Yeats and McCarthy

After you read "The Second Coming" by William Butler Yeats, I want you to think back on your reading of Cormac McCarthy's The Road.  In a well-organized essay, discuss the poem in regards to the novel.  How does each author view the apocalypse?  What about their works is similar?  What about their works are different?  What message does each piece convey, and how do these messages relate to one another?  Why do you suppose The Road and "The Second Coming" are considered to be modernist works? (use your knowledge of literary devices in your essay!).

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Tennyson's "Lady of Shalott"

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After reading Tennyson's "Lady of Shalott", I want you to ponder the meaning of this poem.  Think about what we have discussed about the Victorian era and the rigid regulations placed upon women.  Clearly, this poem does not take place in the Victorian era due to its allusions of Camelot and Sir Lancelot, but Tennyson used the Arthurian legend to make a statement about the era in which he was living. What did he want readers to gain by reading this poem?

In a well organized essay, discuss the meaning of "Lady of Shalott".  Is Tennyson warning women of the Victorian era to comply to the rules and remain confined in their towers, or is his message that women should pursue what they love, even if it means they die in their pursuit?  Perhaps the poem meant something else to you entirely.  No matter what message you received, make sure that you use examples from the poem in your response for support, and use your poetry analysis sheets to show me that you understand the poem's dramatic situation, structure, purpose, imagery, tone, and the literary devices used! 

Utilize this essay prompt as practice for your written responses on your AP exam!  Take it seriously!  Your typed response will be due Monday!

Friday 3/23 Journal

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Roberto and Jose - this is the journal you missed today!  Also, the test and journal prompt took up the majority of class, so we decided to wait for you both to start watching Apocalypse Now!  Lucky you!

Journal: Were you shocked in Part III concerning what Marlow found when he finally reached Kurtz at the Inner Station?  Why/why not?  Why do you suppose Marlow still considered Kurtz a "remarkable" man even after seeing what he had done?  What message did this novella send about light and darkness (ie - good and evil)?

A Letter from the Heart of Darkness

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Part II of the novella is far different than part I.  In part I Marlow ponders the sedentary life that the Europeans are living in the Congo - his crew is neither enlightening or "civilizing" the natives, nor are they exploiting ivory with the success of Kurtz.  The imperialists seem to be at a stand-still with no purpose at all.

The next part of this novella is different; the men make their journey to the Inner Station to find Kurtz, and this journey is anything but boring.  The name of "Kurtz" continues to be "whispered" into Marlow's ear, as if once he reaches this elusive man, he will know what it means to be successful and purposeful.  Clearly, Kurtz must be doing something right...right?

For this journal prompt, I want you to take on the perspective of Marlow.  As Marlow, write a letter to your aunt back in Europe.  What would he have to say to her regarding part II?  How would he describe his surroundings?  Would he talk of enlightenment and civilization or would he talk of exploitation of goods and the absurdity that encompasses him?  Discuss the attack, the cannibals, the death, and the fear that envelopes them. Clearly, there is no way for Marlow to send this letter, so he may be more abrasive than need be.  Think about what these men have gone through in their attempt to get to the Inner Station.  Now write about it from Marlow's perspective.

Examine Marlow

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At the beginning of the novella, a doctor examines Marlow before he departs for the Congo.  Upon this examination, it is evident that the man has seen many men before they have set out on various adventures, but he states one thing: they don't ever come back to see him.  As a class, we discussed reasons these men may not have been back for a check up, but Conrad implies that Marlow feels as though he is somewhat of a psychological experiment as he observes the absurdity of imperialism that surrounds him in this foreign place.

Imagine if you were that doctor and you happened to get a chance to examine Marlow again.  What do you observe?  How has his character changed since leaving Europe?  Is he suffering from any ailments?  How has he changed psychologically?  Bottom line: in what ways has Marlow changed since the beginning of the novella?

Light vs. Darkness

Before we begin reading Heart of Darkness, I want you to think about good vs. evil or light vs. darkness.  How have the texts we have read previously illustrate what it means to be good and what it means to be evil?  How did Fitzgerald define this concept in The Great Gatsby?  Did he?  How did McCarthy define what it means to be good or bad in The Road?  What about the novel you read during the Independent Reading unit?  Or how did Miller illustrate what is good and what is evil in The Crucible?

Oftentimes, there is no cut-and-dry-this-is-evil-and-this-is-good, but readers (you) can still comprehend the concept for every story has a protagonist and an antagonist.  However, much of the "evil" in Conrad's Heart of Darkness is left to determine by you - the reader.  So for this journal prompt, ponder the concept of light and dark or good and evil; see what you come up with (and use your genre sheet!)

Psychoanalysis

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For this journal entry, I want you to psychoanalyze one of the characters in The Crucible as a psychiatrist might.  What is wrong with them?  What events in their life have made them the way they are?  How have these events affected their character?  What would you prescribe them to alleviate these awful symptoms?  After the court scene in Act III, you have a lot to work with!  Have fun with this!