Of Mice and Men Section 1

Please choose one of the following questions to answer. Please be as thorough as possible in your answer. You then must respond to at least of your classmates in order to demonstrate that you have read their posts.

1. What is the setting of the novel and what specific details does Steinbeck give his readers? Why do you think he focuses on these details? What mood or sentiments (feelings) is he trying to portray in his characterization of the place where the story begins? If you were directing it as a play and only could afford a few props, which do you think would be absolutely essential? Why? What do they portray, represent, or accomplish in the section?

2. Choose two specific quotations, descriptions or actions involving or regarding Lennie and tell me how they show his character. Then, choose two specific quotations, descriptions or actions that involve or regard George and tell me how they show his character. Based on this section, why do you think are friends. What makes the friendship work?

Two Boys and a Girl

Compare this story to the other Tobias Wolff stories we have read. How are they similar? In what ways do they differ? If you were to draw a triangle and then place each character on each axis of the triangle, where you would you place them? What would each axis stand for? In other words, consider the triangular relationships between the characters in the Tobias Wolff short stories and decide how the relationships between the three are similar. You must use all of the characters in your answer. Make sure you provide examples or quotes to support your answers.

You might choose to format your answer in the following way.

I think, that Talbot from “Smokers”, Mary Ann from “Two Boys and a Girl,” and Clarke from “Flyboys” would all share the same axis of the triangle because __________________________________________________________________________________. For example when _____________________________________________________________________.
I think that the other axis would be shared by ___________________ from _________________________, _________________ from __________________, and ________________ from ___________________, because _____________________________________________________________________________________. For example, _________________________________________________________________________. Finally I think that ___________________ from _________________________, _________________ from __________________, and ________________ from ___________________, are similar because _____________________________________________________________________________________. For example, _______________________________________________________________________.

Marigolds

Please answer one of the following questions and then respond to the conversation that is being had by the rest of your classmates.

1. There are several metaphors used throughout the story “Marigolds.” Choose one and explain how the two things compared are alike using examples from your life or the story to explain.

2. Choose one image in the story that is explained in detail and explain how the details of that image contribute to the mood of the story. What is the overall message the author is trying to communicate and how does the image you chose fit into that message?

3. Explore the theme of waiting in this story? Why is it such a part of the narrator’s life? Why might the narrator still be waiting?

4. How is the theme in this story similar to the theme in “Through the Tunnel?” How is it different? In other words do you think the overall message the author wants to communicate is the same or different, and how?

Through the Tunnel

A theme is a general insight or truth about life that an author tries to communicate through his or her story. What do you think the theme of the story "Through the Tunnel" by Dorris Lessing is? Use specifics from the plot to prove your position. Include a quote or particuliar passage in your response. Please also respond to others demonstrating you have read your classmates' post and are able to reflect on them.

Harkness Reflection: Period 6

After looking at the Harkness Evaluation sheet on your first class conference, please assess your class's performance in the summer reading Harkness. What did you do well as a class and what could you do better next time. After you post your own reflection read your classmate's reflections and get a sense for what the group as a whole felt. Respond in another post.

Harkness Reflection: Period 1

After looking at the Harkness Evaluation sheet on your first class conference, please assess your class's performance in the summer reading Harkness. What did you do well as a class and what could you do better next time. After you post your own reflection read your classmate's reflections and get a sense for what the group as a whole felt. Respond in another post.

This Boy's Life

As readers of This Boy’s Life we get a one-sided view of what Toby’s life is like because everything is told to us through Toby’s point of view. We have to be careful as readers therefore, not to take everything he says as the only truth. Rather it is one version of the truth. For this blog, choose one other character in the book that has a lot of contact with Toby. How does that person view him? How might Toby be presented as a different character to us if the story was told through that character’s point of view? Please provide at least one quote (good quote!!) in your response and other specific examples to support your ideas. Then, respond to two of your classmates posts.