On the Owl Creek Bridge

Look at the picture above this passage. Based upon your reading of Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," does this picture capture the mood of the story? Explain your stance with specifics from the story. (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight, Thursday, May 1, 2014.)

A Man Called Poe

We have a few selections of Edgar Allan Poe's poetry and short stories.  If you had the opportunity to meet Poe, based upon what you have read of his, what would you ask him and why?  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Wednesday, April 30, 2014.)

Retaliation

In Poe's story "Hop Frog,"  Hop Frog is clearly the protagonist--the hero, the one the audience sides with.  However, the protagonist can't function without an antagonist.  What are two ways that Poe characterizes the king as the antagonist?  (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, Tuesday, April 29, 2014.)

Behind the brick and mortar...

Poe uses much symbolism and irony in "The Cask of Amontillado."  Select some symbol or element of irony in the story that drew your interest or helped you to understand the story more.  Tell us about and explain what it revealed and why you were drawn to it.  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Sunday, April 26, 2014.) There is a blog below this one that expires Friday, April 24th.

The poet's voice....

Our focus on the Fireside Poets took us through 3 works by Longfellow:  "A Psalm of Life," "The Children's Hour," and "Cross of Snow."  Select one of the poems and share your overall thoughts on the work.  How and why does it appeal to you?  (The deadline to post a response is midnight, Friday, April 25, 2014.)

In the beginning...

Since the beginning of time, people have said to one another, "Tell me a story."  Many of these stories have been folktales. Most folktales contain common elements, such as subtle humor, stereotypical or stock characters, moral themes, eerie or strange settings, and rumor-based or word-of-mouth information. "The Devil and Tom Walker" is classified as an American folktale. Select any two elements of folktales and explain how the incorporation of these elements added to the story. How did these elements help the story?  (This post closes at midnight on Thursday, April 24, 2014.

Something that happened...

When he first wrote this novel, Steinbeck titled it Something That Happened.  Then, he remembered the poem "To a Mouse," which we read in class.  From that poem he took the title Of Mice and Men.  Which title Something that Happened or Of Mice and Men do you think is the better title?  Why?  Give specific reasons.  (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight April 12, 2014.) Please take a moment to vote in the poll at the right and there is another blog below this one, too.

"They left all the weak ones here.."

Consider the scene in Crooks' room. How and what does the conversation of the "misfits" in the chapter reveal about society? In what ways does each character dominate/control? (This post closes on Friday, April 11, 2014 at midnight.)

If these whitewashed walls could talk...

 In  Chapter 3 in Of Mice and Men, three important events occur as the men sit in the bunkhouse: Candy's dog is shot, Candy, George, Lennie and Candy decide to buy their dream ranch, and Curley attacks Lennie. Select one of these events and write about how Steinbeck created mood/tone of the scene. Explain how this scene made you feel. (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, Tuesday, April 8, 2014.)

This ain't a good place...

In the second section/chapter in Of Mice and Men, Lennie suddenly says, "I don't like this place, George. This ain't no good place. I wanna get outa of here."  From what we have read, is Lennie foreshadowing possible complications?  What is something or someone in the book that you feel might cause problems for George and Lennie?  Explain why you think this?  (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Sunday, April 6, 2014.)
 

I got you and you got me...

George Milton and Lennie Small, the main characters of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, are total opposites, yet they share a strong bond.  What message do you think Steinbeck is conveying through these polar opposites and their friendship and dream?  From chapter one, what part/line/passage really helped you to see this message?  (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, Wednesday, April 2, 2014.)