Second Assignment

Second Assignment.

"What?!? I haven't even opened the book, and there's already TWO freakin' assignments?!? Holy cow..."

Chill.

(By the way, "First Assignment" was to read Chapter I of the novel.  Hopefully, you've done so, and we've already discussed some important and interesting things going on there.)

First off, you'll notice that the blog presents the most recent post at the top of the page. In some ways, that's good -- you don't have to scroll down to find out what's new. But it can also be a little confusing. So, if this is your first time here, scroll to the bottom, and begin reading with the post "Welcome!" Go ahead. Do it now. I'll wait.

Back?

For those of you who like to plan ahead, here's what's next:

Second Assignment: You'll need to have read through the end of Chapter IV, first and foremost. Then, choose four (4) of the following questions to answer -- click on the "COMMENT" tag at the bottom of this post, and write (or "cut and paste") your answers there. At the risk of stating the obvious, these are not short answers. Doesn't mean I'm expecting four essays, but take your time, and think along the lines of "less is NOT more." ; ) For the sake of clarity, please identify (by #) which question you're answering. Answers need to be posted by the beginning of class on XXXXX  XXXXXXXX.

1. What do you make of the chapter titles thus far? I think I spoke to the fact (to some of you at least) that, in part, they're just... funny. A question might be posed about the fourth chapter "having no title." Au contraire... the title is: "Fourth Chapter." Which strikes me as pretty freakin' funny, especially in context of the complexity and detail of the preceding chapters (and the ones that follow). Plus, not to give anything away, but the contrast between the specificity of the previous three chapters (where nothing really happens) and the stark simplicity of "Fourth Chapter," given what actually HAPPENS in that chapter, is pretty funny as well. Don't be intimidated by them... they'll make a lot more sense once you get into the book in general, and once you read the actual chapter in question. In some ways, they're like the punchline of the joke, which won't make sense until you've heard the joke itself... So I ask again: What do you make of the chapter titles? What do you think they "mean" or refer to (other than my "funny" theory)? What other possible function(s) do they serve?

2. In Chapter I, what do you make of Lucy and Miss Bartlett's concern over "a room with a view"? (Hey... where have I heard or seen that phrase before? It seems familiar somehow...) And for that matter, what do you make of Lucy and Miss Bartlett? How do they compare to the other British tourists in Italy and/or at the Pensione Bertolini?

3. Page 5, 2nd paragraph: "Miss Barlett, though skilled in the delicacies of conversation, was powerless in the presence of brutality. It was impossible to snub anyone so gross." Comments?

4. Page 7, 3rd paragraph from bottom: "It is so difficult -- at least, I find it difficult -- to understand people who speak the truth." What do you make of this statement, along with the paragraph as a whole, and its speaker?

5. Lucy and the piano... Interesting, no? How and why does she seem to change or transform (or possibly reveal her true self?) when she plays? Thoughts? (Note: See Mr. Beebe's quote at the bottom of p. 24).

6. Chapter III title. "Music" I get. "Violets" I get (and they'll become more important shortly). But "the letter S"? See page 28, and tell me what you make of this...

7. What do you make of Mr. Emerson (the elder) and George (his son)? Part of the fun and humor of the book, for me at least, is seeing what happens when you put two people like the Emersons in a situation with the other Brits who, for the most part, are TREMENDOUSLY uptight and concerned with etiquette and proper behavior and societal expectations and all that "stuff." Kinda like putting a bongo-playing slam poet who smokes clove cigarettes at a dinner table with a group of really uptight accountants... That's part of what this kind of "comedy of manners" is all about -- exposing the hypocrisy of social hierarchies and rules and expectations, especially when they cause people to act in ways that are insincere or dishonest or result in unhappiness...

Welcome!

Welcome, my little APE's!

(AP English students, in case you thought I was somehow referring to you as a chimp or something...)

This is our new online home for AP English Literature & Composition, and we're going to begin by taking a look at the novel A Room with a View. A few general rules for our work here online, and I apologize if these seem obvious or unnecessary.

1. Read and follow all directions and deadlines carefully.
2. Remember that even though this is online, and you're likely doing some/most of it from home, and behind the veil of "internet anonymity," you're still responsible for everything you post -- both what you say, and how you say it. In other words, if you wouldn't (or shouldn't) say it out loud in class, don't write it here. Okey-doke? That doesn't mean that you can't be spontaneous, and have fun with this -- that's the whole freakin' point.
3. BE SPECIFIC. Provide examples from the text (with page numbers) to back up what you think and say. If and when you challenge other people's postings and ideas, be specific with regards to your questions and concerns.
4. The only big "no-no" is somehow altering or tampering with someone else's posts. Not allowed in any way, shape or form. Not even sure if you can do that or not, but I want to make it clear that it is out of bounds.