Frame Story Narrative

Mary Shelley uses the frame story as the narrative technique in her novel.  The story is told by Walton in letters to his sister.  So, essentially, the story is told from his point of view. Within Walton’s story, we hear Victor’s story of exploration and creation.  Within Victor’s story, the reader is then given the perspective of the creature’s struggle to gain acceptance and his motivations for revenge.  So, you have three stories, Walton’s, Victor’s and the creature’s – a story in a story in a story. 

How does this narrative technique affect the reader’s interpretation of the events as they happen in the book?  What advantage is there to each story being told by its respective narrator?  Does the frame story eliminate bias? Can we rely on the narrator to tell us the “whole” story?

Essential Questions

At the start of Frankenstein you were given these essential questions.  Choose one of these to answer in a well-thought-out blog post.

¡What consequences  do we face if we do not take responsibility for our actions?

¡How does lack of compassion lead to prejudice and stereotyping?

¡In what ways does scientific advancement present positive and negative consequences?

¡Which has a greater impact on human development – nature or nurture?

Religious Influences in Frankenstein

Allusions pervade Frankenstein.  The novel commonly known as Frankenstein is subtitled The Modern Prometheus.  According to the Greeks, Prometheus was given the task of creating man, which he is said to have created out clay.   Prometheus stole fire from the gods to give to mankind.  The gods, afraid that mankind would rival their power, punished Prometheus by chaining him to a rock where an eagle ate his liver which grew back each day. There are also allusions to Christianity when the monster is compared to Adam. The monster is also compared to the fallen angel – Satan – and Victor takes on comparisons to God. Shelley uses the following quote from Paradise Lost as an epigraph to the text:

"Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me Man, did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?"
– Paradise Lost, X, 743-45

Do the book’s religious influences force characters to be either good or evil? What might Shelley be saying about this?

Okonkwo: Victim, Villain, or Hero?

At the end of Things Fall Apart the reader is left with many opinions about the character Okonkwo.  What opinion have you formulated about Okonkwo?  Use specific examples from the text to support your opinion.  Consider Okonkwo's motivations. Is Okonkwo a victim, a villain, or a hero?

Things Fall Apart & The Second Coming

The WB Yeats poem "The Second Coming" is cited in the foreward to the novel Things Fall Apart.  After you have finished reading the novel and the poem, why do you think this poem is an appropriate choice to introduce the main themes highlighted in the novel.  What is the meaning to the Yeats poem? How does this correlate to the meaning of the novel? 

Minor Characters Major Influences

Two major characters in Heart of Darkness are Marlow and Kurtz.  Other minor characters also serve to give meaning to the text as a whole. In part one, we are introduced to the accountant, the manager, the brick maker, the first class agent, and the aunt.  Clearly the main action surrounds Marlow and Kurtz; however, the minor characters also serve to help illuminate the meaning of the work as a whole.  Choose one or two of these characters and tell how he or she provides meaning to the work.  What does this character help to contribute to the work?

Role of Women in Heart of Darkness

Women are rarely mentioned in the text.  Marlow goes so far as to say, "It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own, and there has never been anything like it, and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if they were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset. Some confounded fact we men have been living contentedly with ever since the day of creation would start up and knock the whole thing over." (1)  The only women mentioned are the aunt, the “knitting” women, and the personified pronoun in reference to the sailing vessels Marlow mentions.  It seems clear that Marlow believes women to be powerless; however he is reliant upon them to pursue his dream.  

At the Central Station Marlow, “noticed a small sketch in oils, on a panel, representing a woman, draped and blindfolded, carrying a lighted torch. The background was sombre--almost black. The movement of the woman was stately, and the effect of the torchlight on the face was sinister.” (1)  What is the possible meaning of this important symbol?  Look to analyze the specifics of the painting that are mentioned.  What might this painting foreshadow about Marlow’s eventual meeting with Mr. Kurtz?

Heart of Darkness Journey to Moral Discovery

A big idea from the text to consider is that the deepest of men's secrets lie within the heart.  Part one of Heart of Darkness begins with Marlow's journey on this path of what Conrad called a "moral discovery".  This beginning is important to remember when we read the end of the story, because we need to know where Marlow came from and how this journey impacted him as a man. 

Characterization is important to understanding the story.  In what ways are the Africans characterized? The Europeans? Is this characterization degrading or demeaning?  When looking at the characters try to determine how each character's ambition clouds his judgement?  Are these men colonizing or conquering? Is there a difference?

Remember the archetypes!  Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and yes, Heart of Darkness all share common archetypal features.  What do you notice about the archetypes as you read?  Remember the "whited sepulchre".  Are all the archetypes true to their meaning?  Notice specifically light and darkness. 

As always, please share your own observations about the text. Happy Reading!

Style and Structure in "The Lagoon"

As you read Joseph Conrad’s short story “The Lagoon” pay special attention to the writing style of the author.  Notice the way Conrad uses descriptive imagery to set the mood for this piece.  Also notice how the setting of the story seems to be reflected in the morals and values of the characters in the story.

Conrad is known for using a narrative technique in which he has a story being told within a story.  Is there a benefit to this type of narration?  Did this cause confusion? 

Pay attention to language and word choice in the text; do you think Conrad’s bias contributes to a reader’s bias in the reading. 

Lastly, as you read the introduction, it is stated that Conrad’s main characters and readers arrive at a “moral discovery” at the climax of the writing.  Describe what you think the moral discovery is in “The Lagoon”. 

Please post any comments or questions you have about the story as you read.  Posts should be about one paragraph in length and should show the quality of work expected in an AP course.

The Alchemist

While reading through The Alchemist for the first time in a few years, I am immediately reminded of why I was so inspired by the book the first time I read it. I know I will not have the same original feelings and "a-ha moments" that were there the first time, but I am still moved by Coelho's words. It seems with the turning of the pages and the distance of Santiago's journey, the author instills these little bits of wisdom throughout the text.  As you read, keep note of quotations that are particularly inspirational or eye-opening for you.

Here are a few of my favorites. Feel free to comment on these, or add your own quotations with a brief explanation as to why you selected the passage.
 Pg. 10 "I couldn't have found God in the seminary, he thought, as he looked at the sunrise."
Pg. 11 "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."
Pg. 15 "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only the wise men are able to understand them."
Pg. 16 "Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own."
Pg 18 " 'What 's the world's greatest lie?' the boy asked, completely surprised.
          'It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become contolled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie.' "

Who are "they"? And why are their eyes watching God?

Any time I begin a novel or poem I look to the title to foreshadow hints or clues as to the underlying meaning of the text. Their Eyes Were Watching God suggests that spirituality, religion, or faith will play a role in the book.  But, as I read the novel, I still find myself wondering what the title means. As stated in the previous post, Janie is on a physical as well as spiritual journey.  She is woman who believes in love and all of the power it holds. This is evident through the use of the metaphor of the pear tree and the bee.  Throughout most of the book, there appears to be little faith or spirituality mentioned. Perhaps this is because Janie has yet to find love in the novel.  Finally, in chapter eighteen, page 159, "Six eyes were watching God", makes reference to the title.  This is stated as the hurricane is approaching and the nature that Janie had revered as beauty in the form of the pear tree turns violent in the storm and eventually the mad dog with hatred in his eyes.  After her encounter with the staggering power of nature and the death of Tea Cake, Janie realizes that "true love" must be found within herself and no matter how much she or anyone believes they can control their own fate, that too, is left in the hands of God. 

As you read through the novel in what ways are those concepts (faith, fate, love, and spirituality) revealed? How does Tea Cake appear to control the fate of Janie and himself? After reading the novel, what do you think the title means?

Their Eyes Were Watching God

For many years this book has been a favorite of mine.  Each time I read it, I find something new that I like about the book, and each time I read the book, I interpret the book a little differently. I suppose that because who I am at each moment I am reading the book is different than it was when the book was previously read.  I think about the character of Janie and who she is throughout the story.  Remember, she is telling the story after it has already happened to her dear friend Phoeby.  I think about Janie's search for self and her search for her own voice.  At the start of the novel she is under the care of her grandmother and then married off to Logan Killicks who her grandmother thinks will be a suitable match for Janie.  In order to find her voice she must go on a journey both physically and spiritually.  She travels from her grandmother’s home to the “muck” and then back to Jody’s home in Eatonville to tell her story to her friend Phoeby.  Throughout her travels, she refers to the image of the blossoming pear tree, first mentioned on page ten.  The end of Janie's journey with Tea Cake seems far removed from the image of this blossoming pear tree, but I can't help but think it really is that pear tree she has been dreaming of.  The pear tree seems to be a symbol for freedom and expression and love.  In the muck, Janie is allowed freedoms she had never previously held.

After reading the novel how do you view Janie's search for herself? Do you think that she has truly found her perfect love in the muck with Tea Cake?  What does Tea Cake allow her to do that she had previously not been able to do?  What about the relationship between Tea Cake and Janie surprised you?
 

 The device of a flashback is used to tell Janie’s story. Remember that she is not telling the story as it is happening, but as it has already happened.  Why might Hurston, the author, choose this type of narration to tell the story of Janie?  Does this give Janie the role of guru (someone highly regarded for his/her wisdom who serves as a guide to others) because of her journey?

I look forward to hearing your responses - as always :)

**Spoiler Alert** Do Not Read This Post If You Haven't Finished The Book Yet

The Brit. Lit. text we will be using in the fall defines allegory as: A narrative work or drama in which almost all the characters, settings, and events are symbols representing abstract ideas and in which the overall purpose is to teach a moral lesson. In the last post I mentioned symbolism and how almost all events, actions, objects, and characters seem to represent something larger, but let’s look at the “big picture”.  If we look at the story as an allegory, we can assume that the boys’ island, as previously stated is that microcosmic society Golding has created. The actions of the boys emulate those of the adults in the world they were forced to flee in the evacuation plane.  Ralph and Jack detach forming two separate governments (some have speculated each is the Axis and Allied forces from the WWII time period) these opposing governments begin a war, similar to the adults.  There is confrontation and death in the story just like the adult world they have left  behind.  At the end, the boys are rescued by the naval officer offering a seemingly unrealistic ending to the savage reality the boys have created.  Again, at the end, there is a sense of irony when the British Naval Officer asks if the boys have been having a war, and then replies, “I should have thought that a pack of British boys – you’re all British aren’t you? – would have been able to put up a better show than that – I mean -”.  This is ironic because as a reader we find ourselves questioning who will save the adults involved in the war from themselves.  Although the ending of the book is hopeful toward the boys who have been saved, what does it say about the possibility of saving mankind from ourselves?

Symbols Symbols Everywhere, But What Do They Mean?

No doubt that as you read through Lord of the Flies, you were aware of the obvious use of symbolism Golding incorporated into the text.  But what do they mean, and how does the understanding of these symbols help to gain a greater sense of the meaning of the text as a whole?  Let's first look at some of the symbols: fire, the conch shell, the island, and Piggy's glasses.  At the start of the novel Piggy's specs are clear and he is described as wiping them off early in the story.  The clarity of Piggy's glasses is reflective of the clarity in thought of the boys.  The older boys realize the need for rules, order, and some sort of system to manage the basic needs necessary for survival on the island.  The glasses also serve a purpose in their use for creating fire.  The glasses become less clear as the story progresses, and are eventually smashed, as is the "government" the boys establish.  (For those of you who haven't read the ending, I won't tell you what happens to them at the end of the story). 

What do you think the other symbols in the story might represent? What about the boys - what qualities do each represent?  Are these reflective of roles in society?  What other objects become symbols in the story?

Lord of the Flies

No doubt you have all started Lord of the Flies.   As you read through this book, I will be curious to read your thoughts.  What I most love about this book is that it can be read on two levels. First, it is an adventure story of a group of young boys stranded on a deserted island.  Second, Golding comments on issues of human nature and society.  Each character represents the make-up of society and mankind.  The island serves as a microcosmic view of society. Think about the following:

• What qualities do each boy represent? (Ralph, Piggy, Jack, Roger, Simon, the littleuns)
• How does the society the boys have created emulate the society of the adult life they left? (think about why the boys were evacuated and the time period the novel was written)
• What happens to mankind when we are left without the rules and laws of society and no one to enforce them?

That should be a good list to get you started! I welcome your questions and responses! MA

WELCOME!

Hello, This blog will serve as way for us to share comments and questions about what we are studying in class.  Remember to use correct English when you are responding.  Be respectful of other's opinions and NEVER use putdowns.  I welcome your thoughts!  Happy Learning.