Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
HW/Study Island
Students are to complete the study island assignment writing1 by Friday.
Students have to complete the following assignment by tomorrow:
Montana 1948 epilogue (20pts)
1. On page 165 we learn that David's family moved away from Bentrock almost immediately, never to return. Somewhat suprisingly, it his his mother, not his father, who is the author of their departure. What does this show about her? About Wesley Hayden?
2. What do you make of David's remark on page 167 that "Frank's death was an unbridgeable gap between us?" And later, that "If there was any sense, any purpose at all in Uncle Frank's suicide, if he killed himself for any reason, it was so these people--his wife, his parents, his brother, his sister-in-law--could be reunited after his death"? Is Wesley saying something about the relationship between the future and the past for a Western town like Bentrock?
3. On page 169, looking into his empty house, David comments on the irony of his family's exile. What is that irony? What does it say about the price paid for justice?
4. David's father returns to his first career, becoming a lawyer. David is amazed by this. As he says on page 170, "after what I observed as a child in Bentrock, I could never believe in the rule of law again. That my father could continue his profession I attributed to his ability to segment parts of his life and keep one from intruding on another." What does he mean? Is this true? Has his father always demonstrated such an ability?
5. Consider also the ways in which his father's career change is an appropriate one, under the circumstances. How is being a lawyer different from being a peace officer?
6. On page 170 we learn that David has become a history teacher as an adult. He comments at length on the ways in which this is both appropriate and ironic, too. Explain. How do we usually remember and record history?
7. David makes a case, on page 171, that the incidents in Bentrock in the summer of 1948 directly caused the deaths of three people, in addition to his uncle: Len, his grandfather, and his father. Yet, all three died of natural causes. What does he mean? Consider the cause of death and circumstances in each case.
8. On pages 172-3, David as the adult narrator of the story briefly flashes back to a memory of an afternoon in the company of Marie and her boyfriend Ronnie. What's this a memory of? Why is it so compelling for him? Consider the actual game they play, and why it appealed to him at the time, appeals to him still. What sort of world is he remembering, even wishing for?
9. Consider the final scene of the novel, in which David's wife Betsy questions his father at Thanksgiving dinner. First of all, what's the significance of Thanksgiving? What does it commemorate?
Students have to complete the following assignment by tomorrow:
Montana 1948 epilogue (20pts)
1. On page 165 we learn that David's family moved away from Bentrock almost immediately, never to return. Somewhat suprisingly, it his his mother, not his father, who is the author of their departure. What does this show about her? About Wesley Hayden?
2. What do you make of David's remark on page 167 that "Frank's death was an unbridgeable gap between us?" And later, that "If there was any sense, any purpose at all in Uncle Frank's suicide, if he killed himself for any reason, it was so these people--his wife, his parents, his brother, his sister-in-law--could be reunited after his death"? Is Wesley saying something about the relationship between the future and the past for a Western town like Bentrock?
3. On page 169, looking into his empty house, David comments on the irony of his family's exile. What is that irony? What does it say about the price paid for justice?
4. David's father returns to his first career, becoming a lawyer. David is amazed by this. As he says on page 170, "after what I observed as a child in Bentrock, I could never believe in the rule of law again. That my father could continue his profession I attributed to his ability to segment parts of his life and keep one from intruding on another." What does he mean? Is this true? Has his father always demonstrated such an ability?
5. Consider also the ways in which his father's career change is an appropriate one, under the circumstances. How is being a lawyer different from being a peace officer?
6. On page 170 we learn that David has become a history teacher as an adult. He comments at length on the ways in which this is both appropriate and ironic, too. Explain. How do we usually remember and record history?
7. David makes a case, on page 171, that the incidents in Bentrock in the summer of 1948 directly caused the deaths of three people, in addition to his uncle: Len, his grandfather, and his father. Yet, all three died of natural causes. What does he mean? Consider the cause of death and circumstances in each case.
8. On pages 172-3, David as the adult narrator of the story briefly flashes back to a memory of an afternoon in the company of Marie and her boyfriend Ronnie. What's this a memory of? Why is it so compelling for him? Consider the actual game they play, and why it appealed to him at the time, appeals to him still. What sort of world is he remembering, even wishing for?
9. Consider the final scene of the novel, in which David's wife Betsy questions his father at Thanksgiving dinner. First of all, what's the significance of Thanksgiving? What does it commemorate?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Study Island/Montana 1948
The students have two assignments that they are working on simultaneously. In class, students are working on completing 4 tasks assigned through Study Island. These assignments are due at the end of the day Monday. At home the students are to finish reading Montana 1948 and complete the following assignment by Monday:
Montana 1948 pgs 142-162 20pts
1. David’s mother must protect her home from Dale Paris and his clan. How does she handle the situation? What does this tell us about her character?
2. On page 143, what does Gail tell Wes to do with Frank? Why has her opinion changed? What would you have said in her situation?
3. Opinion: Why do you think Frank has confessed at this time? What is his motive? Has he underestimated his brother, or has he estimated correctly?
4. Who were the Highdog Brothers? Why were they chasing Wes and Cordell? What did Frank do to them? Why did Wes tell this story to David?
5. What did Wes find in the basement?
6. Opinion: What is Uncle Frank’s motive for committing suicide? Does it make sense to you? Does it change your opinion of Uncle Frank?
7. How did Uncle Frank’s suicide solve all the family’s problems?
8. What did David feel towards Uncle Frank when it was over? Why do you think he felt that way?
Montana 1948 pgs 142-162 20pts
1. David’s mother must protect her home from Dale Paris and his clan. How does she handle the situation? What does this tell us about her character?
2. On page 143, what does Gail tell Wes to do with Frank? Why has her opinion changed? What would you have said in her situation?
3. Opinion: Why do you think Frank has confessed at this time? What is his motive? Has he underestimated his brother, or has he estimated correctly?
4. Who were the Highdog Brothers? Why were they chasing Wes and Cordell? What did Frank do to them? Why did Wes tell this story to David?
5. What did Wes find in the basement?
6. Opinion: What is Uncle Frank’s motive for committing suicide? Does it make sense to you? Does it change your opinion of Uncle Frank?
7. How did Uncle Frank’s suicide solve all the family’s problems?
8. What did David feel towards Uncle Frank when it was over? Why do you think he felt that way?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
HW for Thursday
Students are to complete the following assignment for Thursday 10/23:
Montana 1948 pgs 126-140 20pts
1. On pages 126 to 129, David walks to town. En route, he experiences a disturbing new train of thought. What is that train of thought? How might this represent a significant turning point in his life?
2. On pages 130 to 140, we reach one of the climaxes of the novel (novels, unlike short stories, can have several climaxes, just as a novel can more easily accommodate more than one protagonist; this scene, you might say, is the "climax" of the tale for David's mother.) On its surface, this scene might come from any number of other novels or films set in the West. How so? And more importantly, what is different here?
3. What do you make of Len and David's mother's embrace on page 140? (It's a small detail, but look at the short paragraph half way down the page where "Len step[s] back."
Montana 1948 pgs 126-140 20pts
1. On pages 126 to 129, David walks to town. En route, he experiences a disturbing new train of thought. What is that train of thought? How might this represent a significant turning point in his life?
2. On pages 130 to 140, we reach one of the climaxes of the novel (novels, unlike short stories, can have several climaxes, just as a novel can more easily accommodate more than one protagonist; this scene, you might say, is the "climax" of the tale for David's mother.) On its surface, this scene might come from any number of other novels or films set in the West. How so? And more importantly, what is different here?
3. What do you make of Len and David's mother's embrace on page 140? (It's a small detail, but look at the short paragraph half way down the page where "Len step[s] back."
Journal #6-Family
In the novel, Frank's parents go to David's house to defend their son and demand his release. Is this an acceptable action for parents to take considering the circumstances of Frank's imprisonment? In other words, should parents defend their children no matter what? Should Frank have anyone on his side?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Montana 1948
Today in class we completed the following assignment:
Montana 1948-pgs 115-125 (20pts)
1. On pages 115-117, David's grandfather arrives with his grandmother to demand Frank's release. Here's a question; why do you think he brings his wife along, since she says almost nothing? (In fact, even David notices her failure to claim Frank as her son....)
2. Regarding the same scene, on page 116, David's father says that "This isn't about family....It's a legal matter," to which his father replies, "Bull----. Then why have you got him locked up here and not over in the jail?" Is his grandfather correct? Who is winning this argument?
3. Assess the way David's grandfather treats his father in general in this scene.
4. On page 116, David is briefly afraid that his grandfather is going to pull a gun, so afraid in fact that he cries out. Instead, his grandfather produces a cigar. Apart from the obvious sexual symbolism (a cigar is another version of a gun, a male phallus), what else does it signify?
5. David's grandfather says to his father on page 119, "That ----ing uniform. If I could have gotten you in one, maybe we wouldn't have this problem." This is obviously an oversimplification of the situation, but it shows a great deal about grandfather Hayden's logic. He is accusing his son of failing to be a good soldier. What does this mean? What does a soldier do? How has Wesley Hayden failed to live up to this definition?
6. Consider also Grandfather Hayden's remarks on the following pages, beginning with "What the hell am I supposed to think?" and concluding with, "Is that why I gave you that badge?" What sort of authority is his grandfather claiming? How far does he believe his will to extend over others?
7. On page 121, David reminds us that he's listening to the whole conversation through the heating ducts, and suddenly realizes that his Uncle Frank is probably doing the same thing. Then he has a realization, more eerie and profound still, that his Uncle could, at this moment, speak directly to him without being heard by anybody in the living room. What do you make of this? Why does this possibility concern him so much?
8. On page 123 David comes downstairs and sees his mother and father in the kitchen. Have we seen this scene before in the novel? Where? And what do you make of David's assertion, made on page 124, that "this was the moment I knew my father would die someday"? In what sense is his father's mortal nature imbedded in the scene?
9. On page 124, David grieves for his horse, Nutty. Why is this grief so acute for him? What does the horse represent to him? What, beyond the companionship of a responsive animal, is being lost? (An additional connection you can make: on page 16, we learned that David's father's limp is caused by an accident with a horse when he was 16. Consider this as you fathom the metaphoric nature of horses in the novel.)
Montana 1948-pgs 115-125 (20pts)
1. On pages 115-117, David's grandfather arrives with his grandmother to demand Frank's release. Here's a question; why do you think he brings his wife along, since she says almost nothing? (In fact, even David notices her failure to claim Frank as her son....)
2. Regarding the same scene, on page 116, David's father says that "This isn't about family....It's a legal matter," to which his father replies, "Bull----. Then why have you got him locked up here and not over in the jail?" Is his grandfather correct? Who is winning this argument?
3. Assess the way David's grandfather treats his father in general in this scene.
4. On page 116, David is briefly afraid that his grandfather is going to pull a gun, so afraid in fact that he cries out. Instead, his grandfather produces a cigar. Apart from the obvious sexual symbolism (a cigar is another version of a gun, a male phallus), what else does it signify?
5. David's grandfather says to his father on page 119, "That ----ing uniform. If I could have gotten you in one, maybe we wouldn't have this problem." This is obviously an oversimplification of the situation, but it shows a great deal about grandfather Hayden's logic. He is accusing his son of failing to be a good soldier. What does this mean? What does a soldier do? How has Wesley Hayden failed to live up to this definition?
6. Consider also Grandfather Hayden's remarks on the following pages, beginning with "What the hell am I supposed to think?" and concluding with, "Is that why I gave you that badge?" What sort of authority is his grandfather claiming? How far does he believe his will to extend over others?
7. On page 121, David reminds us that he's listening to the whole conversation through the heating ducts, and suddenly realizes that his Uncle Frank is probably doing the same thing. Then he has a realization, more eerie and profound still, that his Uncle could, at this moment, speak directly to him without being heard by anybody in the living room. What do you make of this? Why does this possibility concern him so much?
8. On page 123 David comes downstairs and sees his mother and father in the kitchen. Have we seen this scene before in the novel? Where? And what do you make of David's assertion, made on page 124, that "this was the moment I knew my father would die someday"? In what sense is his father's mortal nature imbedded in the scene?
9. On page 124, David grieves for his horse, Nutty. Why is this grief so acute for him? What does the horse represent to him? What, beyond the companionship of a responsive animal, is being lost? (An additional connection you can make: on page 16, we learned that David's father's limp is caused by an accident with a horse when he was 16. Consider this as you fathom the metaphoric nature of horses in the novel.)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Essay 50pts
We will be working on the following essay in class over the next few days:
Support or oppose Wes’s decision to lock Frank up in the basement and not the jail. Consider everyone involved. Is he protecting Frank, himself, his family, the town? Is this special treatment?
Your essay should have at least 3 examples supporting your argument and 1 attacking an opposing point.
Support or oppose Wes’s decision to lock Frank up in the basement and not the jail. Consider everyone involved. Is he protecting Frank, himself, his family, the town? Is this special treatment?
Your essay should have at least 3 examples supporting your argument and 1 attacking an opposing point.
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