Then, answer the questions below.

1. Based on what you learn about Freud and his theory, do you believe Vili Fualaau had Oedipus Complex? Explain.

2. Do you think Oedipus could have helped not falling in love with his mother if he knew it was her? Explain.

http://www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/psychoanalysis/freud.html
http://www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/freud.html

"ONEW FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST:" STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The "fog" appears throughout the novel.

1A. What is the fog, according to Bromden?

1B. What really is the fog?

2. At one point in the novel, a patient is cut open by the staff, but no blood or guts come out of him. Instead, wires, bolts, and machine parts come out. What is Kesey trying to say by this surreal sequence?

3. Define "surrealism." Use internet resources to look up the concept and read more about it. What parts of this novel could you see as being surreal?

4. Describe how the attitudes and outlooks of the patients change when they go on the fishing boat. What is meaningful about this experience for all involved?

5. For the last third of the novel, who is really in control of the ward? Nurse Ratched, or is it McMurphy? Many have argued for one or the other. . . what do you think?

6. Is it really McMurphy's fault that Cheswick and Billy Bibbit are dead? Why or why not?

7. McMurphy's death at the end of the novel can by seen as symbolic. Why do you think Chief Bromden kills him? Do you agree with his actions?

8. One very common element, or literary 'trope,' is the Christ figure. McMurphy is often called a Christ figure by literary critics. What connections, relationships, or parellels can you make between McMurphy and Christ?