I have written reactions and questions for the first seven pages of this section up to the line "Towards the evening of the second day..."
The uncle and nephew show up again. Be sure who they are. Be sure what their roles are. If you haven't written them down, I would suggest you do.
This scene is hard to understand for I think two main reasons:
the first, Marlow is tired or has been napping and isn't fully awake. When I'm like that, I don't know that I understand what's going on around me.
the second, Marlow is eavesdropping--and he can't always hear the uncle and the nephew because he doesn't want to give himself away.
THE TRICK IS TO PIECE TOGETHER WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT KURTZ (I'm giving you help--that's whom they are talking about.) Try to piece it together.
Think about what the lack of clarity in this scene might mean to the text on a broader level.
I have a couple of excerpts that I will post separately.
We move into a section that talks about tricks, monkey tricks. That seems unique. Because of its uniqueness it seems important--or at least significant.
We are reminded here again that this is a "twice-told tale."
More excerpts--I'll post them!
Now, look at the rich description of the Africans.... Boy does Marlow have "screens"!
Look too at the comparisons between the Africans and the Europeans. What do those difference tell us? What is Conrad trying to do?
Pay attention to Marlow's description of the fireman on pp 38-39 in the green book. What can we learn from those?
We have graphic description of the river. What changes? What does that tell us? What is Conrad doing here?
On pages 39-40 (green book) someone finds a book! What I found interesting about the book besides its age was the fact that someone had...wait for it...annotated in it!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tone and Mood words
I haven't gotten lists from each group. Some groups didn't put names of all members on their sheets. I need these not later than Friday, March 20th if members want the points.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Paper: Monday's reminders
Some thing to remember about the paper:
1. This is more your thinking than it is other people's thinking.
2. You need to cite sources accurately in the paper. This includes both direction quotations and paraphrase of ideas. Details can be found in the Writing Guidelines.
3. You probably won't find information through your research directly "on point." You will need to formulate what you learn from those who are dealt with these issues and apply them to your thinking.
4. Be sure that you are aiming for "a lesson about life/theme" from Shakespeare.
5. Your paper needs to keep bringing the reader (me) back to Hamlet.
6. Literary analysis is written in present tense.
1. This is more your thinking than it is other people's thinking.
2. You need to cite sources accurately in the paper. This includes both direction quotations and paraphrase of ideas. Details can be found in the Writing Guidelines.
3. You probably won't find information through your research directly "on point." You will need to formulate what you learn from those who are dealt with these issues and apply them to your thinking.
4. Be sure that you are aiming for "a lesson about life/theme" from Shakespeare.
5. Your paper needs to keep bringing the reader (me) back to Hamlet.
6. Literary analysis is written in present tense.
Due Dates versus Last Day for Full Credit
1. Things are due the dates outlined. The purpose for the extra time is for those students who need to revise before their work is complete.
2. Because some students are new at this, they are waiting until the final day for full-credit to get things signed off. The panic that permeated my room after school on Friday illustrates that some students wait until work becomes urgent before they take care of the important work. Don't let this happen to you. If this continues to be a problem, I will set aside seven times for APPOINTMENTS to meet with people after school.
3. I will be available most days before school for students who want to come in for help. Please let me know that you want to come in so I can make arrangements. I will not continue to meet with people after the five-minute bell rings.
4. I will not be available to meet with people during my prep period. That is my time during the school day to prepare the things I need to finish to be able to teach effectively.
5. I will not be available after school on Wednesday or at 3 pm. I should be available most other times. People who want help with their paper we take precedence over people who have things to sign off.
2. Because some students are new at this, they are waiting until the final day for full-credit to get things signed off. The panic that permeated my room after school on Friday illustrates that some students wait until work becomes urgent before they take care of the important work. Don't let this happen to you. If this continues to be a problem, I will set aside seven times for APPOINTMENTS to meet with people after school.
3. I will be available most days before school for students who want to come in for help. Please let me know that you want to come in so I can make arrangements. I will not continue to meet with people after the five-minute bell rings.
4. I will not be available to meet with people during my prep period. That is my time during the school day to prepare the things I need to finish to be able to teach effectively.
5. I will not be available after school on Wednesday or at 3 pm. I should be available most other times. People who want help with their paper we take precedence over people who have things to sign off.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Hamlet and Parking Permits
This has been changed. The front office has contacted the district about changing the due date of Hamlet to the day before spring break. We will not need to rescan them on Monday. Parking permits should be good to go.
H of D Another important excerpt
Marlow on page 29 of the green book--about four pages for the end of Part 1:
"I would not have gone so far as to fight for Kurtz, but I went for him near enough to a lie. You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appals me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies--which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world--what I want to forget. It makes me miserable and sick like biting something rotten would do."
"I would not have gone so far as to fight for Kurtz, but I went for him near enough to a lie. You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appals me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies--which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world--what I want to forget. It makes me miserable and sick like biting something rotten would do."
H O D Part 1 Section 3
Pay attention to the trip to the Central Station—the people who are accompanying Marlow and the people they meet. What about that white man they meet who is sick? What’s going on there? Significance?
There seems to be considerable sickness and death. What is Conrad trying to say?
Pay attention to the Manager of the Central Station. What words does Marlow use to describe him? Why would he do that? What’s Conrad trying to tell us?
The steam boat…plays a HUGE role, although, passive here.
“Men who come out here should have not entrails.” Significance?
What about the Manager’s “boy”?
What about the fire? The pail with the hole in it? What about the black man who was beaten? What happens to him? What is Conrad saying to us about this?
Lots of images of good and evil. Why? What about the table in the Mess Hall? Allusion? Good business practice? Just redecorating?
Pilgrims? Who, what, when, where, why? Significant?
IVORY! again.
Look at the “first-class agent.” Who is he? The story says that he seems to be waiting—as though he were going to make bricks and needs to wait for the straw. How is Conrad using this character? Who is he? What does he want? Candles, matches, fire in this part. By chance or on purpose? What about the interior decoration that agent has in his “hut”?
Theft. Some interesting ideas about it.
The new gang—the gang of virtue. What are the implications here? Virtue v. transgressions.
The agent as “this papier-mâché Mephistopheles.”
Sense of time—“primeval mud.” What is Conrad doing with this description?
On page 30 of the green book, the narrator (and Conrad) remind the reader that he is listening to Marlow tell this story.
Narrator: “I listened, I listened on the watch for the sentence, for the word that would give me the clue to the faint uneasiness inspired by the narrative that seemed to shape itself without human lips in the heavy night-air of the river” p. 31
Kurtz is called a “universal genius.” I think we should check this out.
Rivets seem significant. Why? Why would Conrad choose rivets? What is a rivet?
The messenger fears neither God nor devil. There’s that good and evil thing again.
Messenger: “No man here bears a charmed life.” p 31.
Marlow: “I don’t like work—no man does—but I like what is in the work—the change to find yourself.” What do you think?
Eldorado Exploring Expedition (what’s the allusion?)
“To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no more moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe.”
Re-read the last paragraph. Pay attention!
There seems to be considerable sickness and death. What is Conrad trying to say?
Pay attention to the Manager of the Central Station. What words does Marlow use to describe him? Why would he do that? What’s Conrad trying to tell us?
The steam boat…plays a HUGE role, although, passive here.
“Men who come out here should have not entrails.” Significance?
What about the Manager’s “boy”?
What about the fire? The pail with the hole in it? What about the black man who was beaten? What happens to him? What is Conrad saying to us about this?
Lots of images of good and evil. Why? What about the table in the Mess Hall? Allusion? Good business practice? Just redecorating?
Pilgrims? Who, what, when, where, why? Significant?
IVORY! again.
Look at the “first-class agent.” Who is he? The story says that he seems to be waiting—as though he were going to make bricks and needs to wait for the straw. How is Conrad using this character? Who is he? What does he want? Candles, matches, fire in this part. By chance or on purpose? What about the interior decoration that agent has in his “hut”?
Theft. Some interesting ideas about it.
The new gang—the gang of virtue. What are the implications here? Virtue v. transgressions.
The agent as “this papier-mâché Mephistopheles.”
Sense of time—“primeval mud.” What is Conrad doing with this description?
On page 30 of the green book, the narrator (and Conrad) remind the reader that he is listening to Marlow tell this story.
Narrator: “I listened, I listened on the watch for the sentence, for the word that would give me the clue to the faint uneasiness inspired by the narrative that seemed to shape itself without human lips in the heavy night-air of the river” p. 31
Kurtz is called a “universal genius.” I think we should check this out.
Rivets seem significant. Why? Why would Conrad choose rivets? What is a rivet?
The messenger fears neither God nor devil. There’s that good and evil thing again.
Messenger: “No man here bears a charmed life.” p 31.
Marlow: “I don’t like work—no man does—but I like what is in the work—the change to find yourself.” What do you think?
Eldorado Exploring Expedition (what’s the allusion?)
“To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no more moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe.”
Re-read the last paragraph. Pay attention!
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