A Doll's House Study Guide
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0NXbEN0LoxHSmhLdzM5S3ZRR1dhRU1oSGRzaE5Idw
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Example of a Well-Written Thesis and Outline
Example Topic:
Choose one or more aspects of Charlotte Bronte's life and discuss how she
transferred these facts into fiction in Jane Eyre.
Outline
I.
Example
Thesis Statement: Many aspects and
experiences of Charlotte Bronte's life can be seen in Jane Eyre's life.
A. Background of Victorian England
1. Views on child rearing
2. Roles for women
II.
Charlotte
Bronte's Early Life
A. Daughters of the Clergy School at
Cowan Bridge
1. Harsh Treatment
2. Death of sisters Maria and Elizabeth
B. Lowood School
1. Harsh treatment
2. Death of Helen Burns
III.
Education
A. Charlotte’s work as a teacher and
governess
Jane Eyre Essay Prompts
1. A Bildungroman is a novel that traces a character's development from a childhood to adulthood. Explain how Jane Eyre is a clear example of a Bildungsroman.
2. Consider how Bronte employs the themes of sanity and madness, sight and blindness, or fire and ice throughout the novel.
3.Compare and contrasts the religious characters that Bronte includes in the novel. Mr. Brocklehurst, Helen Burns, and St. John Rivers.
4. Jane searches for autonomy throughout the novel. How is this important for her character, the novel, and for Bronte's Victorian readers?
5. Discuss how Bronte weaves elements of the supernatural throughout the novel, especially within Rochester and Jane's relationship.
6. Bronte toys with the motifs of equality and social status throughout the novel. Analyze incidents in the novel where equality and social status are imperative.
7. Romantic literature includes human passion, belief in the supernatural, and individuality. Another philosophy altogether, the Transcendentalists found God within themselves and in nature and strived to be self-reliant. Trace the philosophy of Romanticism or Transcendentalism in the novel.
8. Discuss the role of each of the female influences in Jane's life: Mrs. Reed, Bessie, Helen Burns, Miss Temple, and Diana and Mary Rivers.
9. List and explain at least five instances in which Bronte foreshadows the revelation of Rochester's first marriage to Bertha Mason.
10. Explain how Bronte makes character appearances important to the structure of the novel to the novel as a whole. Consider the absence and reappearance of these characters: Helen Burns, Bessie Leaven, Mrs. Reed, Edward Rochester, and St. John Rivers.
11. Explain the importance of the five places Jane lives (Gateshead Hall, Lowood Institution, Thornfield, Moor House/Marsh End, and Ferndean), the significance of each place name, and how each place name represents the quality of Jane's life at each home.
12. Discuss Bronte's ideas regarding Colonialism and the introduction of the foreigners into the novel, such as Celine and Adele Varens and Richard and Bertha Mason.
13. For much of the novel, Jane Eyre holds an ambiguous role in society--not fitting in a specific social class. Discuss at least two instances where this is pertinent to Jane's development as a character.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Simmering night's moon that floats in streams or
clouds that darkened howls reflect reflections of spheres a star's
throw away
veiled reality is
unseen like absinthe lights that aurora-borealis the morning of my life, gone
dark, set and night
and to awaken the
day's duty--to prayer, to posture, to prostrated pose, spinning
dizzy of movement,
whose strength of rebellion plans the coming of my perfection
a violin's breath
across the chaos of my mother's death, my
how I am a
homeless and a vagabond with no father to have taught me
I blame him, I
the initiate come begging borderless, mouthing ecstatic scions of
woe, of wonder witless—“I am asking permission. I am seeking submission. I am
aiming at all the father and mother I’m missing.” I hacked cough out the
meaningful failure, and about in the dead air of childhood, from memories and
scarred mementos that wreak heaven’s havoc.
I ate yesterday, eaten it well this, a cold raw plate, and I will vomit
it the next. He is infinite foul that married me to this rest so that I may
sleep never, nighted and upset.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Existentialism Intro
As we discussed in class, here are some Existentialist ideas. Choose one or two or more and tell me what you think. Do you agree? Disagree? Why? You needn't worry about "arguing" or analyzing. This is about telling me what you feel, what's applicable to you, in your own life. Post your thoughts.
1. Existence is absurd and true meaning in life is impossible.
2. Day to day existence is filled with anxiety and fear.
3. I can only obtain true meaning in life after I have reached a state of
nothingness.
4. Whether or not God exists is irrelevant because of free will.
5. Political philosophies, religious dogma, societal beliefs are irrelevant
to me and do not define me.
6. The idea that I am born into a particular time, place, family, and
economic environment is absurd.
7. My most authentic moment in life is death.
8. When I am born, I am undefined without any prior essence or
preconceived personality or soul.
9. Ultimately, I am alone in this world, alienated from everything that
attempts to define me.
10. In life, I must make choices regardless of what’s best for others. I can
only choose what’s best for me.
1. Existence is absurd and true meaning in life is impossible.
2. Day to day existence is filled with anxiety and fear.
3. I can only obtain true meaning in life after I have reached a state of
nothingness.
4. Whether or not God exists is irrelevant because of free will.
5. Political philosophies, religious dogma, societal beliefs are irrelevant
to me and do not define me.
6. The idea that I am born into a particular time, place, family, and
economic environment is absurd.
7. My most authentic moment in life is death.
8. When I am born, I am undefined without any prior essence or
preconceived personality or soul.
9. Ultimately, I am alone in this world, alienated from everything that
attempts to define me.
10. In life, I must make choices regardless of what’s best for others. I can
only choose what’s best for me.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Sonnet Writing Assignment
Directions: Using any one (1) of Shakespeare's sonnets that we've read: Sonnet 130, 126, 29, 116, 18 or any of your choosing, write a one-page (250 word max) essay, using textual references when necessary, that formulates a thesis which argues the merits of the literary devices found in the poem. Describe and define in detail the ways in which the literary devices function in the poem. Do NOT define what, say, alliteration is. Tell me how and why it is used in the poem.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Book Conferences and Presentation Dates
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November 14th
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November 15th
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November 16th
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November 17th
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November 18th
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0 pd—Steph (BC)
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0 pd.--Cathy (BC)
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0 pd. –Karl (BC)
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2nd Pd—Jess (BC)
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2nd Pd. –Ko Lung (BC)
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5th Pd.—David (BC)
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5th Pd. Anthony (BC)
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5th Pd. –Klara (BC)
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10th Pd. –Rich (BC)
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10th Pd. –Zach (BC)
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10th Pd. Daniel (BC)
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10th Pd. –Fatima (BC)
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4th Pd. Cathy & Steph (P)
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4th and 5th
Pd. David (P)
Ko Lung(P), Rich (P), Klara (P)
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4th Pd. Zach (P) & Anthony (P)
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4th Pd. (Jess (P) & Daniel (P)
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November 21st
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4th Pd. –Karl (P) & Fatima (P)
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Monday, October 24, 2011
Writing Prompt 1
Directions:
Create a prewriting worksheet that seeks to brainstorm as many ideas about the following prompt. Then draft an essay that addresses each of the ideas. Be careful that you create an introduction that is a result of the body paragraphs you've written. If you're brave, write a conclusion that is an extension of what you've established.
Create a prewriting worksheet that seeks to brainstorm as many ideas about the following prompt. Then draft an essay that addresses each of the ideas. Be careful that you create an introduction that is a result of the body paragraphs you've written. If you're brave, write a conclusion that is an extension of what you've established.
1980. A recurring theme in literature is the classic war
between a passion and responsibility. For instance, a personal cause, a love, a
desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion
or drive may conflict with moral duty. Choose a literary work in which a
character confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his or
her responsibilities. In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the
conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
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