Bedford AP Literature Blog Central

Paragraph Support Work

2011-09-11T09:55:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://health.howstuffworks.com)

Here is the work we did on how to support ideas in an essay using quotes from a story. Use these ideas as a jumping off point for your own paper.

Example 1:Due to the news of her husband’s death, the mood of the story would most likely be depressing and full of grief. Instead, in paragraphs 5-6, the mood appears to be hopeful. Typically, the setting most used to create a depressed mood is gray or stormy skies. In paragraph 6, however, the narrator uses “patches of blue sky” to describe the view from Louise’ window. This blue sky represents the clear, bright future she expects now that her husband is history.

Example 2: In paragraph 5 of the story, there are several details that do not fit the expected tone of the situation. Considering the fact that Louise Mallard has just learned of her husband’s death, it is reasonable to expect the tone to be one of grieving. However, the tone comes through as hopeful and joyful when the outside landscape is described. As Mrs. Mallard looks out into the square, Chopin describes the view as showing “the tops of the trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life.” The mention of the “new spring life” evokes a hopeful tone due to its allusion to rebirth, an allusion that doesn’t fit a death scene.

Example 3:In paragraph 5 of the story, there are several details that do not fit the expected tone of the situation. Considering the fact that Louise Mallard has just learned of her husband’s death, it is reasonable to expect the tone to be one of grieving. However, the tone comes through as hopeful and joyful when the outside landscape is described. Chopin begins the paragraph by describing the view out the window: “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of the trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life.” The mention of the “new spring life” evokes a hopeful tone due to its allusion to rebirth, an allusion that doesn’t fit a death scene.

The Dreaded Essay

2011-08-29T23:17:00.003-04:00

OK...It has been requested that I post the writing prompt on the blog, so I will do so. Afterwards, I will give some advice to help you write a solid paper. Should you have any questions about writing the paper, please put them on this post...that way I can answer them here for everyone. Therefore, before you ask your question, read through what has already been asked and answered so there are no repeat questions. So, here goes:

Essay Question

Science fiction often involves social criticism. Write a 3-4 page paper explaining what parts of the social world are being criticized by these novels and explain how the authors create the criticism within the framework of their stories.

I expect a solid introduction and conclusion. Your paper should reflect extensive knowledge of the novels and insightful analysis. Show me what you know.

The essay should be typed in 12 point font (Times New Roman or Courier New). It should be double-spaced and have one-inch margins all around. I will be looking at your grammar usage and spelling as part of your grade on this paper, so have someone read it over before you turn it in to me.

Remember, the paper should be 3-4 pages in length…not 4 pages, not 2.5 pages. Be concise and precise.

Again, the paper is due on the first day of class and will act as your pass into my class. You will also have an objective test over the novel on the first day of class.

The paper should also be formatted in the MLA Style. If you don't know what that looks like, consult the OWL at Purdue website (On-Line Writing Lab). Just Google it.

I don't want you to use sources for your paper. I want your own thoughts and insights. You may consult various sources to develop your own definition of literature, but since it is considered common knowledge, you won't have to cite those sources.

Most important: solid thesis statement and solid, specific support from the novel. You only have 3-4 pages, so I don't expect every iota of support you can find. Use the best of what you have. Make sure that your support comes from various parts of the novel, indicating that you have knowledge of the novel as a whole.

Again, all other questions should be posted below.

See you on Tuesday.

The Road 270-287

2011-08-23T15:33:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://vtfishandwildlife.com)

When asked by the boy to tell about the bravest thing he'd ever done, the man replied, "Getting up this morning." What does he mean by this statement? What is so brave about him getting up?

What do you think is more difficult: being the boy and listening to see if your father is still breathing or being the man and knowing your son is doing that?

crozzled...new word to me...I like it.

He'd stop and lean on the cart and the boy would go on and then stop and look back and he would raise his weeping eyes and see him standing there in the road looking back at him from some unimaginable future, glowing in that waste like a tabernacle. There are still religious allusions sprinkled in here. If there is no hope -- as seems to be the case -- why cling to religion?

The man imagines this is the reversal of creation -- what it must have been like before, when the earth was first made. If so, isn't this hope, since the world would have evolved from this point before? Is it plausible that this could be a new starting point?

Look around you, he said. There is no prophet in the earth's long chronicle who's not honored here today. Whatever form you spoke of you were right. What does this passage mean to you?

What clues do we have that the man (and woman) are not cannibals -- are "good guys"? What doubts are there?

Once there were brook trout in the streams in the mountains. You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. Inn the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery.

Love that final paragraph. There appears to be some hope buried there...what hope do you see in this last paragraph? What other things are hidden in this paragraph?

The Road 245-269

2011-08-22T23:07:00.003-04:00

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"I will not send you into the darkness alone." We know what this suggests, but what does this tell us about the man as a person...as a father?

You tried to kill us.
I'm starving, man. You'd have done the same.
You took everything.
Come on, man. I'll die.
I'm going to leave you the way you left us.
Is the man being hypocritical here? Is he being fair to the thief?

You're not the one who has to worry about everything.
Yes I am, he said. I am the one.
Explain the meaning of this exchange. What does this tell us about the man? the boy?

The boy believes they killed the thief. What do you believe?

The man tells the woman that she was left here...she claims she chose to be here...what do you think?

How well do you think the boy understands their predicament? Give examples for support.

The Road 220-244

2011-08-22T22:14:00.004-04:00

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"One vast salt sepulchre. Senseless. Senseless." Again, the description of the beach is quite different from what is expected of a beach. What images stand out to you and what about them stands out?

What is the translation of the boat's gilt lettering? What is the significance? Is it ironic?

What is a mae west? Is there any significance to this?

What is a sextant? What does the fact that he put it back in a cupboard suggest about the man?

The man thinks, "good luck might be no such thing." He envies the dead on most nights. If this is the case, what keeps him going? Why is he trying so hard to survive?

On p. 244 in my book, there is an exchange between the man and the boy:

Boy: I don't know what we're doing.
Man: There are people and we'll find them. You'll see.

Focusing on the entire exchange, what do we learn about these two characters at this point?

The Road 195-219

2011-08-22T11:42:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://wired.com)

What is so significant about the fact that the group who is following them has a pregnant woman with them?

How traumatic to see the baby cooking over the fire...what do you make of the way the boy handled seeing that?

What is significant about the man finding a Spanish coin and arrowheads at this point in the book? What do these items represent?

Great line: "They wandered through the rooms like skeptical housebuyers."

The man involves the boy in most decisions, such as the decision to eat the home-canned food. Why is it important that the man involves him?

The man thinks, "They are watching for a thing that even death cannot undo and if they do not see it they will turn away from us and they will not come back." Explain your understanding of this quote.

Another great line (though gruesome): "The dull green antique coppers spilled from out the tills of their eyesockets onto the stained and rotted coffin floors."

tokus --> a clue to heritage?

When the boy comes in from his swim, he's crying. Why do you think he's crying?

The Road 168-194

2011-08-19T15:50:00.005-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://theplaylist.blogspot.com)

The old man says, "I was always on the road." Does this mean he was a transcient before the devastation? Why would this matter?

"Nobody wants to be here and nobody wants to leave." Explain this quote, then tell me what you think about it.

"There is no God and we are his prophets." What? What does this mean?

"Where men can't live gods fare no better." Explain this one...

The old man thinks the boy will "get over" believing in God. What do you think, and why?

"I am going to die," he said. "Tell me how I am to do that." What does the man mean? What are the possible answers?

The boy forgets to turn off the valve for their make-shift stove. What do we learn about the characters from the exchange that takes place concerning this oversight?

On p. 177 in my book, there is a description of the coastal plains. Compared with your experience of the coastal plains (assuming you've experienced them), what is the difference between your experience and the description we get? Why is this significant?

What is different when you compare the boy looking over the map to the man doing the same thing as a boy?

The man dreams of a library where the books were charred and he sees the shelves were tipped over. "Some rage at the lies arranged in their thousands row on row." What lies are in the books that cause rage?

Why do you think McCarthy included the memory with the burning snakes? What prompts the man to remember this scene from his childhood?

"When your dreams are of some world that never was or of some world that never will be and you are happy again then you will have given up." Explain your understanding of this quote.

What has caused the new distance between the man and the boy?

The Road: 145-167

2011-08-17T22:26:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://ehow.com)

The boy says a prayer...sort of...what is significant about the prayer? What does it tell you about the boy and the man?

Great image: "The only light was from the ring of blue teeth in the burner of the stove."

They only stay in the bunker a couple of days. If no one has found it so far, what makes them think it's dangerous to stay longer?

"If trouble comes when you least expect it then maybe the thing to do is always expect it." What do you think of this logic?

McCarthy does a masterful job of writing the dialogue -- he captures a young boy's curiosity and imagination quite vividly and accurately. The conversation about crows is priceless. How does it help characterize the two characters?

"What are our long term goals?" Why doesn't the man answer this question?

Why do you think the boy is so much more willing to help others? He knows the consequences they could face, yet he still wants to help -- why?

What's significant about the old man's name (allusion)?

The Road: 100-144

2011-08-11T08:56:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://madehealthier.com)

What is port cochere?

“Can you do it? When the time comes?” This is repetition of an earlier phrase. Is he any more apt to do it now? Is there any difference between the earlier situation and this one?

How do they discern between good houses and bad houses?

The man explains why they didn’t help the people in the cellar. Is it a solid explanation? Do you think the boy will settle for it?

Is cannibalism acceptable given the setting? Is it understandable?

Considering the state of the country, why does he put flower seeds in his pocket? They’re not edible…

On p. 134, the boy doesn’t want the man to open the door they found in the grass. Why is he so against it?

Why is it important to the boy that the people who built the bunker were the good guys?

The man thought he was going to die. Now he finds himself in a food paradise. It says he has to think about that. What does he have to think about?

The Road 77-100

2011-08-09T12:15:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://energybulletin.net)

The man makes the boy a flute, allows him to put toys in the cart, and tells him stories -- still trying to give the boy as normal a childhood as possible...

Why is the boy so concerned about the dog? Why is it important that they don't eat the dog?

Did the boy actually see another little boy or didn't he? How is the man so sure he didn't? Or is the man just trying to get the boy to think he imagined it? He changes his tune later, though, indicating that he does believe the boy. Why is he now conceding this?

On p. 87 in my book, there is a shift in narration: "The dog he remembers followed us for two days." It is the voice of the father...what does this narration change add to the story?

"He doesn't remember any little boys." How sad that the boy has never had a sibling, a friend, or a playmate...his whole life...Just sayin'...

"The names of things slowly following those things into oblivion. Colors. The names of birds. Things to eat. Finally the names of things one believed to be true." At what point does it end? What things or names of things would be the most devastating to lose?

Very gruesome scene of bones, etc. He and the boy are together, but the man stops and looks for longer. Why?

They see the bad guys march by, and the father states that it's not a good sign. Why do you think this is a bad sign?

The Road: 52-76

2011-08-07T21:35:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://amazon.com)

On p. 52 in my version of the book, there is a quote that begins like this: "They stood on the far shore of the river..." Find this paragraph and explain what it means to you.

He fills the tub with water. She asks why he's taking a bath. He says he isn't...so what is it that he's doing here?

Why does the man play cards with the boy...or, rather, why is it so important that he does?

On p. 55 in my version of the book, there is a quote that begins like this: "No lists of things..." What are your thoughts on this paragraph?

She says there used to be three bullets, but now there are only two. What happened to that third bullet?

Why do "women dream of danger to those in their care and men of danger to themselves?

Why do you think her heart was ripped out of her the night her son was born? This goes against a mother's natural instincts...

Why do you think that the boy's reaction to her leaving was so emotionally cold?

Why won't the boy talk to him for a while in this section?

"Where you've nothing else construct ceremonies out of the air and breathe upon them." What is important about this?

When the man mentions that the guy he killed was the first person he had talked to in a year (besides his son), why does he refer to the man as "my brother at last?"

The snow presents practical problems, but what do you think it might symbolize?

What is quoits? Gotta look that one up...

The Road: 27-52

2011-08-04T23:57:00.005-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://mytennesseewaterfalls.com)

"The last instance of a thing takes the class with it. Turns out the light and is gone. Look around you. Ever is a long time. But the boy knew what he knew. That ever is no time at all." What are your thoughts on this passage?

"Can you do it? When the time comes? Can you?" What is it the man is thinking of doing?

"Not all dying words are true and this blessing is no less veal for being shorn of its ground." What are your thoughts on this sentence?

Great query: "How does the never to be differ from what never was?" Got an answer? Take a shot.

I think you can figure out why the man gives the boy all of what's left of the hot chocolate while he drinks hot water, pretending it's hot chocolate...but how do you explain the boy's reaction to this?

Can you interpret the penguin dream? Take a shot.

What is significant about the fact that the man tells "old stories of courage and justice?"

The man is extremely honest with the boy about their situation, but his truthfulness appears to have limits. What limits do you see?

What do you think of the man's decision to leave the lightning-struck man alone with no help?

Cormac McCarthy meets Oprah

2011-08-01T11:40:00.002-04:00

Here is a link to an interview with Cormac McCarthy. I couldn't get the video to download for me, but this will work just as well.

Cormac McCarthy meets Oprah

The Road: 3-27

2011-08-01T11:01:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://radekaphotography.com)

So as you can tell, I am creating posts on this novel based on page numbers...it may not match your pagination, but it should be pretty close. And so, we begin...

Remember the dream that starts the novel. McCarthy wouldn't have begun the novel with the dream if it wasn't important.

"With the first gray light..." This paragraph is packed with info, both stated and implied. What important info can you get from this tightly written paragraph?

McCarthy chooses not to use quotation marks for his dialogue. Why do you think he made this stylistic choice? What effect does this have on the story?

Why do you think the man tried to call his father from the gas station?

What color(s) dominate the story? What is the symbolism of the color(s)? What tone do the colors in the book help to create? Without naming a color, McCarthy often mentions objects that we see as a particular color in our mind's eye. What are some of these objects?

Who is the narrator? What stands out about the narration?

On p. 10, the point of view changes to the boy, but just briefly...what stands out to you about this conversation between the boy and the man?

How would you characterize the man's religious beliefs?

The man describes his perfect day from his childhood. What stands out to you about this brief memory?

"It's snowing, the boy said. He looked at the sky. A single gray flake sifting down. He caught it in his hand and watched it expire there like the last host of christendom." Love this. What is so good about this excerpt?

First real mention of other people in the book's present tense: bloodcults, road-agents, and marauders. What does this suggest about the area where they are?

The man is very handy and a creative, practical thinker. What profession do you suppose he had in the past?

"...the right dreams for a man in peril were dreams of peril and all else was the call of languor and death." Do you agree with the man's assessment of dreams? Why do you think he believes this (or at least says that he believes it)?

Where are the only sections of the book with bright colors set? What is significant about the use of bright colors?

Where is Rock City? What does this reference do for us as readers?

What do you find significant about the Coca Cola scene?

So up to this point (p. 27), there hasn't been an encounter with another LIVING person or animal...what do you think has happened here? Do you think it is a regional, national, international, or universal event?

Chapter Ten: Fin

2011-07-20T19:41:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://talksportsphilly.com)

Our narrator places himself back into the story again with an account of the deaths he has recently encountered. What is significant about the wording?

Why would aliens be so interested in Darwin? Why would they be interested in golf?

How had O'Hare and the narrator become so "extremely well-to-do"? Why does the narrator repeat Billy's phrase about Wild Bob?

What do you make of the comments the narrator and O'Hare have after they read the population data?

Now we have the narrator, O'Hare, and Billy all together in Dresden...does this solidify Billy's story?

Why is Dresden described as being the moon? Do you suppose it's a fitting description?
If so, how?

What does the position and condition of the first set of bodies found in Dresden suggest?

I like this ending...but it might not strike you the same. Take a look at the last 3-4 paragraphs...do you think this was a good way for Vonnegut to end the novel? Did the narrator keep his promise to Mary O'Hare?

Chapter 9

2011-07-20T19:12:00.007-04:00

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What a bizarre way for Valencia to go. Since we know that writers can dispose of characters in any way they wish, why do you think Vonnegut chose this circuitous route to Valencia's demise?

Love the Roosevelt quote...

Why is Rumfoord brought into the story? What does he do to move the plot along?

Why doesn't Rumfoord believe Billy was in Dresden initially?

Billy and the Americans were looting Dresden...does this change your opinion of Billy?

What does it say about Billy that the only thing he cries about during the entire war is the condition of the horses?

Why does the Rumfoord section end after Billy mentions the Tralfamadorians?

Billy realizes that he has read The Big Board before. This novel kind of mirrors his own experiences on Tralfamador. What does this fact suggest?

What is significant about the Jesus story?

Why does Vonnegut choose to put Billy in an adult bookstore? What do we learn about Billy based on his reactions there?

So we see the serenity prayer again, this time on Montana's necklace...what does this suggest about the earlier encounter with the prayer?

Chapter Eight

2011-07-20T18:11:00.005-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://westonjewelry.com)

Although Howard W. Campbell, Jr., is a fictional character, "The Free American Corps" was very real. Look it up.

What do you make of Derby's stance against Campbell? What do you make of the fact that he's the only one to make that stand?

Why does Billy's daughter want to kill Kilgore Trout?

Kilgore Trout created the idea of burning jellied gasoline. What is this substance referred to as today? Where was it used extensively? Why is it important that robots created and used it in the book?

Another great description: "She was a dull person, but a sensational invitation to make babies." Made me chuckle.

Why do you think Billy reacts so adversely to the "old gang of mine" song?

Has anyone ever tried the mirror/dog trick? I wonder if it works...

Odd thing to say about one's son: "Billy liked him, but didn't know him very well." How do you think this came to be?

Odd that after the bombing of Dresden, one of Billy's strongest memories is that the guards reminded him of a barbershop quartet...

Bombing of Dresden: 2/13/45. Why does this date sound familiar?

So Billy fathered a child with Montana Wildhack. He also goes through the entire pregnancy with her while in the Tralfamadorian zoo. As far as characterization goes, what does this tell us about Billy?

What a bizarre scene...Billy and the Americans come out of the slaughterhouse to see Dresden utterly destroyed...they make their way through the destruction, and just outside of town they see an inn open for business. Why do you think Vonnegut included this seemingly unlikely scene?

Chapter Seven

2011-07-18T21:22:00.007-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://accident-pictures.com)

How can you know the plane is going to crash and not say something -- allow people the opportunity to make their peace with God, for instance?

How does the nature of the Polish songs characterize Lionel Merble?

Billy was in a mental institution, and now we find out he had a massive head injury in the plane crash...could this explain the fact that his narration is questionable at best? Later it states that -- while unconcious from surgery -- billy "dreamed millions of things, some of them true. The true things were time travel." True according to whom?

Why do you think Vonnegut includes the scene with the women showering?

Interesting to see how Vonnegut described the spooning of vitamins. It was as if his body was thanking him...Have you ever craved some type of nourishment and had your body thank you?

Chapter 6: Dresden

2011-07-16T12:44:00.006-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://forum.axishistory.com)

Again, Vonnegut starts with, "Billy Pilgrim says..." Does this mean Billy is an unreliable narrator to our narrator?

Vonnegut keeps describing Edgar Derby as the "high school teacher who would eventually be shot." Why does he keep reminding us of that fact?

How could the lumps in the jacket work miracles for him if he didn't question their nature?

"Golgotha sounds" -- anybody have a comment on the source of this allusion? Great phrase...

Isn't it odd to have dartboards and pool tables in a war? Are they included simply as touches of realism or for some other reason?

What are your thoughts on Lazzaro's canine revenge? What about his planned revenge on the Blue Fairy Godmother? What do these things reveal about his character? Should Billy be nervous, or is Lazzaro just a big talker?

Billy dies on 2/13/76, the day before Valentine's Day...is there any other historical significance to that date?

The state of the United States has changed. There are "20 petty nations" instead of one that is united. Chicago has been hit by a hydrogen bomb that was dropped by "angry Chinamen." These things have not actually taken place in history. What is the idea behind these facts? Why does Vonnegut choose this fate for the United States?

What is geodesic? Why is that important?

The flag described is a Hereford bull in a field of green. Anybody read
Animal Farm? Seems to be a similarity between the flags. What is the significance of that?

Death is said to be nothing but violet light and a hum...no one else is there...not even Billy Pilgrim. Kind of depressing and empty.

What does the line drawn in the dirt by the Englishman mean?

What do you make of the fact that the Cinderella boots fit Billy perfectly? Is there any of the Cinderella story in Billy's story?

On page 146 in my book, the Englishman states that nothing in Dresden is worth bombing. If all of the reasons he gives are true, then why was Dresden obliterated by bombs?

Our narrator shows up in Dresden...behind Billy in the boxcar. What significance might there be in his comparing Dresden to Oz?

Since Billy knows that Dresden will be destroyed in the bombing, he takes in the beauty of the city with new eyes. Why is it that people generally don't take in beauty like this until it's too late?

What was the purpose of hiding a denture in the lining of the muff?

Chapter 5

2011-07-02T22:31:00.006-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://specialsomethingsboutique.com)

What is the significance of the Tralfamadorians having only one book and the fact that the one book they have is Valley of the Dolls?

Billy seems to be full of fear at age 12...fear of the Grand Canyon, fear of falling in, fear of having his mother push him in, the Carlsbad Cavern's roof falling in on him, a glow-in-the-dark watch...what's with all the fear?

I wonder what the American said to make the guard angry enough to knock him down...

The Englishmen had saved all that food...why not take care of the clerical error so that the troops on the front would have enough food?

New word alert: rodomontades

The British are shown to treat war as something stylish, reasonable, and fun. Why?

"The banquet hall was illuminated by candlelight." The candlelight was provided by candles made of human fat. grotesque image in an otherwise celebratory, welcoming environment...

Where else would one be able to take in a showing of Cinderella during WWII?

Why is it significant that Derby is reading The Red Badge of Courage?

So Billy was in a mental ward after the war...Does this make his story more or less plausible?

"So they were trying to re-invent themselves and their universe. Science fiction was a big help." How so?

Derby refers to the war as the "Children's Crusade." Where have we heard that before? Why is that significant?

Why do you suppose Billy is so averse to seeing his mother? Is the explanation of feeling guilty sufficient, or is there more to it?

Valencia sounds like a prize...

What do you make of the re-write of the New Testament?

Funny that the Tralfamadorian crowd goes crazy when Billy goes to the bathroom -- just like crowds at the zoo react when apes or monkeys go to the bathroom. What's up with that reaction?

Why can't humans follow the advice of the Tralfamadorians and just ignore the bad and celebrate the good?

What are your thoughts on the gravestone drawing?

What are your thoughts on Howard W. Campbell, Jr.'s thoughts on Americans and war?

Is Billy cheating on Valencia when he is sleeping with Montana, or is he absolved by the fact that it happens on a different planet?

Chapter 4: For every action...

2011-06-29T23:44:00.008-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://rejuvo.wordpress.com)

Who has an orange and black striped tent for a wedding? Jack Skellington?

I find it interesting that Billy knows he's going to be abducted by aliens, yet he does nothing to change this fact. Wouldn't he at least hide? Why do you think he does nothing to change his fate?

"So it goes." Even when it's just a bottle of champagne that's gone dead...funny.

What did you think about the WWII movie that Billy described backwards?

When Billy asks, "Why me?", why do the Tralfamadorians say that this was a very human question?

I found it funny that a Barca-Lounger is used as part of the human habitat in the Tralfamadorian zoo...What does that suggest about humans?

Why do you suppose Billy is so violent when he sleeps? Do you think his lack of sleep caused him to break from reality?

Why does Weary claim that Billy Pilgrim killed him?

Before the spaceship arrives, there is a sound like an owl. When the train arrives at the extermination camp, there is a cooing sound...significant?

Billy seems to jump around in time a lot at the end of this chapter. Why do you think this happens here?

What is so baffling to the Tralfamadorians concerning free will? Are humans brilliant because they're the only ones in the universe concerned with free will, or are they foolish to believe there is such a thing as free will?

Chapter 3: At War

2011-06-27T23:50:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: fpp.co.uk)

Why are the scouts killed, but not Weary or Billy?

p. 56: Is there any significance to this instance of time travel? Any significance to falling asleep (increasingly) at work?

What is "Ausable Chasm"?

What does the Lion's Club do? Who can join?

Interesting that Billy was not affected by the talk of bombings in Vietnam...why do you think he is so ambivalent?

What is the origin of the prayer on Billy's office wall? What group is associated with this prayer? What does this suggest about Billy?

Why do you think Billy just randomly weeps now?

Is there any significance in Billy's business investments?

"When food came in, the human beings were quiet and trusting and beautiful. They share." Love those lines.

Any significance to Billy's train moving and his being abducted by aliens?

Chapter 2: Unstuck in Time

2011-06-24T14:58:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://whatsonmytube.com)

This chapter reminded me of this cheesy television show,
Quantum Leap. The premise of the show was that the handsome lead character would be sent back and forth in time in order to help with one situation or another. Until the situation was resolved, he was stuck wherever he landed...but one of the main differences between the show and the novel is that in the show, he could become other people...so he might be a woman, or he might be an old man, or he might be African American...that would be even tougher than Billy Pilgrim trying to figure out what age he was. It's much easier to act like yourself, no matter what age.

I love the phrase "unstuck in time," if for no other reason than it indicates that we are all currently stuck in time. Interesting to think about.

When relating Billy's situation, the narrator says, "He says." Does this mean that Billy Pilgrim is unreliable to the narrator? If the narrator doesn't trust the story, should we?

Billy Pilgrim's father dies in a hunting accident while Billy is away at war...Billy's wife dies from a random carbon monoxide accident after Billy survives a tragic airplane crash as the only survivor. Irony? If not, then what do you make of these odd coincidences?

What is significant about Billy's profession?

OK...so you're in New York, you're up late, and you're listening to talk radio. A man calls in and tells a story about being abducted by aliens, being put on display in a zoo, and being forced to breed with a former starlet with the unlikely name of Montana Wildhack...what is your reaction? What do you think of Billy's story?

So according to the Tralfamadorians, when someone dies, they are still alive in the past. All moments -- past, present, future -- have always existed and will always continue to exist. What do you think of this interesting theory? Is it plausible?

We finally find out the source of "so it goes." Does it change the way you hear that phrase?

[Note: Gotta love an author who uses the word "flibbertigibbet."]

vox humana and vox celeste...meanings?

Four survive the Battle of the Bulge: 2 scouts, 1 tank gunner, and 1 chaplain's assistant. Is there any significance to their jobs?

[Note: I hope no one ever describes me as a "filthy flamingo"]

Everyone on the gun crew was killed except for Weary...sound familiar?

A Spanish thumbscrew, in case you were wondering... (Photo Credit: http://medieval-castles.org)

Weary has a sick fascination with torture, don't you think? The Iron Maiden...

(Photo credit: http://123rf.com)

What does Weary's version of the war tell you about Weary as a character?

Why did Billy resent being rescued from the bottom of the pool?

We get the story of Private Slovik, the only American soldier shot for cowardice since the Civil War. Why are we told this story?

When Billy is unstuck in time, why does he visit his only infidelity? Is there a method to the madness of this time travel?

The chapter ends with the surreal scene of Weary beating Pilgrim while Germans watch in wonder...what does the scene suggest to you about the line between fantasy and reality?

Chapter 1

2011-06-20T18:15:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://feelingfeelings.wordpress.com)

As this is the first chapter, let me tell you how I work. I am going to post all of my thoughts and questions from each chapter, taken from my own notes. I do not expect you to answer every question...or even answer any of the questions, necessarily. They are here merely to spur thoughts. You can comment on what I've written here or comment on whatever you like related to each chapter. You can even bring in connections to other novels, movies, or your own life. When all is said and done, we should have a pretty decent conversation about each chapter. And so it goes...

First, it's interesting that Vonnegut makes himself a character in his own work. That will pretty much disappear after chapter 1, but you should think about why he would do so.

p. 1: It's odd that in his description of Dresden/Dayton that he mentioned the bone meal so offhandedly...it's probably true, but an odd detail to bring up.

"So it goes." What do you make of this repeated phrase? What does the phrase do to the narrative around it?

What significance do the limerick (p. 2) and the song (p. 3) have?

I like the anti-glacier comment by Harrison Starr. Sad, but true...

What differences do you notice between the narrator (Vonnegut here) and O'Hare? Anything of significance?

I love that the narrator admits to drunk-dialing operators to stalk former friends and lovers...

What is the irony of Edgar Derby's sad tale?

What significance is there in the fact that he outlined the story in crayon?

Why is what he learned in college so important?

What does an anthropologist do?

What is important about his first news story? Why did he share that particular story? What was his tone as he related this story?

The Dresden bombing was worse than Hiroshima? How so? Is this a fact?

p. 10 -- why does he repeat the phrase, "I know"?

What is significant about the list of jobs Vonnegut has had since the war?

Eheu, fugaces labuntur anni. What does this mean?

I thought it was odd to compare carp with atomic submarines...

Mary has a cold demeanor upon Vonnegut's arrival...she then seems angry...then she unleashes her anger. What do you think of her as a character, and do you think her outburst was understandable/justifiable?

What is the irony of the information from the book by Mary Endell (p. 17-18)?

Great Quote: "And I asked myself about the present: how wide it was, how deep it was, and how much was mine to keep."

Theodore Roethke's Words for the Wind and Erika Ostrovsky's Celine and His Vision ... Any significance in the allusion to these works?

Starting Lines

2011-06-17T22:44:00.003-04:00

(Photo credit: http://barefootdaves.com)

OK...just a few things to consider as you begin this novel...three things, to be precise.

1) Why did Vonnegut choose to include a verse from "Away in a Manger" to start the novel? Is there anything significant here?
2) Why did Vonnegut choose to dedicate the book to two of the fictional characters from the novel?
3) What do you make of the alternate title for the novel: The Children's Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death?

Give those things some thought and share your ideas here...

The Widsom of Vonnegut

2011-06-12T23:40:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://musicisart.ws)

Here is a lesson in creative writing. First rule: Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.

Kurt Vonnegut, A Man without a Country

Summer of Fun

2011-06-02T11:04:00.003-04:00

I decided to do something a little different this summer, and I hope you all like it. I have chosen two books that fall into the science fiction genre, but they are so much more. Slaughterhouse Five is a crazy, fun, sad, disturbing work of genius by one of America's most prolific author's. Do a little research on Vonnegut...get to know him...he's an interesting fella. Also, remember this book cover and come back to this post when you're done reading. I want to know why Vonnegut gave it the alternate title...what do you think (don't research it...just share your opinion)?

Enjoy the read. I'll have a post up for chapter 1 soon.

Research Writing Examples

2011-03-07T22:22:00.002-05:00

Here are the examples we did in class, as promised. Use them as a reference.

Ernest Hemingway, a proponent of bullfighting, has gone on record as seeing the brutal act as something more noble than mere violence. “Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter’s honor” (Hemingway 90).

Ernest Hemingway, a proponent of bullfighting, has gone on record as seeing the brutal act as “the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter’s honor” (Hemingway 90).

[Note: This next one wouldn't format right for the blog, but just note that it should be indented 1" from the left, as we did in class.]

Ernest Hemingway, a proponent of bullfighting, has gone on record as seeing the brutal act as something more noble than mere violence:
Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter’s honor. (Hemingway 90)

Ernest Hemingway, a proponent of bullfighting, has gone on record as seeing the brutal act as something more noble than mere violence. His view is that it is a work of art, and a matador’s performance is measured through his level of honor (Hemingway 90).

Ernest Hemingway, a proponent of bullfighting, has gone on record as seeing the brutal act as something more noble than mere violence. Although he sees the reality of the “danger of death” in the sport, he believes that a matador’s “performance is left to the fighter’s honor” (Hemingway 90).

Research Sites Worth Checking Out

2011-02-11T22:22:00.002-05:00

Here are the research sites I spoke about in class. It would be wise and very helpful to you to spend a little time looking at their content. Work smarter, not harder.

Digital Research

Bedford Research Tools

The Thesis Statement

2011-02-06T15:56:00.004-05:00

The thesis statement is the guiding force of your research paper. It lets the reader know what it is that you are going to be looking at in the essay. Everything in your thesis statement should be covered and supported in the body of your essay, so it is critical that your thesis statement be solid. Below are some links that define and explain how to write a thesis statement.

Purdue Online Writing Center Thesis Statement

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Thesis Statement

Indiana University Bloomington Thesis Statement

Research Paper Topics

2011-02-04T08:15:00.006-05:00

Here are the sites for research topics. You don't have to use topics from these sites, but they are a solid jumping-off point. Remember...be genuinely interested in learning something about a topic you are genuinely interested in...this is what research is all about. Also remember to stay away from the following: Abortion, Death Penalty, Legalizing Marijuana, Gay Marriage, and Assisted Suicide. I've just read far too many research papers on these topics, and there a gazillion other topics out there.
UCF Writing Center

Midway Research Topics

Writing Center Research Topics

"Autumn Begins in Martin's Ferry, Ohio"

2010-10-19T21:42:00.003-04:00

Here are some of the good examples of support from your homework assignments. To those who have provided them, a hearty "good job" goes out to you.

Aside from the heat and hard work put forth in a blast furnace, describing the African American's faces as gray emphasizes the formation of ash upon the worker's faces, making them seem as if they are decaying.

The watchman is also described as "ruptured," which implies that some aspect of his life is broken apart and unstable.

Both the blast furnace and the company, Wheeling Steel, deal with the production and shaping of metals. This implies that the men at the football game are stiff, cold, and hard to change, just like the materials they work with.

Writing Samples

2010-10-15T23:47:00.002-04:00

As promised, here are the samples we put together in class. Use them as references as you put together your paragraph on the poem.

From 5th hour:

The novel Heart of Darkness and the poem The Hollow Men both include numerous symbols of darkness and evil.
In The Heart of Darkness, Conrad provides an eerie and dark scene early in the novel to foreshadow the darkness that will envelope Marlow once he arrives in Africa. When Marlow goes to sign his contract and get a physical from The Company. He describes two women “guarding the door of Darkness, knitting black wool as for a warm pall.” Conrad capitalized the word “darkness,” which suggests the company’s likeness to Hell. A pall, which is a blanket for a coffin, also suggests darkness. These two, combined with the use of black wool by the women, work to suggest an atmosphere of darkness and evil.

From 4th Hour:

Both The Heart of Darkness and The Hollow Men provide numerous symbols of darkness that help create a somber and foreboding mood. The Hollow Men achieves this mood by providing a number of dreary images. In line 33, Eliot provides an image of a “rat’s coat.” Rats are often associated with sewers and disease, both of which indicate a foreboding mood. The fact that Eliot is providing the coat of the rat implies that the wearer of the coat is wrapped up in this sense of dreariness. The same line also includes “crossed staves,” indicating a crude cross made of two connected and perpendicular sticks. Such crosses are often used for graves found in rural or desolate settings, like the desert setting found in the poem. Eliot also refers to the “dying stars” that are visible in this desolate setting (line 54). The clear reference to death in this image helps to solidify the somber and foreboding mood.

Socratic Question examples

2010-09-28T21:07:00.003-04:00

OK, he might not be the most handsome, but he was pretty darn smart.

Here are the examples from class. I will add to them as needed.

World Connection Question:
How would you react if you were to come upon a group of starving, dying slaves? Would you help?
If you were alive in that time period and came across the black men that had been worked to death, would you give them food like Marlow did, or do something else?
If a doctor told you people have never returned from the trip you are about to attend, would you still go?
If you were Marlow watching the chained men walk into slavery how would you react?
If you encountered the starving people Marlow encountered, what would, or wouldn’t, you do to help them out?
Traveling to Africa in the time period of the novel is like traveling to the planet today. What would be your reason to travel to an unknown place?
How would you feel toward a group of people the first time you met them, if you had previously been told they were enemies? Even if you saw them enslaved and weak?
If you come across a group of dying native laborers lying against the trees, would you interact with/help them (like how Marlow gave one native a biscuit)?

Close- Ended Question:
Marlow has a lot of respect for the chief accountant. Do you think his opinion will change toward the end of the novel? Why?
Why is the cliff being blown up if it isn’t even in the way of the railway construction?

Open-Ended Question:
Why do the British Invaders refer to the slaves as savages when they are the ones doing the brutalizing?
Why did Marlow look up to/respect the accountant?
What is the significance of the white necklace?
One of the dying workers Marlow encounters has some sort of white necklace on. What is the possible significance of this?
Why does the manager let the young black boy treat the whites like he does?
Marlow specifically points out the white European yarn tied around a native’s neck. Why is this significant?
Why does Marlow feel the need to explore?
Why does the author utilize Marlow to narrate a story when there was an original narrator in the beginning of the novel?

Universal Theme/Core:
How does the imagery of the devastated natives and landscape show how big business/civilization is horrible?

Literary Analysis Question:
Why did the author choose to have a narrator telling a story about Marlow telling the story?
Why did the author choose to have the story told from a narrator who does not tell the story?
What is the importance of the symbol darkness to the story?

The Dreaded Essay

2010-09-01T23:20:00.003-04:00

OK...It has been requested that I post the writing prompt on the blog, so I will do so. Afterwards, I will give some advice to help you write a solid paper. Should you have any questions about writing the paper, please put them on this post...that way I can answer them here for everyone. Therefore, before you ask your question, read through what has already been asked and answered so there are no repeat questions. So, here goes:

Essay Question

Write a 3-4 page paper explaining why you think the novel is considered literature rather than merely a story. This assignment will require you to define what literature is and then give specific examples from the text to support your argument.

I expect a solid introduction and conclusion. Your paper should reflect knowledge of the entire novel and insightful analysis. Show me what you know.

The essay should be typed in 12 point font (Times New Roman or Courier New). It should be double-spaced and have one-inch margins all around. I will be looking at your grammar usage and spelling as part of your grade on this paper, so have someone read it over before you turn it in to me.

Remember, the paper should be 3-4 pages in length…not 4 pages, not 2.5 pages. Be concise and precise.

Again, the paper is due on the first day of class and will act as your pass into my class. You will also have an objective test over the novel on the first day of class.

The paper should also be formatted in the MLA Style. If you don't know what that looks like, consult the OWL at Purdue website (On-Line Writing Lab). Just Google it.

I don't want you to use sources for your paper. I want your own thoughts and insights. You may consult various sources to develop your own definition of literature, but since it is considered common knowledge, you won't have to cite those sources.

Most important: solid thesis statement and solid, specific support from the novel. You only have 3-4 pages, so I don't expect every iota of support you can find. Use the best of what you have. Make sure that your support comes from various parts of the novel, indicating that you have knowledge of the novel as a whole.

Again, all other questions should be posted below.

See you on Tuesday.

Chapter 59: The Ending Controversy

2010-08-19T14:03:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.your-guide-to-gifts-for-horse-lovers.com)

Read this chapter carefully -- then read the first Connections story, "A Dickens of an Ending." Which ending to the novel do you believe is the ending that fits the story best? Why?

Chapter 58: Homecoming

2010-08-19T13:58:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.gospelgifs.com)

What is Pumblechook alluding to when he uses the word "prodigygality"? Is it an apt allusion to Pip's case?

What do you think would have happened if Pip would have told Joe about his "secondly" while they were in London?

Here is the part where it becomes crystal clear that this is a Bildungsroman. In what ways has Pip become a man and a true gentleman?

Chapter 57: Delirious

2010-08-19T13:51:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.healthcentral.com)

Another masterful writing job by Dickens here, as he has Pip drifting in and out of consciousness. What exactly does Dickens do to make this so realistic?

Pip is in deep financial straits. How will he get out of debt without a job? Do you think this will force him to work for Herbert?

Awesome and humorous description her of Joe writing a letter...and note the positive descriptions of their walks and rides.

Joe feels guilty about not being able to stop Mrs. Joe and the tickler, and he feels even more guilty because his attempts to stop her caused Pip to get even worse beatings. Is this guilt justified?

So now we know what "secondly" meant. If you were Biddy, what would you say?

Chapter 56: The Verdict

2010-08-19T13:46:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://media.photobucket.com)

Thirty-two people were sentenced to death in one session. Thirty-two! This would be a great argument against the death penalty. What are your thoughts on that punishment? What does Dickens seem to think of it?

What can you point to in the story that made Pip change from wanting to desert Magwitch to never leaving his side until he was forced to?

Why did Pip wait so long to tell Magwitch about Estella?

Chapter 55: A Wedding, but No Funeral

2010-08-19T13:39:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://hautecouturetaxonomy.files.wordpress.com)

Why is Pip so concerned that Magwitch should never find out that Pip will never get his inheritance?

When asked to join Herbert in his business, Pip says "secondly." What is this second thought?

Why does Dickens put the wedding of Wemmick here (and by the way, it is a quite amusing trip to the altar, don't you think)?

Chapter 54: Getaway...Almost

2010-08-19T13:31:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.row2k.com)

First, I love the description of March in the beginning...Dickens is spot-on here.

Pip tells Magwitch that he knows about enjoying freedom. Magwitch says Pip doesn't know what if feels like compared to him. Is there some similarity in their feelings of freedom? If so, what is the source of that feeling?

Pip says that Magwitch seems despondent. Though Magwitch denies this, what might be the cause of his looking despondent?

The capture scene would make for great movie action. Why was it so easy for Compeyson and the Custom House officials to catch them?

Why is Pip so devoted to Magwitch when he has basically abandoned Joe?

Chapter 53: Whoa! Pip Got Orlicked!

2010-08-19T13:25:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://staff.washington.edu)

That's right...I made up a new verb...Orlicked.

Orlick has some legitimate beefs with Pip. Which of these beefs seems to have hurt him the most? Why?

Orlick says Compeyson works for him now. Do you think this is actually the way it is?

What has happened to Orlick? How did he escape -- drunk -- from three able-bodied men?

Who could be Orlick's double?

Chapter 52: Startop? Really?

2010-08-19T01:13:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.uwsp.edu)

We are on Chapter 52, and this is the only good thing Pip has done in his opinion...is that true?

After some thought, I've concluded that I wouldn't want to be in Herbert's shoes -- headed off to Arabia from London...sounds like an exile, not a business opportunity...

Startop? Seems like a pretty random reappearance. Is this a reach by Dickens, or masterful planning?

This is turning into a sort of mystery novel, full of intrigue...who do you think sent Pip the letter that brought him back home?

How long will it be before Pip feels remorse about Joe and Biddy and doesn't just do so in passing?

A note: Remember Miss Havisham's accident and the mention of Gravesend here...they will be part of an allusion in another novel we'll read this year...

Chapter 51: Taking Jaggers by Surprise

2010-08-19T00:59:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.esquire.com)

The first paragraph leaves us with the same question that Pip has: What purpose is there for him to be so adamant in his pursuit of the truth behind Estella's parentage?

What is going on in the minds of Wemmick and Jaggers when Pip tells of having been to Wemmick's nice home and of Wemmick having an aged father?

Why do you think Jaggers is so surprised and bothered that Pip knows who Estella's father is?

Although there is "no admission", Jaggers clearly has a heart somewhere in that chest of his, at least where children are concerned. What do you think he means that when he saw Molly's violent nature creeping back in, he asserted "his power over her in the old way"?

Why are Jaggers and (more uncharacteristically) Wemmick so harsh towards Mike in his moment of weakness?

Is Jaggers right in his thoughts about keeping Estella's parentage a secret?

Chapter 50: Tying Up Some Loose Ends

2010-08-19T00:53:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.horsechannel.com)

So...Compeyson jilted Miss Havisham...Molly and Magwitch are the parents of Estella...and Miss Havisham ended up with Estella. In all of this tangled web, who do you think is the biggest victim here?

Notice the craft Dickens uses in this conversation between Herbert and Pip. How does he manage to make this conversation some about in such a natural way? What makes it such a real exchange?

Chapter 49: Atonement

2010-08-19T00:42:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.98fm.com)

Miss Havisham conducts the business concerning Herbert with swiftness and in a business-like manner. This transaction tells us several things about her character. What are some of those things?

Why is Miss Havisham crying? Why should she be crying?

What foreshadows Miss Havisham's fiery fate?

Chapter 48: Dinner with Man Hands

2010-08-14T00:52:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://1.bp.blogspot.com)

Why does Jaggers bring up the matter of Drummel and Estella's impending marriage? Is it for Pip's sake or for Molly's sake?

Why do you think Jaggers brings up the idea that Drummle will have to beat Estella if he wants the upper hand in the marriage?

Molly is said to have been "tamed" by Jaggers from the moment she goes to work for him. How do you suppose she was "tamed"?

Chapter 47: The Phantom of the Theater

2010-08-14T00:46:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://cityguideny.com)

Pip indicates that his finances are not good. What do you think of his solution for handling that situation?

What hints does Pip give that indicate that Wopsle's acting career has derailed?

Was Compeyson there on purpose or by mere coincidence? If he was there for a purpose, what was that purpose? He takes a pretty big risk sitting so close to Pip...

Chapter 46: The Marina District...kind of

2010-08-14T00:40:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://hallbuzz.com)

Pip finds himself in an entirely new setting here. What does the setting described by Pip suggest? In other words, what does the setting symbolize here?

Pip and Clara have some very clear similarities in their lives. What do you see as being similar?

Why does Magwitch seem so comfortable here, especially with Barley roaring below him at all hours?

Chapter 45: Sleepless Nights...

2010-08-02T09:59:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://mymagesites2.com)

Dickens does a nice job of capturing Pip's uneasy state of mind and his inability to sleep. Ever been unable to shut your brain off so you can sleep? I think Dickens did this very well.

Wemmick, like Jaggers, is very careful with his words. He is also very sly in his actions. Why is he so concerned with Magwitch's portable property? And why does he risk himself in this situation?

What do we learn about Clara, based on what we've learned in this chapter?

Chapter 44: Sometimes the Truth Hurts

2010-08-02T09:52:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.photoschau.de)

Okay...a mushy, melodramatic chapter...

Why does Pip want Miss Havisham to help Herbert? Why do you think she agrees to do so?

Why is Estella marrying Drummle? Of all the men, as Pip says, why this dreadful brute? What do you think?

Why do you think Miss Havisham has a look of horror and remorse on her face?

Another cliffhanger -- Why would Wemmick warn Pip not to go home? What could possibly be waiting for him there?

Chapter 43: Hey, Pal, That's MY Girl

2010-08-02T09:47:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://christthetruth.files.wordpress.com)

As is too often the case, Pip makes the situation about him...and Estella...Why does he want to see Estella and Miss Havisham before taking care of Magwitch's escape from England?

Very childish behavior between Drummle and Pip. So who will win the battle for Estella's heart (if she actually has one)?

Chapter 42: The Story

2010-08-02T09:41:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com)

Pip is the novel's narrator, but Magwitch is the narrator of his own story. Is Magwitch a reliable narrator? If so, what evidence can you give to support that? If not, why not?

Magwitch is Compeyson's lackey, and Compeyson is a dirty backstabber. Why is it significant that the Arthur mentioned is Miss Havisham's brother, and Compeyson is the man who left her at the altar?

Chapter 41: Dangling

2010-08-01T23:38:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.geting.com)

Sure...NOW Pip regrets leaving the forge...

Why won't Pip accept any more money from Magwitch?

Herbert is in friend mode here, and he is really good at it. Do you think his plan of getting Magwitch safely out of the country will work? Is it even a good plan?

Again, the end of the chapter is a cliffhanger...what is the story of the fight in the marshes? Read on...

Chapter 40: Uncle Provis

2010-08-01T17:38:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.popfi.com)

Note to Self:
Fire the watchman.

Sincerely,
Pip

Names are significant to Dickens, as we saw earlier...what is significant about the names Provis and Magwitch? You may have to do some investigative work to figure this out.

Magwitch has been very generous to Pip, and he continues to throw money at him...the only reason given is that Pip gave him food and a file on the marshes and didn't rat him out. Seems like the two pound notes would have been sufficient payment for this "good" deed. So why is he paying Pip back in such an opulent way?

Jaggers is very careful with his words when he speaks with Pip, and he makes sure Pip is very careful with his words, as well. What more does this exchange tell us about Jaggers' character?

Why does Magwitch carry a Bible? More importantly, why does he only use it for this one purpose?

Chapter 39: The Truth

2010-07-28T17:57:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.mooncostumes.com)

Another leap in time...now he's 23.

The last paragraph on page 333 starts a lengthy description of the weather conditions and how they affect Pip's environment. Weather always tells us something in literature. Always keep on eye on the weather.

Figurative Language Alert!!! Great personification/simile here: "the smoke came rolling down the chimney as though it could not bear to go out into such a night." Love that line.

So Pip's convict -- still no name at this point -- was/is his benefactor. How does this change Pip's prospects in life?

Why is he so ungrateful to the convict?

Why is Pip just now regretting how he has treated Joe and Biddy?

Chapter 38: The Apple and the Tree

2010-07-28T17:48:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net)

Man, Pip's got it bad...and Estella has not only hinted -- but actually warned Pip -- that she does not feel the same towards him. So why does he torturing himself? Why doesn't he just stop seeing her?

Is Pip correct in his thinking -- that he is chosen by Miss Havisham, and that makes Estalla more able to break the hearts of other men because she is untouchable?

It seems that Miss Havisham really has made a heartless monster of Estella. Are Estella's logical analogies true? Is it possible for a human to feel no love for another?

Although Pip is irate about Drummle, Estella indicates she is leading him on, like so many others. The exception for her is Pip. Does this mean that he is the only one she cares for? Does she love him without actually realizing it?

Chapter 37: The Bank of Pip

2010-07-27T11:33:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://entrepreneur.com)

What character traits are revealed by Dickens concerning Wemmick in this chapter? How does he reveal these traits?

Wemmick sets up Herbert at Pip's request. Pip says that he is glad his expectations have done someone some good. What does he mean by that? Don't his expectations do him some good?

Here's a question: How is it that Pip sees fit to help out Herbert but does not help out Joe?

Chapter 36: You Got Your Manhood, Pip!

2010-07-27T11:21:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.zazzle.com)

Now that Pip is 21, he is a man in this culture. He is now in charge of his own money. How well do you think he will handle that responsibility?

Pip expected to find out who his benefactor was on his 21st birthday. What possible motivation would the benefactor have for not making this revelation to Pip?

Does Wemmick provide sound advice concerning Pip's desire to help Herbert out? What advice do you think he would have given if her were at Walworth?

Chapter 35: The Funeral

2010-07-24T10:00:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.shisso.org)

Although Pip's family had died, Mrs. Joe's death is the only death he remembers. Do you remember the first time a "grave had opened" in your life? How did your experience match up with or differ from Pip's experience?

Mrs. Joe -- his sister, Joe's wife -- has died, yet Pip stays at the Blue Boar before the funeral. What does this tell us about Pip?

Is there significance to the three words Mrs. Joe says before she dies?

What's up with creeper Orlick?

In his talk with Biddy, why does Pip constantly "give up the point?"

Chapter 34: Mounting Debts

2010-07-24T09:32:00.002-04:00

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Pip is aware of the negative effect his "great expectations" have had on him. This being the case, why doesn't he make an effort to change? What could/should he do?

Pip is a big spender now, by his own admission. Why does he have regret about doing this with Herbert?

As for Herbert...have you ever been with someone who has more money than you and felt that you should keep up with their spending habits?

Herbert has an interesting view on what makes one prosperous in America...

Allusion Alert!!! Lloyd's of London...look it up and note its history.

What is humorous about Herbert and Pip's efforts concerning their mounting debts?

What significance do you think Mrs. Joe's death will have for Pip? for Joe?

Chapter 33: Tea for Two

2010-07-24T08:58:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://weblogs.ryerson.ca)

Why do you think Estella's "manner was more winning" than it had ever been before?

Pip states in a parenthetical comment: "I was not at all happy there at the time, observe, and I knew it well." Why wasn't he happy to have Estella alone in a restaurant?

Why are the Pockets (other than Matthew) scheming against Pip?

Pip finally learned how to tip...with Estella's money...

Estella calls Pip by his name for the first time -- a gesture that makes an impression on Pip. What is the significance of this gesture?

Just for fun...

2010-07-24T02:11:00.003-04:00

Certainly a rival performance for Wopsle...

Chapter 32: Jailhouse Visit

2010-07-24T01:58:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org)

Is there any hope for a relationship with Estella based on her letter to Pip? Why, or why not?

Based on what you read, what is Dickens' opinion of the penal system, as filtered through the descriptions of Pip?

What do you make of Wemmick's conversation with the Colonel? What does this interaction tell us about Wemmick's character?

What is the nameless shadow?

Chapter 31: I Do Not Like White Legs and Ham

2010-07-24T01:48:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://kieferhomespa.com)

Clearly, Herbert and Pip are not in Denmark...five phantom points to the first person who identifies the play they are watching...

Sounds like a fun play to watch -- what's ironic about that?

Mr. Wopsle mistakenly says "service" instead of "representation." What do you make of that?

So...does Pip know the works of Shakespeare? Tell me what you think and why you think that.

Wopsle goes home with the boys to dine at Pip's request. This is probably the most decent thing Pip has done since he became aware of his great expectations. Can you think of anything else he's done that can be considered thoughtful on his part? What does this action tell us about Pip at this point?

Chapter 30: Thank You Trabby Much

2010-07-17T11:50:00.003-04:00

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Pip convinces Jaggers to get Orlick away from Miss Havisham. How do you think Orlick will react if he finds out Pip is the one who convinced Jaggers to do this?

Trabb's boy...again...what do you make of his odd behavior? What about Pip's reaction to his behavior?

Dear Pip,
An angry letter? Seriously?

Sincerely,
A Concerned Reader

I never knew that seafood was an acceptable way to say, "I'm sorry."

Herbert seems to have a very good idea of what makes Pip tick. What seems to be Dickens' purpose for including a character like Herbert in this story?

Chapter 29: Amore (sorry, guys)

2010-07-17T11:43:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.johnclayton.org.uk)

Pip has very lofty romantic ideas about Estella, but he tempers them with doses of reality. Does he really think he'll be able to gain the affections of Estella? Do you?

Orlick as porter...seems logical...he's as close to being a criminal as you can get, so he should be able to handle himself if there is an intruder...

It's odd that Estella can't remember her cruel treatment of Pip. She has no heart, according to her own words...no sentimentality. What proves this idea wrong?

Why won't Jaggers look at Estella during dinner -- even when he talks to her -- yet he sneaks looks at her while they are playing cards? What do you make of that?

Chapter 28: Flashback Character

2010-07-17T11:36:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.bbc.co.uk)

Even Pip knows that his justifications for staying at the Blue Boar are no more than justifications...so why does he choose to stay there anyway?

It's odd that Pip's convict gave another convict (a stranger) the two pound notes to give to Pip. Very naive, indeed. So why did the convict from the Blue Boar give Pip the money instead of spending it himself?

Pumblechook is shameless. Why does he spend so much time and energy trying to convince others that Pip's great expectations are due in large part to Pumblechook's doings?

Chapter 27: Joe's Mission

2010-07-13T23:41:00.004-04:00

Why is Pip so averse to Joe's visit?

Pip, who has only just come into wealth, now focuses on interior decorating, and he acquires and dresses a servant before having a use for him.

Wopsle is now an actor in London. Can you guess what play he's in?

How bad must Barnard's Inn be if Joe wouldn't keep a pig there? What does this say about Pip's improvements to the place?

What symbolism can you discern in the comedic tumbling of Joe's hat?

Very touching final scene in this chapter. Joe reminds me of Forest Gump...he may not be the smartest man, but he knows what love is and he knows right from wrong. Life is just a box of chocolates...

Chapter 26: Out for Dinner

2010-07-13T23:32:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://cache3.asset-cache.net)

Why is Jaggers somewhat OCD about washing his hands?

What stands out to you concerning the description of Jaggers' house?

Why does Jaggers like Drummle?

What is so significant about Molly's wrists? In what way to they show power?

Chapter 25: Nodding

2010-07-12T16:00:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com)

Pip starts with commentary about the variety of people he is surrounded by. What traits does he seem to dislike? What does he tend to like in other people?

Why do you think Jaggers invites thieves to try and rob his home?

Wemmick's home sounds like a mini-castle, fortified with food and a cannon. Why do you think he's so insistent on keeping work at work and home at home?

What do you find interesting about Wemmick's collection of oddities?

Chapter 24: Getting Settled

2010-07-12T15:53:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://farm5.static.flickr.com)

Pip is like many college freshmen...they know that they want to go to college and get an education, but they aren't sure what profession they want to pursue.

Why is Jaggers giving Pip such a hard time when Pip asks for money? He acts as if it is his own money he's giving to Pip.

Why do you think Jaggers keeps facial casts of men who have been executed for crimes?

Why is "portable property" so important to Wemmick?

Based on the courtroom scene described by Pip, what type of lawyer is Jaggers?

Chapter 23: The Scholar's Home

2010-07-12T00:03:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://ontrich.com)

Drummle and Startop...odd names, but characters to remember -- especially Drummle.

A very hectic chapter -- and this is where some of Dickens' genius shows up. Notice how his writing style seems to reflect a lack of focus. This is how our brains work when we are surrounded by chaos, and he captures it perfectly. This is much different from the writing in previous chapters.

Imagine being thrown into this scenario after having been an only child -- an orphan -- in the Gargery household. Pip seems to hold his own as he makes sense of it all.

This chapter is an example of Dickens' take on the bourgeois level of society. What do you think his opinion of that level of society is?

Chapter 22: Pip Dreams (yes, it's a pun)

2010-07-10T22:34:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://fc03.deviantart.com)

Herbert seems like a truly nice guy, but what's up with calling Pip Handel? What can you derive about Herbert's personality from his reasoning -- why he doesn't like Phillip but does like Handel?

Herbert is very kind -- almost funny -- in the ways in which he schools Pip on proper dinner manners...

So we get the story of Miss Havisham's jilting...or at least all that Herbert knows. So who is the brother and who is the runaway groom? I hope we get that answer in later chapters...

What is the connection between A) the childhood fight and Herbert's account of the childhood fight, and B) Herbert's current employment and Herbert's account of his current employment?

What are you first impressions of Mrs. Pocket and her parenting skills (tumbling up)?

Chapter 21: Diminished Expectations

2010-07-09T01:16:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://media.photobucket.com)

Wemmick seems to be an interesting chap. What stands out to you in his description and his dialogue?

Wemmick says Barnard's Inn reminds him of the country. Why does Pip see it as the most dismal of places?

Why do you think Wemmick is out of the habit of shaking hands?

The pale young boy!!! It should come as no surprise, really, as he is a relative of Miss Havisham. Maybe Pip will punch him again...

Chapter 20: London Town

2010-07-09T01:09:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.garryconn.com)

Apparently, Pip hasn't conquered the custom of tipping...

What are the first descriptive impressions Pip gives us of London? What about Jaggers' office?

What can you make of Jaggers' profession and character based on his interactions with the people who are waiting to see him? What kind of man is he? What kind of lawyer is he?

Chapter 19: The Fallout

2010-07-07T00:58:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://4.bp.blogspot.com)

Joe knows about symbolic gestures -- he puts the indenture papers in the fire. Also symbolic is what the clergyman reads at the service (though it is only briefly mentioned). What is the idea of the sermon about the rich man and the kingdom of Heaven? Why does Pip not really care for this story?

Pip has already gained some of the snobbery associated with the upper class he is to be a part of. What things struck you as somewhat snobbish behavior on his part? What do you think of his behavior in this chapter?

What do you think of Trabb's boy? And what of the treatment he receives from Trabb? And what of the behavior Trabb's boy has towards Pip? Much has been made about this character by scholars, so I would like to see what your thoughts are...

Pip seems to have a different opinion of Pumblechook that was perceptible in this chapter. What accounts for this changed point of view?

Why is it significant that Pip should always and forever keep the name of Pip?

I like the throwing of the horse shoes by Joe and Biddy -- a wish of good luck and safe travels. That was a nice touch.

...and so, after a lackluster farewell and brief melancholy, we come to the end of the first part of Pip's great expectations...

Chapter 18: Surpise!

2010-07-07T00:52:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://media.photobucket.com)

So Pip is in the fourth year of his apprenticeship...not the time leap here.

Why does Jaggers continually bite his finger? (I don't have an answer...it just seems like something we should know.)

Why does Pip assume that Miss Havisham is behind his "great expectations"?

This is like a dream come true for Pip -- he is to have a fortune and become a gentleman. It's kind of like hitting the lottery. Can you think of any movies with a similar plot?

Chapter 17: Pip's Problem with Women

2010-07-07T00:43:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://i.ehow.com/images)

What do you get out of Pip's description of Biddy and how she felt about it? Is he crushing? Does he love her? What DOES he feel towards her?

What are Biddy's feelings towards Pip, based on her behavior and their conversations?

Orlick is a creeper...thank goodness THAT tradition has passed: "I like you, so I'm going to dance at you."

Chapter 16: How about a game of Clue?

2010-07-07T00:38:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://flcenterlitarts.files.wordpress.com)

Orlick, or the stranger from the pub? What say ye?

As bad as she was, Mrs. Joe certainly didnt' deserve this fate. Why is she being so nice to Orlick now?

A reminder

2010-07-04T14:15:00.002-04:00

As this appears to be the first time many of you are checking in, I just wanted to remind you that you may comment on any of the chapters...you do not have to comment on them all...just make sure you have five total comments for this section. They are due by midnight on Tuesday. Hope you are all enjoying your holiday weekend (and not frantically trying to catch up on reading because you were procrastinating).

New posts for the second section will go up after midnight on Tuesday.

Chapter 15: An Education

2010-07-02T01:36:00.005-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.lynchburg.edu/images/sections/student_raising_hand.jpg)

Oh, to have a student like Pip! Hungry for education? Awesome...and he wants to share his knowledge! his motive for sharing needs adjustment, though.

What do you think of the Orlick character? What stands out about this man? I have to say that I did like the fact that he said many of the things to Mrs. Joe that Joe may have thought at one point or another. We also get to see another side of Joe due to the resulting fight.

Pip's visit to Miss Havisham only results in more frustration, but we are left again with a mystery that keeps us reading...Mrs. Joe down for the count.

Chapter 14: The Oral Cavity of an Equine

2010-07-02T01:27:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://reedemoore.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/gift-horse.jpg)

We get a look inside Pip's brain to answer the earlier question: Why is Pip ashamed of his life, his family, and his impending future?

If Joe has shown him all of the good in life, why is he embarrassed of Joe? Why isn't he embarrassed of his own sister?

This chapter shows a recognition on Pip's part that he is at a crossroad in life. This is an important benchmark for Pip. What are your thoughts about his thoughts? What advice would you give him?

After reading this chapter, what do you think about Pip as a character? Does it matter that he readily admits his shortcomings and faults?

Chapter 13: All Dressed Up and Somewhere to Go

2010-07-02T01:16:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://turbo.inquisitr.com/wp-content/2009/12/jude-law-sherlock1.jpg)

OK, so Joe Gargery is no Jude Law, but still, a pretty close fit to the look I imagined on Joe.

Why does Joe speak to Pip instead of answering Miss Havisham directly?

How does Joe show that -- in spite of his lack of education -- he is a smart man?

How is it that Pip suddenly doesn't want to be Joe's apprentice now, when his whole life he has looked forward to this day and all the "larks" they will have?

Chapter 12: EXPOSITION!!!

2010-07-01T23:10:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.artrenewal.org/artwork/424/424/28278/the_apprentice_blacksmith-large.jpg)

In Chapter 8, Pip says< "I thought I overheard, 'Well? You can break his heart.'" In this chapter, he says he thought he heard Miss Havisham "murmuring something that sounded like, 'Break their hearts.'" Since Pip is clearly telling this story from the perspective of his older, grown self, does this mean that he can't remember what she said? Does it mean he could be assuming this is what she said? Definitely a reason to look at the reliability of the narration...

A lot of exposition in this chapter...A LOT! There is also a time leap of almost a year. See if you can find information on what it meant to be apprenticed to a trade during the Victorian Era. What would that generally be like for a young boy like Pip?

What makes Mrs. Joe go on such a rampage when she hears that Joe has been summoned by Miss Havisham? What does this reveal about Mrs. Joe?

Chapter 11: Toadies and Humbugs

2010-07-01T23:02:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.ikiyabanci.com/attachments/sinema-tv/11508d1228790783-south-park-pip.jpg)

Pip, as seen through the eyes of South Park. Leave it to them to abuse this literary icon...

Again, notice the descriptions of Satis House here, and think about the mood created.

Are you a toady or a humbug? A very humorous and apt desciption of Camilla, Miss Pocket, Raymond, and Sarah. What was funniest about these descriptions?

The room with the wedding cake is described in great detail with arful imagery. What images struck you as important in that description?

Why have all the relatives (except Matthew Pocket, apparently) come to visit Miss Havisham...the REAL reason? What is Miss Havisham's attitude toward her relatives?

Why is Estella's face flushed? And why did she suddenly want Pip to kiss her?

Chapter 10: Pip at the Pub

2010-07-01T22:55:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.kansastravel.org/kansastravelblog/blog090129a.JPG)

At first, it seems the stranger at the pub is the convict, but wouldn't Pip have remembered what his convict looked like? And even if he forgot, wouldn't he have remembered once he saw the file? If this is a friend of the convict, why is he here? Certainly, he wouldn't be looking for Pip in a pub...

Chapter 9: The Cherry Tree Redux

2010-07-01T22:49:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www1.american.edu/heintze/postcard58.jpg)

If only Pip had known of George Washington...

Pip is not a very gifted liar when it comes to the happenings at Miss Havisham's. What makes his story believable to Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook? More importantly, what does this belief in Pip's story tell us about these two characters?

What does Joe's reaction to Pip's lies tell us about Joe?

Pip is really an "oncommon" thinker for his age, as evidenced by his philosophy on omitting any one day from your life. Have you ever wished a day undone? If you could do that day over, what would it look like? How would that have possibly affected the days following that changed day?

Chapter 8: What time is it?

2010-06-29T15:49:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/34800/34834/rclock-08-40_34834_md.gif)

Pip looks at the seeds at Pumblechook's...this is symbolic. How so? And what is significant about the corduroys?

Pip's view of Pumblechook's business and the business of the town are humorous. What makes them funny?

What mood does the description of Miss Havisham's house suggest? What details stand out to you, and what do those details suggest about Miss Havisham?

Remember the name "Satis House." Look up the meaning of the word "satis" (it's Latin, so you'll have to look harder than usual). Think about its meaning as the novel progresses.

What are some of the significant details in the description of Miss Havisham? Why do you find them significant?

What were your initial impressions of Estella? What made you feel this way?

This is the first time that Pip feels embarrassed about who he is, and more importantly, this is the first time he feels embarrassed of Joe. Have you ever been embarrassed by your family or your family's station in life? Are you still?

Chapter 7

2010-06-29T15:42:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/education/pics)

Through Joe, Pip, Biddy, and Mr. Wopsle's great aunt, we get a sense of the state of education in Victorian England. What did you notice concerning education's role in that society? What is different compared to modern education's practices and importance?

"Whatsume'er the failings on his part, Remember reader he were that good in his heart." These words, which Joe wanted to put upon the tombstone of his father, tell us several things about Joe. What are some of these things?

Joe tries to get Pip -- and the reader -- to understand his relationship with Mrs. Joe. Does it make sense? Explain.

Chapter 6

2010-06-29T15:34:00.002-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.drirene.com/images/roger1.jpg)

A little insight into Pip's general state of mind at this point. Not a ton to discuss in this chapter, so let's look at a big question:

Do you think Dickens wanted to portray Pip as a sympathetic character? If so, what are your reasons for believing this? If not, what does Dickens want us to think of Pip, in your opinion?

For those in need...

2010-06-27T22:07:00.002-04:00

I received an email from a student who had lost the yellow sheet with the deadlines. Here are the parts of the document germaine to summer assignments:

The blog is a site where you can post comments or questions regarding the novel. You are required to post a comment or question for each section of the novel 5 times within the given time periods. Below are the deadlines for your comments on the blog:

Chapters 1-15: Comment Deadline: July 6

Chapters 16-30: Comment Deadline: July 23

Chapters 31-45: Comment Deadline: August 10

Chapters 46-59: Comment Deadline: August 31

Comments not posted by midnight on those dates will not be counted for credit.

Essay Question

Write a 3-4 page paper explaining why you think the novel is considered literature rather than merely a story. This assignment will require you to define what literature is and then give specific examples from the text to support your argument.

I expect a solid introduction and conclusion. Your paper should reflect knowledge of the entire novel and insightful analysis. Show me what you know.

The essay should be typed in 12 point font (Times New Roman or Courier New). It should be double-spaced and have one-inch margins all around. I will be looking at your grammar usage and spelling as part of your grade on this paper, so have someone read it over before you turn it in to me.

Remember, the paper should be 3-4 pages in length…not 4 pages, not 2.5 pages. Be concise and precise.

Again, the paper is due on the first day of class and will act as your pass into my class. You will also have an objective test over the novel on the first day of class.

Chapter 5: Manhunt

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(Photo Credit: http://cache4.asset-cache.net)

Another adventure, as they head off with the Red Coats to hunt the two escaped prisoners...Interesting that Pip refers to the convict he had met as "my convict"...

Both Joe and Pip are hoping that they don't find the two convicts. What are some of the reasons that they are hoping they don't find them?

Why does the convict say that he was the one who stole the goods from Joe's house? What motivation does he have to take the blame for something he really didn't do?

Chapter 4: Christmas Dinner

2010-06-20T23:00:00.004-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Money/Pix/pictures/2009/11/23/1258987305301/Christmas-dinner-lunch-001.jpg)

Christmas...is there any connection between the holiday and the plot of the novel?

Judging by the food alone, Joe Gargery appears to be doing pretty well financially. Although it's summer, try to remember the standard Christmas preparations at your house...are there any similarities to Mrs. Joe's preparations or her treatment/use of Joe and Pip in the preparations?

Humor is one of Dickens' trademarks. What are some of the humorous aspects of this chapter? And now for the hard part: Why are these things funny?

The people you meet in this chapter should be remembered (the dinner guests), as they will play a role in Pip's life. As this is a large book, I would suggest keeping a list of characters and their traits -- this helps track growth (or lack of) in characters as you go along.

A lot of tension is built up throughout the chapter as Pip awaits his fate. What can you find out about the writing of this novel that would explain why we're left hanging at the end of every chapter?

Chapter 3: The Hulks

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(Photo Credit: http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages)

This is a hulk, the prison ship mentioned in the novel. These ships served as prisons for convicts who were waiting to be shipped to penal colonies.

Since he can remember, Pip has talked with Joe about becoming his apprentice. This is significant.

Why doesn't Pip tell on the convict and turn him into Joe? Why does the convict trust him? Why does the convict trust Pip?

Clearly the convict knows the unidentified escapee that Pip came upon first...what seems to be their connection based on the information you have so far?

Chapter 2: By Hand

2010-06-20T22:31:00.003-04:00

(Photo Courtesy: Tom Crafton)

This is a picture of my grandpap, Hazen Sumney. He was a blacksmith by trade, which probably explains why I feel so connected to this story.

So...Pip's sister is 20 years older than him, and he has five deceased siblings. Interesting that Pip only refers to his sister as Mrs. Joe.

Pip appears to have a good sense of humor, indicating that Joe was probably brought up by hand and that he was forced to marry Mrs. Joe by hand. Funny.

Joe is described as being "a Hercules in strength, and also in weakness." What does this mean? How is he weak?

What do you think accounts for the close relationship between Joe and Pip?

In the Connections selection "Class, Tradition, and Money," blacksmiths are said to be in a respectable position in this society. So what does Mrs. Joe have to complain about?

In your opinion, what causes Pip the most worry and consternation on this night? Explain your opinion.

A Memory

2010-06-14T11:09:00.005-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://www.nostalgiawarehouse.com/store/images/FireTruck_Delux.jpg)

When I was about four or five years old, my cousins had a fire truck like this that you could pedal like a bike. Whenever I went over to their house, I would beg to ride in it. I was an annoying little cousin to them, so they never let me get my way. One day, though, they talked it over covertly, and they decided that I could ride it.

As I was small for my age, by legs were not long enough to reach the pedals, so my cousins volunteered to push me down the block. As we were making our way down the street -- them pushing, and me pretending to be on the way to a four-alarm fire to save babies and kittens -- my cousins began to tell me the story of the man who lived in the house on the corner we were approaching.

Apparently, this old man was the meanest man alive. Since his wife had died, creepy things happened at his house. The most recent news was that a neighborhood friend of theirs, who was retrieving a kickball from the old man's yard, was shot by a rifle from the window of the old man's kitchen. The old man came out to get their friend's body and dragged it into the house. According to my cousins, the police couldn't arrest him because they found no evidence of foul play. Also, according to my cousins, it was believed that the old man had eaten their friend.

As I listened (at first with interest, and then with rapidly-growing fear), we were nearing that very house. My cousins began pushing faster and faster, and before I knew it, the fire truck that I was driving was in the lawn of the child eater!!! I screamed and cried, "Don't shoot me!!! Don't eat me!!" The fire truck tipped over and my legs became tangled in the pedals. I worked to free myself, but the more I struggled the worse it became. My cousins had long since abandoned me.

It seemed like hours, but soon an adult hand reached into the fire truck and freed my flailing legs. I was quickly lifted out of the truck, a sobbing, shaking mess. As I tried to compose myself, the adult who had saved me (the sharpshooting child eater)had placed the truck on the sidewalk. He patted me on the shoulder and went back to his house.

As I pushed the truck back to my cousin's house, my chest heaving with sobs and angry tears, I plotted my revenge on them.

When I read about this pirate-like man in Chapter 1, this story always pops into my head for some reason. Just thought I'd share.

Beginning Great Expectations: Chapter 1

2010-06-14T10:44:00.008-04:00

(Photo: S. Earl)

This novel is considered a Bildungsroman...that's a fancy literary term for a coming-of-age story. Knowing this fact, there are a couple of symbols you should think about connecting to that idea. First, Phillip Pirrip's nickname is Pip. What is a pip, and how is that a symbol of the Bildungsroman? Also, Pip's sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, is married to -- you guessed it -- Joe Gargery, the local blacksmith. How might his profession have something to do with the Bildungsroman genre?

What are your thoughts about the first page and a half or so, especially when it comes to the importance of the background information and the setting?

What do you notice about the language in the dialogue? It changes as each character speaks...what does the language used tell you about each character (Pip and the pirate-looking guy)?

You may want to become friends with a dictionary...a couple of words that stick out to me are "wittles" and "gibbet."

If you've read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, this may remind you of a scene from that novel. Anybody know what I'm referring to?

Connections: Spoiler Alert

2010-06-06T11:00:00.003-04:00

(Photo Credit: http://blog.gordaen.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/moldy_mandarin_orange.jpg)

Do not read the first selection in the Connections section until you have finished the novel. It will ruin everything. I know that by telling you not to look, it will encourage that evil part of the human brain that wants to look even more when told not to look...but don't look.

I do, however, think it would be beneficial for you to read the second selection in the Connections section in the back, entitled "Class, Tradition, and Money." I think this article will help you understand some of the underlying issues in the novel that you might otherwise have found confusing.

Another note: I will be making comments and asking questions that pop into my brain concerning every chapter. This does not mean that you have to comment on every chapter. You must make five comments per section (as indicated on the sheet I gave you). You may make more, but you do not have to. You may also ignore what I have said and add your own thoughts on something that struck you, or you may respond to other comments from other students. Whatever the case, your comments should be about a paragraph in length. At the end of the summer, I should be able to look at the blog and see an insightful conversation about numerous topics related to the novel.

Great Expectations for the Summer

2010-06-02T09:38:00.004-04:00

(Photo: S. Earl)

A little play on words...but true in both senses. Use this blog post to test your account. Leave me a message...a simple "hi" will do. Make sure you complete the authentication word. If your comment does not show up, hit "refresh." If it still doesn't show up, let me know.