"Run Lola Run" and "Pan's Labyrinth"

I ask that you do a blog entry for each film. After viewing the films, I would like you to write about the ways in which you see that the films have blended "reality" with "mythic themes" and a sense of "mythic time." What role do fantasy and reality play in each film (as related to our discussion of Don Quixote, Grimm's Fairy Tales, 100 Years of Solitude, etc.)?

You could also write about the ways in which fairy tales influence both films and their role within the formation of the plot, characters, etc.

The Ogre (Day Four)

Please discuss two of the following topics or bring up your own topics for discussion:

1. Discuss the Kommandeur's explanation of Nazi symbols to Abel. What does this have to say about the 'theory of signs' within the text and how this relates to Abel's interpretation of various signs around him?

2. What do you think is the significance of the mirror twins and Lothar (they seem to have a special place at the Napola and with Abel)? And what about the way in which they die? How do you read this? (Hint: Revelation 2:16 reads: "Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.")

3. What do you think Ephraim represents? What about his name, which is significant?

4. Discuss the destruction of the Napola (along with that of the Third Reich). For instance: Why do you think the Jungmannen MUST die (or do they have to)?

5. How do you intepret the end of the novel? Do you see it as redemptive or destructive? (By 'end of the novel' I mean the last sentence - the sinking into the mud and the star in the sky.)

The Ogre (Day Three)

Answer two of the following questions or bring up your own topics for analysis.

1. Tournier couches Rominten in a very mystical setting (and we also see this through the eyes of Abel). What do you make of Rominten, Goering, Otto Essing? What do they represent?

2. Discuss the emphasis upon animals in Rominten. What do you think the aurochs symbolize? Or why the emphasis on the hunt? Try to extract as many meanings as possible from this.

3. Bluebeard is a very important character in the text - how does the horse serve as a mirror image for Abel? What dos the horse symbolize for him? Why is this important?

4. Discuss the Napola. You can focus on a number of things: Tiffauge's role/s here, Dr. Blattchen, the Germanization of Tiffauge's name, the life of the Jungmannen, their bizarre quasi-religious ceremonies, etc. What do you make of this?

The Ogre (Day Two)

For today's post, write about two things that interest or intrigue you from the text.

The Ogre (Day One / pp. 3 - 93)

Please address two of the following topics in your posting:

1. At the start of the novel, Abel presents himself first as an ogre (which has mythic status) and then as the owner of a Parisian garage. How do you view these self-presentations? How do they correspond to and / or differ from one another?

2. Why is part one written as a diary? Why does he call these his "sinister writings"? What might this imply?

3. On page 5 Abel writes "All is sign." What do you think he means by this based on what you have thus read?

4. Why do you think we need this initial relationship with Rachel? How do you read this relationship within the context of the novel? (Also, think about the name "Rachel" -- this is important.)

5. How do you interpret Abel's "rewriting" of the Adam and Eve myth? How does he transform the myth? Why? What does this say about his character?

6. How do you interpret Abel's relationship with Pelsenaire? It seems that Pelsenaire has enslaved Abel, but we must ask - who is the exploiter and who is exploited here? What does this say about Abel's personality?

7. How do you read Nestor here in this story? As a benevolent or malevolent force? Both?

Reading Schedule for "The Ogre"

Day One - pp. 3 - 93

Day Two - pp. 93 - 192

Day Three - pp. 195 - 277

Day Four - pp. 277 - 370

100 Years of Solitude (Day Four / Chapters 16 - 20)

Choose TWO of the discussion topics below for your blog post (or you can come up with your own topic for one of the responses). As always, I am looking for your own ideas here.

1. The meaning of the flood and the subsequent drought

2. The fact that Ursula shrinks and becomes like a doll

3. Aureliano's deciphering of the parchment - Why does Melquiadez want this parchment to be deciphered and read?

4. The notion of time in chapter 18

5. The assassination of Aureliano Amador

6. Why is one of Aureliano's friends named Garcia Marquez (yes, the same name as the author)?

7. The importance of Pilar Ternera surviving throughout (almost) the entire novel

8. The symbolism behind the sexual union of Amaranta Ursula and Aureliano and the resulting pig-tail child

9. In what role does the novel place its reader (if we are to buy into the myth that the novel is Melquiadez's parchment and Aureliano is trying to read it so that it becomes legible)? Why does the novel do this? What does this have to say about your role as reader of this novel?

100 Years of Solitude (Day Three / Chapters 11 - 15)

Choose TWO of the discussion topics below for your blog post (or you can come up with your own topic for one of the responses). As always, I am looking for your own ideas here.

1. Significance of Fernanda (as opposed to Petra)

2. The (re)discovery of Rebeca

3. Reason for the murder of the 16 Aurelianos

4. Arrival of modern inventions in Macondo (and the resulting events)

5. Meaning of the Banana Company

6. The ascension of Remedios

7. Ursula's clairvoyance

8. Characterization of Meme

9. The banana massacre - the way in which the novel deals with it, the description of violence, and the immediate forgetting of the massacre.

100 Years of Solitude (Day Two / Chapters 6 - 10)

For today's blog, speak about two themes that you find in these chapters that you feel relate to the novel as a whole. Please use specific quotations or references from the text to support your ideas.

100 Years of Solitude (Day One / Chapters 1 - 5)

Please answer the following two questions in your posting:

1. Choose a character from these first five chapters and do a "study" of him or her. How does the novel present this character? Why? What do you think he or she represents within the novel? (Think about archetypes, myths, etc. - Garcia Marquez is drawing from a lot of myth and literature here in his creation of this novel). Refer to specific scenes within the novel to support your answer.

2. Choose a theme / symbol you find to be important within these initial chapters. How does this comment upon what we have read thus far? Why do you feel this to be the case? Refer to specific scenes / quotations in the novel to support your answer.

Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day Two)

Tuesday we did not have enough time to address the violence in these stories, so we'll begin there Thursday.

For Thursday's blog, I'd like each of you to come up with two themes that you see in two stories (meaning you'll discuss four stories in all). Use specific examples from the literature to support your ideas and be ready to discuss them in class.

Grimm's Fairy Tales (Day One)

Please choose two of the three questions for your discussion. Use quotes / specific examples from the stories to support your analyses (be sure to include the title of the stories you discuss).

1. Many of these stories have become part of our own cultural and national heritage (especially the Disney-fied "princess" culture so popular over the last decade). What do you think it is about these stories that have caused them to become "internationalized," and in many ways represent what it is to be a child (all children know at least one version of many of these stories)? What themes / messages are transmitted in and through them that have made certain of them universal?

2. What is the function of gender in these stories? What messages are transmitted through them concerning the roles of men and women? Why do you think this is the case? (When we think "fairy tale" what does this imply concerning gender roles? Do these stories support or subvert this accepted convention (or possibly both)?)

3. What is the role of violence in some of these stories? Why does violence play such an important role here? What type(s) of violence is/are present? Why do you think this is the case? Is there an implied message here or is it violence for the sake of violence (especially given that some of these tales seem to border on 'slasher film' territory)?

Schedule for "Grimm's Fairy Tales"

ALL READINGS UNDER 'COURSE DOCUMENTS' on BLACKBOARD READ FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 23 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES 1 1. The Frog Prince 2. The Twelve Brothers 3. Hansel and Grethel GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES 2 4. Little Red Riding Hood 5. The Handless Maiden 6. The Robber Bridegroom GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES 3 7. Briar Rose 8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 9. Roland 10. The Juniper Tree READ FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 25 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES 1 1. The Tale of One Who Travelled to Learn What Shivering Meant 2. Rapunzel GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES 2 3. Thumbling 4 The Travels of Thumbling GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES 3 5. The Golden Goose 6. Bearskin GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES 4 7. The Jew among Thorns 8. The True Bride 9. The Robber and His Sons 10. The Master-Thief

Don Quixote (Day Six / Chapters 46 - 52)

Please choose two of the three options below:

1. Discuss the closing episodes of Part I of the novel that concern Don Quixote. Describe his character in the final chapters. Has he become "un-quixoticized"? Why or why not? Why do you think Cervantes presents us with this evolution in Don Quixote's character? Use quotes to support your analysis.

2. How might the sections read for today reflect on Part I of the novel as a whole? What recurrent themes do you find here that reinforce or possibly change your reading of the novel? Use quotes to support your analysis.

3. Choose a quote for commentary / analysis.

Don Quixote (Day Five / Chapters 36 - 45)

For this class I would like you to choose from the following two options:

1. Choose one quote from these chapters for commentary and analysis. In addition, I would like you to analyze the character of Lela Zoraida / Maria the woman presented in these chapters. How do you interpret her multiple identities (Arabic / Muslim / Christian / "Spanish")? What might her character have to say about identity in 17th century Spain and identity today? Does she have more / less agency than the other women present in this text? Why or why not? (In other words, why do you think the novel presents us with this character?)

2. Choose two quotes from these chapters for commentary and analysis.

Don Quixote (Day Four / Chapters 28 - 35)

I have been impressed with your responses to Don Quixote this far. For these chapters, I'd like you to pick two quotes that interest you and which you find comment on major themes within the novel (ones we have discussed or new themes you find here). Be sure to state from which chapter your quotes come and be prepared to discuss them in class.

Also, if you are going to present on Don Quixote, please be ready to do so next week (you can always do your presentation on Powerpoint and I would like you to present something new to the class that we have not yet discussed or expand upon what we have discussed -- this will most likely require you to do research in books and journals -- no Wikipedia please!).

Don Quixote (Day Three / Chapters 19- 27)

As we did for Tuesday's class, please bring in your own analysis of two episodes which you find reflect either (1) themes we have already discussed in class or (2) new themes that you deem important / revolutionary.

Depeche Mode's "Walking in My Shoes"

As Aaron mentioned in his presentation in class, here is Depeche Mode's video to "Walking in My Shoes"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKgQNvK4D8Y

Don Quixote (Day Two / Chapters 10 - 18)

For Tuesday, please write about two episodes in these chapters that you feel reflect the themes we discussed last Thursday (the ideals of chivalry in the "modern world," the constant play between truth and fiction, trickery and reality, the role of myth, the novel as a meta-fiction, the play with authorship, etc.).

Discuss how the novel expands / comments upon these themes in your own analysis of the episodes.

Specifically reference the episodes (meaning please give chapter numbers) in your posting.

Don Quixote (Day One / Chapters 1 - 9)

For this post, I'd like you to pick two scenes in which you see Don Quixote as a radical character within the novel thus far. What do you find radical about Don Quixote? Why? What do you think the text states about him as a character?

As always, I'm looking for your own ideas and analyses.

(On a related note, you may want to look up the term "quixotic" and see to which people it has been applied).

Dante's Inferno (Canti 28-34)

For this last day of the Inferno, I'd like you to pick two quotations from these final Canti that you feel in some way comment upon the work as a whole or address main themes within the work. It would also be great if the quotes connected back to our theme of myth (as we discussed the first day -- this latter part may be a bit harder though).

I'd like to see your own ideas, analyses, etc. on the quotations in your blog posting.

Please be ready to discuss your thoughts in class Tuesday.

Dante's Inferno (Day Four / Canti 21 - 27)

Please (1) take one of the questions below into consideration as you write for your blog and then (2) choose your own quotation from the text for commentary and analysis:

1. Given that we have now almost completed the Inferno, do you feel the text is "character driven"? (Meaning, are Dante and Virgil propelling the story along?) If not, then what? Why do you think Dante chooses to write the epic in this manner?

2. We have a reference (Canto 21, vv. 110-112) to the fact that Dante is following in Christ's path when he had his own descent into hell. What do you make of the fact that Dante puts himself here in the place where Christ once walked? (Don't forget that this journey takes place over Easter weekend, with the descent into Hell occurring on Good Friday). What can we tease out from all this?

3. We discover in Canto 22 that the demons make mistakes and can be tricked by the condemned souls. What does this have to say about the power of the demons here? Who is in charge and why? How might this play into Dante's world view?

4. What do you make of the fact that Dante places Ulysses in hell (Canto 26)? If you have ready the Odyssey, might this seem at odds (perhaps?) with the Ulysses we find there? What do you make of Dante's decision?

Dante's Inferno (Day Three / Canti 14 - 20)

I am listing below some possible topics of discussion. Please do not allow your comments to extend simply to "Oh, I found this interesting" or to a retelling of the plot. I know Dante is not the easiest author, but I'm looking for some evidence of thought and reflection in your posting.

Possible topics of discussion (please choose two):

Include quotations in your responses to support your discussion. Be prepared to speak in class about your answers (this means knowing what you wrote about in your blog).

1. The description of the Old Man of Crete in Canto 14. How do you "read" this Old Man? You might use the note on pp. 555 - 7 of the Durling edition as a source of inspiration.

2. Dante's views on homosexuality (especially concerning his conversation Brunetto Latino in Canto 15 and his reaction to the three souls who resemble "naked and oiled" wrestlers in Canto 16). How might his reaction to these souls contrast / resemble his interaction with previous souls? Why do you feel this to be the case?

3. The description of the Geryon in Canto 17. How do you interpret this fantastical creature that signifies fraud? Why do you think the notion of fraud is important for Dante (especially given the fact that he is a writer -- what do writers do? What is the nature of fictional literature?) Do you see any other meanings in this creature?

4. The emergence of "low-brow comedy" in the text. Why do you think this might be the case? (I'm especially thinking of the punishment for those in Canto 18, lines 109 - 114). What other medieval texts have similar comedic leanings? Can we make comparisons here?

5. In Canto 19 we see a complete inversion of the church (this is where the majority of the popes in hell are located). What do you find so radical about this canto, especially given Dante's devout Christian faith? Do you see any reconciliation or conflicts between religious beliefs and condemnation of the churchmen found here? How and where?

IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS

Please let me know, either in class or via email, when you would like to do your 10-minute in-class presentation.

Thus far I have the following people:

The Inferno

Feb 11 (or Feb 16) - Aaron

Feb 16 - Jessica Sandretto

Don Quixote

Mar 4 - Rachel (which Rachel I don't remember)

100 Years of Solitude

Apr 8 - Jamie and Jordan

Dante's Inferno - The Video Game

Right as we're reading the Inferno, a video game about the poem is coming out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdBE8UIz1BA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdqY2a9iRXw&feature=related

Dante's Inferno (Day Two / Canti 7 - 13)

I would like you to choose two quotes that interest you and do a "close reading" of them. This means that you should (1) put the quotes into context within the larger narrative, (2) write about the themes you see in these quotes and why they are important, and (3) try to find meaning within the symbolism. Please try to stay away from plot summaries -- I'm pushing you to come up with your own ideas concerning the text.

Please have in your responses the canto and verses for your quote.

Be prepared to discuss your ideas in class on Thursday.

Princeton Dante Project

Here is a link to the Princeton Dante Project, an amazing website for all things related to the poet (including an audio version of the Commedia with extensive notes).

http://etcweb.princeton.edu/dante/pdp/

Dante's Inferno (Day One / Canti 1 - 6)

Please answer both questions.

1. Canto 1: How does Dante 'set up' the journey here? What themes / ideas does he bring forth to accomplish this? What kind of journey is this? What is the pilgrim's state of mind at this time? Why?

2. In the other canti that you read for this day, choose one canto which particularly strikes / interests you. What reading / interpretation of this canto can you bring to the discussion on Tuesday?

The Story of the Grail / Perceval (Day Two)

To repeat -- just read what I have on-line, don't worry about the page numbering (we're just going to focus on Perceval's story and not read Gawain's adventures).

Use these questions as a guide (if you want) for your blog posting.

1. The Grail Castle and Procession – How does Chrétien present this scene to the reader? Why? What do you think is problematic about this scene? Why the emphasis upon mystery? (If you are familiar with the Jewish Seder meal – how might this procession mirror the meal, especially concerning questions asked during the meal and the significance of the meal? How have Christians appropriated this meal into their own rituals and mythology?) What is the (potential) outcome of this meal? How do you explain this?

2. The blood on the snow – The blood on the snow reminds Perceval of Blancheflor. How do you read it as an image of Blancheflor? What might its purpose be as an image of her? Might you see other meanings though in this very strong image? Blood…hmmmm….where have we seen this before? In what context? Might there be a connection here? (I think so!) In other words, how might this one image function on two (or more) levels of meaning -- some of which is still hidden from Perceval.

3. The scene with the hermit on Good Friday – How do you read this scene? Why is the day significant?
You can: (1) speak about the “build up” to this scene – the group of penitent soldiers and women – what do they signify? Why is Perceval so affected by them? How might this scene mirror what we have in the opening scene of the romance?
(2) Perceval’s repentance. What does he learn here (beyond the obvious)? How do you read the fact that the hermit happens to be his maternal uncle?

4. The Grail has entered into our modern vocabulary as that “elusive element” forever out of reach that we desire greatly. How do you interpret the Grail of this romance? What mythological signification might it have within or even beyond Chrétien’s tale? Why do you think this to be the case?

The Story of the Grail / Perceval (Day One)

You may choose to use one or more of the questions below as a guide in your response, or you may bring up your own analyses of scenes of interest:

1. Perceval’s encounter with the knights in the Waste Forest. How does Chrétien portray Perceval? And the knights? What image of knighthood does the text portray? And what is Perceval’s perception of knighthood? How do these portrayals conflict with one another? What do you think is the point of this?

2. Analyze the episode between Perceval and his mother. What is her reaction? What information does she try to impart to her son? Why do you think he reacts the way he does? Discuss his departure – how should he have behaved?

3. What does Perceval do in order to become a knight? How do you see this as problematic? Reference specific scenes or quotes from the text in your response. (We have the scene with the “Tent Maiden,” the scene in Arthur’s court, and the killing / murder of the Red Knight).

4. Discuss the scene with Gornemant of Gohort. How does the advice enter into a dialogue with previous advice? Why this need for repetition?

5. Blancheflor – Her name means “White Flower” (what do you think is the significance of this?) What do you think her role is in the text? How does Chrétien describe her? Why? What do her actions say about her (her weeping – for instance, this is not the first time we’ve seen a woman weeping over a sleeping knight)? Bring up other topics concerning Blancheflor you find interesting if necessary.