How would you describe the tone and feeling of the first story "The Shawl"? How is it different from the later story "Rosa"? Why did Ozick create this difference?
Why do you think that Ozick chose to include such a small segment of story representing the Holocaust experience compared to a much longer, drawn out version of Rosa's life in Florida? How does the form here mirror the content?
What gaps are there in the story, in Rosa's memory, in the differing versions of stories told by different characters? Why is this important to the book? Also, think about some of the contradictions in this book, things that just don't make sense to you as a reader? What makes sense to Rosa? Again, why are these contradictions important?
Is Rosa crazy? Why does she smash up her successful store and relegate herself to a life of squalor in Florida? What does Ozick want readers to learn or to think about from Rosa's story? Is this a story of survival and triumph or is this a story of oppression?
What is the significance of Dr. Tree and his study? Why does Rosa reject his version of reality? What does she object to? Can you make any connections between her attitude toward Tree and her attitude toward Stella?
Why does Rosa refuse to admit that Magda is dead? Explore the many possibilities here.
What role does Mr. Persky play in the story and in Rosa's life? Is the ending a positive, hopeful, ending? Is Rosa transformed in some way by her interaction with Persky; does she change or have any realizations? What do you imagine happens after the book ends?
What do you think Ozick's intentions are with this book? What does she want us to get out of it?
This is another story about motherhood. Reflect on the way motherhood affects a woman's identity. How is Rosa's survival mitigated by the loss of her daughter/motherhood?
How does this book connect to others we have read about surviving a traumatic experience, especially When the Emperor was Divine and Push?
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Divine Emperors
Here are some possible writing topics for When the Emperor was Divine:
1. Some people have labeled Otsuka's style as minimalist because of what one Eng 217 student on Wednesday described as the "monotone" feel of the narration. Certainly, the emotional impact of the writing seems muted or concealed under a surface layer, especially after reading Push which had an opposite style/feel. Do you agree that Otsuka's style is minimalist? What is the effect of her style and why do you think the author employs this particular style? How does it relate to the novel's content, the characters, etc.?
2. Beneath a monotone surface of writing lurk powerful emotions: shame, fear, resentment, anger, etc. Where do we see these emotions erupt and what does that show about the bigger picture of the characters' lives and feelings?
3. There are a lot of interactions between humans and animals (ex. White Dog, the bird, the horses, the turtle). What is the significance of these interactions? What is the author suggesting about humanity?
4. Why do you think the main characters are unnamed in the book? How does that detail add to the author's project? Compare the lack of names to people and places that are named in the book and see what is emphasized in this comparison.
5. Comment on the silences or the things left unsaid in the novel. What do the gaps reveal about what is being hidden or ignored and why?
6. Color is important in real and symbolic ways throughout the writing. Look at the various uses of color and think about what their importance is. What do they illuminate? Also, compare the use of whiteness and colors to the idea of American vs. Japanese identity.
7. Track the ways that the characters change through the experience of being in the internment camps. How are the family members different people when they come back? Have they traded roles in some cases? How do you think they will/can go on with their lives, go back to "normal"? What is the effect of the camps on the identity of the characters? Say where you see identity being shaped, altered, crushed, etc.
8. Explore further the themes of lying, truth, and fantasy that we began to cover in class discussion. How does the end of the book speak to these topics?
9. Relate this novel to the idea of the American Dream and the stories we tell about our nation in American history.
10. Why do you think the author seeks to break the silence surrounding this historical event by telling this story? (Her mother and grandmother lived in an internment camp but the author heard/knew little of their personal experiences.) How might this novel also relate to the historical events of 9/11 (considering the novel was published in 2003)?
1. Some people have labeled Otsuka's style as minimalist because of what one Eng 217 student on Wednesday described as the "monotone" feel of the narration. Certainly, the emotional impact of the writing seems muted or concealed under a surface layer, especially after reading Push which had an opposite style/feel. Do you agree that Otsuka's style is minimalist? What is the effect of her style and why do you think the author employs this particular style? How does it relate to the novel's content, the characters, etc.?
2. Beneath a monotone surface of writing lurk powerful emotions: shame, fear, resentment, anger, etc. Where do we see these emotions erupt and what does that show about the bigger picture of the characters' lives and feelings?
3. There are a lot of interactions between humans and animals (ex. White Dog, the bird, the horses, the turtle). What is the significance of these interactions? What is the author suggesting about humanity?
4. Why do you think the main characters are unnamed in the book? How does that detail add to the author's project? Compare the lack of names to people and places that are named in the book and see what is emphasized in this comparison.
5. Comment on the silences or the things left unsaid in the novel. What do the gaps reveal about what is being hidden or ignored and why?
6. Color is important in real and symbolic ways throughout the writing. Look at the various uses of color and think about what their importance is. What do they illuminate? Also, compare the use of whiteness and colors to the idea of American vs. Japanese identity.
7. Track the ways that the characters change through the experience of being in the internment camps. How are the family members different people when they come back? Have they traded roles in some cases? How do you think they will/can go on with their lives, go back to "normal"? What is the effect of the camps on the identity of the characters? Say where you see identity being shaped, altered, crushed, etc.
8. Explore further the themes of lying, truth, and fantasy that we began to cover in class discussion. How does the end of the book speak to these topics?
9. Relate this novel to the idea of the American Dream and the stories we tell about our nation in American history.
10. Why do you think the author seeks to break the silence surrounding this historical event by telling this story? (Her mother and grandmother lived in an internment camp but the author heard/knew little of their personal experiences.) How might this novel also relate to the historical events of 9/11 (considering the novel was published in 2003)?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Push
Discussion Questions or Push
How does the voice of Precious change the way we see her? Can it change the way others in her community see her or refuse to see her?
What roles do language and emotion play in the book?
At what points do we see change in Precious? At what point do we see Precious owning her identity and her destiny rather than accepting what others have forced on her? What influences her change?
As Precious learns about the world around her, how do her views on race and sexuality change? Do her friendships help her lose her biases and see beyond stereotypes? What factors contribute to the way Precious sees the world in the beginning of the book, and what factors make her reconsider?
What problems does Sapphire want us to be aware of? What societal institutions does the novel critique? What solutions do you think she offers?
What is the role of Precious' community in forming her individual self?
What is the role of literacy in identity formation? What is the role of writing and expression in Precious' story? Why are these crucial elements?
What does Precious learn about her identity as a parent? Do you think she comes to forgive her own parents? Why or why not? What does Sapphire suggest about motherhood and the role it plays in identity formation?
What is this book suggesting about themes like power, abuse, and survival?
What do you think of the ending of the book? Is it hopeful? What do you think happens to Precious and her son?
Is this an American Dream story or the opposite? Is it a story of hope or a story of despair? Or is it not that simple - and why?
What is the purpose of the Life Stories at the end? Why does Sapphire end with them and what do they add to the novel?
How does the voice of Precious change the way we see her? Can it change the way others in her community see her or refuse to see her?
What roles do language and emotion play in the book?
At what points do we see change in Precious? At what point do we see Precious owning her identity and her destiny rather than accepting what others have forced on her? What influences her change?
As Precious learns about the world around her, how do her views on race and sexuality change? Do her friendships help her lose her biases and see beyond stereotypes? What factors contribute to the way Precious sees the world in the beginning of the book, and what factors make her reconsider?
What problems does Sapphire want us to be aware of? What societal institutions does the novel critique? What solutions do you think she offers?
What is the role of Precious' community in forming her individual self?
What is the role of literacy in identity formation? What is the role of writing and expression in Precious' story? Why are these crucial elements?
What does Precious learn about her identity as a parent? Do you think she comes to forgive her own parents? Why or why not? What does Sapphire suggest about motherhood and the role it plays in identity formation?
What is this book suggesting about themes like power, abuse, and survival?
What do you think of the ending of the book? Is it hopeful? What do you think happens to Precious and her son?
Is this an American Dream story or the opposite? Is it a story of hope or a story of despair? Or is it not that simple - and why?
What is the purpose of the Life Stories at the end? Why does Sapphire end with them and what do they add to the novel?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)