Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Henry Lee

Where The Wild Roses Grow

The Raven

SEMINAR (1/3 2011)
Please prepare a reading of the poem for the seminar. You may choose a specific passage that you find particularly useful/touching/gloomy/scary/beautiful.....

Consider the following:
- Mood
- Tone
- Intonation
- Breaks
- Composition

Stephen King: "Suffer the little children"

Where would you like to start with this story? I would like for you to start this discussion and I'll join in. Easy? We'll see...

Dracula

1. Characterize the environment with a focus on gothic elements (look up the characteristics if you are in doubt)

2. How can we use Freud's model of the mind in our reading of this story? Provide textual examples.

3. What view on sexuality and death are depicted in the story?

4. Why is this story sooooo fantastic? - Objectively speaking(!)

The Black Cat

SEMINAR (1/3 2011)

Form a hypothesis for the analysis of this story. You must consider themes and purpose. This will be the frame for our analysis.

Points to consider:

Find evidence for/examples of the unreliability of the narrator.

What does the black cat in the story symbolize? You may want to consider the significance of its name, Pluto.

Frankenstein

Read through the comprehension questions after each excerpt. Pick a few of the points below and choose a focus for your reading.

1. Characterize Victor Frankenstein

2. What views are represented in the excerpt regarding life, death, religion, science?

3. Read lines 29-40 again. How does Victor describe his scientific breakthrough?

4. Focus on the use of language and imagery when Victor discovers the secret of life - what do you think?

5. Characterize the changes in Victor's mood as his creation progresses.

6. Consider question 6 on p. 93 - what causes Victor's anxiety?

Material

It seems that both Sara and I are unable to forward the material. Those of you who did not get it will have to pick it up at the office at Randers HF & VUC. You should do so soon since there is quite a lot and you will need to participate in the discussions here on the blog.
Best,
Chanett

Exam dates

Just to let everyone that the written mock exam (terminsprøven) will be on Tuesday, 15th March and your written exam will on Friday, 27th May. We will not know when the oral examination will take place before Friday, 19th May.

Conference

Dear all

I believe we have a conference on Ludus. I will upload the texts (the Horror compendium) and the written assignment (Delprøve 1 + 2). I'm not sure they will be there before the weekend, though.

Best,

Chanett

ps. Those of you who already have the material may disregard this message ;)

Theory

Read the theoretical texts (Weisberg, Krogh/Schmidt and Schmidt)

1. Do you agree with N. Schmidt's views on why we read horror?

2. What are your own expectations for this theme? What do you expect to learn? What do you expect will be the focus of our analyzes?

3. Which of the aspects and sub-genres of horror mentioned in the material do you suppose you would prefer?

4. What scares you? (Do not say grammar!)

- Mwuuaaahahahahahaaaaaa.... :-o

Plan for "horror"

Horror

25/1: Discussion of theory

2/2: Discussion of Frankenstein (excerpt - Mary Shelley)

8/2: Discussion of Dracula (excerpt - Bram Stoker)

11/2: HAND IN WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (Parenting + grammar)

22/2: Discussion of Suffer the Little Children (Stephen King)

1/3: SEMINAR - read and analyze The Black Cat + The Raven (E. A. Poe)

Plan for seminar: Aspects of the American Dream

Seminar, January 2011
Dear all
We will be working in matrix groups (like you did for the fairytale theme). You will need notes from the blog.

We will analyse the poems in class so make notes and write on the blog so we have a point of departure. This is a new genre and it might be a good idea to do a little research.

You have not been asked to do a "delprøve 1" this time. Bring your grammar books and let us see where they take us :)

I'm looking forward to seeing you!

Best wishes,
Chanett

Ps. Feel free to add comments on the different texts - it will benefit your work in class!

I hear America singing (Whitman) & I too (Hughes)

We will be working on the poems when we meet. Go to the label "Poetry" posted by Sara and consider the questions in relation to the two poems.
Furthermore, I want you to consider the time and context of the poems.
What aspects of the American dream are presented in the two poems?

Posts on the blog regarding these subjects will be helpful to our work on the analysis.

Ted Williams, Columbus OH homeless man, with golden radio voice

How is this for an American Dream? Tell me what you think.

Our America

1. Sum up the differences that LeAlan Jones sees between the "two Americas". Provide evidence from the text.

2. Put "Our America" into perspective by comparing the text to one or two of the other texts we have read on this theme. All the texts should be covered when this discussion ends:

What are the differences in the view on the American Dream?

What views on the American people are conveyed in the texts? - sum up differences.

Is America presented as an example for the rest of the world or the opposite? Provide evidence?

Adam

1.What is the genre?
2.Who is speaking in the text?
3.What is his view on the American Dream?
4.React to his view on Capital punishment? How is this view related to the American Dream?
5.Discuss his view upon love and marriage
6.Is his view upon the American Dream exceptional?
7.What seems to be the topic?
8.To whom is the text directed?
9.How does our generation seek the American Dream? Has the concept changed?
10.Put into perspective of the other texts we have read on this theme.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Happy New Year, folks!

There seems to be a scarcity of written work in our inboxes - what could be the reason? Get your b**s into 2011 and hand them in (please!)

Sara & Chanett

Arnold Schwarzenegger speech

1. Comment on the use of repetition in the speech. Does Schwarzenegger have any favorite words/phrases? What is the significance?

2. How does he make use of rhetorical persuasion tools (ethos, pathos, logos)

3. How does he describe the American Dream?

4. What do you like/dislike about the speech?

5. Why do you think the speech has such a great impact on the audience(you may want to take a look at the speech on youtube and see the spectacular greeting he receives)

6. Compare the speech to the Creveceour text and consider the question: "What is an American?" (If you promise to stay on the narrow path of neutrality and objectivity, you may bring in your own opinion)

Creveceour: What is an American

1.What does Crèvecoeur's piece (1781) tell us about late 18th century America?

2.How does he describe Americans?
- Who are they?
- What values do they have?
- Put into perspective of the declaration of Independence and historical context

3.In contrast how does he describe the Europeans?

4.Discuss whether the meaning of being an American has changed

5.Put into perspective of the definition of the American Dream

6.Discuss whether this is a reliable source

Seminars - spring 2011

18/1 2011: Aspects of the American Dream

29/2 1011: Horror

5/4 2011: Catcher in the Rye

+ We will meet one more time before the exam.

Plan for Aspects of the American Dream

14/12 + 21/12 2010

The Declaration of Independence*

Martin Luther King: I have a Dream

4/1 2011

Crevecoeur: What is an American?

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Speech

Hand in written assignment to either Sara or Chanett

11/1 2011

Walt Whitman: I hear America Singing

Langston Hughes: I, too

18/1 2011 - Seminar

L. Jones: Our America

Michael Lee Cohen: Adam

*History of America

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

Work Points: Pick the work points that you find most interesting. In the end, all work points must be discussed, though!

1. Which view of human nature is expressed in the Declaration?

2. What are the most basic rights of an American citizen and where do they come from?

3. Analyse the oppositions in the text – what values would you say, are expressed through these oppositions?

4. Pick one of the following words and explain, in your own words, its meaning(s), connotations and use:

Despotism, democracy, unalienable right, duty, necessity, colony, declaration.

5. If you did not manage to get to one of the words in 4, please find synonyms for the following words:

Endowed, instituted, transient, accustomed, evinces, constrains.

Martin Luther King "I have a dream"

1. Characterize the effect of Martin Luther King's use of voice and body language.

2. Why does this speech work?

3. Find the most powerful examples of Martin Luther King's use of imagery.

For each example, make a note about the following analytical aspects:

- What is he concerned with in this example?

- Which form(s) of appeal do you find in this example? Provide evidence.

4. What makes this one of the most important speeches in the history of the USA?

5. Why did I make you read this speech together with the Declaration of Independence? ("guess what the teacher is thinking" - my fav game!)

Christmas traditions

Dear all
Christmas is coming the geese are getting FLAT...

I would love to share a little Christmas Spirit with you when we meet. As you know, we are a mixed group of people and I thought; why not make good use of that? So I would like you to prepare a short presentation of your favourite Christmas/New Years traditions - let us hear a little bit from all the wonderful cultures and experiences that you represent!

I am not unwilling to host a small competition: If you want, you may bring a taste of your favourite goodies, cookies, fruits or chocolates....

Delprøve 1

When we meet next time around, I would like for you to complete one more delprøve 1. In this case one from Maj 2007. You can find it here (venstre side ned finder I eksamenstekster- klik her, og gå ind under HF B, 2007 maj del 1), or you can email me if it does not work (st@randershfvuc.dk) - I will send you a copy then.

In the Shadow of War

When reading this story I would like for you to focus on Omovo and the relationship to his father.
I would also like for you to find places in the text which you find interesting or simply odd, basically I want you to come up with questions to the text. Why? Why? Why?

The Bonfire

Picture from Google

Questions to ponder about:

1) Describe the villagers - what do they believe in?
- What happens to Alee and how does the story end?
2) Characterise Nedam, why is he killed?
3) Characterise the narrator, and describe the role the narrator has been given.
4) Comment on the title.
5) What is the main conflict in the story?
6) Could you please google Ken Saro-Wiwa? Is there any information about him which we can use to understand the story in an altered way?

Organ Donation

The task A is not much different than B, however, we are dealing with non-fiction and thus there are some things you need to keep in mind.

Summary

Is basically the same, but always introduce with the title followed by the writer, and then what the focus is with the article. In this case organ donation. Again, this is an objective piece and you should therefore not include your own opinion.

Outline

Now this is the tricky part as you need to include all articles and take out the essence. You can do this in different ways, but what is important is that you only take out the most relevant pieces of information. Here you should be able to contrast them: one is for (Why is that?), another is against (why is that?). A good idea is to make an introduction in which you describe the topic (something general), however, you need to keep in mind that you should be objective - not include "I think...". Quotes are more than welcome, just remember that they should be accounted for.

Comment

Is subjective, what do you think?

Discussion

The same as in the B assignment.

N.B. Do I need say you should use your own words, unless we are talking about quotes, which you should put in quotation marks.

Labour Pains

1. What is the genre? Is this indeed a short story?
2. Why has the author chosen this particular setting for her story?
3. Describe the characters in the story?
4. Describe the composition of the story.
5. Discuss the point of view, who is the narrator? and what does the author wish to achieve with this?
6. Why is it called Labour Pains?

Who is Who?

Just to clear things here on the blog. It is actually me, Sara who is discussing with you here on the blog when debating the themes "Clash of Cultures" and "Stories from Africa". I can understand it is nice to know who you are actually discussing with, hence I have changed it and you can now see who is who;)

But you got some great discussions going on here, and a post will follow Tuesday on Labour pains. Furthermore on how to write the outline for the Organ Donation assignment.

Sara

Text 3: I'm donating my kidney to a stranger

Hi all
Here is the missing text 3 for your written assignment. I still cannot do all the fancy stuff - but hope you can use it anyway. Wish you all a lovely weekend :)
- Chanett

I’m donating my kidney to a stranger
Paula MacKinnon, thought to be Scotland’s first altruistic organ donor, insists her decision is no big deal
Richard Wilson

Paula MacKinnon is surrounded by scepticism. Her elderly parents oppose her and many of her friends insist she is being foolish. Yet she is unrepentant. “I just don’t see it as a big deal,” she says, shrugging her narrow shoulders. “Y’know, welcome to my kidney. I want to donate it.”
Sitting in the kitchen of her modest home in a Glasgow cul-de-sac, she appears perfectly conventional. But her decision to donate a kidney to a total stranger makes her a first in Scotland.
It began when her 68-year-old mother, Katherine, suffered kidney failure last year. MacKinnon put herself forward as a potential donor, only to find that their blood groups were not compatible. Instead of stopping there, however, she decided to donate one of her kidneys to whoever might need it.
It is called altruistic donation and it was made possible by the introduction of the Human Tissue Act in September 2006. Previously, living donors were only allowed to give their organs to those who were genetically or emotionally related, such as family or spouses. Now, under the control of the Human Tissue Authority, donors can provide organs to people they do not know. As far as MacKinnon is aware, only 11 people in the UK have donated kidneys in this way, none of them from Scotland.
“There’s this huge thing about organ donation, that it still seems unusual,” she says. “If it becomes more acceptable in society, what I’m doing won’t be so shocking. There’s still a terrible shortage of organs. That’s what got me riled. In some ways, it’s a simple thing to do, to donate an organ, but it can make a huge difference to people’s lives.”
She is puzzled that her mother, who still needs a kidney transplant, is opposed. Her father, Kenneth, a minister, has also tried to talk her out of her plans. “Determined” is the word MacKinnon reaches for when she considers her own response, but she understands their anxiety.
“It’s because my parents care. I’m their daughter and I’m going through an operation I don’t have to go through,” she says. “I think, ultimately they think what I’m doing is good, but like any parent they’re concerned. They’ve given up , because it’s something I really want to do.”
Sitting quietly in the living room next door, listening to music, is Paula’s husband, Colin. Perhaps more than anybody else, he knows how the grain of his wife’s character runs. “He’s supportive,” says MacKinnon. “You can ask him.”
He understands, because it is not the first selfless act that she has undertaken. Both are BBC journalists and when he worked on a programme about orphaned children in Ukraine two years ago, his wife was moved to take 12 months’ unpaid leave and self-fund a three-month trip to the country to help.
So when asked what her motivation is for undergoing invasive surgery that requires a general anaesthetic, the insertion of a urinary catheter and a drip, and is followed by at least three or four days in hospital, her reasoning is succinct.
“It’s completely simple. It’s just something that I can do to help somebody else,” she says. “I’d got into the mindset of doing it for my mother. When I realised I couldn’t do it for her, I started to think I could do it for somebody else. So I researched it. They call it altruistic, but I am quite selfish. I wouldn’t do it if there was any harm to myself. The risks involved seem minimal compared to what I can give to somebody.”
(…)

The Guilt

Questions to be answered and then discussed..

1. What themes does the story deal with?
2. Where does the story take place? What is the importance of the settings?
3. Characterise Lilian Thurgood.
4. Pick a quote from the text, which you describe and interpret in your comment.

The Mark of Vishnu

We were quite in a hurry when finishing the text, however, we did make it clear that the story deals with the conflicting values of the traditional India versus the modern India. Here we also talked about Gunga Ram being a symbol of belief, of acceptance, of the old traditional values existing in India. Whereas the teacher is a symbol of the modern westernised India, which is governed by science and questioning the traditional ways of living. One of the main points of the story is that Kala Nag (nature) cannot be controlled, not by religion, nor by science.

But now I am wondering what are the boys a symbol of?

Stories from Africa

The Guilt, Rayda Jacobs (November 16)

Labour Pains, Normavenda Mathiane (November 23)

The Bonfire, Ken Saro- Wiwa (November 30)

In the Shadow of War, Ben Okri (December 7, when we meet again)

Hand in assignment: Organ Donation + Delprøve 1, Maj 2007 (November 23) to either Chanett or Sara.

Adjectives

Hey.

Just found a great page for exercising your grammar skills - here's a bit on adjectives...

Chanett

Ps. I'm not good at linking, but hope you find it.

The Mark of Vishnu

We meet again Tuesday the 9th of November, 5.30 to discuss the theme Class of Cultures. You have to read The Mark of Vishnu and find suitable quotes. By this I mean you need to find at least three quotes in the text of which you find interesting, and you consider to have symbolic implications in some sort of way.

My Son the Fanatic

1. What themes does this short story present?

2. Consider the following words: adulterer -alcohol - beliefs - devotion - drugs - gambling - jihad - the Koran - mullah - Muslim - Paradise - prostitute.

How can we use these words to characterize Ali and Parvez? Furthermore, understand their different ways of living and reactions?

• In what ways do they differ in terms of how they look upon women and life in general?
• Why has Ali decided to become a practising Muslim?
• Why does Parvez hit Ali at the end of the story?

3. Discuss message and intention.

Reminder

Essay to be handed in today: st@randershfvuc.dk or ck@randershfvuc.dk

N.B. Delprøve 1. is to be made for the 9th of November when we meet again.

Comma

Tricky commas - here is a short guide which is easy to follow.

Delprøve 2

You are to hand in Dusk over Atlantic Wharf (Delprøve 2, assigment B) on Tuesday.

1) The summary you, hopefully, know how to write: write in present tense; only approx. 150 words; do not include quotes; and use your own words.

2) The characterisation: Write a short introduction in which you present the characters and their situation. Describe their features and identify the conflict(s), how does the conflict develop and what is the objective? Hence the intention with the the text. You can use quotes, just use them wisely i.e. do not use too many, and do not forget to comment on them.

3) Comment on the ending: How do you understand the ending? What is the author´s intention? You may put it into perspective.

4) Short essay: The basic essay is in which you discuss an issue in this case immigration. You start by making a short introduction e.g. something general, and then slowly build up the essay by discussing the topic from different points of view. Finally you wrap up with a good punch line.

Click on the green highlighted links to view examples.

Vintereksamen påmindelse

Sidste frist! Meld lige tilbage om I skal op til vintereksamen, og om I også skal op mundtligt. Martin, Azra, Vino och Charmi er tilmeldt, er der andre?

Homework

26/10 I Want to Make Changes (blogpost)

26/10 Dusk over Atlantic Wharf (hand in assignment to either Chanett or Sara)

2/11 My Son the Fanatic (blogpost)

9/11 (when we meet again) The Mark of Vishnu + Delprøve 1 (2008)

I Want to Make Changes- Sylvia Flute

I want you to consider the following questions

1. Describe the sort of prejudice Sylvia Flute meets as an Indian?
2. What does Sylvia think should be done to stop prejudice?
3. What does Sylvia mean when she says that people in general are not “doing well”?

And then I want you to discuss these ones in 'comments'

1. What kind of text is this?
2. How would you describe Sylvia´s way of speaking?
3. Why does she use the term “Native American” to describe herself?
4. What kind of reader is the text aimed at?
5. What kind of audience do you think the interviewer had in mind?
6. What would you say are the main points in the text?
7. What is the intention with the text?
8. Put into perspective i.e. discuss how you can relate this text to problems in society.

Grammar homework

As you have no more stories to read until we meet again, we would like you to take a good look at some grammar more specifically verbs and tense. You can do this by looking into your grammar book (Fejlstøvsugeren) and especially look to tense (verbets tider). You can also click here for some exercises on English tense.

MØDEPLAN

Her er mødetidspunkterne for efteråret 2010

Tirsdag d. 7/9: Intro

Tirsdag d. 12/10: Fairy tales

Tirsdag d. 9/11: Clash of Cultures

Tirsdag: 7/12: African Literature

Mødetid er 17.30

Vintereksamen

Hvem skal tilmeldes til vintereksamen? Meld gerne tilbage hurtigst muligt!

The Ant and the Grasshopper - work points etc.

Read the traditional fable from Aesop's fables:

http://www.dltk-teach.com/fables/grasshopper/mstory.htm

What are the similarities between our version and the original?

Why does the author choose to use the old fable as a frame for his modern story?

Work points for Petronella

1. Find as many elements as you can of traditional fairy tale elements in "Petronella"

2. In what way is it different from the traditional fairy tale? Does this make it better or not so good, in your opinion?

I guess more questions and work points will follow - perhaps some of them coming from you guys?

Summary

A summary reviews the most important points of the text. It should be approximately 150 words. Furthermore, the summary should be written as much as possible in your own words and in present tense. It contains only the main ideas and does not include your own view on the text, nor quotes from the text.