"The Necklace" and "The Red Convertible"

The painting "Busy Boulevard in Paris" above is from 1885, the year that "The Necklace" was published.

At this point, studying for the midterm is trickier.  We may not get to all of the stories on the syllabus.  Today we focused on Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace."  Wednesday we are meeting at the library.  Friday we will continue on to Louise Erdrich's "The Red Convertible" and Alice Walker's "Everyday Use."

Here are a few questions about "The Necklace."

-- Why doesn't Madame Forestier tell her friend Madame Loisel that the necklace is fake?  What does that tell us about her character, the world she lives in, and the author's view of the world?

-- Discuss the marriage of Monsieur and Madame Loisel.  Feel free to compare it to other marriages we've read about so far.

-- Discuss the character of Madame Loisel. 

-- Discuss the narrator's depiction of events.  What seems to be his attitude towards society?  towards women?  towards men and women? 

-- Discuss "The Necklace" as a story about a woman told by a male narrator.

-- Is the narrator male or female?  Justify your answer.

-- Discuss the author's use of dialogue.  How does he use dialogue to tell his story?

-- Discuss the author's blend of dialogue and exposition.  Which seems to be most useful to you?

-- What do you make about the ending?  Why?

-- Why is it still worth reading "The Necklace" in 2018?

-- Here is a biography of Guy de Maupassant.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_de_Maupassant  How does this biographical information help you understand "The Necklace" and its world a little more?  I find it interesting that de Maupassant is actually known for his stories set in wartime.  Could we call the society he depicts warlike?  Why?  Why not?

Let's move on to "The Red Convertible."

Above is a picture of Dr. Robert Primeaux, a Native American (Sioux) physician who served in Vietnam.

Here are links to articles about Native American veterans of the Vietnam War. 

https://www.fcpotawatomi.com/news/native-americans-in-the-military-vietnam-war-1959-75/

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treatment/cultural/psych-trauma-native-american.asp

http://www.redeyevideo.org/vietnamVets.html

How do they help you understand "The Red Convertible" and Henry's experiences as a veteran coming home after the war?  How do they compare or contrast to Louise Erdrich's story?  How do they correct any misunderstandings?

Here are a few more questions about "The Red Convertible":

-- Discuss Lyman as a character.  What do you feel that he has learned from his experience?

-- What is the plot of "The Red Convertible"? 

-- At one point, Lyman and Henry drive up to Alaska.  What purpose does this interlude serve? 

-- What does the red convertible represent?

-- Why does Lyman destroy the red convertible?

-- Does Henry intend to kill himself?  What do you make of the brothers' last time together?

-- Do the characters in this story have agency?  Or are they limited by history and environment?  Why?  Why not?

I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to say!