First of all, I have important news for everyone. The midterm has been moved to March 5. It will cover what we have gone over in class: A Doll's House (play, film, actors' videos), Fences (play and film), "Godfather Death" (Brothers Grimm), "Coyote and Eagle Go to the Land of the Dead" (plus video of "Coyote and Eagle Steal the Sun and the Moon"), "Love in LA," "The Necklace," "The Red Convertible" (plus Bill Moyers' interview with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris)...and any other stories we discuss in class between now and Wednesday, February 28.
For Monday, February 26, please read "Everyday Use" and bring your book to class.
I am also posting a link to the interview with Ms. Erdrich and Mr. Dorris. It is from one of our library's databases, so you will need to log in with your M-number to see it.
https://montgomerycollege.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=16705&xtid=4949
The segments we watched were "Victor-Oppressor Relationship," "Dark Humor," and "Reservation as Cultural Preservation" "Political Situation" might have some information about Native Americans and the military. What did the video teach you about Native American culture? about Louise Erdrich? How did it shed light on "The Red Convertible"?
Where do you see dark humor in "The Red Convertible"?
Here is the definition of irony: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irony Where do you see it in "The Red Convertible"? Compare Erdrich's use of irony with Guy de Maupassant's or Dagoberto Gilb's.
Why does Erdrich include the brothers' trip to Alaska in her story?
If you have studied the Vietnam War in history class or if you have family members who have served in Vietnam, what does this historical background tell you about Henry's situation?
If you've watched one of the Vietnam movies I've mentioned (Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now, Hamburger Hill), how does that experience shed light on Henry's situation? Could Ms. Erdrich have been responding to those movies? Why? Why not?
Do you think that Lyman will be able to earn money again? Why? Why not?
Find a difficult or descriptive sentence in "The Red Convertible." How does it shed light on the story, its characters, and their world?
How do Lyman and Henry seem to relate to Native American culture as Erdrich and Dorris describe it?
On to "Everyday Use"!
Discuss the family dynamics in "Everyday Use."
Discuss the narration of "Everyday Use." How do you respond to the narrator? Is she reliable? Is she unreliable? Why? How does she seem to feel about her daughters? Which daughter is she most like? Dee? Maggie? Neither? Why?
How does your knowledge of African-American history and culture help you to understand "Everyday Use"?
How does your knowledge of Southern history and culture help you to understand "Everyday Use"?
Is the story fair to Dee? Why? Why not?
Why does Dee want her family's quilts? Does she deserve them? Why? Why not?
How does Maggie respond to her sister's trying to take the quilts? (Note that the narrator hears a door slam.)
What do you make of the end of the story?
Find a difficult or descriptive sentence in "Everyday Use." What light does it shed on the story? Why?
How does literature depict family dynamics so far? Is there a tension between individuals and family members? between family and society?
-- Do the characters in this story have agency? Or are they limited by history and environment? Why? Why not?
See you and your books in class on Monday!
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