F Bell Sept. 30th

In the short stories "Saving Sourdi" and "We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This" characters face challenges due to their family's background. Choose specific examples of this, explain how they enhance the plot, and relate the examples to the author's background. Be sure to add textual evidence to support your assertions.

You may find these links helpful for backrounds on the cultures:

http://www.cal.org/co/cubans/life.htm

http://chinaunique.com/educate/culture.htm

G Bell-Psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud devoted his life to deciphering the human mind. He utilized the method of psychoanalytic theory to better understand the brain and how it functions. http://wilderdom.com/personality/L8-1MajorThemesAssumptionsPsychoanalytic.html; Using the site above as a reference, find two characters (one from Faulkner's work and one from O'Connor's) and explain why these characters exemplify the meaning of psychoanalytic theory. What traits do they possess that make them significant examples of psychoanalysis and Freud's teachings?

BLOGs Must be Posted by Friday, October 1

Dear BLOG administrators,

It is imperative you post your BLOG on time in the future.  I am counting on seeing BLOGs posted for all three bells by tomorrow afternoon.  The BLOG will now be due by next Friday, October 8th at midnight.  I will allow these two extra days because I know this is still a bit new.  However, if BLOGs are not posted on time in the future, you will lose 10 points a day from your 100 points for BLOG administration.

In addition, if you are running the BLOG, you must make final comments to at least 8 students no later than two days after the BLOG closes.  I also expect one of the administrators to check in during the week at least once to encourage the students and to check to see if all is running smoothly with the BLOG.

Thank you very much for your attention to these details.

Mrs. Maurno

F Bell Faulkner Blog

Many of Faulkner's works focus on the conflict of self identity and whether or not one should conform to society. In an acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize, Faulkner said, "Problems in the human heart in conflict with itself... alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat". This theme of the conflict of inner rebellion versus outward conformity (which we previously discussed in Their Eyes Were Watching God) is shown throughout both of Faulkner's short stories that we have read.

Please select a character from one of the short stories and show the "personal conflict rooted in Southern identity". In addition, please elaborate on why and how this theme of self conflict relates to Faulkner's own life.

E Bell Blog Sept. 23

O’Connor is known for bringing spiritual insight in extreme situations through distorted or grotesque characters. Not only is spiritual insight prominent, there often seems to be some kind of lesson behind her stories. Faulkner in his writings focuses on local social history, but his writings also consist of some form of life lessons. “problems of the human heart in conflict with itself…alone can make a good writing because only that is worth writing about” (Faulkner). Find similarities between O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and Faulkner’s “Barn Burning”. Include textual evidence in your answer.
Clayton Poffenberger

G Bell Blog Post - Due Tues., Sept. 28 @ Midnight

Although professedly deeply religious, Flannery O’Connor’s stories hold a rich tapestry of themes and motifs that can be interpreted through the lens of other philosophies. Likewise, Faulkner’s spiritually-replete narratives also possess components of variable natures, depending on the medium of scrutiny. Take two of any of the assorted Southern Gothic literature selections we have studied and examine two (one from each story selected) incidents or characterizations conventionally labeled as Christian, using instead one of the following schools of thought:

Nihilism:http://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism/
Relativism: http://www.iep.utm.edu/relativi/
Reducto ad Absurdum: http://www.iep.utm.edu/reductio/
Functionalism: http://www.iep.utm.edu/functism/
Sarte’s Existentialism: http://www.iep.utm.edu/sartre-ex/

Be sure to use textual evidence and feel free to use other sources (art, music, other literature - but not required!)

Enjoy some of the Modern Voices of the South: Country Music, while you post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM&ob=av2e Can you see the Gothic connections?

E Bell blog- Southern Literature

The South is often referred to as a different world. Along with this world comes a specific genre of literature. Southern literature is anywork set in the South, about the South, or by a southern author. Flannery O'Conner's work is classified in the sub- genre of southern Renaissance of the early to mid 20th century. According to Anne E. Rowe of Florida State University, these authors "have continued to place characters and action in the South. Although their work is regional, it is universal as well. Each writer, through the exploration of specific characters and places, seeks answers to the questions of life and death that concern all men and women." This movement is a break from previous works surrounding slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, especially the frustrations of each. How does O' Connor's work deviate from the "Lost Cause" movement to fit in with the Renaissance movement?
-Kelly and Shane

F Bell Flannery O' Connor Blog

Flannery O' Connor is famous for her grotesque characters in her short stories. When asked about this she said "anything that comes out of the South is going to be called grotesque by the northern reader, unless it is grotesque , in which case it is going to be called realistic." In "A Good Man is Hard to Find" or "Good Country People" find an example of a grotesque character and elaborate (include which story the character comes from). Why is he or she considered grotesque? What made them grotesque? Try to choose secondary characters to make it creative and not repetitive.
Grotesque: departing markedly from the natural, the expected, or the typical fantastic human and animal forms often interwoven with foliage or similar figures that may distort the natural into absurdity, ugliness, or caricature.

G Bell due 21 September midnight- Short Stories-O'Connor

Flannery O'Connor is a Southern Gothic writer who is known for living a spiritual life in a secular world. Approaching all of these broad issues by providing moral, social, and psychological contexts that offer a plethora of insights and passion which her readers find very startling yet at the same time assimilating (Bedford Literature 439).


Grotesque-From a literary standpoint, this term implies a mutation of the characters, plants and/or animals. This mutation transforms the normal features and/or behaviors into veritable extremes that are meant to be frightening and/or disturbingly comic (Cornwell 273).

Southern Gothic Literature- relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot, uses these to explore social issues and reveal cultural character of the American South. (http://personal.georgiasouthern.edu/~dougt/goth.html)

Her style may be a classified as Southern Gothic Literature as present a link. Use the definitions above as an aid in showing how O’Connor’s short stories classify as Southern Gothic literature with an integral use of grotesque characters. How does O’Connor, raised a Catholic, reveal the juxtaposition of her religious beliefs(which are ambiguous about her stance) within the grotesque characters? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

G Bell - How to Read Literature Like a Professor - Due Tuesday, September 14th

How to Read Literature Like a Professor attempts to make literary interpretation accessible to everyone by clearly and humorously breaking down the interpretation into manageable "chunks".  Each chapter hones in on symbols, themes, and/or motifs that aid in the art of literary analysis. 

Choose two of the following five chapters and analyze a novel or short story you have read recently.  Use these analytical tools to help increase the reader's comprehension of characterization, plot, setting, theme, etc.  Be sure to use specific textual evidence to support your interpretation gleaned from using these tools.  Remember to avoid listing or "pointing out" this information.  You should analyze and look for the larger meaning created via the use of this technique.

• Hanseldee and Greteldum
• More than It's Gonna Hurt You:  Concerning Violence
• Is that a Symbol?
• Is He Serious and Other Ironies
• Geography Matters 

F Bell - How to Read Literature Like a Professor - Due Tuesday, September 14th

How to Read Literature Like a Professor attempts to make literary interpretation accessible to everyone by clearly and humorously breaking down the interpretation into manageable "chunks".  Each chapter hones in on symbols, themes, and/or motifs that aid in the art of literary analysis. 

Choose two of the following five chapters and analyze a novel or short story you have read recently.  Use these analytical tools to help increase the reader's comprehension of characterization, plot, setting, theme, etc.  Be sure to use specific textual evidence to support your interpretation gleaned from using these tools.  Remember to avoid listing or "pointing out" this information.  You should analyze and look for the larger meaning created via the use of this technique.
  

• Every Trip is a Quest
• Nice to Eat with You (vampires/communion)
• It's More than just Rain or Snow
• And Rarely Just an Illness
• So Does the Season

E Bell - How to Read Literature Like a Professor - Due Tuesday, September 14th

How to Read Literature Like a Professor attempts to make literary interpretation accessible to everyone by clearly and humorously breaking down the interpretation into manageable "chunks".  Each chapter hones in on symbols, themes, and/or motifs that aid in the art of literary analysis. 

Choose three of the following seven chapters and analyze a novel or short story you have read recently.  Use these analytical tools to help increase the reader's comprehension of characterization, plot, setting, theme, etc.  Be sure to use specific textual evidence to support your interpretation gleaned from using these tools.  Remember to avoid listing or "pointing out" this information.  You should analyze and look for the larger meaning created via the use of this technique.
  

• It's all Political
• When in doubt, it's from Shakespeare
• Yes, she's a Christ figure, too
• Or the Bible
• It is Greek to me
• Flights of Fancy