AFTA Question 4

Chapter 9…oh, Chapter 9, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.  I could give an entire test on this one chapter alone – did you grasp its significance as you were reading?  There is a significant speech about war and the nature of defeat – THIS topic comes up again and again in the novel, both in relation to and apart from war.  At this point, what do the men feel about the war?  Discuss Frederic’s stance on the issue and what his opinions reveal about him as a man. 

Also, Frederic is critically injured in this chapter.  Compare and contrast this scene and the action that follows it (to end of chapter) with notions of courage, battle, and heroism depicted in the early British literature we’ve read – Beowulf and the characterization of the Knight in The Canterbury Tales.  What can we say about Modern heroes?  Modern war? (Modern = Modernism, you know, the era spanning from c. 1900-1950’s!)

AFTA Question 3

Chapters 4, 5, and 6 introduce Frederic’s love interest and one of Hemingway’s most critically reviled (by Feminist critics at least) characters, Catherine Barkley.  What is YOUR opinion of Catherine?  Does her past play at all into her behavior – and does it make a difference in how you read her?  Discuss their early relationship – their motivations, their level of trust, etc.  What do you predict for their future (if you KNOW and spoil it, I will NEVER EVER EVER forgive you!)

AFTA Question 2

Chapters 3 and 7 both contain passages with noticeable departure in style from Hemingway’s typical "journalistic" syntax.  Google “stream of consciousness” as a literary technique (even if you know what it is…see what others say about it) and discuss its usage in these two chapters.  Are the circumstances similar or different?  Discuss why Frederic’s narrative shifts in these scenes and what we perhaps learn about him from these departures.

AFTA Question 1

Chapters 1-2 of A Farewell to Arms serve as exposition, introducing the novel’s major motifs, such as rain and religion, and major characters, such as Frederic (the narrator), Rinaldi, and the priest.  In both cases, World War I provides the backdrop for these opening scenes.  Discuss the impact of the war on the natural landscape and the men.  Is there any common ground between the how the two (nature and men) “relate” to the war?

*if you don't know WWI very well...google it!  do some background reading!  

Thoughts on Inception

I was truly surprised by the number of students who listed "Inception" as one of their favorite movies.  What is it about this film that has people so intrigued?  That appeals to many different tastes?  Having read about it for many weeks before its opening and being a huge fan of Christopher Nolan's work ("Memento," "The Prestige," "The Dark Knight"), I broke one of my own movie rules and went on opening weekend.  Even now, I can recall with detail the scenes that took my breath away (Inception clip) but I think the notions of layered consciousness that "Inception" explored are the main reason I loved it so much.  I think we do hold a "safe" deep within our mind somewhere, and that safe would manifest differently for each person.  For Cilian Murphy's character, it was a locked chamber within a snow-bound fortress.  What would mine be?  I have no idea, and that's the point.  So many people I talk to about this movie focus on the ending:  did the top topple?  Is it "live" or is it Memorex?  (Y'all are too young for that reference, sorry!)  For me, it really doesn't matter. The whole movie was itself an inception - designed to open up our own minds, to make us think, to make us talk, to elicit interaction.  And on that front, Nolan succeeded in the highest degree.  What do you think?  Why did you like or NOT like this film? 

Free 100!

You found it - my blog and YOUR second opportunity for a 100 daily grade...and only two days into the year!  Sign in with your name and class period and a few thoughts about the opening of this school year.  Remember honesty is important, but so is tact and so is context:  this is a class blog created for educational purpose.  Keep the language in the land of "school-appropriate" please!