Thousand Splendid Suns: Sections 1 & 2 (discussion questions)

Nana treats Mariam the way she does because Mariam is the manifestation of all of Nana's mistakes and the reason she was deprived of her lifestyle. She is resentful and harsh towards Mariam possibly to prepare her for the harsh world she will encounter, and be forced to deal with like she did.

Nana gives many warnings to Mariam including men always accuse women, women must learn to endure and women "like" to suffer.

Like compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman.


Only one skill. And it's this: tahamul. Endure.


As a reminder of how women like us suffer, she'd said. How quietly we endure all that falls upon us.


These quotes relate to Mariam's marriage to Rasheed because she quietly endures the suffering and pain of her marriage and all that Rasheed is constantly wrongly accusing her of.

Jalil's relationship with Mariam seems very fake and forced. Although one must take into consideration how easily he could've abandoned her altogether, it shows he's at least making some sort of effort. (so he must've loved her). It also shows his cowardice, by sacrificing her well-being for his reputation.

The writer connects Jalil and Rasheed by Mariam's want for a stronger relationship with both the men but they never reciprocate the relationship. Both men also care strongly about people's opinions of them and their societal obligations.

Mariam, Fariba and Laila are all connected by Mariam and Fariba can communicate in Mariam's relationship and Fariba is the only person Mariam really talks to outside of her home.

Mariam and Laila and their family relationships.
Mariam - bastard child, father barely pays her any attention and mother is harsh
Laila - father adores her and she is his everything

Nana says, "What's the sense in schooling a girl like you? This is only one, only on skill a woman like you and me needs in life, and they don't teach it in school... Only one sill. And it's this: tahamul. Endurance."


Nana must endure: social ridicule, silence and isolation making her crazy, single parent and outcast raising a child, daughter doesn't find faults in Jalil (no healing because he's constantly present)
Mariam must endure: Rasheed's physical and verbal abuse, not being able to have a child, tensions with Mom over Jalil, harsh treatment from Nana, rejection from Mom, Jalil and Rasheed!
Laila must insure: Tariq leaving her, her parents dying, having Tariq's child without him, having Rasheed's child, thinking she's lost everyone that's important in her life

Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

Characters: Laila, Hakin (Babi of Laila), Fariba (Mom of Laila), Tariq (Laila's BF), Hasina and Giti (Lailas childhood friends), Rasheed (Laila's husband), Mariam (Rasheed's first wife)

One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roods, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls
- can't see the natural beauty (and the hidden beauty) of Kabul behind all of the terrible things occurring that are trampling over it
- so much to offer
- Hakin is sad to leave his motherland when the hidden beauties provide a glimmer of hope

Laila's wedding dreams were completely normal because if she had married Tariq she would have been able to fulfill those dreams.

Themes for Chapters 21-30
- Shame
- Hope vs. Hopelessness (& hope in children)
- Loss - home, country, Tariq, parents, freedom etc.

Buddha trip represents Hakin's aspirations for a better future, the importance of education and goals to have for a young Afghani woman.

Mariam is mad that Rasheed is to marry Laila after she is recovered from the rubble because after dealing with Rasheed she is now being replaced by something younger and prettier. She also has issues with abandonment and that is what Rasheed is doing to her now. BUt this is also the time where she finally stands up for herself.

Laila won't run away and marry Tariq because it would break her father's heart because she is the only thing that he has left.

Burqa Imagery - protection, allows them to do their own thing without anyone knowing or judging them
SAFE SPACE

Kite Runner

How does the filmmaker “frame” the story? What words, images, events appear in the beginning and at the end?

The filmmaker uses the images of kite flying to frame the story in both the beginning and the end. In the beginning, he shows the kites majestically flying over the beautiful landscape of Afghanistan, where people are happily cheering each other on and participating in this fun activity. By the end of the story, viewers have seen the destruction of Afghanistan so the author uses the American landscape to summarize the kite flying of the movie, showing a greater opportunity.

Why include the terrible rape of a child? Is rape used in metaphorical sense in the film as well?

The terrible rape was an important element to include in the movie because it shows the extreme levels of loyalty that Hassan has towards Amir, that he would do anything for him. It also draws upon Assef’s insecurities and Amir’s cowardice. This scene is important to include because it sets up the viewers emotions towards Amir and Hassan’s relationship and helps to put in perspective the extreme levels Hassan is willing to go to in order to remain a good friend to Amir.

Compare/Contrast Amir and Hassan. What is Amir’s problem? What are Hassan’s strengths? Are they friends?

Amir and Hassan’s relationship is a very interesting story line throughout the film. As it is later revealed, the two boys are brothers, bore from the same father. But throughout their childhood, Hassan remains Amir’s servant, constantly defending Amir whom is his best friend. After being told the two are brothers, it makes sense the types of affection Baba gives Hassan. Being the gentler of the two, Amir has problems with standing up for himself and speaking his mind. On the other hand, Hassan is quick to speak his mind and defend himself and Amir. Hassan is also a very good kite runner, who doesn’t even need to watch the skies. They seem to be friends but Amir’s cowardice towards the terrible rape he is aware of leads him to tear their friendship apart which is not later restored until their adult lives, after Hassan has been killed.

What are Assef’s issues? Did you expect him to return at the end of the film?

Assef has serious self-image issues. He is a bully as a child and continues to be one as an adult. Since he is so uncomfortable with himself, he finds the need to make others feel lesser of them to boost his self-moral. I did not expect him to return at the end of the film, and honestly hoped he would not after seeing the terrible things he did to Hassan. But I was glad that in the end he got what he deserved when Sohrab shot him with the slingshot.

What do you make of the relationship between Baba and Amir? Rahim Khan and Amir?

At first, I could not figure out why Baba seemed to hate Amir so much. It seemed he was always putting him down and choosing to acknowledge Hassan. Once it became known that Hassan was also his son, the thought crossed my mind that he wished he had chosen Hassan as his son instead of Amir. As the story went on, it seemed that Baba only wanted to show off Amir in his childhood when he had an event or some sort of contest that he could show off about. But when the Soviets invade Afghanistan, it becomes apparent that Baba really does care about Amir.

Rahim Khan, Baba’s business partner, is Amir’s greatest supporter throughout the movie. In his childhood, Amir looks to Rahim Khan for encouragement with his stories and even as an adult, Rahim Khan is extremely supportive of Amir and is writing unlike his father. I think that at least as a child, Amir looks to Rahim Khan as a father figure.

According to Baba, there is only one sin. What is it? What is ironic about this?

The one and only sin, according to Baba, is theft. He claims that even when you kill someone, you are stealing his or her life. This is ironic because in the beginning of the film, Amir claims that his father (baba) hates him because he killed his mother so it’s ironic that he tells Amir, his son, that this is the greatest sin.

What do Amir and Soraya have in common?

Amir and Soraya both have very controlling and traditional fathers who only want what is best for them and the appearance of their families. They also both hold secrets that would shame their families. Soraya ran off with an Afghan when she was younger until her father separated them and Amir witnessed the rape of his best friend and did not do anything about it.

List the steps in Amir’s redemption. What does he do to “be good again”?

Amir’s redemption begins when he comes to America and realizes the struggles of not being wealthy, just as Hassan was. He attends community college while his father works at a gas station and sells small goods on the side for money. Both his father and Soraya’s father constantly put him down when it comes to his writing. At the end, when he is beaten up by Assef, that is the final step of his redemption, where he must take the pain he should’ve gotten had he stood up for Hassan in their childhood. By taking in Hassan’s son, he is finally forgiven, doing a great deed for his best friend, who would have done anything for him.

What is the point of the scene with Amir, Assef, and Sohrab toward the end of the film?

The scene at the end of the film with Amir, Assef and Sohrab was a very critical point in the movie in my opinion. In this scene, Amir has come to retrieve Sohrab, Hassan’s son, in order to take him to America to have better opportunities. He goes to a house in order to talk to the head of the Taliban but instead another man is there who turns out to be Assef (!!). When Sohrab is brought into the room, Assef begins to beat up Amir claiming he must pay a price if he wants to take him. After Amir has been brutally beaten, Sohrab grabs a sling shot, similar to those his father had used to protect Amir in their childhood. He shoots the object at Assef, blinding him, and giving them the opportunity to flee. This shows the great loyalty between Hassan (and his child) to Amir.

How do the following function symbolically?

Kite Flying – Kite flying was a huge symbol throughout the movie. I found it interesting that to be a good kite flyer, it was necessary to cut others down, slightly aggressive aspect of the sport. Kite flying also symbolized a happy and healthy community. After the Taliban took over Kabul, there were no more kites flying making the town look dead and empty.

Fighting – There were many things worth fighting for throughout the movie, including Hassan and Amir’s friendship and Sohrab’s safety from the Taliban and Afghanistan.

Running – Running was prevalent when the Soviets invaded and when kite running.

Sohrab’s Name – The name of the martyr in Hassan’s favorite story that was read to him by Amir.

Pomegranates – Pomegranates were significant when Amir was trying to destroy the relationship between him and Hassan. He threw several pomegranates at Hassan hoping that he would hit him back; to help his guilt go away from witnessing the rape, but instead Hassan smashed a pomegranate on himself.

Pomegranate Trees – The pomegranate trees were where Hassan and Amir read stories and carved their names as the great men of Kabul. These trees were very significant in their childhood friendship.

Lahiri's "The Namesake"

Compare/contrast Gogol’s “The Overcoat” with Lahiri’s The Namesake. How is a name like an overcoat?

            Gogol’s “The Overcoat” runs parallel to Lahiri’s The Namesake. In both pieces, the main characters hide behind something. In The Namesake, Nikil/Gogol hides behind his name, as a sort of security blanket, something he can blame his shortcomings on. In “The Overcoat”, Akakiy uses his new material possession to hide behind in social situations. This coat gives him the confidence and social standing he needs to fit in with his peers, as Gogol’s name change seems to do for him. Similarly, the coat and the name both act security blankets, helping the characters be something they are or aren’t on a day-to-day basis.

Trace Gogol/Nikil’s struggle with his name and his identity. Do you think he ever makes peace with his name?

In his early childhood, Gogol did not understand the background behind his name or the fact that it was not a proper Indian name, leading him to declare it as his “good” name for school. Upon this declaration, Gogol became his official name and continued to play a role in his life. It set him apart from his peers, giving them reasons to poke fun at him and create funny nicknames. When studying Nikolai Gogol, he is dragged deeper into the jeering of fellow students. Upon learning several discouraging aspects of Nikolai Gogol’s background, he is upset his parents would name him after such a volatile, unpopular and odd man.

            He eventually decides that the only way to put an end to this miserable name is to change it, to his parents’ original choice of a good name, Nikil. But even after he legally changes his name, the nickname Gogol is still with him, for it is all his family and friends know him as. Over time, he surrounds himself with new people throughout college and graduate school but on rare occasions his parents will accidentally refer to him as his childhood pet name, leading him back into the downwards spiral of the never ending story of Gogol.

            Soon before the death of his father, the one who loved [Nikolai] Gogol’s work the most, he comes to terms with the importance of his name. For it was this author who saved Ashoke’s mangled and buried body from being forgotten and passed in the wreckage of the train he had been riding in Calcutta. These pages had been the pages that saved his life. Gogol finally comes to terms with the great emotion behind his name and importance it played in his father’s life.

Consider the blossoming of Ashima in the course of the novel. In what ways does she grow and develop?

            At the very beginning of the novel, Ashima is a traditional Bengali woman, set in her beliefs and hesitant to move to America, a place where she does not know a soul. She continues to cringe at American behaviors and customs, sticking to her Indian cuisines and attire. As her children begin to grow up, she notices their American tendencies, talking back, asking for American food and even declaring their own name, as Gogol did as a four-year-old. As Sonia and Gogol reach their teenage years, the differences are even more pronounced, forcing Ashima to hold her tongue when it comes to their behaviors.

            Once the two are old enough to date, she slowly becomes accustomed to their relationships with non-Bengalis. Although hesitant to accept Gogol’s first American girlfriend Maxine, Ashima eventually begins to accept the fact that her children were born and raised in this country and they are very likely to follow these traditions. By the very end of the novel, Ashima is independent and ready to travel and live on her own, experiencing life in the ways she wants to.

Discuss Gogol/Nikil’s relationships with women. What do the relationships have in common? Why does each break down at some point?

            When it comes to women, Gogol seems to be too trusting and naïve. Since as an adolescent he had little to no luck even approaching girls because of his name, it seems he now is just shocked that women even want to give him the time of day. With Maxine, he nearly drops everything in his life in order to form his life around hers. He basically moves in with her and her parents, taking up their hobbies and meshing into their family rather quickly. Until he realizes how many extreme differences the two of them have, Gogol is in a blissful and unaware state. Similarly, in his marriage to Moushumi, he forgets all he has learned from his previous relationship and falls madly in love with this obviously unhappy woman. Because of Gogol’s naivety, he falls into the same situation for a second time. As Gogol continues in this pattern, his relationships continue to fall apart.

Many episodes in the novel occur on the train. What is the significance of this?

The train scene Ashoke experiences early on his life, remains an important and significant event throughout his life and the lives of his family members. Since he chooses to name his son after the author whom he acknowledges for his survival, simply seeing the name Gogol brings back the memories of the incident on the train. Since this one event carries so much significance, every scene on the train has a somewhat tense feeling of importance. In my opinion, the images and events that take place on the train after the train crash allow the reader/watcher to compare the severity and importance of each of the events in comparison to the crash. These scenes keep the reader thinking about trains and the significance of Gogol’s name.

In an interview with the author, Lahiri said she wanted India to function as a ghost in the background of the story. Does India function as a ghost or as something else?

Throughout the novel, the idea of India and the Ganguli’s family visits there, seem to function as more of a hassle then a positive influence upon the family. The children dread the trips and are forced to put their lives on hold in order to travel there. The way India haunts Gogol in the back of his mind, as something from his past but not necessarily involving his present, makes it seem like a ghost of sorts. He never really makes a true connection to the place his family is from, seeing it has somewhat of an obligation forced upon him by his parents. In that sense, India acts as a ghost to this new generation of Bengalis.





DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This story is about both Gogol and Ashima. It serves as Gogol's identity plot because the questions his identity throughout the story and is a minority int he greater society, both as an Indian in America and an Americanized Indian in India. Ashima is also trying to find herself throughout the story.
Contrasts between Bengali and American customs.
- the way they dress
-food and celebrations - wedding and funeral rituals
-rule about public affection - no touching or "i love you"
- names - pet names and good names - plus Ashima never uses Ashokes name
Central Events
Ch.1 - Ashoke's train accident
ch. 2 - googol's birth and naming
ch 3 - gogol makes his pet name his good name
Emerging Themes
1. identity
2. importance of traditions/names
3. transitions
Ashoke waits so long to tell Gogol about the origin of his name because it's a terrifying story and ashore wanted to wait until gogol was ready to hear and appreciate the truth. Plus, ashore may not have been ready to share such a personal and scarring story.
The end of the Namesake Moushimi's infidelity was SHOCKING because of the hight standards associated with the rituals of marriage.
Cross-cultural rituals and around death and dying Brings the family closer together but causes problems with oust side relationship because gogol hasn't let others in on the intense relationship between him and his family. hadn't let marine in on it plus ritual sso she couldn't really bethere for him. *Bengali traditions seems to comfort him

***Used Nikhil "Nick" to Americanize himself
Harder for the immigrant of the children of the immigrant? Immigrant because they not only struggle with the new culture but have a hard time dealing with the appeal of the American culture upon their children.

Gogol's "The Overcoat"

Summary
Omniscient Narration - all-knowing, God-like narration
Akakiy Bashmatchkin
   - copier for unnamed department
   - poverty stricken
   - quiet and reserved -> people treated him poorly
The Cloak
   - reflects Akakiy's social standing
   - tattered and mocked by officials
Petrovich
   - one-eyed tailor
   - heavy drinker -> discounted tailoring (unless his possibly abusive wife had anything to do with it)
The Party
  - wears new cloak (warmth and beauty) - begins to be treated completely differently
  - uncomfortable (social status)
  - robbed after leaving
Northern Cold (weather parallels the atmosphere)
   - tries to report his stolen coat but the police don't believe he would even have a nice cloak
   - forced to wear his old cloak
   - gets sick and dies (hallucinates - the cloak)
The Ghost on Kalinkin Bridge
   - Prominent personage was the only one who cared about Akakiy's absence
   - image = revenge on the man from his department for his lack of action (defending him)

Theories
- Fantastic Ending - magical and ghostly
- Poetic Justice - trying to fight for himself on the social scale
- Reabsorbed into literary free play after his foolhardy excursion into the material world
   - he was treated differently based on his material possessions and the second he lost them he was back
     to being treated the same as before
- Mere convention keeps us from reality
- Questions kind of justice and why the ghost removes the cloaks of random victims
    - both struggle for everyone to be equal!!
- Conventions are at odds with freedom and humanity (Petrovich)

- It is a tale both simple and philosophical; thought with a difference. The story has, in Gogol's words, a fantastic ending and one of spectral retribution and redemption.
- Revenge
- Literary life to "little man"

Discussion Questions
The settings changed as Akakiy made his way to the party (paralleling the social statuses of society) when clear differences were noticed as you enter the wealthier society.
- Lighted, safe, store front shopping -> outgoing and populated
- Compared to the dark neighborhoods where A. is from
The climax of the story could be when A. finally gets his new coat because everything goes downhill afterwards (and beforehand it builds up to that moment).
The symbolism behind the cloak is social status, accomplishment and happiness. Since A. put so much work into coming up with the money and sacrificing things in order to get it, he places much value upon it since he earned it himself.
Themes
- Power vs. Powerlessness - gain power through the cloak (money=power) but once he loses it, those in power view him as low class and powerless
   - powerless - he didn't even want the coat in the first place but someone he got swindled into still getting
                        one

Motorcycle Diaries

Background
- Diary of "Che" Guevara
- Che was well read - esp. when it came to politically charged pieces
- visited Machu Pichu - important time of reflection for him
- Embraced communism alongside Fidel Castro
- "an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom"

Characters
Alberto - pilot (Mial)
Ernesto Guevara de la Serna - co-pilot (Fuser)
    - medical student, heavy asthma
    - Wants to help everyone they come across
    - always honest even if it's not what people want to hear
"The Mighty One" - their motorcycle
Chichina - Fuser's girlfriend who later leaves him
    - her parents don't approve but they "love" each other
    - gives Fuser $15 to buy her a swimsuit in the US (he later gives it to the poor communist couple)
Don Nestor - guide in Peru
Dr. Hugo Pesce - leper specialized doctor in Lima who writes a novel

Journey
- Wanted to finish the entire trip before Alberto turns 30
- Seeing all of the lower class people and hearing their stories
- Sees the injustice and separation in society
- Amazon river divides the healthy society from the ill (Leper Colony)

You gotta fight for every breath and you have to tell death to go to hell
- Guevara speaking to Silvia (leper) comparing his asthma to her condition
- She says you're wasting your time because life is pain
- He claims you must fight for everything you get (and appreciate it) - Bildungsroman

Ernesto's Birthday
- Get a raft to continue their travels
- Grateful for the hospitality they received in Peru
- Spokesmen for the division of the countries, now that they have experienced it first hand they want a United America
** Swims across the Amazon to celebrate his 22nd birthday on the "other" side with the Leper Colony

Guevara's Story as a Bildungsroman 
Throughout their journey, Che experiences things he never would have experienced as a med student in Argentina. He sees the injustice and inequalities across South America and gets to experience first hand what is going on around him. He hears personal stories and has faces to put to these injustices. By seeing and experiencing these new situations, he is forced to make a choice between keeping to himself or using his skills to help those he sees in need. Through these experiences, he obtains many new ideas and emotions towards those who are lesser then him.

Guevara's impact as a revolutionary vs. a med student
Although Che was obviously very experienced and talented when it came to his medical practices, the types of injustices that he experienced and fought for were much more important. By experiencing first hand what was occurring around him, he was able to come up with a revolutionary movement he knew first hand was needed and necessary to those he had met and become close with.

Marquez's "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

Marquez refers to the visitor as a "very old man with enormous wings" because it create a more real image of the man instead of a magical or mystical angel. This helps the reader view the angel as a little less angelic and more of a real human.
Different people's reactions reflect human nature as narrow-minded and untrusting. Since they cannot communicate it creates a barrier. They take the benefit that he allows them (money) but give him nothing in return.
Spidergirl caused the people to stop paying attention to the man with enormous wings because she has an explanation and intriguing story. This is also an example of a new shiny thing that the people can play and interact with. (similar to a zoo, things that move around catch the eye of the audience, while sleeping animals are boring and cause people to continue walking)
- She also tells a different story then the truth.
Truth: snuck out of her house and her parents turned her into a spider as a punishment
Story: She tells people that lightning struck her from the heavens, "god thing" gets peoples attention.
Elisenda was glad to have the man fly away finally because he was a constant agitator in her life.
Elisenda and Pelayo didn't end up sending the man out to sea because they ended up turning him into a sort of prophet and profit.
Father Gonzaga is hesitant about the old man, not sure if he believes him to be an angel.
The old neighbor woman claims the angel has come to "take" the sick child, therefore they should kill him.
The couple didn't really ever have compassion for the man because they were mean and locked him in a chicken coop.

Themes
- Different/Unique from Society - you are picked on
- Human Nature and Initial Reactions/Judgements
- People's tendencies to obsess over something until it's boring and leave it to move on to something new

Symbolism of the Wings = Freedom
- As an angel, freeing the town of their problems
- Freeing him from the chicken coop when he eventually flies away

Silko's "Yellow woman"

It is easy for the narrator to be away from her family because she constantly struggles between reality and her fantasized experience. There is a constant need for the story to justify her running off and cheating on her husband, and using the importance of this spiritual story to justify her actions.
The narrator continually brings up her Grandfather because he always told her the story of the Yellow Woman and she feels that he was the one that would always take care of her, unlike her family who is still there with her.
The narrator continues to obey Silba because it is part of her fantasy.
The narrator tells her family she was kidnapped because she is so sucked up in her alternate fantasy of reality.

Themes
Desire - to be something more

More Terms

Bildungsroman is a coming of age novel that arose during the German Enlightenment
    - author presents psychological, moral and social shaping of the character's personality (usually the
      protagonist)
Identity Plot is when the protagonist comes to learn who they are - their identity
Elements of Identity Plot
1. Narrative revolves around the question of hot to define and understand a character's identity
2. Character must be a minority within a larger society
3. Character is at odds with the minority group that he/she is apart of
4. Character needs to be conflicted about his difference from the majority and about his difference from the minority
5. Authenticity and origin are always at stake in a character's quest for personal identity. Even when these are absent, their absence alone signifies something crucial to the character's identity.
Variations
1. Character may seem to be a member of the majority group
2. Character is not conflicted about membership to a minority group (will or won't betray the group)
3. Characters resist having an identity that is stable
4. May be multiple people whose identities are at stake
5. Variations of fiction based on fact
6. Identity is not based on race of ethnicity
      - personal differences

Things Fall Apart - Part 3

Struggle between Change and Tradition
Mr. Brown
  - Makes a lot of mistakes due to lack of cultural knowledge
  - Tries to understand the Igbos, their religion and traditions
  - Takes time in discussions with the people in order to learn more
Reverend Smith
  - Condemned openly Mr. Brown's policy of compromise and accommodation
  - Saw things as black and white; black being evil
*Brown and Smith are symbols of different kinds of Christian mission

Okonkwo
Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honor to his village by through Amalinze the Cat. BEGINNING

-Starts to fall apart as a person, starting with his seven years in exile
-Starts to lose his personality; lost the future he thought he was going to create for himself


Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women
- when he's back from exile and the tribe has changed

Seven years was a long time to be away from one's clan. A man's place was not always there, waiting for him. As soon as he left, someone else rose and filled it. The clan was like a lizard; if it lost its tail it soon grew another.
- white missionaries took over the authority

Why did O wish Enzima was a boy?
She was strong willed compared to her brothers and understood everything O was thinking and trying to say. They really understood each other.

Why do you think after his exile O had hopes to return to U and gain authority over the people of his tribe?
He assumed upon his return that everything would be the same.

Differences between Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith.
Mr. Brown compromises and understands
- gradual process that helped the clan get used to the idea
- subtle and gradual takeover
Mr. Smith is forceful and sly (not trustworthy) and aggressive
*different leaderships effect U: understanding approach made real followers

Who was more deceptive?
English government will enter the triodes either way. The nice missionaries will distract the tribes and get them used to the idea of Christianity so that when the powerful enforcers come they are already briefed with the idea and don't try and automatically kill them since they already have supporters from within the tribe.

Enoch's crime of unmasking an egwuwu
- Damaged the foundations of their beliefs taking the magic away from their religion
- No one expected it - "in your face" type of action

O didn't say anything to the white men while imprisoned because he has a lot of pride and didn't want to be like his father. Wanted to stay strong as the face of the tribe.

O was so determined to fight the white men back (even alone) because he felt so strongly about their traditions.

O's hanging
- he knew where the tribe was headed under the white missionaries and couldn't live with it
- ultimate sacrifice vs. cop out - big taboo in the Igbo culture
- Couldn't fight alone
- Same bad reputation as his father (what he has been trying to avoid the whole time)

Igbo Downfall caused by their own people! The converts inside the society began to break down the culture and beliefs from the inside! NO longer united -> things fall apart

Things Fall Apart can refer to the tribe and Okonkwo himself.
... They were just a paragraph in the book about the Pacification of Africa

William Butler Yeats "The Second Coming" & TFA Part 2

- Yeat's response to the destruction that he witnessed in the aftermath of WW1
- WW1 = war to end all ways but the aftermath ended up leading into WW2 (gyre)
- Gyre's represented two-thousand year cycles - all endings have a beginning - when one door closes another door opens etc etc

"The blood dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned..."
- Killing of Ikemefuna and his innocent blood being shed (ceremonial killing)
- Naivety of the clan as to what the white men were really up to
- Christianity that spread killed the culture, losing all innocence (not enough knowledge to understand) -> don't fight

"The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart the centre cannot hold...:
- Clansmen=falcon, white men=falconer and the attempted integration

Gyres
- end of culture in Achebe's mind and beginning of the mashed up Christianity and African traditional religions
- images of the past resurface in different contexts

"A shape with lion body and the head of a man' A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun..."
- Colonists view of the Africans (animalistic/unintelligent)
- Lion = powerful and destructive - white men look powerful and human but they really aren't...
- Blank stare - Africans not understanding the consequences

______________________________

Things Fall Apart - Part 2

- Cultural Traditions become an issue upon the arrival o the white men who introduce a "better and safer" religion

- Achebe may have written his story in response to this poem because it reflects the loss of cultural identities and a western perspective may help readers draw a parallel between WW1 and African colonization

- Many parallels between the two - focusing on the negativity of each of the events

Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" PART 1

Background

- Industrial Revolution in Europe

- British Imperialism, balance of power and the view of imperialism as a means of enhancing national prestige

- Scramble for Africa - Europeans race to colonize Africa and obtain their resources

- Movement of Christian missionaries, exploitation and violence.

- Igbo's made decisions including the entire tribe

-Umuofia avoids war with Mbaino by taking a virgin and a young boy as a negotiation

Main Characters
Okonkwo
- very masculine
- support traditions no matter what
- tries very hard to be nothing like his father
- very concerned with what others think of him (narcissistic?) - almost obsession
- Achievements = 5 heads, best yam farmer, 3 wives plus a wife who ran away from her previous husband to be with him
Unoka - Ok.'s dad
Nwoye - Ok.'s oldest son (from his 1st wife)
Ikefuna - Ok.'s adopted son
Ekwefi - Ok.'s 2nd and favorite wife
Ezinma - daughter of Ekwefi
Nwakibie - elder who gives Ok. his 1st yam seeds
- Ok. plants these seeds to early (same time as every one else) and his crops are wiped out by a great rain
- Ok. vows he will only follow his own advice for when to plant
Obierika - Ok.'s best friend, and polar opposite
Uchendu - Ok.'s Uncle
Mr. Brown - British missionary
Rev. Mr. Smith - British missionary
Direct Commissioner - British government official and judge

Discussion

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world...

-William Butler Yeats Poem "The Second Coming"

   -Hints at chaos of systems collapsing

   -"the center cannot hold" = the African tribes cannot stand to the imperialistic Europe

   - Falcon & Falconer - Government sends of the colonizers but does little to control them once they are

     off, not dealing with the consequences of the horror they commit

And at last the locusts did descend. They settled one very tree and on every blade of grass; they settled on the roods and covered the bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country became the brown-earth bicolor of the vast, hungry swarm."

- Arrival and Settling of the colonizers

- Collapse of traditions and culture that won't allow the Igbo tribe to survive

- Animal imagery dehumanizes the tribe to justify the crime!

Perhaps down in hiss heart, Okonkwo was not a cruel man. But his whole life was dominated by fear, the fear of failure and weakness"

- Achebe referring to the struggles of being a black man in this colonized whorld where the white man makes them feel inferior in their own homes

- Stereotyping

- Fighting past images of his lazy father

*Similar to Nobu....

"I cannot understand why you refused to come with us to kill that boy," he asked Obierika. "Because I did not want to," Obierka replied sharply. "I had something better to do." "You sound as if you question the authority and the decision of the Oracle who said he should die."

- Okonkwo is speaking with Obierka about the killing of Ikemefuna that was ordered by the Oracle.

- Whatever the Oracle says, goes

Significane of the tortoise shell story is when things fall apart you can still piece them back together. You must look out for others.

- Similar to Ok.'s father who took from everyone and never felt the need to pay anyone back.

Significance of Ok. killing the son of Ezeudu and Ezeudu's "Warrior Funeral" lead to his banishment from the village for 7 years (instead of forever since it was a female aka unintentional crime)

- Crime against the Earth - highest crime, highest God

Exile limits his leadership because he is not a high authoritative figure in his motherland, his uncle is his superior who knows more than him and therefore has more power. His banishment was also a blow to his status, a sort of degradation, allowing people to not see him as the same mighty leader.

If Ok. hadn't been exiled, how would he have responded to the white missionaries? Ok. is too concerned with the status of the Igbo culture and traditions to allow a white group of men to compromise what they believe in and have followed for so long, he probably would've attempted to start a rebellion.

Week of Peace and the Feast of the New Yam

- Week of Peace shows values of the tribe in regards to the importance of the blessings on their crops

   - peace = prosperity

   - Female God! shows culture's respect for women (Mother Earth?) unlike Okonkwo when he beats his

     wife during this week...

Places

Part 1. Umuofia - Things in Place with Okonkwo as representative of his culture

Part 2. Mbanta - Thing out of place, Okonkwo in exile

Part 3. Umuofia - Things fall apart...

Camus's "The Guest"

Setting
- Algeria, mid-October on the eve of the Algerian war
- Published during the war
- Colonizing Text **
- Characterization - how the characters are marginalized in order to justify takeover

Theories
1. Cultural Differences allow each character to perceive the crime differently
    - different moral codes and honor
    - Daru can't take the man all the way to prison because his own moral compass and he has gotten to
      know the man
    - The Arab has a moral obligation to and chooses the path of punishment to face what he has done
2. Arab never makes the run for freedom
    - Because of Daru's hospitality

Geography "vast landscape" implies isolation from society and specifically people on his level
      - detached and introverted
      - put up on a hill (French side) - elevated level looks down on the Algerian culture
           - has all of the food, knowledge etc.
           - revaluing the white man's role and it's importance
Daru's Moral Conflict
- He's gotten to know the Arab and doesn't want to be responsible for his fate
- Not his right/job to punish him or lead him to his death
    - The Arab must decide what he wants his life to mean
         - Daru doesn't know all the details so he cannot decide such a huge punishment
Message written on the Blackboard

You handed over our brother. You will pay for this.

- The Arab Tribespeople - know the land, snuck in during the night to threaten him

- Threat to Morality - should've taken initiative

**Who's colonizing who??

What is Daru contemplating as he looks out the window?

- His morals, if he made the right decision

- What decision the Arab made

- What might happen to him -> threatened by society

- Upset both sides! didn't take the prisoner there and didn't take him to freedom (indecisive=2 enemies=ALONE)

** GUEST in his own home

No Name Arab

- Emphasize insignificance - not an equal and a criminal no less

- entity of people, not use one person

Themes

Power/Powerlessness

Humanity and Brotherhood

Colonized and the Colonizer

Image of "The Guest"

- The French are the guests in Algeria

- The Arab becomes Daru's guest instead of his prisoner

- In the Arab culture, prisoners are becoming guests (Daru) so they believe prison will treat them the same

"Beastly" way of describing the prisoner's features - unlike European looks
- otherized, animal look that's not like "us"

Ichiyo's "Child's Play"

Background
- Stories about children on the fringe of society
-abnormal amount of education for the time period (westernized education)
Setting Red Light District, outskirts of Tokyo

"The name may sound a little saintly, but those who live in the area will tell you it's a lively place"

Town is full of prostitutes and poverty.

Otori Days - fairs held at various shrines
Tanka Poems japanese poetry that focuses on nature and seasons
Characters
Midori - main girl, pretty young lady lives an extravagant lifestyle
Nobu - priest's son; eventually sent to a seminary, likes Midori but involved with Chokichi

  "Odd, how her one gesture moved him, and yet he could not bring himself to reach out and take the cloth. He stared at it vacantly, and as he looked at it he felt his heart break"

Midori brings Nobu a cloth to fix his broken sandal.

Chokichi - chief's son
Shota - little boy who likes Midori
Omaki - Midori's sister, a prostitute


Themes
1. Coming of Age
"Growing up, she plays among the butterflies and flowers. But she turns sixteen, and all she knows is work and sorrow."
2. Naivety
"What do you mean? That'd be wonderful! Next year I'm going to open a shop, and after I save some money I'll buy her for a night!" -Nobu referring to Midori becoming a prostitute

Ozick's "The Shawl"

Characters: Stella and Rosa, baby Magda

Symbols
1. Magic Shawl
    - kept the baby alive for a time period by hiding her and nourishing her
    -muffled her cries keeping her safe

Themes
1. Motherhood
2. Survival
3. Nurture
4. Betrayal
5. Choices

Borowski's "Ladies and Gentlemen, to the Gas Chamber"

Upon arrival, the news of their death was kept from the people until the last minute because...

- They wanted to keep them under control, and avoid any rebellions or attempts at escape

- They didn't have the heart to tell them what they were about to do to them

- They needed to make sure the people would bring everything of value with them so that after they were killed, the Germans would be able to collect all of their valuables for their own profits

Note: Officers were described as healthy, well fed and clean because of their lack of involvement from all of the "dirty" work involved

Symbols

1. Red Cross Ambulance - carried the gas to the chambers that would in the end kill them; while the Red Cross is a symbol of health, hope and an international organization of taking care of people)

2. Crematorium - "smoke stack"

   - people themselves turned into the smoke/ashes

   - described like hell

   - described in normal terms "oh theres the door"

3. Women

   -represent humanity - the old woman smiles, the young woman embodies beauty and health and the

    crippled lady shows respect to those above her (calling him sir) even though they are doing terrible

    things to her

4. Lice
   -both the people and the lice are both being exterminated using the Cyclone B
   -Lice present an image of how easily the people can all be exterminated like pests to the "greater race"

Themes

Moral Dilemas - main character and his job

Never Ending Cycles - death, trains, lost hope

     "Whoever has once entered here will never again pass the sentry post, not even as a handful of ashes, will never return to his former life."

Note: Politeness in the story is mocked through the title and through the attitudes of the soldiers.

Mansfield's "The Fly"

Themes
1. Loss & Forgetting
2. Suffering Until a Breaking Point - Frailty
     - The Boss - anger and sadness from the death of his son
     - The Son - hardships of war lead to his death
     - The Fly - kept trying to come out of the ink but eventually could no longer
     - Mansfield - written on her death bed, mentality of being taken from life
3. Power vs. Powerlessness - Perception of Power
     - The Boss/The Fly - fly cannot set himself free from the overbearing ink
     - The Boss/Death of his son - emotions are overtaking his everyday life
     - War/Government - losing support of the people, destroying the nation, losing money, losing men to  
       fight
     - War/Son - hardships of war lead to his death
  **Power isn't always so powerful!

Symbols
1. The Boss & The Fly
     - Fly symbolizes the things that lead up to his son's death therefore he wants to destroy it
     - Fly symbolizes the lost generation and the Boss represents the mistaken war
     - The Fly symbolizes the boss struggling with the pressures (ink) associated with his son's death
2. Nameless Characters - all of the deaths in the war that weren't on a personal level; death doesn't have a
    name in war
3. Boss' Inability to Cry
     - Angry and Bitter
     - Lost dream of son running the business, death of son = death of business (his life's work)
4. The "Boss"
     - Decider of all fates but no role in the actions
     - Different power levels, no control at the bottom and all of the control at the top
     - Someone who can't be gotten in trouble
5. Whiskey
     - Windsor Castle - represents the government involvement - home of the Queen
     - Sympathy for the Woodifield?
6. 4 Drop of Ink - 4 years of war that got progressively worse to recover from - lead to the eventual total
    destruction of Europe
7. Woodifield
     - Reminder of what's been lost - bringing up the losses to the boss
     - Reflects society's insensitivity towards the deaths that resulted from the war
8. Death
     - Death touches everyone during war time in different ways

"For the life of him, he could not remember" - Final Sentence
     - No life left within the boss to remember the life of his son
     - Loss of memory = refusal to admit the mistake
         - Gov. doesn't acknowledge that the war was a mistake
     - Represents the war and the numbness everyone felt towards it
     - Boss forgets thought = Europe forgets why they're fighting the war

Effect of War on Literature of the time period
Connected people because people no longer wanted to talk about such a depressing topic so it brought them all together on their common emotions and experiences without individuals having to talk about their  personal feeling (too vulnerable)

Compare and Contrast Woodifield and The Boss.

James Joyce's "The Dead"

In response to the question about the occurrence and reference to death in this piece of writing, what I found most interesting had to do with the very end of the story when Gretta refers to her late lover, Michael. It seems at this point, Michael is still very much alive in Gretta's mind. It's a interesting concept to see how death continues to play a role in Gretta and Gabriel's relationship even though it occurred so long ago. At the end of the novel as well, the freshly fallen snow seems to cover up Gabriel's past life, a type of death, laying a fresh slate for his new beginning.

Characters
Lily - caretaker's daughter
Gabriel Conroy - Gretta's husband, thinks he's better than everyone with his Shakespearean speech
Michael Fuery - Gretta's childhood lover who died from a "broken heart", she never got over him
Mrs. Ivors - woman at the Christmas party who continually demeans Gabriel
Aunts - hostesses of the party, getting old

Symbols
1. Death
   - Michael Fuery
   -Gretta and Gabriel's relationship
   -Almost the aunts
   - priests and sins
"He was astonished to hear that monks never spoke, got up at two in the morning and slept in their coffins"
2. Snow
   -at the end of the story, provides a clean slate and new beginning for Gabriel as he leaves his wife
"His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead" - covering up his past with his wife and covering the grave of her dead lover
3.Three
   - greek myths, 3 old witches weave 3 threads and when your time is up they snip your thread
4. Ghosts
   - ghostlike descriptions; everyone floats around, barely alive, don't hear anyone coming

Kafka's "The Metamorphosis"

Metamorphosis - a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism-a complete change of form, structure, or substance-a form resulting from any such change

I believe that Gregor's metamorphosis was literal in Kafka's story. It seems that there is really no metaphorical comparison that could explain why Gregor would suddenly turn into a bug. Aspects of his life seem the same before and after, such as his constant worry about supporting his family. Although after his metamorphosis he is no longer to support his family (obviously, because he is a beetle), he still constantly worries about them while hidden away in his room because he knows his parents are too old and his sister too young. Eventually they do get to working, so maybe his metamorphosis into something less useful helped the rest of his family get on track and become more productive in order to take care of themselves, thus suggesting that the family is the unit going through the metamorphosis.

Kafka's references to hunger and food seem significant because food is what continues to link Gregor to his human life. In the beginning of the story, his sister continues to place foods in his room that he liked in his human form, suggesting that she still believes that the old human Gregor is somewhere within this newly transformed bug. As the story goes on, his appetite changes, forcing him to seem more and more like a bug and less like a human. Another aspect of food in the story is when Gregor's father throws apples at him. This image of food is physically driving him away from his human life and further into his hole as a bug.

GROUP DISCUSSION
1. Characterize:
         - Maid - nasty but still checked on Gregor daily
         - Sister (Grete) - dynamic "butterfly" - metamorphosed from a caring sister into a self dependent
                                   woman, who denied the existence of the brother she had cared for so much
         - Gregor - traveling salesman/workaholic yet unhappy with his life; values his work and his family
2. Gregor's Transformation - NEW PERSPECTIVE
         - Completely changed from a life of being depended on where he was the one with value and
           control to a bug who is pretty much completely helpless
         - Always an outsider to his family (maybe this is why he isn't as shocked by his transformation) but
           now he is a literal manifestation of how much of an outcast he is
         - Eventually begins to shrink, physically (undernourished) and mentally, as his self worth towards
           his family diminishes completely now that he no longer brings home any money
         - Treated less and less like human → begins to give up being a human and therefore loses his human
            qualities, making it less apparent he is still Gregor (which is sister eventually denies)
3. Theme = power and control struggle
         - Especially between Grete and Gregor, as she gains more control he loses his control
         - As she rises, he falls
         - Strength and reactions to serious change, survival?
4. Parasitic Relationships
         - First, the family feeds off of Gregor and his income in order to survive but once Gregor actually
           becomes a parasite, he must rely off of his family like they have done to him
         - Then, after Gregor's death, the parents continue to be parasitic towards the daughter, deciding
            they must now build her up and set her up so they are in fact setting up their futures depending
            on her
5. Metaphor about people and human nature?
         - Possibly about the relationships between ugliness and humanity

**What does it mean to be human?
         - Was Gregor ever connected to the human world?
                  - Although he did make some contributions to the world, he never was truly an "alive" person
                  - He was thoughtful about his actions

Gregor was truly imprisoned in his life, both before and after the metamorphosis. As a human, he was trapped in his constant routine where he supported his entire family. Once he transformed, he became trapped not only in the body of a parasite but in the role as one.

Ibsen's "A Doll's House"

Background
   -based off real life events
   -the role of men and women
   -19th century law=women don't have equal rights; husband has complete control of everything therefore  
     very controversial to write about a wife leaving her husband and children
   -all of the women are twistedly dependent on men
Themes
   -expectations of women
      -namecalling
   -resisting societal expectations; being true to yourself
   -dependence
   
Plot
1. Exposition: Christine comes and Helmer's new bank job. Relationship dynamic
2. Complication: Loan, Helmer's sickness, new job/power in relation to Krogstad, letter in the mailbox
3. Climax: Opening of Krogstad's letter and Helmer finally understands the circumstances
4. Resolution: Nora leaves everything


Characters: Nora (wife), Krogstad (owed debt from Nora), Christine (Nora's friend/widow/marries Krog), Helmer (husband), Dr. Rank

Basic Terms

Tragedy - a drama treating a serious subject involving persons of significance

Comedy - treats themes and characters with humor and typically has a happy ending

Monologue - extended speech by one character

Soliloquy - monologue in which a character expresses private thoughts while alone on stage

Aside - brief comments by a character who reveals thoughts by speaking directly to the
              audience without being heard by the other characters

Plot - the way in which a story's events are arranged

             -more than what happens

             -shaped by: casual connections, interactions between characters and juxtapositions of      

              events

4 Stages

1. Exposition - sets the story in motions, establishes the scene, introduces major characters

                          and suggests major events or conflicts to come

2. Complications (rising action) - crisis situations throughout the story
3. Climax

4. Resolution - the final stage of the plot that draws the action to a close and accounts for all

                           loose ends

Order and Sequence

In media res (Latin for "in the midst of things") - opens in the middle of a story and uses  
                       flashbacks to reveal crucial information

Flashback - examines an event or situation that occurred before the time where the story's
                      taking place

Foreshadow - introduced early in the story of situation, events, characters or objects that hint at
                          things to come *builds reader interest

Theme - the central or dominant idea of the story

                    -not the plot summary

                    -conveys values and ideas expressed by the story

                    -general idea that extends beyond the story and applies to the world outside fiction

                    -revealed through titles, symbols, conflicts and character statements and changes

                    -can be thought of as the moral of the story

Conflict - struggle between opposing forces that emerges as actions develops

                     -Clash Between: 1) Protagonist (principle character) and 2) Antagonist 

                      (someone/thing present in opposition)


Post Modernism - nothing is important by itself
Scientific Rationalism - everything can be explained
                   - therefore the universe is more rational and predictable with science
Modernism - universal truth we can understand through logic and rationalism
                          -response to scientific rationalism
Modernization - industrial process associated with "Westernization"
                                -values individualism, democracy, class etc.
Dadaism - cultural movement (WWI) involved visual arts, literature, and graphic design and
                    reject prevailing standards
                              -anti-war and anti-art
                              -no logic or reason; ignored aesthetic value
Realism - depicts subjects as they appear in everyday life
Surrealism - unexpected juxtaposition of elements (element of surprise)
                          -expressed the functioning of thought and free play of mind


Character - a fictional representation of a person
Characterization - the way traits of a character (created by the writer) are revealed to the audience/reader (such as appearance, reactions, actions etc.)
                         -usually revealed via narrator or thoughts & actions of the character
       Round Characters - well developed characters that are closely involved in and responsive
                                           to the action of the story
       Flat Characters - barely developed or very stereotypical characters
       Dynamic Characters - grow and change in the course of the story, developing as they react
                                               to events and other characters
       Static Characters - may face the same challenges as the dynamic character but will remain 
                                         unchanged or unaffected
       *** Most of the time, Round characters are also Dynamic and Flat Characters are also
            Static, although in some cases, Round characters may be Static
Foil - a supporting character that's role is to highlight a major character by presenting a contrast with him/her