Over the past century, the pace of life has increased exponentially. What are some ways in which life has become "faster"?Has this been a positive or negative change? Why.
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"Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings."
- Heinrich Heine (1821) Explain the quote above. Why do you think Heine makes the leap from burning books to burning people? What are some cultures you are aware of that burn books? Are those cultures also dangerous to people? Quote "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." - Ray Bradbury Discuss the meaning of the quote, screenshot, and picture. What are some similarities between the three? What critique do they make about our society?
Is knowledge always a positive thing? Why or why not?
Most cultures have "rites of passage" which mark the transition from an adolescent to an adult. What are some "rites of passage" in our culture? Do you think these experiences help us "come of age"? How long do you think "growing up" takes?
Daily Literary Quote
“Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honored by posterity because he was the last to discover America.” -James Joyce Journal Prompt Take a look at this article from The Oatmeal. What are some issues with the myth that Christopher Columbus "discovered" the Americas? Explain. Do you think Columbus should be honored with a holiday in the United States? Why or why not? Analyze the artwork above (The Mysterious Bird [1917], Charles Burchfield). What do you notice? How do the foreground and the background of the painting juxtapose (contrast) one another? What kind of mood does each create?
What do the sun and summer often represent in works of fiction? Why do you think we have these associations? What are some songs that talk about summer and/or sun? Do these tend to be happy or sad songs?
Daily Literary Quote
“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” - Salmon Rushdie Journal Prompt This week is Banned Books Week. What are some books you think may have been banned or challenged in schools or libraries? Do you think books should be banned? Why or why not? |
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March 2021
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