Caught-ya

Complete Caught-yas 120 & 121. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.

In case you missed it, here is 119 which we did in class.

 

YAY!!! Your FINAL Paper!!

USE YOUR WRITING MENTOR!

Your paper is due April 13th (two weeks to write it, but one of those weeks is spring break). It needs to be 5 to 7 pages long, same format as before. You are allowed to write on ANY of the books we have covered in class, INCLUDING The Great Divorce, which you are assigned to read during these two weeks as well. Choose a book and thesis that you are interested in. Show us how well you understand that book/character/theme/literary device, etc. PROVE to us that your interpretation is correct with detailed analysis and supporting quotes/evidence directly from the book. This is your time to take what you have learned and present it in one culminating and brilliant display of skill, prowess, intelligence, and magnanimity! You guys have come a long way from where we started with Animal Farm. Really push yourself these last few weeks. I think you will be amazed and very proud of how far you have come!

HERE are the essay prompts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n_YoxPYi8u_cQpfrsQyKqPLTwHZRelOkR_f-7fBLodk/edit?usp=sharing

READ The Great Divorce

Here are the study questions. Use these to help you understand what is going on and to think deeper about what C.S. Lewis is telling us about the reality of heaven and why someone may not want to go there. Be prepared to come to discuss what holds us back from reaching our potential.

BEFORE reading The Great Divorce, consider watching “The Fantasy Makers,” a documentary about George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. You can find it on Amazon Prime, but I also just saw it’s on YouTube, so that would be cheaper, in fact… here you go…

There are MANY resources to learn about Lewis, Tolkien, and MacDonald. I am sorry we don’t have more time to really dive into them. Feel free to deepen your understanding by reading other books by these authors, listening to podcasts discussing their works, or watching other documentaries (Watching the Lord of the Rings movies DOESN’T count… but it certainly is not a bad idea!)

Caught-ya

Complete Caught-yas 117 & 118. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.

In case you missed it, here is 116 which we did in class.

OUTLINING Assignment

Read the article linked HERE called “Rethinking the Rod of Iron.” This is a very recent religious studies publication from BYU Studies. I want you to notice the STRUCTURE of this article. Especially see if you can pick out his textual evidence and his analysis. He quotes A LOT of scripture (textual evidence – it’s easy to find) but then explains the scriptures and gives his ideas. This is his analysis. This is a fascinating essay that presents familiar information in a very new light and enlightens and opens our understanding to a well-known Book of Mormon story in a new enriching and uplifting way.

Your assignment is to make a short outline for his essay. It does NOT need to be super detailed or super long – half a page to a page is fine.  (A full page may even be too long.) I don’t want this assignment to bog you down, but I DO want you to see for yourself how important the structure of an essay is. Notice how his ideas flow into each other. I will be collecting your outlines at the beginning of class next week. (You are welcome to type up your outline also. Sometimes this is easier because the computer will do the formatting for you.)

If you aren’t familiar with outlining, here is a video to get you started. (Don’ worry, there are no grades! This is an exercise is becoming familiar with structure and finding textual evidence and analysis.) One thing he does wrong, though, is for every 1 there has to be a 2 and for every A there has to be a B, so on and so forth. He has that little “a” down there without a “b” under it and that’s bugging me. If you are going to put an A, make sure you have a B (you can also have a C, D, E, etc.) and if you are going to have a 1, make sure you have a 2 (you can also have a 3, 4, 5, etc.) Same with all the levels. You can’t just have 1 thing at that level. There has to be AT LEAST 2. If that doesn’t make sense, don’t worry about it. No grades, remember. This is an exercise in seeing structure, not making a perfect outline.

FINISH reading Life of Pi

This week’s reading assignment is page 256 to the end – page 319. This is only 63 pages.

Feel free to skip from the top of page 307 “We’re all alone..” to the top of 311 “Mr. Chiba: What a horrible story.” These pages, really, are the only difficult ones to read. The rest of the reading assignment is REALLY interesting! So if the book has been difficult so far because of the gore, just know there isn’t much gore or disgusting material in the story – with the exception of those pages. Once you skip them, you may be able to pick up from context clues what happened. But if not and you’d like to know, email me or slack me and I’ll fill you in.

Keep marking up interesting/possible important symbols, themes, motifs, etc. Come to class prepared to share themes (remember, universal phrases – not just ideas like “fear” or “survival”) with the class.

FUTURE information

You will be assigned your FINAL paper on March 30th WHICH IS THIS UPCOMING WEEK. It will be due April 13th (two weeks to write it, but one of those weeks is spring break). It will be 5 to 7 pages long, same format as before. You are allowed to write on ANY of the books we have covered in class. Choose a book and thesis that you are interested in. Show us how well you understand that book/character/theme/literary device, etc. PROVE to us that your interpretation is correct with detailed analysis and supporting quotes/evidence directly from the book. This is your time to take what you have learned and present it in one culminating and brilliant display of skill, prowess, intelligence, and magnanimity! You guys have come a long way from where we started with Animal Farm. Really push yourself these last few weeks. I think you will be amazed and very proud of how far you have come!

Essay Prompts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n_YoxPYi8u_cQpfrsQyKqPLTwHZRelOkR_f-7fBLodk/edit?usp=sharing

Caught-ya

Complete Caught-yas 114 & 115. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.

In case you missed it, here is 110 which we did in class.

PICKLES Body Part Assignment

In class we practiced writing the the body paragraphs to an essay about The Fire Cat. I gave you the intro and thesis, and then in groups you had an assignment to write the body paragraphs to fit with the thesis. Your homework is to finish these paragraphs at home on your own. (You do not have to use what your group came up with, but you can if you want.) You MUST keep the following in mind:

1. All paragraphs MUST have a topic sentence. This sentence dictates what the paragraph is about. All quotes in your paragraph should support this topic sentence.

2. The argument of all your paragraphs together should directly support and prove your part of the thesis. Each individual paragraph doesn’t have to refer back to the thesis, but the paragraphs (topic) as a whole should reinforce and reference the thesis in obvious and direct ways. It makes sense to directly reference the thesis in your last paragraph.

If you weren’t in class, just pick a section to write.

Here is the story.

Here is the introduction and Conclusion, already written for you.

Here is the thesis: In the coming-of-age story, “The Fire Cat,” Averill shows Pickles’s progression towards maturity through his relationship and understanding of the other cats around him, his relationship and understanding of the people around him, and his relationship and understanding of himself.

As a quick review: SHOW PROGRESSION FROM IMMATURE TO MATURE

Section 1: relationship and understanding with other cats — (3 paragraphs maybe)

cats in the yard, cats in the house, 1st cat up a tree — cruel, bully

cats in the firehouse — change

2nd cat up the tree — hero

Section 2: Relationship and understanding with people (3 paragraphs maybe)

Mrs. Goodkind – ungrateful, selfish

Joe – trying to fit in, a friend

the Chief – proves himself, a subordinate

Section 3: Relationship and understanding with himself (2 paragraphs maybe)

cruel, bully, selfish, lazy, mixed-up cat

purpose, applies himself, goals

remorse for past poor behavior, hero

CONTINUE reading Life of Pi

This week’s reading assignment is page 98 through 256 (or up to chapter 92).

The following pages/sections are intensely gory. It is hard to avoid ALL the gore, but hopefully these warnings will prepare you for the really intense parts. If a part of the story is really upsetting you, feel free to skim over it lightly or skip it.

page 125 – beginning of 126 – The hyena eats the zebra.

page 131 – last paragraph up until the end of the chapter – the orangutan dies.

page 201- very bottom of 201 to the end of the first paragraph on 202 – Pi kills and eats a turtle.

Keep marking up interesting/possible important symbols, themes, motifs, etc. Come to class prepared to share themes (remember, universal phrases – not just ideas like “fear” or “survival”) with the class.

FUTURE information

You will be assigned your FINAL paper on March 30th. It will be due April 13th (two weeks to write it, but one of those weeks is spring break). It will be 5 to 7 pages long, same format as before. You are allowed to write on ANY of the books we have covered in class. Choose a book and thesis that you are interested in. Show us how well you understand that book/character/theme/literary device, etc. PROVE to us that your interpretation is correct with detailed analysis and supporting quotes/evidence directly from the book. This is your time to take what you have learned and present it in one culminating and brilliant display of skill, prowess, intelligence, and magnanimity! You guys have come a long way from where we started with Animal Farm. Really push yourself these last few weeks. I think you will be amazed and very proud of how far you have come!

Essay Prompts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n_YoxPYi8u_cQpfrsQyKqPLTwHZRelOkR_f-7fBLodk/edit?usp=sharing

Caught-ya

Complete Caught-yas 111 & 112. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.

In case you missed it, here is 110 which we did in class.

FINISH your “Book Thief” Paper

If you turned your paper in LAST week, you should have it back already with LOTS of comments. (You did a good job!! The comments aren’t criticisms of you, but suggestions to help you clarify and make your paper as perfect as you can possible get it – because you are awesome and can do this hard thing. We believe in you!)

Rewrite your paper – USE YOUR WRITING MENTOR. Turn it back in next week on March 16th.

If you have NOT turned in your paper, get that thing finished ASAP! The semester will end sooner than you think. We have one more paper due this semester – the BIG one – and you don’t want to be stuck with TWO papers at the same time.

If you turned in your paper today (March 9th), we’ll hand it back to you next Thursday with some suggestions. You’re rewrite will be due the following week.

START reading Life of Pi

Read starting with the Author’s Note (page vii – in italics). That is part of the book! Then read ALL of part one. It will be pages 1 through 93.

ANNOTATE your book like crazy. Write down notes in the margins, questions, circle words or phrases that stand out. When we get back together next week we will get in small groups and discuss all the things you marked and try to pick up the beginning of themes, motifs, ideas, topics, and other things interesting to look for.

Don’t worry about answering study questions at this point, but if YOU come across anything weird and you want to discuss it with the class, write it down so you remember! We’ll take time to discuss everyone’s ideas and questions next week and every week until we finish the book.

FUTURE information

You will be assigned your FINAL paper on March 30th. It will be due April 13th (two weeks to write it, but one of those weeks is spring break). It will be 5 to 7 pages long, same format as before. You are allowed to write on ANY of the books we have covered in class. Choose a book and thesis that you are interested in. Show us how well you understand that book/character/theme/literary device, etc. PROVE to us that your interpretation is correct with detailed analysis and supporting quotes/evidence directly from the book. This is your time to take what you have learned and present it in one culminating and brilliant display of skill, prowess, intelligence, and magnanimity! You guys have come a long way from where we started with Animal Farm. Really push yourself these last few weeks. I think you will be amazed and very proud of how far you have come!

Essay Prompts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n_YoxPYi8u_cQpfrsQyKqPLTwHZRelOkR_f-7fBLodk/edit?usp=sharing

Caught-ya

Complete Caught-yas 108 & 109. After rewriting the sentences, watch the videos below and make any corrections that you missed.

In case you missed it, here is 107 which we did in class.

READ this short biographical sketch on Ernest Hemingway

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hHQ_FXvqRLBHCDETALsQbfIY2jgKDDs1/view?usp=sharing

READ The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

IMPORTANT: This book is about an old man trying to catch a fish. Yep, all 124 pages of it! But obviously, it’s not actually only about a fishing trip. Your assignment is to read the book (more than once if you’d like/need to) and determine for yourself who/what the old man represents and who/what the fish represents. Come prepared to class with EVIDENCE from the book to back up your claim. We will be putting you on trial and you will need to convince the jury that your idea, although not necessarily the ONLY interpretation, is a VALID interpretation! (Don’t worry if your idea isn’t perfect. We are practicing interpreting texts by finding and following ideas, etc. while we read a book.)

TIPS: While reading – even the very first time – make notes EVERYWHERE in your book about things you think may be important later. Write questions in the margins, underline passages, write key words for specific topics/ideas you see floating around the book. Use sticky notes or bookmarks or SOMETHING so you can go back and quickly look through the book again for your evidence. In the end, you wont need everything you’ve marked, BUT if you do this as you go, it will benefit you IMMENSELY after you have decided who/what the man/fish is/are 😉 and you start gathering your evidence. Write up your notes in a way that will be easy for you to present to the class.

We will vote as a class on who makes the most convincing argument and the winner will get something dumb I pick up at dollar tree (or something better if I can think of a cool prize in time).

(Feel free to work a little bit on your presenting skills. We wont be judging your for that, just your ideas. But class will be more entertaining if we really get some classy speeches and testimonials going from the witness chair!)

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LOOK ONLINE FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S ANALYSIS.

THAT IS CHEATING.

AND NO FUN.

Caught-ya

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

1. 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?
2. How did Reuven find his introduction to college? What did he like or dislike about it?
3. 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?
4. How does Reuven’s decision to become a rabbi compare with Danny’s professional choices?
5. How does the debate over Zionism impact every aspect of Reuven’s life?
6. 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

1. How does Danny seem physically at the start of this chapter? What does that symbolize?
2. Consider the silence between Danny and Reuven. What does this reflect? What can Reuven learn from this?
3. Why does Reuven get frustrated with Rav Gershenson?
4. What is the huge event that happens on pg. 203-204? Why is it bittersweet?
5. 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?
6. What is it that Reuven realizes about why his father was not teaching at this college?

Chapter 15

1. Why does Reuven accept the silence between him and Danny?
2. How does Reuven feel about his father not being able to travel to Israel?
3. Why do you think Danny sits down with Reuven at the end of the chapter and breaks the silence between them?

Chapter 16

1. What do you think is symbolized by Danny’s eyes now being bright and blue?
2. What do you think Reuven’s father means when he says “what a price to pay for a soul?” (pg. 220)
3. 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

1. What does the silence teach Danny about himself and the world around him?
2. Why was Danny in a panic when his brother was taken to the hospital?
3. Contrast Levi’s physical health with what Reuven sees in his eyes.
4. Why does Reuven’s father insist that Danny plan exactly how he will tell his father about being a psychologist?
5. 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

1. Contrast Reuven’s description of Danny’s street now with the first time he saw it. What does this represent?
2. What is Reuven hearing on page 235?
3. Why does Reb Saunders tell Reuven that he is now a man?
4. 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?
5. Why did Reb Saunders worry about how brilliant Danny was? What else did he worry about in how he raised Danny?
6. What does Danny realize about his father during this discussion? What do you think Reb Saunders realizes about himself?
7. What do you think are the primary messages in this book?
8. Why do you think this book is called The Chosen?

READ the following article on imagery

https://writers.com/imagery-definition. Only read to the end of the 7 definitions – you don’t need to do the writing exercises.

WATCH the video on Tone and Mood

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.  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.

 

Caught-ya

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

1. 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?
2. How does the author use the power of description to emphasize this theme?
3. Describe Reuven’s transformation from his time in the hospital.

Chapter 6

1. Why does Reuven’s father answer Reuven’s questions about Danny by going back a long time in history?
2. What does the “silly baseball game” (pg. 93) mean to Reuven now? Does he really think it was silly?
3. Why does Danny need a friend so badly? Why should that friend be Reuven?
4. 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

1. As Reuven falls asleep, he’s thinking about the color blue and eyes. What is the significance of comparing blue sky and blue eyes?
2. Why does Reb Saunders want to meet Reuven?
3. Explain why a community would follow Reb Saunders from Russia to New York.
4. Why do you think Danny’s neighborhood is in such a disarray?
5. How does Reuven feel as he enters the shul with Danny?
6. Why does Reb Saunders ask Reuven if he’s good at mathematics, and say “we will see?”
7. 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?
8. Why does Reuven’s father say “it is a pity” that Reb Saunders lives in his own world, and so will Danny?
9. What is the meaning of the change of emotions in Reb Saunders speech?

Chapter 8

1. Why is Reuven considered a hero when he returns to school?
2. What is important about the way Danny reads? How is it reflective of his perspective?
3. Why do you think Danny is so interested in psychology?
4. Based on what Reuven’s father says at the bottom of page 143, why did Reb Saunders really want to meet Reuven?
5. 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?
6. How does Reuven feel about the Talmud battle?
7. Why does Reb Saunders ask Danny to go make tea? What is the significance of his discussion with Reuven?

Chapter 9

1. Why does Reuven get so much enjoyment out of taking his final exams?
2. 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?
3. 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

1. Contrast Danny and Reuven’s reactions to reading material that is too difficult.
2. Why does Danny take a deep breath during the Talmud discussion in this chapter?
3. What do you think Danny learns about himself while studying Freud?
4. After the end of the summer, Reuven calls Danny. How does Danny feel about his summer break?
5. 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

1. 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?
2. Why do you think the author included so many tragedies in this chapter? Are there relationships between them?
3. 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?
4. What is the importance of Roosevelt’s death to the American people?

Chapter 12

1. Why do you think Reb Saunders starts silently weeping at the dinner table?
2. Why can’t Danny stop reading Freud, even though it upsets him so much? What about Freud is so upsetting?
3. Why is Reuven’s father so concerned about the future of Europe? What is he hoping for?
4. What is the meaning of Reb Saunders’ explosion toward Reuven? How does Reuven feel about it?
5. Why is Danny’s brother’s health so important? How does it relate to the family dynasty?
6. What is happening with Danny’s eyes in this chapter?
7. 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.)

 

Caught-ya

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

1. Why does Reuven attribute so much significance to the baseball game?
2. What do you think Davey Cantor represents in the book, as he keeps repeating “you’ll see?”
3. Why does Reuven describe Danny Saunders in so much detail?
4. Why does Reuven feel that his whole life has led him to this ball game and his future life will depend on its outcome?
5. What is the meaning behind Danny’s strange grin?

Chapter 2

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. Why does Reuven introduce himself as Robert to Billy and Mr. Savo?
4. How do you think Reuven’s injury affects his father’s health?
5. When Reuven talks about the concept of blindness, what might the author be trying to convey?

Chapter 3

1. Why do you think the author brings the radio into the story?
2. Why does Danny return after Reuven dismissed him at first from the hospital?
3. Why did Danny want to kill Reuven in the ball game? What does Reuven represent?
4. When Danny recites the Talmud, why do you think it is described as “cold and mechanical?”
5. Why did Danny have to convince his father to play in that baseball game?
6. Consider the quote, “words distort what a person really feels in his heart.” What do you think of this?
7. What do you think “talking in silence” means to Danny?
8. What can you infer about Danny’s feelings about his religion based on his body language?
9. What do you think “crazy world, cockeyed” (pg. 49) means? Why might it be important?

Chapter 4

1. 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)
2. 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?
3. How does Danny’s analogy of ants to people relate to the mission of obeying God?
4. 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?
5. 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.)