Responsibility and Knowledge

When we discussed plagiarism, we discussed the fact that we can be responsible for knowledge we don’t have. For example, we are responsible for knowing the speed limit; and we’re responsible for understanding what plagiarism is – these responsibilities are now realities, independent of whether or not we know the speed limit or the rules of plagiarism.

What are some other things we are responsible to know, independent of whether we know them or not?

Character Change

A dynamic character is one who changes through the course of a story. Often, climaxes (or other important moments) are centered on characters’ transformation. This transformation often happens when the protagonist learns something about a) the world or b) him or herself.

Choose a story (movie, novel, story, poem, play, etc) and demonstrate this fact. Show us how a protagonist changes and what he or she learns about the world or him or herself that affects this change.

Point-of-View

The point-of-view of a story hugely impacts the way it is told and its affect on the audience. For example, a story about a murder would be presented very differently if the murderer or a family member of the victim told it – and it would be different if a child or an adult was the narrator.

Choose a story (movie, novel, story, poem, play, etc.) and demonstrate this fact. Show us how the narrator/point-of-view/perspective changes or affects the story.

Writing versus Speaking

Explore either or both of the following: a) What is more important: writing well or speaking well? b) Why are some people better at one versus the other?

The Future Speaks to the Present

“By the Waters of Babylon” is a story set in the future. As with many stories with a similar setting, the author is commenting on or warning the present. Find and explore an example of this.

Historical Significance of the Written Word

Find and explore a significant moment in history that was affected, directly or indirectly, by the written word.

Blake and Poe

Read the short poem below titled “Poison Tree” by William Blake. Connect it to Poe and revenge – specifically, the consequences of holding pain, anger, or shame inside.

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe;
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I water'd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with my smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole
When the night had veil'd the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretch'd beneath the tree

Revenge

Explore either a) the effects of revenge on an individual, in a real or hypothetical situation, or b) the effectiveness of revenge, i.e. Does it actually make you “feel better?”

Repression

Explore either a) things people feel the need to repress or b) the effects of repression. Feel free to check out this link for thoughts or ideas: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/374718/what_is_psychological_repression.html?cat=72

Annabel Lee

Respond to this Poe poem in any way you feel appropriate:

“Annabel Lee”

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulcher
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulcher there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Authors and Their Works

Edgar Allan Poe had an extremely interesting (and twisted) personal life. He was an alcoholic, never held a steady job, and married his 13-year old cousin, Virginia Clemm.

This brings up two questions. Feel free to respond to either: 1) How much should we care about an author’s personal life? Should we consider a person’s life when we read and analyze his or her writings? 2) Often writers are crazy, depressed, and have faced serious trauma. Do people need to have awful things happen to them to produce powerful literature?

Horror

“Most Dangerous Game” is considered a suspense story. Humans have always loved suspense; there are also many individuals that enjoy the horror genre. In the last twenty years or so, production of horror movies has increased 300-400%.

Why do you think people are attracted to horror films/stories? Why do people intentionally get themselves scared? Why do you think they are on the rise?

Plagiarism

In all honesty, who gets hurt when I plagiarize?

Explore either side of the plagiarism argument: a) It is a serious issue. b) It is not a serious issue.

Psychological Conflict

There are different levels and types of conflict. Psychological conflict – conflict that occurs within a person’s mind – can be the most realistic and intellectually stimulating. Who has not felt pulled in two different ways when making a decision? Sometimes the conflict is between what we know we should do vs. what we want to do; sometimes it’s between helping someone and helping ourselves. Often it is between giving in to difficulties and obstacles vs. persevering and conquering our weaknesses.

Describe and explore a psychological conflict from a movie, book, or personal life.