00z - Tekstspørgsmål i engelsk

04-03-2005

Hvis du vil udskrive spørgsmål, så sørg for, at du kun udskriver det, du skal bruge - ellers er det papirspild!!

 

 

Priestley, An Inspector Calls S. Jackson, The Lottery Ray Bradbury, The Veldt The Death of Tommy Grimes
Dead Poets' Society Liam O'Flaherty Vonnegut, Next Door Vonnegut, Harrison Bergeron
Wyndham, The Wheel Brian Aldiss, Super-toys Stand By Me Ray Bradbury, The Pedestrian

 

 

Jess Mowry, Way Past Cool

Spørgsmål 1:

The point of view in the text changes a number of times. Make a list and explain the effetc.

The point of view changes every time Ty thinks of something else apart from the current situation, which is eating scrambled eggs in an expensive car, while discussing women, sex and drugs. The point of view changes from being the all-knowing 3rd person, who tells about the current situation seen from above with no opinions of the events, and where this 3rd person watches Ty closely, looking into his feelings and opinions. We also hear about how Ty is thinking back on his former life and actions. He isn’t proud of them

It changes a couple of times and has the effect that the story seems to be very long with a lot of substance, but it’s actually a very short event on a Burger King parking lot.

Lavet af: Stefan og Tommy M.

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2. Which are the qualities ascribed to the different persons?

Deek: He is the smart guy. He is playing cool and he is keeping his emotions inside of him. He has had a very rough childhood, because his parents didn’t care about him.

Outwardly he is only thinking about sex and doesn’t care for loving relationships.

Ty: He is more sensitive than Deek. He thinks that love is something you get from your family and not from other people like the girls he sleeps with. His family cares for him and he likes them too because he not mind giving him the money he earns. He feels obligated to give the family the money he earns.

 Deek himself do not look particularly bad. He is builded small quick and smart. Deek do not really have an emotional life, he just want some sex, without other concernes, but it seems that he has some hidden feelings for Ty

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Question 3. part 1.

Ty:

He is doing the job only for the money. He dreams of love and having a family but the hard facts of survival require his presence in another world. In opposite of Deek he has got feelings and his conscience sometimes troubles him with questions of right and wrong towards all the pills and crack he delivers.

Made by Rune, Peter and Christopher

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Analysing meaning. Question 4.

He arranges it so that he’s on top of the situation. He has already bought them with money. He knows what he’s doing and he makes them feel insecure by threatening with his mouth and gun. They also kind of owe him a favour because he helped them when they had a flat tire.

Power in this society is based on who’s got the biggest gun, fastest mouth and biggest muscles. It’s also about who has got the money.

Made by Jeppe, Martin, Bugge and Johnni from second seth.

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Way Past Cool!

Analyzing meaning:

1) Sometimes the story is told from an omniscient narrator. E.g. we are presented for the surroundings and we are told how old the persons are. Most of the time the story is told from Ty’s point of view. He tells about his relationship towards Deek, his family, love, sex and religion. That makes the telling very intensive. A part is also told from Markita’s point of view. She tells what she thinks of Deek.

 

 

Ray Bradbury, The Pedestrian

Always give examples in the text!!

1. Account for the time and place of the story.

The story takes place in the year 2053 and is a futuristic story. The futuristic is shown by the fact that the police car is mechanical. It takes place in a city, where the main character is walking down the street.

2. How is the atmosphere of the city described?

It almost reminds us of a ghost town or a graveyard without life or movement. Everybody is isolating themselves in their houses. The weather is cold, the streets are empty, the sidewalk looks af if it has not been used for years. It's dark and the curtains are drawn. The atmosphere is cold.

3. Account for Leonard Mead's past and present life.

He used to be a writer, but since no one buys books or magazines he has not written anything for the last couple of years.

4. What are his feelings about his surroundings?

He misses the old days, he doesn't meet new people, and he has lost his job. He misses the feeling of community and talking with other people. In the past there were more people in the streets and people cared for each other.

5. How is the police car controlled and why does it stop Leonard Mead?

The police car is controlled by technology. It stops him because it doesn't want anybody to be abnormal. All the citizens are in their houses and don't walk in the streets at night, and since he does Mr Mead must be ill. - In some way it is controlled by a computer - at least there is no human police officer in it. I guess it has got some kind of sensor which detects Leonard Mead, and that it has artificial intelligence.

6. What is the system of government?

We do not know what kind of government they have, but whatever it is people have accepted the way things work: society has developed that way. No rebellions = one police car.

7. Describe and comment on people's lives in this city.

In the day everybody is busy working, and in the evening they just sit in front of the TV doing nothing - neither mentally nor physically. No one sees a reason to do anything else.

8. Is it a story about a) the future b) the present c) both? Argue your point.

- I believe that it's both. It criticizes the introduction of the TV in the present society by showing how it might develop in the future.

- A: the future, because the society in this story isn't like the one we have now and it has never been like that before, so it has to be a future story.

9. Consider whether Leonard Mead is normal or abnormal. 

- He is abnormal in the world where the story takes place.

- He certainly is not normal in his society, but like his surroundings he does not try to get contact with others, something which is also abnormal in our society.

- Nowadays Leonard would be just normal, but it's like he has been travelling in a time machine. He is definitely not normal in the future of this story.

 

Kurt Vonnegut, Harrison Bergeron

1. Describe Hazel (accounting for her language, reactions and ability to think and feel).

2. Describe George. What is his attitude to the society he lives in? Why?

3. What is the function of the Handicapper General?

4. In what respects are the inhabitants made equal?

5. In whose interest is the sort of equality we meet in the text?

6. What makes Harrison Bergeron a rebel?

7. What is the effect on George and Hazel of the Harrison-incident?

8. Discuss the function of television in this society.

9. Discuss whether the story has a message.

 

 

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Unfortunately we could not do it any better!!!

Anders and Thomas

 

Summary of "Harrison Bergeron".

The year is 2081 and it is about a world where everybody is equal. If there is somebody who is smarter, better looking than others they will get a handicap. E.g. the ballerinas are very beautiful they get a mask on, so that nobody can see their lovely faces. George and Hazel have lost their son, because he is too intelligent and then he gets a lot of handicaps. But Hazel cannot remember it, because she has a normal intelligence. She has no handicap, because she is no threat to society. George is not able to remember it, because he has a mental handicap radio in his ear. He is very intelligent and every 20 seconds there is a sound in his ear so that he will forget what he was thinking about. They are watching some ballerinas on television and suddenly the show was interrupted, because Harrison, George and Hazels son, had escaped from prison. During the interruption Harrison comes and he takes off all his handicaps and chooses an Empress, because he is the Emperor. They start dancing and kissing, but then the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, comes and kills them both.

Answer to text questions!

Hazel has a normal intelligence and is not able to think in big pictures. She is very sad that her son is in prison, but when she is watching television she cries, but after a few minutes she cannot remember why she is crying.

George is very intelligent, he is so intelligent that he gets a handicap in his ear. When he tries to find a deeper meaning about something, he gets interrupted by a big sound in his ear. After that he cannot remember what he was thinking about. He thinks that it is good that everybody is equal, now nobody is more than others.

They give beautiful, smart and strong people a handicap so that they are less beautiful, smart and strong. They want everybody to be equal. They make laws people have to follow.

They look like each other so nobody is better than others.

It is good for the not so pretty ones and unclever people. But we think that it gives a lot of power to the Handicapper General. They decide how people have to look and think, so it give them a huge power.

Harrison is tired of the system in the equal society. And he wants everybody to be as they are born to be. If you are clever, or used to be clever, you have to be that again. He wants society to be "unequal".

They are not aware of that it is their son Harrison who had escaped from prison. They cannot recognize him when they see him on television. They say on page 3 lines 39-40: "My God-" said George, "that must be Harrison!" When they see the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, shooting Harrison and his Emprss, they begin to cry, but after a while they cannot remember why they cried.

It is their only contact with the "real" world. What they see on television is like them, because they do not see their real faces.

You have to accept yourself, you do not have to wish that you are clever if you’re not so clever. Be as you are and be satisfied with yourself.

Louise P. og Anna 2.z!!!

 

Harrison Bergeron

ThisCapitalization short story takes place in the yeat 2081. Everyone is equal, following the 211th 212th 213th amendmentsSpl to the constitution.

People that are better in any way getS/VAgreement some handicapsSpl like masks or earplugs to make them equallySpl dumb and ugly.

The story takes place at the George and Hazel Bergeron residence. They are both watching tv and talking about the ballerinasSpl who are dancing onWChoice tv. ThenSpl suddenly the announcer bringsS/VAgreement an important bulletin, or he triesSpl to bring the bulletin, but all of his handicaps preventsS/VAgreement him from talking clearly and in the end he gives up and one of the ballerinas takes over. She says that a 14 year oldHyphen has just escaped prison and is now trying to overthrow the government and he should be considered very dangerous since he is a geniusSpl and an athleteSpl and is unhandicapped

TheyCapitalization show a picture of Harrison Bergeron which shows that he is exactlypl 7feet tall and is covered with scrapmetal as handicaps and is wearing big earphones and thick glasses to give him a headache and make him half blind.

Suddenly the door breaksSpl and in steps Harrison Bergeron. Everybody screams at the sight of the giant.

He steps in front of the camera and say that he is the emporer, and takes offSpl all of his handicaps. He then says that the first woman who dares to rise to her feetSpl shall be his empressSpl.

Then the newsreader/ballerina steps up, and he liberates her af her handicaps, and they start dancing.

But suddenly Diana Moon Clampers, the Handicapper General, steps in with a double-barreled ten gauge shotgun and shoots the emperor and empress dead.

AlthoughSpl George and Hazel have seen it all, they instantlySpl forgetS/VAgreement because of their lack of intelligence.

1. She is one of the dumb and ordinary people who does notS/VAgreement need any handicaps. She doesn't reallySpl know what is happening around her and even though she doesn't have any hadicaps she forgets what happens to her son.

2. He respects it in the way that he doesn't want to go to jail for two years. But he has accepted it and is getting used to his handicaps.

3. To ensure that everybody wears their handicapsSpl alle the time and that people who breakS/VAgreement the handicapper law, are brought to justice.

4. They are forced to wear certain handicaps, like smart people are wearing earplugs whoPronoun? makes them dumber and strong people wear lead balls.

5. The dumb and weak people who are no longer below the strong and smart people.

6. He is too strong and smart for the governmentSpl to keep down, and he keepsS/VAgreement taking off his handicaps.

7. They forget everything right away, so it doesn't really have any effect.

8. To keep the population passive. Since people can't remember what they see, it can't really be used to anything else.

9. It's not always good to be equal.

Martin og Stefan

 

Harrison Bergeron

We hear about the Bergeron family. George, Hazel and their fourteen-year-old son Harrison. They all had a kind of handicap. Hazel couldn't think about anything except in short bursts. And George had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. Every twenty seconds the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking unfair advantage of their brains.

George and Hazel were watching some ballerinas on television. The program was suddenly interrupted for a news bulletin. The announcer said that Harrison Bergeron had escaped from jail, where he was held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government. He is under-handicapped. Instead of a little radio for a mental handicap, he wore a tremendous pair of earphones and spectacles which gave him whanging headache.

Harrison stood in the studio. He said: "I am the Emperor." He choosedWForm a Ballerina so he could show the people the meaning of the word dance. The handicapper general Diana Moon Glampers came into the room. She fired twice and killed the Emperor and the Empress.

She aimed at all the musicians to get their handicaps back on.

George and Hazel's television tube burned out. Hazel was crying, but because of the handicap she couldn't remember why she was crying.

1. Describe Hazel: She is by nature given a good memory, therefore she is given a handicap1 so she is not able to remember. She shows a very positive view of live; she thinks nicely of the ballarinas on television though they are not any better than anybody else. Because of her bad memory she easilly gets emotional not knowing why. For eksample she does not know why she is crying in the end of the story, when her son gets shot.

2. Describe George: His intelligence is above normal and therefore he has a radio in his ear, which gives some kind of a noise frequently. He does not care about the Handicapper General.

3. What is the function of the Handicapper General? To assure equality. It is made so nobody is better than anybody else.

4. In what respects are the inhabitants made equal? Nobody is better than anybody else. Nobody is is stronger, wiser, quicker, smarter or better looking than anybody else.

5. In whose interest is the sort of equality we meet in the text? The population will not feel dissatisfaction among each other. The United States will be more homogeneous group of people and therefore it is easier for the government to generalize.

6. What makes Harrison Bergeron a rebel? He is under-handicapped, and that gives him the opportunity to think clearly and realize that these Amendments to the Constitution are wrong.

7. What is the effect on George and Hazel of the Harrison-incident? George does not watch television at the time of the incident. Hazel forgets it anyway and she does not know why she is crying when George enters the room.

8. Discuss whether the story has message. It gives an idea of how a society would be if everybody was equal. It is not working very well and that shows that it is important to have different identities and skills.

Sille & Mai, 2.z

1. she has no handicap!

 

Harrison Bergeron

The story is about, a world where everybody is equal. It takes place in 2081. The Government has made three new amendments to the constitution, which makes everybody equal. In the story we follow husband and wife, George and Hazel Bergeron. The equality is brought to life with all kinds of limitations. E.g. George is wearing a mental handicap radio, which makes a loud noise in his ears every 20 seconds. This is because of his intelligence. He is not allowed to be smarter than anybody else. The loud noise prevents him from thinking about anything larger than normal-day thinking. Hazel has a perfectly average intelligence and it is therefore not necessary for her to carry any radio. George and Hazel's son Harrison, age fourteen, has been taken away to prison, because he is seen as a threat to the Government; he's a genius and an athlete. George and Hazel is watching television when the news suddenly interrupts the ballerina-show: "Harrison Bergeron has just escaped from jail, he is under-handicapped and is considered extremely dangerous". While the news-bulletin is running, Harrison enters the studio and spreads panic among the TV- staff. Directly transmitted on TV, he takes off all of his handicaps and shouts: "I'm the emperor!" and he selects one of the ballerinas, who voluntarily steps up as his empress. Then they take off their handicaps and fly up to the ceiling and kiss it and each other.

SUDDENLY Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper-General, comes in. She has a very big shotgun and she shoots them both.

Back in the livingroom the Bergerons' TV burns out. George hasn't seen any of the scenery, because he has been out in the kitchen to get some beer. Hazel has already forgotten it all, when George asks her what she has seen.

Questions:

1. Hazel is maybe a little retarded. She can't remember anything for very long time. She can only think of a certain thing for a short moment at a time. That means that she can't really feel the sadness that she should feel because her son is taken away.

2. George is above the average intelligence. It is obvious that the radio disturbs him, but he refuses to take it out, because he says that the whole system will break down if everybody does so.

He thinks that society as it is now, is the best that it can be, though he does not feel very well.

3. The handicapper general's job is to make sure that nobody is better, smarter or prettier than anybody else.

4. If you are very beautiful you will have to wear a mask, if you are intelligent you will have to wear a radio and so forth.

5. As long as the population is kept down the way it is, then there will be no revolutions, and nobody will complain, so it must be in the Governments' interest to make people equal.

6. He is so intelligent, and that is why the Government is afraid that he will make a demonstration against it.

7. It has no effect, Hazel can't remember what she saw and George was out to grab a beer.

8. Television has a big role in society, because the only thing that people can really do, when they have been so heavily handicapped because of their intellect, is to watch TV. That way the government can influence the population the way they want.

9. The message of the story is that you should not try to make everybody equal, and not compare yourself with other people, because everybody has their own personality and talents.

Made by: Christopher and Peter

 

 

Harrison Bergeron D. 18/1-`02

by Jeanette Hansen

Summary:

The story about Harrison Bergeron takes place in 2081. In this society people don't have the right to be more than others. Nobody is allowed to be prettier than others, nobody is allowed to be smarter than others, stronger than others etc. When people then are prettier, smarter, stronger etc. they have to carry masks, mental handicap-radio in their ears, weight on their bodies etc.

In the Bergeron family the mother, Hazel, has an average intelligence which means that she can only think about things in short bursts. The father, George, is above the normal intelligence and therefore he has to carry a little radio in his ear. Their son Harrison is in jail because the government is convinced  that he will make a rebellion. Harrison is not made for this society because he is too smart, too strong and too handsome. He carries three hundred pounds on his body, a pair of earphones etc. He carries more pounds on his body than anyone else, bigger masks than anyone else etc. His parents can't remember him more than a few moments because of their handicaps.

Harrison escapes from prison and walks into a television-station. Harrison throws his handicaps and a beautiful ballerina follows him and together they become the Emperor and the Empress. Together they feel free. Together they dance, reel, and together they feel like birds; free as the bird, flying around.

In the end the Handicapper General walks into the studio and shoot the Emperor and the Empress. They die and with them the feeling of freedom dies too.

Questions:

              1) Describe Hazel:

Hazel has an average intelligence, which means that she forgets things and that she only think about things in short bursts. Hazel can feel, she cries because the government has taken her son, but then a few minutes later she can't remember why she cried. But that she can't remember isn`t her fault. It is because of the handicaps the government lays on the population. They take away all the human skills.

2) Describe George:

In one of the few minutes when he can think for himself , he wonders about whether the ballerinas should be handicapped or not. But then he all he can hear is a buzzer in his ear. I don't think he likes this society. Because he is very intelligent and this society takes his own thoughts and ideas away. It also kills his son. But George doesn't like the competing-society and therefore he might like this society anyway. It is difficult to conclude because I don´t even think George knows it himself.

3) The function of the Handicapper General:

The Handicapper General`s function is to make sure no one breaks the rules. Which means that it is their job to make sure no one is prettier, smarter or stronger than others .

4) In what respects are the inhabitants made equal:

People who are smarter than others wear masks, people who are prettier than others wear radios in their ears and people who are stronger than others wear weight on their bodies.

5) In whose interest is the sort of equality we meet in the text?

Actually I can't see any ((advantages))WChoice in this sort of society. People can't use their intelligence and therefore there can't be any competition. But the non-competition must be in the government's interest because it can't be in the inhabitants' interest.

6) Harrison Bergeron a rebel?

Harrison is very intelligent and he is not made for this society. He is smarter, more handsome and stronger than anybody else in this society. The government doesn't like the thought of him being so smart that he might change the society and therefore the government considers him a rebel.

7) The effect on George and Hazel of the Harrison-incident?

The father knows Harrison`s steps and knows it is him, but he is not in the room when Harrison arrives. Hazel has this handicap and therefore she can't remember it. And therefore it has no effect on Hazel and George.

8) The function of television in this society?

Some people can't remember what they have seen. But the people who can remember don't see anything that can ruin the society.

9) The message?

It is very important that people have their own personality and that people are allowed to use their intelligence. A competing-society isn't bad but actually a good thing because people have the chance to be involved in society.

 

 

Resume

This story takes place in 2081. People are no longer individuals but they have all become equal. That's the way it should be anyway acording to the Handicapper General. We hear about the Bergerons, George and Hazel and their son Harrison who is in jail. He would not live under the terms of the Government about all being equal.

People who are wise and smart must carry a sort of radio in their ears so that they cannot think of anything. People who are beautiful must carry a mask so that others will not envy them.

George and Hazel are sitting in front of the television one evening watching a tv-show where some ballerinas are dancing with masks on. Some of them are so good dancers that they also must carry a weight-bag on their shoulders to keep them from dancing better than ordinary people. Suddenly the announcer shows a photograph of Harrison Bergeron with a message saying that he has escaped from prison.

All of a sudden a man enters the studio where the show takes place and it is Harrison. He takes off his handicaps and starts dancing with the ballerina who has the most weight and the most ugly mask. He removes her handicaps and she turns out to be a great beautiful dancer. Together they start dancing until the Handicapper General comes into the studio with a shotgun and shoots both of the young rebels.

At the house of George and Hazel, the televison tube has just burned out and because of their handicaps, George and Hazel cannot even remember what they have just seen.

1. She has the intelligence of a average person and therefore she can't really think of anything for a long time. She talks like a child and is very depending on George. She speaks in short sentences and does not say anything smart.

2. He describes the times with competing and individuals as "dark times" and he has gotten used to his handicaps. He will not cheat with the weight he has to carry on his neck because then others would do the same.

3. It's a person who must see to it that everybody is equal. I reckon she's a kind of minister who has the responsibility for the people.

4. They should look the same. No one should be wiser than others. And nobody should be above others.

5. It is an advantage to the weak ones in society. People like Hazel get an advantage.

6. He will not continue living in a society where individualism is a crime. He thinks that smart people should be rewarded not punished and beautiful people should be seen. People with a certain talent should use it and not be sent to prison. He sacrifices his life for the cause.

7. They cannot remember the incident. George has the handicap which does that his mind is out of order and Hazel doesn’t get what is going on.

8. It is used to show the people that everybody is equal and that is the way it should be.

  1. I think that story says that everybody should be individuals and people with certain skills should be helped not punished. The smart and intelligent people are the ones who should build up a society and therefore they are the ones others should lean on not step on.

Johnni

 

Summary of "Harrison Bergeron"

by Kittie and Lise

In the year 2081, the worlds population is finally equal. If you are just a little more intelligent than the standard human, you will get punished by wearing some kind of impediment, such as a little mental handicap radio, which goes straight to your brain every twenty seconds, if you try to take advantage of your clever brain. In the story we hear about George and Hazel Bergeron. Hazel has a average intelligence, while George has an intelligence way above the normal. One evening their son, Harrison, was taking away from them, no one knows why... Later on this same evening, George and Hazel are watching ballerinas on the television. Suddenly the show is interrupted by Harrisons apperance, just after he is escaped from the imprisonment. He is making a revolution against the new system. He takes of his own and the one of the ballerinas handicap harness, and everyone can see the beauty between these two young and independent people. They starts dancing and "flying under the ceiling", while everyone is watching and admire them, because of their braveness and courage to stand up against the impediment of the society. Suddenly the Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers enters, and shoots Harrison and the Ballerina because of their unacceptable way of behaving.

Answers to the questions:

She seems to be quite stupid, because of her reactions and missing memory.

He is an intelligent man, kept dowm by the handicapper radio in his ear. He is just fitting into the society, and doesn’t make any rupture.

Her job is to make law and order in the society.

In the way they look, the pretty ones are forced to wear a mask, so that they don’t look prettier than anybody else. The same goes for the intelligent people, athletes and everywhere where people aren’t equal.

The not so clever ones, pretty ones and so on...

We don’t know. Maybe because he doesn’t like the system and wants it be like in the past. Maybe because he think that it is restricting the development to explore and create new ideas.

After Harrison has been shot, Hazel is crying. Few minutes later, when George asking why, she doesn’t remember the reason for her outburst of feeling...

It is a virtual reality television.

NO MESSAGE, exept that we shall be careful with how we develop our future...

Lise & Kittie

 

A SUMMARY OF HARRISON BERGERON

The story takes place in 2081. The main characters are George, Hazel and Harrison Bergeron. The idea of the society they are living in, is that everybody is equal. Nobody is allowed to be smarter, better looking, stronger or quicker than anybody else. Therefore George, whose intelligence is way above normal, is forced to wear a little mental handicap radio in his ear. Every twenty seconds a sharp noise is sent into his ear, so George is kept from taking unfair advantage of his good brain. Their son has been taken away from them. George and Hazel are watching television, when the program is suddenly interrupted for a news bulletin. A 14 year old boy named Harrison Bergeron (Hazel and George's son) has escaped from jail. Suddenly Harrison stands in the studio. Harrison tells the musicians that they must play their best, and he starts to dance with one of the ballerinas. The Handicapper General comes into the studio and kills Harrison and the ballerina. She orders the musicians to put on their handicaps again. Hazel cries, but she cannot remember why, when George asks her.

Louise Bak

 

"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut

Summary :

The story takes place in the United States and the year is 2081. As a result of the 211th, 212th and 213th Amendments to the Constitution everybody in the society is totally equal. This is ensured by the "United States Handicapper General", which is a federally managed sort of organisation like the FBI. To take an example people who are more intelligent than others are forced to wear a mental handicap, a sort of plug in the ear, which prevents them from taking advantage of their intelligence by making very loud and strident noises every 20th second. Besides people who are physically stronger than others do have to wear a heavy suit to make them equal with others. In that way nobody is stronger, wiser, prettier or altogether better than anybody else.

During the whole story we are at the residence of George and Hazel Bergeron. They both sit in their living-room watching some mask-wearing ballerinas dancing in a television-program. George is one of those people who have to wear a mental handicap and every time he starts thinking about something he is stopped dramatically by different noises. Hazel isn’t intelligent at all and besides the tv-program takes much of her attention so neither of them are able to put their mind together. Their son, Harrison, has been taken away by the Handicapper General because he was too much better than all the other people. George is trying to think of it but he forgets it all every time the buzzer in his ear interrupts him. Hazel too forgets about it mostly because of the tv-program.

Suddenly the ballerinas are interrupted by a by an announcer who tries to bring out a warning but hands it over to a well speaking ballerina. She tells that Harrison has escaped and that this boy is very dangerous because he is under-handicapped. While a picture is shown Harrison all of a sudden enters the scene. He scares the ballerinas and the others who start screaming. In front of all the cameras he presents himself as the Emperor and he starts to tear all his handicaps off. Then he picks out one of the ballerinas and he unveils a real beauty by taking off her mask. Then they start dancing and at the same time he makes the others tear their handicaps away. Then the Handicapper General Diana Moon Clampers enters and she kills both Harrison and the ballerina and forces the others to put their handicaps back on.

Hazel has followed the whole scenery while George was in the kitchen. He can see that she has been crying but she can’t explain to him what that happened. She has forgotten it all.

Questions:

Describe Hazel (accounting for her language, reactions and ability to think and feel).

Hazel seems to be quite anti-intellectual and naïve and she wears no handicaps. She spends most of her time talking about indifferent things like the noises that the buzzer in George’s ear makes and how the ballerinas are dancing. Still she has got feelings which you see as she cries but the fact that she cannot really think makes her feelings senseless.

Describe George. What is his attitude to the society he lives in? Why?

I believe that George is both critical and positive towards the equal society. He doesn’t at all like that his son has been taken away, and while he is thinking about this he is critical towards the way that the society is. On the other hand he tells Hazel that the society has to be the way it is to prevent people from competing themselves and all that kind of stuff. These contradictory attitudes are the result of his buzzer. He has forgotten all about his son when he starts saying that the society has to be the way it is – otherwise I believe that he would keep being critical.

What is the function of the handicapper General?

I believe that I have more or less answered this question in the summary but to say it again it is different things that prevent people from having any advantages upon others. It makes everybody as ugly, unintelligent and weak as possible.

In what respects are the inhabitants made equal?

The respects of the equality is to prevent people from competing and fighting against each other and to keep away violence, poverty, richness and so on.

In whose interest is the sort of equality we meet in the text?

As I see it the equality is only in the interest of the people who are a part of the United States Handicapper General. The are able to control everything and have all the power that you might ever dream of. The weak have no advantage as everything is taken away from them too – they have no real life in this society.

What makes Harrison Bergeron a rebel?

He is a rebel because he has got unbelievable and unstoppable powers. The Handicapper General is unable to find handicaps that are strong enough to equalize his capabilities. Therefore he is able to think and he can see how bad the whole society is.

What is the effect on George and Hazel of the Harrison-incident?

In the short moments in which George and Hazel are able to think about it they are quite sad but they forget it quickly and in the end of the story they have got no further than still discussing the noises in George’s ear….

Discuss the function of television in this society.

The television only sends out programs that are indifferent and in no way mind-appealing. They are there to keep people busy and to make propaganda for the Handicapper General.

Discuss whether the story has a message.

I believe that the author wants to undermine the basic ideas of communism or at least to show that no kind of society is totally perfect. There will forever be both good and bad sides of a society no matter how you build it up!!!

Made by: Thomas Bugge

 

 

R.J. Meaddough, III: The Death of Tommy Grimes

 

1.     Account for the plot of the story in chronological order.

1, 1-12: Tommy is in the forest

1, 13-33: Flash back; A year ago, the episode with the weasel in the hen-house.

1, 34-37: Back in the forest.

1, 38-44: Flash back; after the episode in the hen-house.

2, 1-16: Flash back; the night before the hunting in the forest.

2, 17-20: In the forest

2, 21-29: Flash back; Thinking of pa’s visit at the hut.

2, 30-2: Flash back; The day before the hunting. They are justifying hunting/killing.

3, 3-27: In the forest; waiting for an animal. Thinking about becoming a man.

3, 28-2: In the forest; Tommy shoots an animal behind the bushes.

4, 3-14: In the forest;  He is afraid that he has killed a man/his father.

4, 15-31: In the Hut; The father bragging about his son, who has shot his first nigger.

2.     The point of view from which the story is seen.

 The story is told from an interior point of view. The storyteller sees it from the outside, but is capable of reading Tommys minds.

  Many greetings from Jeanette, Mai, Louise Bak og Jeppe og Johnni. Alias Group 1.

3. Discuss the use and significance of the flash-back technique!

Throughout the story Tommy is looking back at the time in the henyard, where he was afraid to shoot the weasel. The consequences of that event was that 43 pullets died and his father was very disappointed at him. The father taught Tommy that something has to be killed or else the world would be overcrowded. 

One year later he had the courage and he shot the Negro and his father was very proud of him. By his experience in the henyard he learned that an unwelcome kind had to be kept down.

 4. Account for the father’s values.

The father is very old fashioned and wants to make the boy into a man. The father is also very racist, which was very common in a state like Mississippi. He is also very fond of the nature and the order of it. He also likes the solidarity with his “boys”, which is clearly shown, when the son asks him if he can go hunting with the father and the “boys”, and the father is very proud of his son.

5)  Why does the boy decide to go out hunting?

Because he wants to be a part of the adult society and to make his father proud of him. He wants to join his father and the other hunters at the Hut and to be accepted by the group as a man. The reason is that he feels he disappointed his father in the hen-house episode.

6)  Account for the nature of the relationship between Tommy and his father.

At first you get the idea that the relationship between father and son is natural. The father teaches Tommy to hunt in the woods in which nothing is wrong. Tommy does not really like to hunt because he does not like to kill. Though he realises that hunting is the only way he can make his father proud of him and therefore he keeps on doing it. Step by step Tommy adopts all his fathers opinions. He becomes a racist without noticing it.

Anna, Anders, Bugge og Helle    

7. What is the social environment of the story?

Gruppe 4: Rune, Anne Mette, Thomas Q og Trine.

7: The social enviroment is not very good. It is a one way communication between father and son. The father teaches the son what is right and wrong, from his point of view, and doesn’t let him have his own opinion. For example does the son not want to go hunting, but he has to, if he wants to be a part of the group. It is a big pressure on him, and eventhough he really doesn´t want to kill, he feels as if he has to.

8. Does the boy know the meaning of the word buck from the outset?

8: We think Tommy knows what the word buck means. He has been taught that a negro is an animal, and ought to be shot. Eventhough he has always been told that they are no good, he still feels uncomfortable about shooting anything. But on the other hand, he has learnt that negroes are lower creatures, because he says: “ I thought I killed you Pa, I thought I killed a man.” Maybe he doesn’t feel that way, but he is forced to say it, if he wants his fathers accept.

9. Discuss the significance of the title and consider hints at death in the text.

His nick/real name Tommy dies when he kills his first “buck”, and he becomes a new person called Tom. He is now reborn as a grown-up.

He keeps hearing these voices as he lies in the forrest, waiting for the “buck” to show: “Soon the waiting would be over. Soon he would be grown. Soon. Soon……”

 10) What perspective (psychological, ethical, political) is suggested in this story.

It is ethically incorrect when the boys in their society are forced to kill other people because of the colour, just to get their manhood. Their initiation ceremony is terrifying. It is a huge psychological pressure to put on children's shoulders. Racism is the biggest aspect in the story. In a way you can compare the parents with Ku Klux Klan members.

Made by: Lise, Louise P., Peter and Tommy M.

KURT VONNEGUT: Next Door

1. Read carefully the lines: "His mother frowned (...) `Shhhhh!' he said. "(p. 1 l. 43-46) - Use these lines as a starting point to extract all the information on p. 1 concerning the Leonards towards characterizations of Mr. Leonard, Mrs. Leonard, and Paul.

2. Pick out on pp. 2-3 at least five of Paul's reactions to what goes on next door.

3. Find the three words on p. 2 that sum up and characterize his reactions.

4. Why does he react at all? (p. 2)

5. Why does he call All-Night Sam (p. 2) rather than the police? the fire brigade? other neighbours? friends? etc.

6. "Sam was speaking like the right-hand man of God." (p. 3)

a. In what sense is this a true statement?

b. In what sense is this a false statement?

In order to answer these two questions, examine Sam's choice of words and Paul's reaction to them.

7. Comment fully on "A purple emotion (...) rewarding" (p. 3 lines 40-41).

8. 'You're all alone?' said the policeman. `Yessir,' said Paul. `It's an adventure.' " (p. 4 lines 30-31) Comment.

9. Why is Mrs. Harger "awfully pleased with the mess"? (p. 4)

10. In what sense is the behaviour of Paul's parents an anti-climax to the other events in the story? (p. 5)

11. Explain and comment on the very last line of the story.

12. One keyword in the story may be trapped. Explain the word. In what sense is each of the characters in the story trapped? 

 Group 1  - Questions to “Next door” by Kurt Vonnegut

 Q1:

Mrs. Leonard :

She is very protecting towards her son. She thinks of him as just a little boy and doesn’t think that he is able to take care of him self while their gone.

 

Mr. Leonard: 

He gets upset when the mother protects Paul, and he thinks that Paul is ready to become a man. He  is spokesman for David being on his own.

 

Paul:

He doesn’t want to be treaten as a little child either. He is excited about the world of adults but on the other hand he maybe isn’t as grown up as his father wants him to be.

 

Q2:

“Paul tried to the music rather than to the man and woman who were fighting”

“Paul turned the knob to hard and the fresh slide cracked and fell in triangles to the floor”

“He beat on the wall with his fist. “Mr. Harger ! Stop it !” He cried. “Mrs. Harger ! Stop it!”

“…made Paul feel like he was trapped in a drum.”

He also calls All-Night Sam to make him play a song, which should clear the situation.

 

Q3:

Excitement - trapped - weakness

 

Q4:

He is both excited and scared and he wants to be an adult - therefore he tries to solve the problems like he thinks an adult would do.

    

5:  Why does he call All-Night Sam (p. 2) rather than the police? The fire brigade? Other neighbours? Friends? Etc.

                      He does that because he doesn’t know anybody, because he has just moved to the house. Why would he call the fire brigade, when they are just fighting. He is not able to see that this fight will end in a shooting scene. And then he gets the idea to call All-Night Sam as he hears him on the radio. He fells that he knows All-Night Sam, because he hears him every night on the radio.

 

6: “Sam was speaking like the right-hand man of God” (p. 3)

    a: In what sense is this a true statement?

                      Paul is amazed by his wisdom and authority. Once he saved a young man, because he talked him into not committing suicide. Therefore Paul thinks that All-Night Sam has control over life and dead. Sam starts every sentence with “Folks!” and that brings the listeners closer to All-Night Sam. And he actually calls the radio a miracle, so there is not a thing the voice in the radio cannot fix. (p. 3, 24)    

   b: In what sense is this a false statement?

                      Of course All-Night Sam hasn’t control over life and dead. Nobody has. It is not reasonable that All-Night Sam is able to talk a young man out of committing suicide. The young man might not have done it anyway.

 Mai, Louise B + P, Anna, Thomas B + Q, Rune, Tommy G.    

 

7)   Paul stands between his childhood and the grown up life. The grown up life is both exciting and   frightening at the same time. And therefor he can’t figure out if he should let go of his childhood or hang on to it.

 8) Before Paul’s parents left the house, his father told him that it would be an adventure for him to 

     be home alone (p. 1 line 20). Perhaps Paul thinks that it really is an adventure because of all the   

     action next door. He is not used to seeing so much of the grown up life.

 

9)   Because she is happy to see that he can’t keep the place clean when she is not there. It shows her that she is needed.

 

10) Before the parents went to the movies, they protected Paul very much, especially the mother. When they leave, an adventure begins for him! It is very exiting and new for him, because he is used to this overprotected world. But when the parents return, stops the adventure. They have not been home in 2 minutes, before they starts to treat him like a baby. 

   

11) All through the story Pauls mother have be telling (or not telling) Paul about all the things, which kids are not supposed to deal with. In the ending Paul has experienced these things by him self, and the mother is aware of it. Se says: “Tabu”, and roll her eyes. Still she does not want to comment his new adventures, but she knows about it. That is why the word tabu, in this sense means two different things. One is the name of the perfume, and two is that the situation is a “tabu”.

 

12) When Pauls says he is trapped, he isn´t really in a cage; it is not physical. It is just a feeling he has inside. Paul feels trapped because of his parents. When he is at home, he is not allowed to act on his own, and the parents tries to control his life, without knowing about his needs. They don´t do it because they want to hurt him, they simply just want to protect him.      

 Anne Mette, Jeppe, Martin, Kittie, Jeanette, Peter and Christopher.       

     

Stand By Me (1986)

Assignment: Take your starting point in the passages written in bold characters - comment on them and add your own thoughts about the film. Also find a review, summarize it and comment i.e. do you agree with the review? http://us.imdb.com/TUrls?COM+0092005

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0092005#comment:

Stand By Me is yet another one of the stories made into a movie from the author who has had more stories made into movies than any other author in history, Stephen King. Clearly, the central character here is Gordie Lachance, from whose point of view the story is told and who obviously symbolizes King himself, given many of his characteristics as well as some of the content of the film. This movie is literally filled with actors who have achieved varying degrees of success over the years, such as Jerry O'Connell, who played Vern, River Phoenix, who could have been bigger than Leonardo DiCaprio if he hadn't died, Corey Feldman, who has grown into an unenviable but visible existence, Kiefer Sutherland, who has become an excellent and very well known actor, John Cusack can be seen in a small role as Gordie's late brother, and of course, Richard Dreyfuss, who played the narrator and Gordie as an adult, has remained famous but originally achieved fame more than a decade before Stand By Me was filmed or the original story was even written.

Stand By Me takes place in the summer of 1959, the general time period that Stephen King is most skilled at presenting, and four friends set out to find the body of a kid who was killed by a train, hoping to find what they predicted would be astronomical fame. Unfortunately, the town's bullies are also out to find the body for the same reason, which leads to the films ultimate final climax. Even though this is a very clever story with which to tell a fall from innocence story, it is the brilliant characterization and the incredible acting that really make this a classic film. It is extremely rare that a film comes along that stars young kids and is so moving and powerful. Also, every one of those kids is made three dimensional in creative and smooth ways, making you feel like you really knew them by the end of the film. Vern is the fat kid who always gets picked on, Teddy and Chris both have abusive or deranged fathers, not to mention Chris's cruel brother, and Gordie is a young boy who lost his brother three months earlier in a violent accident and who has been largely ignored by his parents ever since. In one memorable scene, Gordie wonders how Teddy can be so enthusiastic about his father's alleged military achievements when the man once held his head to a stove, nearly burning his ear off. Gordie is mystified because he could care less about his own father, who hadn't laid a hand on him since he was three years old and got caught `eating bleach under the sink.'

Stephen King pokes fun at his own craft many times in the film, such as in Gordie's vehement line, `F*ck writing. I don't want to be a writer, it's a stupid waste of time!' Not only that, but there are also obvious references to his other works, such as when the boys first realize that no one brought food, and Teddy says, `This is great, what are we supposed to do, eat our feet?' People who actually read instead of just lazily watching the movies will recognize this as a major part of the plot of another of King's short stories, `Survivor Type,' from which Cast Away borrowed heavily. And why don't you people read these books? `The Body,' which Stand By Me was based on, is only 148 pages long, you could read that in a couple of hours and the experience is totally different from a movie. It's even more disturbing that `The Body' was published in the same book (Different Seasons) as a couple of King's other famous stories – `Apt Pupil' and, of course, `Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.'

Stand By Me is a story of how one event can unexpectedly change lives. It seems to be a story about friends and how important they are, but this possible theme is clearly dispelled in a line from the narration spoken at the end of the film – `As time went on, we saw less and less of Teddy and Vern, until eventually they became just two more faces in the halls. It happens sometimes, friends come in and out of your life like busboys at a restaurant.' Instead, the film is about learning from a life changing experience and actually making changes or modifying your life in some way because of it, and this is heavily emphasized at the end of the film.

Stand By Me is a timeless film. Stephen King's story is skillfully brought to the screen under the direction of Rob Reiner, and the 1950s are brought back to life just as successfully as King so often does in his stories and novels, with the slicked back hair, the hot rods, and in the film, and excellent 50s soundtrack. There is so much more to this film than just the superficial story – things about the characters and the story, but also about the tremendously talented man who wrote it all.

Gruppe 3:

 Gordie: Gordie is the main character, who tells the story as it passes by. He is a “member” of a four persons gang, who has lost his brother and is now ignored by his parents. The only supporting care he gets is from his best friends, especially Chris.

 Chris: Chris is the boy, who everybody thinks will turn out like his father - in a criminal and a disgrace for the society. He also has violence tendencies, but inside his is a very emotional person, who really cares about his friends. He is not afraid of anything besides being spit out. 

 Teddy: Teddy wants to be the hardcore boy and the one who shows off in front of all the others. He is protecting his parents even though they don’t give a shit about him. Just as Chris he is a very thoughtful person.

 Vern: He has a pretty normal life at home, but he is never being taking serious by anyone except his friends from the gang.

 After seeing the body they are getting mature. They are realizing that the childhood and their fairytales can’t last forever.

 

 This review is divided into 4 different paragraphs. In the first paragraph he comments on the characters of the movie and tells us which ones he thinks could have been famous after the movie if they had continued. In the next paragraph he points out some specific situations in the movie and tries to give us a glimpse in the boys’ life. In the third paragraph he makes a short characterisation of the author of the film, Stephen King. He gives a brief survey of some the books also written by the author. In the last paragraph he makes some kind of a short interpretation of some of the themes in the movie.

Made by: Helle, Johnni, Anders, Stefan, Sille, Lise og Tommy M.

Ray Bradbury, The Veldt, 1963

1.    Make a brief summary of the text

George and Lydia live in a mechanical house. They have two children Peter and Wendy. The children have a nursery. The nursery is some kind of a real room. The room can be everything you wish it to be. At the moment the room is  a veldt land and the lions in this veldt land seem very real. The mother is afraid of this room. She wants to lock it up. She wants to have a psychologist to take a look at it. Then the parents take a look at the nursery. The lions in the room seem very real. The mother runs out of the room crying. The parents lock up the nursery even though they know the children loves it. Later George unlock the door and tries to change the room. But the room won’t respond. Then the children come home and the father tells them about the nursery. Wendy walks into the nursery and changes it. George has forgotten to lock it up. Then George find his wallet in the nursery. The wallet is filled with blood and spit. In the middle of the night the parents hear the children screaming. George realise that he has forgot to lock up the nursery. But he doesn’t respond to the screaming. In the morning David McClean comes by; a psychologist. He tells the father that the nursery has some bad vibrations. He suggests that the nursery is turned of and that the children are brought to him every day for the next year. Then the father shuts down the nursery for good. In the nursery David finds a scarf. Also filled with blood and spit. Now the father shuts down the whole house. Now the house seems like a mechanical cemetery. The father suggests that they take a vacation. The parents are packing their bags for the vacation when the children scream. The parents end up in the nursery and the door slams. The lions kill the parents. David McClean comes into the nursery and Wendy asks him, "A cup of tea?" Wendy and Peter are now "a part of the nursery". (Jeanette og Louise P.)

2.    Time? Place? Characters?

The story takes place somewhere in the future, because of all the science fiction and modern electronic things. E.g. The nursery, the kitchen where the food cooks itself and the voice-controlled machinery. The whole action happens in a period in about a couple of days. They are all over the house. They are never outside the house, only the children are at a plastic carneval. 

Mum: the real one, is against all technology, wants to go on a vacation, wants to live a normal life, have a nomal family. She wants to use her hands to do things herself, cook for herself. 

Dad: Very impressed by the nursery. Loves the luxurious life, but still he thinks that it will be good for every one to leave the house and live like a normal family. 

Children: Spoiled, they get angry with their parents if they do not get what they want. They are sort of taking over the parents' role. (Lise, Kittie and Anna)

3.    Explain why the children behave the way they do.

They are stronger attached to the house than they are to their parents. The house has taken over the parents' place and the children's lives. So when the parents want to take away the nusery and the house, the children feel they are taken away from their parents. (Sille, Mai, Trine)

4.    Where do the parents go wrong?

The children have always got what they wanted. The parents have given their children everything they need, except from communication, attention and love. The parents thought that giving the children everything material would make the children love them. No limits. The parents have forgotten to show how much they love their children. There is no communication between them. And when they saw the problem coming, they did not stop in time. (Louise B, Anne Mette, Helle)

5.    Explain the relationship between parents and children.

The relationship between the parents and the children is very awkward. They are independent of the parents because of the many facilities of the house. In the ending they get rid of their parents because their presence is unnecessary. The parents gave the nursery as a gift to the children which they could play with, but it turned out the wrong way. The nursery became a replacement for the parents and now the children no longer care for the parents. (Johnni. Anders, Jeppe, Tommy M.)

6.    Theme of the story?

"It’s a leap of faith"1 , free your mind2/let your mind be prisoned, the question of life, the danger of technology, the ingenuity3 of the brain.

Notes:

1: Quoted Indiana Jones (from the film "The holy grail")

2: Quoted The Matrix

3: cleverness, cunning

Made by: Rune and Peter

7.    Relevance of the story? 

If parents don’t spend the necessary time on their children, the children can turn against their parents, when they do not feel like their parents love them. Parents ought to make up some house rules which the children have to obey. In our days the computer can steal a lot of time in a family, just like in the story, where Peter and Wendy spend all their time in the nursery room. (Stefan, Martin)

8.    Is it a science fiction story?

A : We believe that it is a science fiction story. The technology in the story is at a very advanced level that we haven’t got today. Still the author criticizes today’s society where computers, televisions and tecnology in general mean quite a lot to most children. So you might say that it is a critical science fiction story.

Bugge and Christopher

 

Spørgsmål til ’Super-Toys’

Brian Aldiss

Monica Swinton and her conflicting emotions. How would you characterize her?

Henry Swinton: What views/ideas does he represent?

David: is he a tragic figure? Is something wrong with his verbal communication-center?

Teddy: what is his function in the story - is he a ‘super-toy’?

Which of the four mentioned is/are most human in your definition of the word?

How do you interpret the ending with the rose = Mummy and Teddy’s comment about ‘real’?

What kind of society – are there classes e.g.?

Why do ‘millions of people suffer from increasing loneliness and isolation’?

Artificial intelligence – what is it?

Being real? Find the passages in the text where the word ‘real’ is used, and comment.

Briefly about Brian Aldiss.

The short story is from 1969 – how many of his ideas have come true?

Utopias/dystopias.

List and discuss some pros et cons in connection with modern technology.

Perspectives in the text – how do you expect the world to develop?

If you have seen the film 'A.I.' - comment on the difference between film and text.

 

Liam O'Flaherty, Civil War, 1925

Write another version of 'Civil War' in about 300 words, but use the point of view of Tim Murphy. Title: 'Tim Murphy's Civil War'

 

Act III:

What is Eric's story?

What is the inspector's message when he leaves? How does it correspond with Mr Birling's speech just before the inspector arrived?

What is the difference between how the old Birlings and the young people react?

The ending?

Who or what is the inspector?

It is a very moral play - what is the message?

 

 

24 August:

Where is Eric?

When did Mrs.Birling talk to Eva/Daisy?

Why?

What did Eva call herself?

Who does Mrs. Birling blame for Eva's fate and why?

Why didn't Eva get money from the father?

Why does the inspector look at his watch?

So what is the situation like at the ending of Act 2.?

 

 

22 Aug.:

How is Gerald involved?

How do they treat Sheila, who is a grown-up woman?

How does Sheila feel about her treatment of Eva Smith?

How does Mrs. Birling behave when she enters?

What about Eric?

23 Aug.:

What sort of relationship did Gerald have with Daisy Renton?

How does Sheila react to hearing about the affair? And hos does Mrs Birling react?

Gerald's own reaction?

Sheila gives Gerald the ring back - why?

The photograph?

What position does Mrs. Birling occupy?

 

17/8/2001:

P. 19 Inspector: 'But after all it's better to ask for the earth than to take it'. - Comment

How does Eric react to what happened to Eva Smith and the others?

What is Mr. Birling's attitude to the inspector?

How does Sheila react when she first hears about Eva Smith? (p.23)

What does Eva Smith do after being fired?

How is Sheila responsible for what happened?

P. 26 Gerald: 'After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals'. Inspector: 'Sometimes there isn't as much difference as you think'. - Comment.

Why did Sheila do what she did at Milwards?

How does Gerald react to hearing the name Daisy Renton?

What happened last spring and summer?

 

15/8/2001:

When is it the inspector arrives?

Mr. Birling has been an 'alderman' and 'Lord Mayor' - what do those terms mean?

Why is the inspector there?

Who is Eva Smith? Comment on her name.

Who sees the photograph?

Why does Mr. Birling say on p. 17 'Look  - there's nothing mysterious - or scandalous - about this business'.

P. 18 Birling: 'Still, I can't accept any responsibility.....". Comment.

What is the connection between Mr. Birling and Eva Smith?

 

Who are Bernard Shaw and H.G.Wells?

What does Mr. Birling think of his own knowledge about the world situation?

What does Mr. Birling think of the Crofts' attitude to the engagement?

What does Mr. Birling mean when he talks about 'finding his way into the next honours list'?

On p. 13 Eric says 'Yes, I remember-' - What do you think he remembers?

Sum up what Mr. Birling says on p. 13 just before the bell rings.

 

 

Squiffy, Sir George and Lady Croft, Cable, Engagement,  Fiancé, Fiancée, Crofts Limited, (Ltd.), Steady the Buffs, Time of the play? Fiddlesticks, There’s too much at stake, Progress, The Titanic

Why will Russia always be ‘behind-hand’?

What are we supposed to think of Mr Birling after his speech?

Why aren’t Sir George and Lady Croft present?

What interests do the Crofts and the Birlings have in common?

Oversæt:

Arbejdsgivernes interesser skal være ordentligt beskyttet.

Titanic kan absolut ikke synke.

Det er en af de lykkeligste aftener for mig, da I to skal forloves.

 

N.H.Kleinbaum, Dead Poets Society (1989):

ANALYSIS OF DEAD POETS SOCIETY.

Section 1. Setting.

a) Where and when does the film/book take place? Give reasons for your point of view.

b) The film/book uses a relatively small number of sub-settings:
        l) The school - Welton Academy
        2) The classroom
        3) The Poets' Cave
        4) The students' home (especially Neil's home)
        5) Outside on campus: the school yard, the ball-field.

Each of these sub-settings or places seems to have its own set of values. So, what is all right - and what is not all right in these different places.

Section 2. Characters.

In the analysis of fiction - and film for that matter - we usually distinguish between dynamic and static characters.

A dynamic character develops in the course of the film/book, i.e. he/she experiences things that make his/her personality and general attitude to life change.

A static character remains, basically, the same person - though her/she may learn something. In many cases a static character "just" unfolds his/her personality and world view in the course of the film.

Good examples of dynamic characters in this film are Neil Perry, Todd Anderson, Charlie Dalton (Nuwanda), Knox Overstreet.

Good examples of static characters are Cameron (with the red hair) and Mr. Nolan, and Mr. Perry.

But how about Mr. Keating?

1) Analyse the dynamic characters. You should answer the following questions:
        What do they change from? What do they change to?
        What bring these changes about?

2) Analyse the static characters.
         Characterize them
         Outline what they represent in relation to the other characters.

Section 3. Personal Fears.

All the major characters of the film/book have personal fears to overcome. Especially this is true of  Todd Anderson, Neil Perry, Knox Overstreet and Charlie Dalton (Nuwanda).

1) Describe their fears - and determine whether they overcome their fears, and if, why. If not, why not? 

Section 4. Relationships.

Describe the relationships between

- the boys and their families

- the boys and the school

- the boys and Mr. Keating

- between the boys themselves

How do these relationships develop?
  

Section 5. Symbols.

Several things in the film/book achieve a status of symbols. Some of these are Todd's desk set, Neil's crown, the seasons (winter, summer), standing on the table, poetry - and a number of others. Find and describe things that you consider symbols and describe how they work together with the rest of the film/book. What do the symbols illustrate. 

Section 6. Themes.

What do you consider to be the themes of the film/book?

Section 7. Assessment/Criticism.

Overall: Is it a good film/book - or a bad film/book? Drawing upon the material we have developed above: how is it good/bad? Why is it good/bad?

Find a couple of film reviews - give a brief summary of them and comment.
  

8/8/2001: Resten af bogen

Why does Neil lie to Mr Keating?

How is what happens to Neil and his father mixed up in the words of the play?

Describe the situation in the Perry family.

The development in Todd?

Why does Neil put on Puck's crown?

Is there any connection to what his friends and Mr Keating are doing/reciting?

Cameron's reaction?

The ending - how should we understand it?

25/4/2001: 98-129

The party with Knox and Chris

The cave with Nuwanda and Gloria - the effect of poetry!!

Charlie Dalton's punishment. 'Damn it, Neil, the name is Nuwanda'. - What does he mean?

Mr Nolan's attitude to Mr Keating's 'unorthodox teaching methods' ? (109)

What does McAllister mean by 'So, if you want to raise a confirmed atheist......give him a rigid religious instruction'. (110)

Mr Keating says on page 111: 'College will probably destroy your love for poetry' - Why?

Mr Perry's order.

The conversation between Mr Keating and Neil.

Chris and Knox.

17/4/2001:

Where? Country, area, school etc.

When?

Who? Parents, teachers, students.

Traditions and the school's attitude to them?

Wat are the four pillars?

What is 'the Ivy League'?

Try to sum up what we know and who we know after chapter 1.

What is 'demerit' (10)

Describe Todd Anderson and Neil Perry as we see them in chapter 2.

Describe the relationship between Neil and his father.

Why do the students accept their parents' ordering them around?

What are the standard classes like?

What happens in Mr Keating's class?

What does 'carpe diem' mean?

Chris and Knox?

What does poetry mean to Mr Keating?

McAllisters comments is he a cynic?

What is 'the dead poets society'?

Why do the boys decide to go to the cave?

What does it mean 'to suck the marrow out of life'?

How do the boys react to the poetry reading?

What does Mr Keating say of language? (59)

'You must strive to find your own voice' (61) - Comment.

Neil decides to become an actor - Comment.

John Wyndham, The Wheel (1954):

Make a short summary of the text.

Describe the boy, the mother and the grandfather briefly.

Sum up the story about the Devil.

Why don't the villagers want to use a wheel any more?

How does the grandfather save the situation for David?

What is the grandfather's advice to David about the Wheel?

What does the Wheel symbolize?

'No discovery is good or evil until men make it that way'. Comment. - Does that statement also apply in the cases of gene technology and the atom bomb?

What is the author's attitude to technology? Discuss his attitude: Find arguments that support him and find arguments against him.What is your own attitude?

 

 

Shirley Jackson, The Lottery (1949):

Give a short presentation of the characters.

The traditions and rituals of the lottery and people's attitudes.

What is the mood of the opening?

How would you describe people's feelings to the lottery?

What are the arguments for and against the lottery?

Why is the ending so surprising?

Why do the villagers have the lottery?

What theme(s) do you find in the text?

Personal comments on the text.

 

 

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