The Kite Runner 20-end

The Kite Runner chapters 20-end

Well, I'm going to leave the content of this week's posts up to you. Please don't rehash what's already been said, but here are some ideas....
Does Amir find redemption? Explain.
What do you think about the end of the novel? Are you satisfied? Explain
Thematic statements are sometimes implied, but sometimes they are explicitly stated in the text. See if you can identify a statement that a character actually says that reveals a universal truth.
Follow through with motifs and symbols you have mentioned. As they show up again in the novel, how does that intensify their meaning and make their use more complex?
I don't think anyone mentioned the David and Goliath scenario that played out between Assef and Hassan in the first part of the book. See if you can recognize something similar happening during the reading for this week.

These are just some ideas. Maybe tackle 2 of them, or come up with some ideas of your own. Remember I'm looking for thoughtful comments that indicate careful and sophisticated reading. We will be digging into the novel when we meet in class. I am so looking forward to meeting all of you!!

The Kite Runner Chapters 11-19

After this week's reading I'd like for you to focus on several things when you blog:
1) Comment on the structure of this novel. How is it organized and how does the organization aid or guide the reader?
2) Comment on Amir. How do you feel about him now as opposed to earlier in the novel?
3) Comment on Hosseini's style of writing. What are elements of his word choice, sentence structure, and tone that make his writing style unique? Choose a short passage that illustrates what you notice.

The Kite Runner Chapters 1-10

Sorry I'm a little late posting this week, but I'm at the beach and I haven't had easy access to a computer. Anyway, this week I have asked that you read chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner. I think you will find this book challenging in terms of content and engaging as well. As you read, think about the following subjects and comment about themes that are being developed as they relate to these subjects. Remember that a theme is a declarative statement that indicates what the author is trying to say about the particular subject. I was pretty pleased with your thematic statements on Frankenstein.  Try to steer clear of statements that are overused, or cliche.  You can always re-write the statement so that it sounds more complex than the same old cliche lessons, or morals, that you have heard time and again. 

Consider these subjects and what the author is saying about at least one.
-Role of books, literacy
-Friendship, guilt, redemption
-Father and son relationship
-Coming of Age
-Discrimination, prejudice, class structure
-Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion and duty

Please choose one of the subjects listed, then suggest a thematic statement related to that subject, then explain how that theme is relayed in the chapters you have read.
I would also like you to comment on some emerging symbols and motifs as related to Foster's book. There are several ironies that occur in these chapters, and there should be some things that jump out at you as symbols. Explore those in your responses as well.  I think you'll find that Hosseini's novel rich with symbolism. I look forward to reading your responses.  As always, let me know if you have any questions.

P.S.  Wasn't Harry Potter 7 awesome??????

Frankenstein Chapters 15-24

I know that this novel is not an easy read, especially if you were expecting it to be like the 20th century film adaptations.  Keep in mind that this in particular is the type of text that you will grapple with on the AP exam.  At least half of the multiple choice passages will be pre-20th century texts, so you need to be comfortable with analyzing the nuances of rich, detailed, dense, classical writing.  Don't get discouraged!

You will respond to three ideas this week.  You will answer two questions and then develop a thematic statement.

Please choose TWO of the following questions to answer:

1. Who was Prometheus? Why is the novel subtitled "the Modern Prometheus?"
2. Note the various narrative "frames" Mary Shelley employs in her novel. What is the purpose of these various frames? What, specifically, does she wish to accomplish by employing these multiple frames? (think layers of narration, Walton, Frankenstein, Creature...)
3. What sort of man is Walton? Does he serve any thematic function in the novel, or is he included largely as a "storyteller"--that is, is he included simply as a mechanical narrative device?
4. Look carefully at Victor Frankenstein's final words--any significance? What about the Creature's final words? As "last words," these statements should carry special dramatic -- and presumably philosophical, spiritual, or moral -- significance for us as readers, because they give us a last (and therefore a lasting) impression of how each character concludes his part in the novel's events.
5. In an influential essay, the Romantic scholar and critic Harold Bloom wrote that the reader's sympathy lies with the Creature, but in his book The Romantic Conflict (1963) Allan Rodway says the reader's sympathy lies with Victor Frankenstein. Who is right?
6.  Who is the novel's protagonist? Antagonist? "Hero"?

Write a thematic statement that relays an idea that Shelley is trying to express in her novel and briefly explain how this theme is developed.

OK, this may be a little challenging, but you need to practice crafting thematic statements because most of your writing in class will revolve around major themes in a work.  Your thematic statement should be one complete, preferably complex, sentence.  Theme should be stated as a universal idea, so your sentence will not contain specific character names or references to the plot of the novel.  The idea is to relay what universal statement about the human condition Shelley is trying to convey through this novel. Do NOT go to Sparknotes for help with this.  They tend to state theme as a subject rather than a complex idea. 

Think about this:  What subjects are explored in the text?  Brainstorm a list of 3 or 4.  OK, now, in a sentence, explain what Shelley is trying to say about this idea.  You wouldn't say that LOVE is a theme.  That is a subject.  What about love is the author trying to say?  Love comes in many forms and has the potential to change the way one views the world.  Or Love is a dangerous emotion and if left unchecked and unbalanced, can drive a person mad. Or True love can only be shared with another when an individual completely knows and loves herself (remember Their Eyes Were Watching God?)  Enough examples; you get the idea. Just give me a thematic statement for Frankenstein and then in a few sentences, explain why you think this theme is developed in the book.   Let me know if you have any questions.

A week off!

So you don't have another post due until the 10th.  Enjoy the break, but I will warn you that Frankenstein is more dense and more difficult to read than Foster, so I would suggest trying to at least read a little this week.  I'll go ahead and let you know how I would like you to respond to the first set of chapters. (1-14)
Task #1)  Comment on one of the following:
    A) Characterization - Choose a character and discuss how he/she is developed in the text.  Use textual support.
    B)  Setting - Describe and analyze setting.  How does the time and place of the novel affect the conflicts, the characters, the plot, the symbolism?
Task #2)  Comment on one of the following:
    C)  Romanticism - Look up the notion of British Romanticism, describe it, and discuss what elements of Romanticism you see developed in the first few chapters
    D)  Structure - How is this novel written and organized?  Why is the structure important to what's happening?  How does this type of structure affect the reader?
Task #3)  Apply one of Foster's ideas to what you have read so far.  Specifiy the idea you are using, describe how it's developed, and explain its significance to theme.

As always, please email me with any questions on how to proceed with the tasks above.  Happy Independence Day!  Be safe!

How to Read Literature Like a Professor Chapters 18-26

Ok - this is our last set of chapters from Foster.  I still want you to focus on the ideas in two chapters and apply these to works you've read, but here's your challenge: Choose one of the ideas in a text you've already discussed and analyze how an idea in this last set of chapters also applies to that example. For instance, if you talked about the journey or quest chapter, use the same example you applied to that chapter and take it a step further by applying the ideas in the "Geography Matters" chapter (19). Where did the journey take the protagonist and why are those specific locations significant according to Foster? Some of you have already discussed rivers and bodies of water; how can you connect those examples to the chapter on baptism (18)? I hope you understand what I'm asking. I still want you to comment on two new ideas, but for at least one of them, apply the idea to an example you've already used. Please let me know if you have any questions. Remember you can always email me at williamsholly@hotmail.com if you don't feel comfortable asking questions on the public blog.

How to Read Literature - Chs. 11-15

For this week I've asked that you read chapters 11-15. Please generate your responses in a similar fashion to those of last week. Choose at least two ideas to connect to prior reading. You seem to have a good handle on not just identifying the technique, but also analyzing WHY that particular technique is used and what effect it creates. Keep up the good work with this! Try to vary your examples a bit more, although I understand that your repertoire of reading may be somewhat limited. Just do the best you can. This week I would also like for you to comment on what someone else has posted before you. It could be something someone posted last week or what someone has posted this week. Try to expand on an idea or challenge an idea; don’t just agree or disagree. Let’s start a productive dialogue. I have enjoyed the posts so far. You all seem to be on the right track, so keep it up.

How to Read Literature Like a Professor Chapters 1-10

As you are reading this text, you may have the tendency to sometimes think, "Well, duh!" I mean, some of this is common sense and some symbolic elements like the seasons are so archetypal that they are almost ingrained in our intellects. However, for the purpose of AP literature, these are all ideas of which you need to be carefully aware as you read. For the first week of posts, I would like for you to choose at least two different chapters and apply the ideas presented in those chapters to works you have previously read. On the AP exam when you discuss works, they must be works of literary merit, typically the classics that you've been reading throughout high school in your English courses. For this discussion, however, you can extend your discussion to works of popular fiction; for instance, I imagine some of you will connect the chapter on vampires with ideas in the Twilight series, and that's ok. My focus here is to get you thinking about the ideas in Foster's book and to stretch your analytical skills without overloading your brain too much (it is summer, after all). Hopefully this book will live up to its subtitle and you will find it "lively" and "entertaining." I look forward to reading your responses. They should be posted by June 12th.

A couple of reminders:
1) I'm looking for careful thought in terms of the ideas I ask you to consider. Remember that although this blog is set up to encourage a dialogue, you are being graded, so the focus and language should remain academic.

2) In addition to addressing the ideas I've posted, you may also find it beneficial to read others' posts and comment on what your classmates have said, but I'm looking for extensions or rebuttals of others' comments, not a simple "agree" or "disagree."

3) The inevitable question..."How long does this have to be?" Well, I tend to be long-winded because I love to talk about literature, but let's just say that your post should take between 20-30 minutes to compose each week - kind of like an abbreviated essay, but not so tight in terms of form or structure. I want to see that you have been engaged in the reading and that you are making sense out of what you have read, and I obviously want to see evidence that you are making connections with things you've read before.

Please feel free to ask questions of me within the blog, or if you'd rather do so privately, email me at williamsholly@hotmail.com. I look forward to "talking" with you all this summer.

Welcome AP Literature Students!

Following is the schedule for our discussions:

June 6-12: Chapters 1-10 of How to Read Literature
June 13-19: Chapters 11-15 of How to Read Literature
June 20-26: Chapters 18-27 of How to Read Literature

July 4-10: Chapters 1-14 of Frankenstein
July 11-17: Chapters 15-24 of Frankenstein

July 18-24: Chapters 1-10 of Kite Runner
July 25-July 31: Chapters 11-19 of Kite Runner
August 1-7: Chapters 20-25 of Kite Runner