For Thursday

Read "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, starting on page 1836 of your text (the red book).

blog posts

I don't know if anyone has figured this out but it's kind of neat and takes the copy and pasting thing away. If you go into the word program and click on open new.....instead of clicking blank document you can click on blog post. It will ask you for your information such as the blog site you use(blogger) and it will ask you your username and password then it will pop up and you have the choice of clicking lit. her. or your personal blog. if you click on which ever you want it to be posted on and just do your blog post on that all you have to do is hit submit and it puts it right on your post.

Mike McCarthy

Talent or Power

So I know we've been learning about heroes in class, or at least protagonists. I would like to ask the famous question: If you were a hero or a superhero(or maybe you already are), what would be your talent/power? and why?

The talent/power can be anything. Most people already have a supernatural talent or something, say for instance, my friend has the uncanny ability to deflect cops. She's a police shield. We have no clue how it works.

My talent/power is the ability to find things. If someone i know loses something, i can find it real easily, and I don't know why. Like people, things, places, physical stuff, not like virginity.

It can be anything from really small to really big.

Assignment for Tuesday 9/29

FOR EVERYONE: Read Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron" - linked HERE. Please print it out and bring to class on Tuesday.

EVERYONE: Read over the discussion questions (HERE) and be ready to share your reflections (OUT LOUD) in class.

STUDENTS NOT GOING TO CIGARETTE GIRL: Answer all of the questions in typed form (put on your blog and bring to class) and be prepared to lead the discussion in class.

STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO CIGARETTE GIRL (see all instructions below): Watch the movie as you would read a book. Think about it as text put to film. Be prepared to tell the class about your experience and to supply some questions for Mike McCarthy (the writer and director of the film). Write a reflective blog about the movie, the experience of seeing the movie in the context in which you'll be seeing it, and in anticipation of meeting the writer and director. (I do hope you'll make the time on Tuesday at 2:00 in Patterson 4th floor.

Homework for Thursday - 9/24

Regarding the short story, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", answer the following questions in paragraph form (one from each group), and in such a way that someone stumbling upon your blog could figure out what you're writing about. Also print your work out and bring it to class on Thursday.

Group 1

1. Explain the title. Why is it in the form of a question, and why are there two parts to the question? Who does "you" refer to?
2. Why is this story dedicated to Bob Dylan?
3. Who is the story's main character, Connie or Arnold Friend?

Group 2

1. Discuss the theme of the house as a metaphor of Connie's identity.
2. Who is Arnold Friend? Do you think he is appropriately named? What is the significance of his car? His clothing? His language?
3. When and why does Connie begin to question his identity? What impact does her confusion have on her own personality? How are "personality" and "identity" displayed and defined in this story?

Group 3

1. Do a little research about the significance of the numbers 33 19 17. What are some of the ideas that have been suggested about their meaning? What do you think they mean?
   
2. What do you think of the various members of Connie's family? Why has Oates limited their roles in the story?
3. Where does Arnold take Connie, and what happens to her? Write your own continuation of the story.

Group 4

1. Describe the tone of the story and how the tone interacts with the action - use examples from the text.
2. Describe important images that you see in the story and what they do to create meaning within the story.
3. How does the setting function in the story? Could this be anywhere? Why did Oates choose the setting(s) that she did?
   

33 19 17

A Possible Explanation for the Cryptic Numbers in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"

Judges (33rd book) Chapter 19 Verse 17

Judges 19

1And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.

3And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

4And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

5And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.

6And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.

7And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.

8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

9And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

10But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.

11And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

12And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.

13And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

14And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

15And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.

16And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.

17And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

18And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.

19Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.

20And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

21So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

22Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

23And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

24Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

26Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

27And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.

28And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.

29And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

30And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.

Class Canceled - 9/22

Class is Canceled. My daughter has the swine flu - and I started running a fever yesterday. I'm planning on being there on Thursday, unless my fever is still happening tomorrow. I'm sorry for the late notice.

Blog

This is just a prompt, this is only a prompt. You don't have to use this if you're not interested in it. I've posted this to hedge the possibility that you might assert that you don't know what to write about.

Write about your favorite type of book. What is it about that type of book that appeals to you?

Where Have You Been, Baby Blue?

For Tuesday:

Reread Oates' story, and then read the nonfiction pieces (linked below) about the incident which inspired the story. Watch the short film embedded below. Listen to Bob Dylan's Baby Blue. Think about the movie Smooth Talk.

Write an essay about how different pieces of literature work together and how the story is changed and preserved in its various iterations. Post this in your blog AND bring a typed version to class. It may be helpful to use THIS as a reference/springboard for your reflection.

Murder In The Desert
Crime: Secrets in the Sand
Arizona: Growing Up in Tuscon

Still More Outside Events!

On Wednesday, September 23 at 7 pm, Sleeping Cat Studio, in conjunction with Memphis Mary’s / Stop 345, will present a premier of Jim Esposito’s newest movie, The Outskirts of Heaven.

The Outskirts of Heaven is based on the original stage play by Esposito. This showing is free of charge and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available at the cash bar. A light musical performance, provided by JJ McClendon, will open the evening.

Bring a friend and come see an original Memphis Indie movie.

Memphis Mary’s / Stop 345
345 Madison, Memphis
7 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Call 901-412-9886 for further information

What Do I Want?

For the essay due tomorrow (in a matter of a few hours, really), I've received some requests for clarification. I hope this will help.

I want an essay. I want you to include dissections of the three pieces we've been discussing (Ingredient/Process/Made Thing). Reflect on what these things mean, how they function to make meaning individually and corporately, how the act of dissection changes your perception of the work. Think about how the pieces are alike, in terms of (I/P/MT), in terms of meaning. Or think about how they are different, how they come at the same things from different directions.

Do all this using excellent grammar, non-cliched word choices, and a keen awareness that this stuff actually matters (beyond the grade you will receive for it). Hope that helps.

Cigarette Girl

Please plan on attending one of the screenings of Cigarette Girl, by local filmmaker Mike McCarthy at The Brooks Museum. I think that you will really enjoy this very noir movie by a former comic book author. It's cheap, cool, AND it fits into our theme! Click here to read a review on the movie in The Flyer.

Where:
The Brooks Museum (in Overton Park, in front of the Zoo)

When:
Thurs. Sept. 24th 1pm
Fri. Sept. 25th 1pm
Sat. Sept. 26th 1pm

Price: $7

Outside Event Alert (this one will be AWESOME!!!!)

Nationally celebrated poet Mark Yakich will be at Burke’s Book Store on Friday, October 9th, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM to read from and sign copies of his poetry collections. The reading will begin at 6 pm.


“Urgent, absurd, heart-broken and lewd—the emotional range of this book [The Importance of Peeling Potatoes in Ukraine] is beyond our measuring systems.”
---Matthea Harvey

Mark Yakich is the author of Unrelated Individuals Forming a Group Waiting to Cross (National Poetry Series, Penguin 2004), The Making of Collateral Beauty (Snowbound Chapbook Award, Tupelo 2006), and The Importance of Peeling Potatoes in Ukraine (Penguin 2008). He is an associate professor of English at Loyola University New Orleans. Mark divides his time between the bedroom and the kitchen.

My Father's Diaryby Sharon Olds

POEM



I get into bed with it, and spring
the scarab legs of its locks. Inside,
the stacked, shy wealth of his print—
he could not write in script, so the pages
are sturdy with the beamwork of printedness,
WENT TO LOOK AT A CAR, DAD
IN A GOOD MOOD AT DINNER, WENT
TO TRY OUT SOME NEW TENNIS RACQUETS,
LUNCH WITH MOM, life of ease—
except when he spun his father's DeSoto on the
ice, and a young tree whirled up to the
hood, throwing up her arms—until
LOIS. PLAYED TENNIS, WITH LOIS,
LUNCH WITH MOM AND LOIS, LOIS
LIKED THE CAR, DRIVING WITH LOIS,
LONG DRIVE WITH LOIS. And then,
LOIS! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! SHE IS SO
GOOD, SO SWEET, SO GENEROUS, I HAVE
NEVER, WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE
TO DESERVE SUCH A GIRL? Between the dark
legs of the capitals, moonlight, soft
tines of the printed letter gentled
apart, nectar drawn from serif, the
self of the grown boy pouring
out, the heart's charge, the fresh
man kneeling in pine-needle weave,
worshipping her. It was my father
good, it was my father grateful,
it was my father dead, who had left me
these small structures of his young brain—
he wanted me to know him, he wanted
someone to know him.
Source: Poetry (July 1998).

reading

From what I can tell, no one has written on the class blog to comment on. So just for some kind of start do any of you actually enjoy and like reading? If so what kind of stuff do you like to read and who do you like to read?

Assignment for Tuesday

Watch the John Updike interview linked on this site (below). Re-read A&P. Think about how Updike's own perceptions of/reflections on the story are like or unlike yours. Is your thinking about the story, and particularly the character Sammy, changed by hearing Updike's thoughts about him?

Read two poems by Sharon Olds, "Rites of Passage" (691) and "The Only Girl at the Boys' Party" (1147) and reflect on how the ideas/images of heroism/heroes is the same or different from Updike's. It might help to write with the questions that follow "R of P" in mind.

This can be one or two blog posts. Be sure to write in such a way that someone stumbling across your blog would be able to understand what you're writing about. Use complete sentences and paragraphing.

An Interview with John Updike

An Interview with John Updike

An Interview with John Updike | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

Shared via AddThis

What Is A Hero? - CBS News Video

What Is A Hero? - CBS News Video

Shared via AddThis

Outside Events:

Hattiloo Theatre's Fall Season
Map to Hattiloo Theatre

GOD’S TROMBONES (Musical)
August 13th – Sept. 6th
Written by James Weldon Johnson

Inspirational sermons of Black preachers are re-imagined as poetry, reverberating with the musicality and eloquence of spirituals. This classic collection includes “Listen Lord—A Prayer,” “The Prodigal Son,” “Go Down Death—A Funeral Sermon,” “Noah Built the Ark,” “The Crucifixion,” “Let My People Go,” and “The Judgment Day.” This play is a celebration of the power and passion that comes out of both the pulpit and the choir-stand.

---

STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
September 24th – October 11th
Written by Tennessee Williams

Set in New Orleans following World War Two, Blanche DuBois, exiled from her hometown for seducing a seventeen-year-old boy, shows up at her sister Stella’s doorstep. When Blanche claims she has recently loss the family plantation, Stelle’s boyfriend Stanley demands to see the bill of sale – this sets-off Blanche and Stanley’s war. When Stanley’s friend Mitch arrives on the scene, Blanche begins to see a way out of her predicament. Yet, as rumors of Blanche's past begin to catch up to her, her circumstances become unbearable.

---

FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE/WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF
Oct. 29th – Nov. 15th
Written by Ntozake Shange

A series of twenty poems, this play is performed through a cast of nameless women, each known only by a color: "Lady in Yellow." The performances of the nine actresses are focused on their specific stories; i.e., Lady in Green embodies youthful determination as she runs away from home to live with Dominican liberator Toussaint L’Ouverture. The play ends evoking the power of womanhood as the Lady in Brown begins the mantra “I found God in myself/ and I loved her/ I loved her fiercely.”

The SALON Interview: John Updike

The SALON Interview: John Updike

For a man who dislikes interviews -- he has called them "a form to be loathed; a half-form like maggots" -- John Updike is an agile and adept interview subject. In conversation he seems to shed, as the critic James Wolcott has put it, "bright amounts of angel fluff" about almost any topic at hand. At age 64, there is indeed something snow-capped and oddly angelic about Updike; he seems to hover over the contemporary literary scene like an apparition from another era, the last great American man of letters. Read more.

Shared via AddThis

Assignment for Tuesday 9/8

1. Set up blog - e-mail blog URL to sumnerwinter2201@gmail.com
2. Read Chapter 1 - "Reading a Story"
3. Complete all the questions in the chapter. (pages 6, 8, 19-20)
4. Post responses on blog - at least two hours before class on Tuesday.
   

YouTube - Joyce Carol Oates - On Writing Characters

YouTube - Joyce Carol Oates - On Writing Characters

Shared via AddThis