Heart of Darkness # 7

Look back through Chapter II and answer the following comprehension questions.

Due Sunday, October 31st by midnight.

You must answer the following questions in complete sentences with appropriate grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 

1.  When he is on the boat, who does Marlow overhear speaking about Kurtz?

2.  Why does Marlow compare the jungle to prehistoric times?

3.  How does the cannibals' food affect Marlow?

4. Why does the book Marlow finds in the hut interest him?

5. Why couldn’t the men aboard the boat spend their money for food?

6. Who aboard the boat is killed during the attack?

7. How does Marlow scare the natives during the fight?

8. Why does Marlow throw his shoes overboard?

9. Why does the Russian leave a note on the woodpile?

10. Why did Kurtz write a report?

Things Fall Apart # 6

Read through page 154

Respond to the following prompts in complete sentences.  You must use quotes in your responses.

DUE: Sunday, October 31st by midnight.

1.  Look at page 120, can the opening paragraph be viewed as a foreshadow of what will occur later in this chapter?

2.  Argue which one is more of an 'individual,' Obierka or Okonkwo.

3.   What event causes Okonkwo's exile?

4.  How can water be viewed symbolically in Chapter 14?

5.  How is one's "motherland" viewed in Chapter 14?  Why is it so important to the characters in the novel?

6.  Explain the generation gap one begins to see emerge in Chapter 15.

7.  Who were persuaded to join the missionaries?  What kind of people were they.  Ch. 16.

Heart of Darkness Assignment # 5 / 6 Honors / AP

Answer the following prompts in well structured paragraphs.  The paragraphs should be between 4-6 sentences in length and be concise and succinct.  You must incorporate ONE quotation in your response and use MLA Format to cite this quotation.

Assignment # 5

DUE:

A BLOCK: READ PAGES 65-73 AND RESPOND TO PROMPTS 1-4 BY WEDNESDAY, 10/20

B BLOCK: READ PAGES 65-73 AND RESPOND TO PROMPTS 1-4 BY THURSDAY, 10/21

1.  What do you believe has become the real reason for Marlow heading up river?

2.  To what end do you believe Conrad contrasted the river and land with the following quotation?  "The current ran smooth and swift, but a dumb immobility sat on the banks" (67).  In your response, pay particular attention to his diction.

3.  Explain the irony in the following quotation.  "The rest of the world was nowhere.  Gone, disappeared; swept off without leaving a whisper or a shadow behind" (68).  Make sure that you are aware of the context from which the quotation is taken before you respond.

4.  Why does Marlow believe the cries, "violent as they had been," were not hostile(73)?  What does this say, according to Marlow, about how the native Africans truly felt about the invaders?

Assignment # 6

Answer the following prompts in well structured paragraphs.  The paragraphs should be between 4-6 sentences in length and be concise and succinct.  You must incorporate ONE quotation in your response and use MLA Format to cite this quotation.  

DUE:

A BLOCK: READ PAGES 73-90 AND RESPOND TO PROMPTS 5-7 BY FRIDAY, 10/22

B BLOCK: READ PAGES 73-90 AND RESPOND TO PROMPTS 5-7 BY FRIDAY, 10/22

5.  What does Kurtz write for the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs?  What is his view?  How should the whites, according to Kurtz, approach the natives?

6.  Describe the Harlequin.  What does harlequin mean?

7.  According to the Harlequin, why did the natives attack?

Things Fall Apart Blog # 5

Answer the following questions with a well structured paragraph.  Use concise language with appropriate grammar and word choice. Your responses should be between 4-6 sentences and you must incorporate a quote into your writing.  This means, you cannot simply stick in a quote, you must make it gel with your own writing.

DUE:
A BLOCK: WEDNESDAY, 10/20 by 11:59 PM
B BLOCK: THURSDAY, 10/21 by 11:59 PM


1.  Do you believe the author used this description of the trial to represent order and justice?  Or was it intended as a mockery of native customs?

2.  What similarities did you find between the justice system you are familiar with and the one depicted in the novel?

3.  What do you think the story of the Tortoise and the birds symbolizes?  Knowing that foreigners are soon to arrive, do you think this story might symbolize their future relations?

Things Fall Apart Assignment # 4

Answer the following prompts.  Your responses should be 3-5 sentences.  You must incorporate one quote into each response.  Please site using MLA format.

Due Dates:
A Block - Thursday by midnight
B Block - Friday by midnight

1.  Using the text as evidence, argue that Ikemefuma's death troubled Okonkwo.
2.  Now, using the text, argue that it did not.
3.  Describe an ogbanje (77).
4.  What is the image of "white men" held by Okonkwo and Obierka?
5.  Many of the traditions and beliefs held in Umuofia might be considered archaic.  Which ones, if any, would you deem important to change?  Why?

Heart of Darkness Assignment # 4

Read pages 55-65 and respond to the following prompts.
Each response must be between 3-5 sentences and include ONE quote.
Cite using MLA format.

Due Dates:
A Block - Thursday by Midnight
B Block - Friday by Midnight

1.  What insights does the reader get about Kurtz via the conversation that is overheard by Marlow?
2.  Conrad repeatedly refers to the wilderness as being "patient."  What does he mean by this?
3.  Annotate the following quotation.  What is the point Conrad is making?  "'The earth seemed unearthly.  We were accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monster, but there - there you could look at a thing monstrous and free'" (51).
4.  Here's another zinger.  Annotate the following quotation.  It directly follows the one above.  "'It was unearthly, and the men were - No, they were not inhuman.  Well, you know, that was the worst of it - this suspicion of their not being inhuman'" (51).
5.  Conrad has frequently been accused of writing a racist book.  Look at the following quote and decide for yourself if you believe this to be a racist quotation.  "'And between whiles I had to look after the savage who was fireman.  He was an improved specimen; he could fire up a vertical boiler.  He was there below me, and, upon my word, to look at him was as edifying as seeing a dog in a parody of breeches and a feather hat, walking on his hind-legs.  A few months of training had done for that really fine chap'" (52).

Heart of Darkness Assignment # 3 Through Pg. 55

The following prompt must be answered with a well-structured paragraph.  You must use MLA format in your response and INCORPORATE ONE quote into your writing.

Due Dates:  B Block - Your responses are due Friday, 10/8 by Midnight.
                   A Block - Your responses are due Monday, 10/11 by Midnight.

Writing Prompt:
Identify and explain an example of class separation within the Europeans in Africa.

Things Fall Apart Assignment # 3 Pg. 46-62

The following questions should be responded to with short-responses.  You must use ONE quote for each response and cite it using MLA format.  For example: "At last two teams danced into the circle and the crowd roared and clapped" (Achebe 47).

Due Dates:  B Block must post their responses by Friday at midnight.
                    A Block must post their responses by Monday at midnight.

Pg. 45 - 51
1.  Explain how the passing of time is represented by the wrestling matches.  Think generationally.

Pg. 52-62
2.  Is Nwoye starting to grow up? (52-52)
3.  Does Nwoye want to please his father?  How?  Why?
4.  After our in-depth analysis of Okonkwo, are you surprised by his actions concerning Ikemefuma?

Heart of Darkness Assignment 2 - Through Pg. 43 Honors / AP

Apply your knowledge of Feminism to Marlow's Aunt.  How might she be viewed as a progressive stance by Conrad?  Or is Conrad identifying the power that women frequently have, even if they are not typically accredited this power?

1/2 Page

MLA Format for your In-text Citation or Block Quotation

A minimum of ONE quote must be used.

Post your response by Wednesday, 10/6 and Thursday 10/7.

Be ready to discuss the pages above in class on Wednesday and Thursday.

Vocabulary 1-5 Quiz

Vocabulary 1-5 Quiz will be Friday, 10/8 and Monday, 10/11.

Vocabulary 1 -5 Review

Write 10 sentences with 10 of the 15 review words.  You must relate all the sentences to the concept of Feminism.

Due Wednesday / Thursday in class.

Things Fall Apart Assignment # 2 Pg. 24-45

We read a short story introducing Feminist theory in class, now apply your knowledge of this concept to Things Fall Apart.  Find a good quote from the assigned reading, that a Feminist critic would identify as being sexist or biased, and explain how the quote works as support of such a theory.  Remember, this is not an exercise in what you believe, but rather, like our Lit Circles, you are reading through a "lens" to identify an aspect of a novel that you might not have noticed.  Use MLA style in your response.  The length is only ONE paragraph, but I want it to be a well constructed paragraph.  Post by Wednesday / Thursday.