Read through page 204 of The Book Thief and complete the study guide questions through Part 3. The study guide questions will help guide our discussion next week so be sure to fill it out!
We hope you all had a great break and are excited to start class this week!
In preparation for the first day of class, please read The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe. A link with the story was sent to your email on January 20, and here is another link.
After you have read it, let us know either by posting to the UnderCover Slack channel or in a group email.
We will plan to get together to watch a version of the Christmas Carol sometime in December and will send possible dates soon!
Optional Reading
Sister Mock is compiling a list of classic literature that you can choose to read from over the break. This is optional but would be a great way to use any extra time you have while ASA is not meeting. The list will be posted here soon and also an email will be sent out.
Thanks for spending this semester with us! We will miss you!!
Complete Caught-yas 92 & 93. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.
In case you missed it, here is 91 which we did in class.
Write Essay – Last of the semester!
Choose ONE of the essay options below:
In The Chosen, every character, event, action, and idea seems to have a parallel, an opposite, or a complement. Identify several such relationships, and explain how those parallels support a theme of the novel.
Throughout the novel, Potok uses imagery of eyes, glasses, and other items associated with vision and perception. What do these images symbolize? Discuss several examples and show how they support a theme of the novel.
Create your OWN essay question derived from ANY of the books we have read in class so far using the following formula: In the novel (title),(author) uses (literary device) and (literary device) to show (theme). You are free to be creative and modify the thesis structure slightly. If you choose this option, you must have your thesis approved by either Sister Mock or Sister Nelson BEFORE you start writing.
If you choose the third essay “prompt,” your thesis should already have been approved by Sister Nelson or Sister Mock. If it hasn’t, contact one of us ASAP!
Guidelines for essay:
3-5 pages, double spaced – with this longer length, you have the chance to really develop your analysis!
MLA Format – refer to handout given in class or refer here if you lost it:
Be sure to meet with your writing mentor for this paper and turn in their comments along with your finished essay. You will NOT be rewriting this essay after turning it in to Sister Mock and Sister Nelson, so get as much feedback as possible from your writing mentor to elevate your writing.
You are on the home stretch for this semester! Last paper – you can do it!
Complete Caught-yas 89 & 90. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.
In case you missed it, here is 88 which we did in class.
FINISH reading The Chosen
Book 3 pages 173-245, chapters 13-18
WRITE your OWN discussion question to discuss in small groups next week.
ANSWER THREE discussion questions from EACH of the chapters below.
You will have written down answers to 18 questions in total.
Chapter 13
Why is Danny so disappointed in experimental psychology in college? What was he hoping for? What does Reuven do to try to help Danny through his frustration in college?
How did Reuven find his introduction to college? What did he like or dislike about it?
What do you think Reuven’s father means when he says, “a blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something?” (pg. 183) How does that relate to the theme of the book? What is he trying to teach Reuven?
How does Reuven’s decision to become a rabbi compare with Danny’s professional choices?
How does the debate over Zionism impact every aspect of Reuven’s life?
Why does Reb Saunders force separation between Reuven and Danny? Do you think this is a good decision? What was the cause of his anger?
Chapter 14
How does Danny seem physically at the start of this chapter? What does that symbolize?
Consider the silence between Danny and Reuven. What does this reflect? What can Reuven learn from this?
Why does Reuven get frustrated with Rav Gershenson?
What is the huge event that happens on pg. 203-204? Why is it bittersweet?
Why do you think Rav Gershenson waited for the most challenging discussion to call on Reuven? Why does Rav Gershenson warn Reuven never to use his logical methods in class?
What is it that Reuven realizes about why his father was not teaching at this college?
Chapter 15
Why does Reuven accept the silence between him and Danny?
How does Reuven feel about his father not being able to travel to Israel?
Why do you think Danny sits down with Reuven at the end of the chapter and breaks the silence between them?
Chapter 16
What do you think is symbolized by Danny’s eyes now being bright and blue?
What do you think Reuven’s father means when he says “what a price to pay for a soul?” (pg. 220)
Why does Reuven dislike Reb Saunders more when he leaves than when he had entered? Do you think Reb Saunders was very happy to see Reuven? Why might that be important?
Chapter 17
What does the silence teach Danny about himself and the world around him?
Why was Danny in a panic when his brother was taken to the hospital?
Contrast Levi’s physical health with what Reuven sees in his eyes.
Why does Reuven’s father insist that Danny plan exactly how he will tell his father about being a psychologist?
Reuven’s father gets upset at Reuven at the end of the chapter. Why? What has Reuven not learned and why is it so important?
Chapter 18
Contrast Reuven’s description of Danny’s street now with the first time he saw it. What does this represent?
What is Reuven hearing on page 235?
Why does Reb Saunders tell Reuven that he is now a man?
What is the purpose behind how Reb Saunders talks to Danny through Reuven? As Reb Saunders talks to Danny through Reuven, he reveals why he has raised him in silence. What is this reason?
Why did Reb Saunders worry about how brilliant Danny was? What else did he worry about in how he raised Danny?
What does Danny realize about his father during this discussion? What do you think Reb Saunders realizes about himself?
What do you think are the primary messages in this book?
You will be required to write an essay on one (or more) of the books we have read in class so far. You may pick one of TWO questions to choose from that focus on The Chosen OR you can write your own question/come up with your own thesis for any of the following or combination of novels: Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Silas Marner, or The Chosen. We will spend time during the next few weeks to help you create theses and look for literary devices you can use in your paper. In the meantime, here are the three essay question options to choose from:
In The Chosen, every character, event, action, and idea seems to have a parallel, an opposite, or a complement. Identify several such relationships, and explain how those parallels support a theme of the novel.
Throughout the novel, Potok uses imagery of eyes, glasses, and other items associated with vision and perception. What do these images symbolize? Discuss several examples and show how they support a theme of the novel.
Create your OWN essay question derived from ANY of the books we have read in class so far using the following formula: In the novel (title),(author) uses (literary device) and (literary device) to show (theme). You are free to be creative and modify the thesis structure slightly. If you choose this option, you will need to have your thesis approved by either Sister Mock or Sister Nelson BEFORE you start writing, preferably by November 3.
(The essay will be officially assigned on November 10th and be due on November 17th.)
If you choose the third essay “prompt,” you MUST have your thesis approved by Sister Nelson or Sister Mock on or before November 10th.
IF you made it this far…
I’d like to compile a “recommended/suggested” reading list for the Winterim. NONE of these books would be required reading at all. And I’d like to add little content considerations on each one – such as “On The Beach by Nevil Shute – CC, there’s a lot of alcohol in this book and the ending is very sad.” Stuff like that. It will help students know which books they want to read if they have a heads up regarding profanity, romance, violence, etc. I’ll make up a google doc for all of us to share and add to, but in the meantime, just start thinking about your favorite literary novels you’d like to add to the list.
Complete Caught-yas 86 & 87. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.
In case you missed it, here is 85 which we did in class.
CONTINUE reading The Chosen
Book 2 pages 79-172, chapters 5-12
Answer THREE questions for EVERY chapter (18 questions total) from the given discussion questions. You can choose which questions you’d like to answer.
Chapter 5
What does Reuven mean when he says “there was newness everywhere?” Why do you think there is such a change in perspective leading back to the theme of this book?
How does the author use the power of description to emphasize this theme?
Describe Reuven’s transformation from his time in the hospital.
Chapter 6
Why does Reuven’s father answer Reuven’s questions about Danny by going back a long time in history?
What does the “silly baseball game” (pg. 93) mean to Reuven now? Does he really think it was silly?
Why does Danny need a friend so badly? Why should that friend be Reuven?
What do you think Reuven’s father was thinking at the very end of the chapter when he doesn’t finish his sentence?
Chapter 7
As Reuven falls asleep, he’s thinking about the color blue and eyes. What is the significance of comparing blue sky and blue eyes?
Why does Reb Saunders want to meet Reuven?
Explain why a community would follow Reb Saunders from Russia to New York.
Why do you think Danny’s neighborhood is in such a disarray?
How does Reuven feel as he enters the shul with Danny?
Why does Reb Saunders ask Reuven if he’s good at mathematics, and say “we will see?”
What is Reuven’s reaction to how Reb Saunders tests Danny? How about when Reb Saunders tests him? What is the relationship between the gematriya and the structure of the book itself?
Why does Reuven’s father say “it is a pity” that Reb Saunders lives in his own world, and so will Danny?
What is the meaning of the change of emotions in Reb Saunders speech?
Chapter 8
Why is Reuven considered a hero when he returns to school?
What is important about the way Danny reads? How is it reflective of his perspective?
Why do you think Danny is so interested in psychology?
Based on what Reuven’s father says at the bottom of page 143, why did Reb Saunders really want to meet Reuven?
Why do you think Danny feels uncomfortable discussing with Reuven the silence between him and his father? Why does Reb Saunders raise Danny in silence?
How does Reuven feel about the Talmud battle?
Why does Reb Saunders ask Danny to go make tea? What is the significance of his discussion with Reuven?
Chapter 9
Why does Reuven get so much enjoyment out of taking his final exams?
How does Reuven feel when he finds out Billy’s surgery is not successful? Why does he care so much? How do you know he feels that way?
Why do you think Reuven describes the incident with the spider and the fly in so much detail? What do you think they represent?
Chapter 10
Contrast Danny and Reuven’s reactions to reading material that is too difficult.
Why does Danny take a deep breath during the Talmud discussion in this chapter?
What do you think Danny learns about himself while studying Freud?
After the end of the summer, Reuven calls Danny. How does Danny feel about his summer break?
What might be the significance of how Danny is blinking when Reuven sees him again? How might this relate back to the motif of vision?
Chapter 11
How does Danny’s appearance reflect what he is reading of Freud? Why is it important that he never gets a chance to talk to Reuven about it?
Why do you think the author included so many tragedies in this chapter? Are there relationships between them?
What does Reuven’s father mean when he says “we cannot wait for God?” (pg. 162) How does this differ from what Reb Saunders thinks?
What is the importance of Roosevelt’s death to the American people?
Chapter 12
Why do you think Reb Saunders starts silently weeping at the dinner table?
Why can’t Danny stop reading Freud, even though it upsets him so much? What about Freud is so upsetting?
Why is Reuven’s father so concerned about the future of Europe? What is he hoping for?
What is the meaning of Reb Saunders’ explosion toward Reuven? How does Reuven feel about it?
Why is Danny’s brother’s health so important? How does it relate to the family dynasty?
What is happening with Danny’s eyes in this chapter?
How does Danny describe his feelings about his father? Are they consistent?
BEGIN THINKING about your NEXT Essay
You will be required to write an essay on one (or more) of the books we have read in class so far. You may pick one of TWO questions to choose from that focus on The Chosen OR you can write your own question/come up with your own thesis for any of the following or combination of novels: Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Silas Marner, or The Chosen. We will spend time during the next few weeks to help you create theses and look for literary devices you can use in your paper. In the meantime, here are the three essay question options to choose from:
In The Chosen, every character, event, action, and idea seems to have a parallel, an opposite, or a complement. Identify several such relationships, and explain how those parallels support a theme of the novel.
Throughout the novel, Potok uses imagery of eyes, glasses, and other items associated with vision and perception. What do these images symbolize? Discuss several examples and show how they support a theme of the novel.
Create your OWN essay question derived from ANY of the books we have read in class so far using the following formula: In the novel (title),(author) uses (literary device) and (literary device) to show (theme). You are free to be creative and modify the thesis structure slightly. However, if you choose this option, you will need to have your thesis approved by either Sister Mock or Sister Nelson BEFORE you start writing, preferably by November 3.
(The essay will be officially assigned on November 10th and be due on November 17th.)
Complete Caught-yas 83 & 84. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.
In case you missed it, here is 82 which we did in class.
REVISE your To Kill a Mockingbird Essay
Look over the comments we’ve given you on your paper. Revise your paper. Get a revised copy to your writing mentor and go over the paper with them. Look over the comments THEY’VE given you, and then revise your paper one last time. You’ll be turning in your FINAL final draft on Thursday, October 27th – this upcoming Thursday.
BEFORE you start reading The Chosen…
Watch these videos. If you’d like more, both of these videos have “sequels.” There is a Bim Bam video about the Birth of Modern Judaism which is also about 5 minutes long. And there is also another Hanging with Hasidics video that takes you inside a Hasidic home (I have not watched that one). That video is about 13 minutes long. If you don’t have time for all FOUR videos, just watch these two.
Additionally, read this article… THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. 😉 It describes the differences between Hasidic Jews and other Orthodox Jews. It does NOT describe the difference between Hasidic Judaism and modern Judaism.
NOW… you may begin reading The Chosen
Book 1 pages 1- 78, chapters 1-4
Complete HALF (12) of the given discussion questions. You can choose which questions you’d like to answer.
Chapter 1
Why does Reuven attribute so much significance to the baseball game?
What do you think Davey Cantor represents in the book, as he keeps repeating “you’ll see?”
Why does Reuven describe Danny Saunders in so much detail?
Why does Reuven feel that his whole life has led him to this ball game and his future life will depend on its outcome?
What is the meaning behind Danny’s strange grin?
Chapter 2
When the doctor asks Reuven, “can you see the light?” Reuven answers, “it’s a little blurred.” Based on the motif of vision, what might this symbolize?
Why do you think Billy and Mr. Savo are on either side of Reuven in the hospital? What do you think they represent in the story?
Why does Reuven introduce himself as Robert to Billy and Mr. Savo?
How do you think Reuven’s injury affects his father’s health?
When Reuven talks about the concept of blindness, what might the author be trying to convey?
Chapter 3
Why do you think the author brings the radio into the story?
Why does Danny return after Reuven dismissed him at first from the hospital?
Why did Danny want to kill Reuven in the ball game? What does Reuven represent?
When Danny recites the Talmud, why do you think it is described as “cold and mechanical?”
Why did Danny have to convince his father to play in that baseball game?
Consider the quote, “words distort what a person really feels in his heart.” What do you think of this?
What do you think “talking in silence” means to Danny?
What can you infer about Danny’s feelings about his religion based on his body language?
What do you think “crazy world, cockeyed” (pg. 49) means? Why might it be important?
Chapter 4
Explain what Reuven’s father means when he says “ ‘No one knows he is fortunate until he becomes unfortunate. That is the way the world is.’” (pg. 62)
What do you think of the quote “people are not always what they seem to be?” (pg. 63) Is it true? How does that relate to Reuven’s father wanting Reuven to make Danny his friend?
How does Danny’s analogy of ants to people relate to the mission of obeying God?
Why did Reuven’s father not tell Reuven that he had been meeting Danny in the library? Why is Reuven’s father suggesting books for Danny to read?
Thinking back to the motif of vision, why is it so important that Reuven’s eyesight will recover? Contrast that to what happened to Mr. Savo. How does this also relate to things being out of focus, and objects being crystal clear?
BEGIN THINKING about your NEXT Essay
You will be required to write an essay on one (or more) of the books we have read in class so far. You may pick one of TWO questions to choose from that focus on The Chosen OR you can write your own question/come up with your own thesis for any of the following or combination of novels: Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Silas Marner, or The Chosen. We will spend time during the next few weeks to help you create theses and look for literary devices you can use in your paper. In the meantime, here are the three essay question options to choose from:
In The Chosen, every character, event, action, and idea seems to have a parallel, an opposite, or a complement. Identify several such relationships, and explain how those parallels support a theme of the novel.
Throughout the novel, Potok uses imagery of eyes, glasses, and other items associated with vision and perception. What do these images symbolize? Discuss several examples and show how they support a theme of the novel.
Create your OWN essay question derived from ANY of the books we have read in class so far using the following formula: In the novel (title),(author) uses (literary device) and (literary device) to show (theme). You are free to be creative and modify the thesis structure slightly. However, if you choose this option, you will need to have your thesis approved by either Sister Mock or Sister Nelson BEFORE you start writing, preferably by November 3.
(The essay will be officially assigned on November 10th and be due on November 17th.)
Complete Caught-yas 80 & 81. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.
In case you missed it, here is 79 which we did in class.
FINISH READING Silas Marner to the end
Chapters 10-21, pages 74-183
For each chapter write a 2-3 sentence summary/narrative of what has happened in the plot.
Answer the following questions and be ready to discuss your answers in class. Bonus points (that aren’t worth anything except respect and admiration) if you have quotes from the book to support your ideas.
Consider the various settings in the book — Lantern Yard, Raveloe, the Cass residence, the Marner residence, the Rainbow tavern, England on the cusp of the Industrial Evolution, and how the seasons and holidays (also part of the setting) play into the plot of the book. Be ready to share your ideas about 3 difference settings.
Silas Marner is a story of redemption. One can think of Silas as living one life, dying, then coming back again to a different life. What are the turning points in the story that indicate when he “dies,” and when he is “resurrected.” How is his new life different than his old life? Find textual evidence to support your thoughts.
Compare and contrast how Dunstan entered Silas’s home way back in chapter 4 and how Eppie enters Silas’s home in chapter 12. How could these entrances into Silas’s home be symbolic of Silas himself at different points of the story?
What do YOU think the point of chapter 6 is? This is the chapter that takes place in the tavern BEFORE Silas comes in?
Describe how Silas’s attitude towards money changes throughout the book.
Describe how Silas’s attitudes towards people and relationships change throughout the book.
READ “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield
If you weren’t in class to pick up a physical copy, here is a link to a PDF you can print out at home. Annotate (makes notes in) your story looking for how and where setting is integral to the plot. Also, look for physical things that keep reoccurring in the story — like lizards or bean bags or moustaches. (I don’t remember any lizards or bean bags or moustaches in the story, those are just examples.)
BONUS info
You are in NO WAY required to listen to any of these podcasts, however, there are A LOT of benefits to listening to a literary podcast once in a while – or even more than just once in a while. From these podcasts you can get a better understanding of what is happening in the story and pick up on themes, symbols, and ideas you maybe didn’t think of on your own. Also, it is helpful to hear how really educated and well-read literature teachers and professors discuss books. It’s a lively, exciting, interesting, and enlightening experience.
Sometimes, though, it is also boring or feels like a little bit of fluff. The nuggets of gold, however, are sprinkled plentifully throughout. If you have time, please try to listen to at least 30 minutes of ANY of these – you don’t have to start with the first one. I always skip the first little bit, because they don’t start talking about the actual book until about 15 minutes in. The first podcast spends MOST of the time talking about George Eliot, herself.
Complete Caught-yas 77 & 78. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.
In case you missed it, here is 76 which we did in class.
Write your To Kill a Mockingbird essay
As a reminder, the essay question is “A recurring symbol in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird is the story Atticus tells his children, ‘…it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ Many characters in the book could be considered mockingbirds. Analyze this metaphor by choosing three characters and explaining how each is a mockingbird. Use textual evidence to support your analysis.”
This paper should be 2 to 4 pages long. Please refer to your MLA style guide cheat sheet handout from last week/two weeks ago for proper citation procedures. You are also required to provide a “Works Cited” page, even if you only quote from one book. Also, refer to the “Essay Rubric” handout as well a the “Literary Analysis Essay Structure” handout to help you organize your thoughts in a flowing, coherent manner. You are required to consult with your writing mentor for this essay.
Write your paper, send it to your writing mentor, meet with them and go over their suggestions, revise your paper, and then turn in your original paper marked up by your mentor AND your final revised version on October 13th.
Start reading Silas Marner
Read chapters 1-9 (pages 1-73). Don’t be afraid to read it slow until your brain catches up to the rhythm and flow of Georg Eliot’s writing style. Feel free to look up any vocabulary you don’t know. (This may actually benefit you next week in class!!)
For each chapter, write a 2-3 sentence summary/narrative of what has happened in the plot. Make a list of any ideas that come up in the chapters you may think will be important later on – such as money, family, friendship, honesty, social class, betrayal, chickens, etc. Be ready to share and discuss your summaries AND your ideas/predictions.
Fill out the study guide as you read and annotate these chapters. This will help you be able to contribute to our discussion!
Looking ahead…Get a head start on essay
Your essay for To Kill a Mockingbird will be due in two weeks (October 13). This week’s reading (chapter 22 – end) is the shortest so far. If you finish the reading quickly, you can get a head start on your essay! Here is the question once again:
A recurring symbol in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird is the story Atticus tells his children, “…it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.” Many characters in the book could be considered mockingbirds. Analyze this metaphor by choosing three characters and explaining how each is a mockingbird. Use textual evidence to support your analysis.