The Kite Runner Chapters 11-19

After this week's reading I'd like for you to focus on at least two of the following elements when you blog:
1) Comment on the structure of this novel. How is it organized and how does the organization aid or guide the reader?
2) Comment on Amir. How do you feel about him now as opposed to earlier in the novel?
3) Comment on Hosseni's style of writing. What are elements of his word choice, sentence structure, tone that make his writing style unique? Perhaps choose a short passage that illustrates what you notice.
4) If you didn't in the last post, write a thematic statement that indicates what Hosseni is tr
ying to say about one of the subjects I listed.

Remember that themes are universal statements that comment on the human condition. For instance, you wouldn't want to write on the AP exam that the theme of a passage is guilt. That is a subject, not a theme. A theme could be that guilt has the power to consume and destroy. That is a universal idea that relays what the author is trying to say about guilt. Or how about love?? That is a subject, but what is the author trying to say about love?Love is a double-edged sword; with the joy of love comes an equal amount of pain. People exhibit love in many ways; some through kindness and tenderness, some through jealousy, some through obsession.See how these are complete sentences that actually pinpoint what the author is trying to say about a particular subject???? Writing thematic statements will be a focus for us in class because you will be expected to identify them and compose them on the AP exam. Do the best you can.
We will go back to Foster's ideas next week, so keep noting elements of the novel that you recognize as important to meaning. Many of you have done a great job with symbols, allusions and irony!!

The Kite Runner Chapters 1-10

This week I have asked that you read chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner. I think you will find this book challenging in terms of content and engaging as well. As you read, think about the following subjects and comment about themes that are being developed as they relate to these subjects. Remember that a theme is a declarative statement that indicates what the author is trying to say about the particular subject.
-Role of books, literacy
-Friendship, guilt, redemption
-Father and son relationship
-Coming of Age
-Discrimination, prejudice, class structure
-Master/Slave relationships; loyalty, devotion and duty

Please choose one of the subjects listed, then suggest a thematic statement related to that subject, then explain how that theme is relayed in the chapters you have read. I would also like you to comment on some emerging symbols and motifs as related to Foster's book. There are several ironies that occur in these chapters, and there should be some things that jump out at you as symbols. Explore those in your responses as well.

Just a quick note that this book contains some disturbing elements and a few ugly terms. These elements are not gratuitous, but they serve to develop meaning and drive the plot forward in a complex manner. I hope that you will all read with an open mind and recognize that the purpose of the violent acts and language is to characterize the prejudices and conflicts of the time period the novel reflects. Please email me with any questions or concerns. Thanks!

Wuthering Heights Chs. 17-end

For the last half of the novel, I would like you to consider the following ideas. Please choose two, but be careful not to repeat ideas and analysis from last week's comments.

Motif: patterns of objects, colors, ideas that show up in the novel that work to develop theme(dogs/beasts/devils/storms/sickness, etc). Choose a motif and trace its development through the novel. Cite a couple of references of this motif and analyze how you think this repeated element helps develop meaning and theme in the novel.

Resolution of conflict: Identify, analyze and evaluate how conflicts are resolved. Are you as a reader satisfied? Were all the conflicts resolved in a way that makes sense according to your analysis of character?

Symbolism: Choose a symbol (other than weather, please - that one seems to have been discussed quite thoroughly) in the novel and explain its significance to meaning.

Politics/Social Class: Analyze what Bronte reveals about social class through her work.

Names: Analyze the significance of the name of a character (or characters since so many of them share names) or place in the novel.

Many of the above topics will also require you to discuss theme. Be sure to consider theme as a statement rather than a single word. Theme is a universal idea the author relays in his/her work.