October Monthly Test

Due date 14 th October 7 pm

Bonus 2 points if submission reaches me by Sunday 10 pm
Negative 1 point for each day beyond submission deadline, irrespective of technical issues.

Choose any one topic. Write between 600-750 words. Remember to analyse so that you go beyond knowledge and reach understanding. Make sure your language register is formal and you use terms specific to novel study ( you can google—novel study –literary terms)

Crit A and C will be tested.

1. 1.    The characters’ loss of identity is a predominant theme of the book. Discuss each of the main characters’ loss of identity as the book progresses, and how this brings about the devastation that occurs in the book.
2. 2.    Analyse LOTF as a satirical allegory.
3. 3.    Explore the use of symbols and  allusions in LOTF.
4. 4.    Explore Golding’s usage of descriptive language.
5. 5.    Examine the role of the minor characters.

Note : Use the ppt as a quick relook at the novel before you choose your topic.

October HW set 1 & 2

                HW SET 1: BASED ON CHAPTERS 5 TO 8: to be put up on the blog by 04 October

Chapter 5: “Beast from Water”

1. What change has come over Ralph as a result of the signal fire incident? How have his values

changed?

2. What points does Ralph make at the meeting? What general point does he make that he wants

people to discuss? Why are these points so significant?

3. What does Jack say in response to Ralph‟s comments? Why do you think Ralph is shocked?

4. What does Piggy mean by his claim that “life is scientific”? What does he mean when he suggests

that “there isn‟t no fear, either[…]unless we get frightened of people”?

5. What does Percival say when Jack asks him where the beast lives? Why do you think he says this?

6. What does Simon say about the beast, and what do you think he means? How does everyone else

react to what he says?

7. Why are the rules so important to Ralph? What are the consequences of breaking them?

8. Why does Piggy say that Ralph should blow the conch to call everyone back, and why does Ralph decide not to?

Chapter 6: “Beast from Air”

1. What is the “beast from air”? How is it appropriate that the boys mistake it for a beast—what

connection does it have with the novel‟s themes, and what does it symbolize?

2. What does Sam and Eric‟s description of the beast tell us about human psychology?

3. How does Ralph overcome Jack‟s challenge during the discussion about what to do about the beast?

4. What significant thoughts does Simon have about the beast while the boys are walking to the

“castle”?

5. Why do you think Ralph doesn‟t really expect to encounter the beast?

6. How do most of the boys react to their discovery of the “castle”? What foreshadowing takes place

at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 7: “Shadows and Tall Trees”

1. What embarrassing thing does Ralph say to himself near the beginning of the chapter that he‟s afraid someone might have overheard? What does he mean by it? What change in Ralph does the act of talking to himself demonstrate?

2. What does Simon say to Ralph that makes them both smile? Think carefully about Simon‟s choice of words—do you think it foreshadows something that might happen later in the novel?

3. What disturbing thing do the group of hunters and Ralph do immediately after their encounter with

the pig? How is Ralph‟s behavior surprising? What does this behavior foreshadow?

4. Why do you think Simon is so eager to volunteer to go across the island to tell Piggy and the littluns what they‟re doing?

5. Why do you think Jack insists on going up the mountain to look for the beast even though it‟s

already dark when they arrive? What internal conflict does Ralph feel about the decision to go up the

mountain in the dark?

6. Why do you think Golding (the author) plotted the story so that the boys would go up the mountain

in the dark?

Chapter 8: “Gift for the Darkness”

1. What does Ralph say that angers Jack? How does Jack express his anger? How does Jack respond to his failure to get support from the group, and what does this response suggest about the boys‟ future?

2.How does Piggy show “intellectual daring”? Why is this so significant to the boys?

3. Why do you think the biguns wait until the other boys are occupied to leave instead of supporting

Jack‟s challenge during the meeting?

4. What unusual thing happens to Ralph after Jack leaves and after he realizes most of the biguns have left? What is the significance of his reaction?

5. What suggestion does Simon make, and why do you think he makes it? What does he mean when he says, “What else is there to do?” What are the consequences of the group‟s decision not to follow

Simon‟s suggestion?

6. What do Jack and the biguns first decide to “do” about the beast, and what does this say about

human nature? Think back to question # 2.

7. What foolish decision does Jack make during the hunt, and why is it foolish?

8. What happens to Simon after the hunters leave his clearing? What is the “lord of the flies”? What

does it represent? How does it talk to Simon—what does its speech really indicate?

HW SET 2: BASED ON CHAPTERS 9 TO 12: to be put up on the blog by 07 October

Chapter 9: “A View to a Death”

1. What are the purpose and effect of Jack‟s generosity with the meat he and the hunters obtained?

What do you think his decision to give meat to even Ralph and Piggy is meant to show?

2. Why does Jack command the boys to dance and chant, and why is this an effective leadership tactic?

What psychological effect does dancing and chanting have on the boys? Think back to the effect that

putting on makeup had on them in Chapter 4.

3. What is the “beast” that the boys kill? How is this event ironic and especially tragic (not only for

the “beast,” but for everyone on the island)? How is it symbolically significant?

4. Why do you think Golding decided to have the “figure” fly over the boys on the beach and into the

sea? Why do you think he had Simon‟s body get washed away, and what does this represent in a

psychological sense?

Chapter 10: “The Shell and the Glasses”

1. How do Ralph and Piggy view Simon‟s death? How does each of them react to it? Why does Ralph laugh as he says, “I got the conch,” and why does Piggy react so strongly to his laughter? What

explanations do they have for their behavior, and what excuses do they come up with? What do these reactions show about them and about human nature?

2. What does the narrator mean to suggest when he says, “Memory of the dance that none of them had attended shook all four boys convulsively”?

3. How do the biguns seem to define a “proper chief”? What does this criterion suggest about human psychology?

 4. What does Jack do that causes Roger to have doubts about his leadership?

5. What signs of stress and fear can we see in Ralph, Piggy, and Samneric‟s behavior in this chapter?

Chapter 11: “Castle Rock”

1. In what way are the twins “seeing Ralph for the first time” before they all set off for Castle Rock?

2. Why is the boys‟ attempt to get back Piggy‟s specs and get the other boys to maintain a signal fire

bound to fail?

3. Why do you think Roger pushes the rock off the cliff?

4. How is the destruction of the conch symbolically significant?

Chapter 12: “Cry of the Hunters”

1. Why does Ralph think that the boy he sees is “not Bill”?

2. Why does Ralph hit the pig‟s head?

3. Why do you think Samneric decide to join Jack‟s tribe? Why do they tell Jack where Ralph is hidden?

4. What do Samneric mean when they tell Ralph that Jack has “sharpened a stick at both ends”? What

do you think the reason for Jack‟s hatred is?

5. What foolish method do the boys use to ensure that they find Ralph? What does this decision suggest

about the power of hatred and violence versus the power of reason?

6. Where does Ralph decide to hide? What does this hiding place symbolize?

7. Explain the significance of this quotation: “Percival Wemys Madison sought in his head for an

incantation that had faded clean away.”

8. What is ironic about how the boys are saved? What is ironic about the fact that the boys, who have

become savages, are British, and why do you think Golding chose to write about a group of British boys?Consider what the naval officer says: “I should have thought that a pack of British boys would have been able to put up a better show than that.”

LOTF: Chapters 3 to 5

CHAPTER THREE

1.     What is the significance of the title “Huts on The Beach"

2. Why does Ralph reproach Jack?

3. What two groups with different goals are emerging?

4. Why does Simon go to the bower?

CHAPTER FOUR

 1. What is the significance of the title “Painted Faces and Long Hair”?

2. Why does Roger, throwing stones at the littluns, aim just to miss?

3. What definite stand does Ralph make?

4. Why does Jack refuse to give Piggy meat?

CHAPTER FIVE

1.     What is the significance of the title “Beast From Water”?

2.     What is the paradox of the boy’s attitude toward the beast?

3.      Why does Ralph call a meeting?

4.      Why does Piggy dissuade Ralph from giving up his position as chief?

USEFUL WEBSITES TO EXPLORE FOR LOTF

WEBSITES:

1.CHAPTER WISE SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS WITH LINK TO THEMES

2.REALLY USEFUL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND WE SHALL USE THIS:)

3.FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GO A LITTLE BEYOND  BARE MINIMUM

4.SOME EXCELLENT QUESTIONS

5THE CENTRAL IDEA ANALYSED

LORD OF THE FLIES: Background and chapter wise questions ;chap 1 & 2

BACKGROUND INFO

Author Bio Full Name: William Golding Date of Birth: 1911 Place of Birth: Cornwall, England Date of Death: 1993 Brief Life Story: William Golding's parents brought him up to be a scientist. But he always had an interest in reading and writing, and at Oxford University he shifted from the sciences to literature. Golding fought in World War II, and was involved in the D-Day landing at Normandy. His experience in the war greatly influenced his views of human nature. After the war, he began writing novels in addition to teaching. Lord of the Flies was Golding's first novel, published in 1954, and was a critically acclaimed bestseller in both England and the United States. Though Golding never again achieved the same commercial success, he continued to write and went on to publish many more novels, including The Scorpion God (1971), Darkness Visible (1979), and Fire Down Below (1989). He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1983 and died in 1993. Key Facts Full Title: Lord of the Flies Genre: Allegorical novel / Adventure novel Setting: A deserted tropical island in the middle of a nuclear world war Climax: Piggy's death Protagonist: Ralph Antagonists: Jack and the Lord of the Flies Point of View: Third person omniscient Historical and Literary Context Where Written: England When Published: 1954 Literary Period: Post-war fiction Related Literary Works: Adventure stories such as Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson depict people who are stranded on deserted islands transforming and civilizing nature. Lord of the Flies subverts the genre. It shows boys stranded on an island who try to civilize nature, but instead descend into savagery. While other adventure novels support the idea that man is inherently civilized, Lord of the Fliesuses the genre to suggest exactly the opposite. Related Historical Events: World War II influenced the themes and setting of Lord of the Flies. The war changed the way people in general and William Golding in particular viewed the world. World War I was for many years called the War to End All Wars. World War II proved that idea wrong and created a new sense that people are inherently warlike, power hungry, and savage. While the world war raging in Lord of the Flies is not World War II, it can be viewed as Golding's version of World War III. Only a few brief references to the war outside the boys' island appear in the novel, but references to an atom bomb blowing up an airport and the "Reds" make it clear that the war involves nuclear weapons and places capitalist allies including the British against the communist "Reds." Extra Credit Beelzebub. The phrase "lord of the flies" is a translation of the Greek "Beelzebub," a devil mentioned in the New Testament. In the Bible, Beelzebub sometimes seems to be Satan himself, and at other times seems to be Satan's most powerful lieutenant. Coral Island. William Golding based several of the main ideas in Lord of the Flies on Coral Island (1858), a somewhat obscure novel by Robert Ballantyne, a 19th-century British novelist. In Coral Island, three English boys create an idyllic society after being shipwrecked on a deserted island. They battle wild hogs, typhoons, hostile island visitors, and eventually Pirates on the South Seas. Acknowledgement: http://www.litcharts.com/lit/lord-of-the-flies CHAPTER WISE QUESTIONS: Dear HL: You need to answer these questions in the blog itself from  Tuesday 9 September class onwards .Go to comments box and write the answers so that we can all see and review. CHAPTER ONE: 1.Why is the chapter entitled “The Sound of the Shell”? 2. What is Ralph’s attitude toward Piggy in the first chapter? 3. What is the significance of Piggy’s plea to join the expedition? 4. Why is Ralph elected chief? 5. What is the “scar” that is repeatedly mentioned? 6. Why is Jack unable to kill the pig? 7. What do Piggy, Simon, and the littlun with the birthmark have in common? 8. How is Jack presented to the reader? 9. Why did Golding use British schoolboys? 10. How is Piggy revealed as most clearly tied to the world of adults? 11. How is Piggy indirectly responsible for the blowing of the conch? CHAPTER TWO .       What question does the littlun with the birthmark raise? .       How do Ralph and Jack answer the question about the beast? .   What is the significance of the chapter’s title, “Fire on The Mountain”? .    How do they start the fire?

Possible IOP Titles from TKR

THE KITE RUNNER: HL/SL

1.    Discuss the theme of redemption and forgiveness in the novel

2.   Discuss the theme of love and betrayal in the novel.

3.   Discuss the significant relationships in the novel (focusing on family relationships).

4.  Discuss the significant relationships in the novel (focusing on friendships in the novel).

5.  Racial tension between the Pashtuns and Hazaras in Afghanistan focusing on The Kite Runner.

6.  The importance of setting to the plot development. Focusing on Afghanistan and the feeling of cultural displacement with the move to America.

7.  Discuss the symbolism in the novel. Refer to the kite, the slingshot, fictional stories in the novel, the rape, and the sheep being sacrificed.

8.  Discuss the role of war, conflict, and the abuse of human rights in the novel.

9.  Discuss the effect of changing politics in Afghanistan on each character in the novel.

10.               Discuss the importance of the point of view in the novel to the development of plot.

11. With Reference to two passages, discuss how KT is a criticism of its times.

12.               How typical is Chap 7 of Hosseini’s style.

13.               Explore how successfully Chap 25 concludes the novel.

14.               How does chap 1 draw the reader in to the novel? / Assess the expository chapter of KT.

Any other topic that you think is suitable. Just run it by your English teacher before finalising

Journal Entry questions for TKR

Chapter 1-3 

1.        How old did the narrator say he was when he became “what [he] is today”?

2.        Identify Amir, Baba, Hassan, Ali, and Rahim Kahan.

3.        Who worked for whom?

4.        What happened to Amir’s mother?

5.        What happened to Hassan’s mother?

6.        Define Hazara, Shi’a Muslin, Sunni Muslim, Pashtuns, and Farsi.

7.        Discuss textbooks and objectivity. (see page 9)

8.        What does the narrator seem to foreshadow at the end of chapter 2? What is the tone?

9.        In Chapter 3, on page 22, what do you think Baba is talking about when he states that there is “something missing” with Amir?

Chapter 4-7 

·          

1.        Why do you think Amir states that he never though of Hassan as his friend?

2.        Why couldn’t Hassan read?

3.        What does “jan” mean? Is there an English word that is similar?

4.        When did the bombing/fighting begin in Afghanistan, according to Amir?

5.        Identify Assef.

6.        Discuss similarities between oppressed peoples (pages 40-1)

7.        What did Baba give Hassan for his birthday?

8.        Explain kite running.

9.        Why did Amir feel he must win the tournament?

10.     What parallel is the narrator illustrating on page 76? Why?

11.     What happened to Hassan?

12.     What would you have done if you were Amir?

Chapter 8-10 

13.     Why do you think Amir no longer wanted to play with Hassan?

14.     Which character’s character seems to be more emotionally mature? Explain.

15.     Why did Amir throw pomegranates at Hassan?

16.     What is the significance behind Assef’s birthday present for Amir?

17.     What story did Rahim Kahn tell Amir on his birthday? Why?

18.     What gift did he give him?

19.     Why didn’t anyone tell the truth?

20.     What did Amir hide under Hassan’s bed? Why?

21.     Why did Hassan lie?

22.     Why did Hassan and Ali leave?

23.     Where did Amir and Baba flee to?

24.     Why could people no longer be trusted in Afghanistan?

·          

Chapter 11 and 12

1.        Where did they move after Pakistan?

2.        What job did Baba get?

3.        Why didn’t he want food stamps?

4.        What did Baba give Amir for his birthday? Why?

5.        What did Amir decide to study in college?

6.        How did Baba feel about Amir’s decision?

7.        Why did the author say he “embraced America”? (p. 136)

8.        What did Baba and Amir do to supplement their income?

9.        Reflect on Baba’s comment at the end of chapter 11.

10.     What dating customs and traditions does American culture have? Southern culture? Compare and contrast with Afghanistan dating cultures/rituals.

11.     Discuss gender. (p. 149)

12.     What type of cancer does Baba have?

13.     Discuss parental relations (p. 156). Compare and contrast relations today in America versus Afghanistan culture.

14.     What do you think about the proposal?

Chapter 13 

15.     Why wasn’t Soraya present at the beginning of the engagement party?

16.     Discuss wedding traditions. Traditionally, the bride’s family pays for American/Christian weddings. Who paid for Amir’s wedding?

17.     What is a mosque?

18.     When did Baba die?

19.     What did Baba do the night before he died?

20.     Why didn’t the General work?

21.     Why didn’t the General want Jamila to sing in public?

22.     What year was Amir’s first book published?

23.     Why do people whisper behind Soraya’s back?

24.     Why did the doctor say they couldn’t have children?

25.     Where did Amir buy a house?

·         

Chapter 14-16

1.        Who called Amir and asked him to come to Pakistan?

2.        How long have Amir and Soraya been married at this point? (15 years)

3.        How long did Amir plan to be gone for?

4.        Where did Rahim Khan live? (Peshawar in Pakistan)

5.        Who lived in Baba’s house after he and Amir fled Kabul?

6.        Why were the Afghans glad to have the Taliban in the beginning?

7.        Why did Rahim Khan want Hassan to come live with him?

8.        What was Hassan’s house like?

9.        What was his wife’s name?

10.     What had happened to Ali?

11.     Why do you think Hassan changed his mind and moved with his family to live in Baba’s house with Rahim Khan?

12.     Why wouldn’t Hassan move into the main house?

13.     Who was the old woman who showed up on their door step?

14.     Why do you think Hassan forgave Sanaubar? What does that tell you about Hassan’s character? Would you have forgiven your mother?

15.     What was Hassan’s son’s name?

16.     What year did the Taliban take over Kabul?What year did they massacre the Hazaras?

Chapter 17-18

17.     What happened to Hassan?Farzana?

18.     What did the Taliban say about it?

19.     Where is Sohrab?

20.     What did Rahim Khan want Amir to do?

21.     What did Amir find out about Hassan, Ali, and Baba?

22.     Why was he so upset?

23.     Why is Amir more like Baba than he thought he was? (page 226)

24.     Why did Amir decide to go to Kabul?

·         Chapter 19 

1.        What was the name of Amir’s cab driver?

2.        What did Amir have to wear?Why?

3.        What is a burqa? Pakol?

4.        Why was the cab driver so rude to Amir?

5.        Why didn’t the women make eye contact?

6.        How did Farid’s brother Wahid treat Amir?

7.        What did Amir give the children? Why?

8.        Describe Amir’s dream. What is the significance?

9.        Amir planted money under the mattress just like he did twenty-six years before.What is the significance of this?

·         Chapter 20

1.        Why is Farid treating Amir differently now?

2.        Why were “fathers a rare commodity in Afghanistan”? (p. 245)

3.        What advice did Farid give Amir regarding the Taliban?

4.        What did Amir learn about his mother?From whom?

5.        Why are children with mothers but not fathers considered orphans in Afghanistan? Why can’t their mothers take care of them?

6.        Why did Farid become so upset with the orphanage director?

7.        What was Zaman’s excuse for his behavior?

8.        What would you do if you were in Zaman’s position?

·         Chapter 21

1.        Why were the houses in Amir’s old neighborhood still in good shape?

2.        What did Amir need to see the most at his old house?

3.        What made Amir stop laughing and think that maybe Afghanistan was a hopeless place?

4.        What was the half time show for the soccer game?

5.        What crime did the couple commit?

6.        What was their punishment?

7.        Who was the executioner?

·         Chapter 22

1.        What does Amir notice about the “John Lennon’s” arm?

2.        What did the “John Lennon” notice about Amir?

3.        What has happened to Sohrab?

4.        Who did “John Lennon” turn out to be?

5.        Assef said Amir could take Sohrab on one condition.What was that condition and why?

6.        What did Assef tell his guards when he asked them to leave?

7.        What happened?

8.        Why did Amir laugh?

9.        Explain how everything came full circle.Was it ironic?

10.     Why did Amir tell Sohrab the truth about his relationship with Hassan?

11.     What did Amir promise Sohrab?

12.     What did Sohrab agree to do?

13.     What steps did Amir have to take in order to bring Sohrab home?

·         Chapter 23

1.        Describe Amir’s injuries.

2.        Which of Amir’s injuries was ironic?Why?

3.        What did Sohrab say when Amir introduced himself?

4.        Why do you think Sohrab didn’t want to talk?

5.        Why did Rahim Khan say Baba was so hard on Amir growing up?Do you think that is fair?

6.        Why do you think Rahim Khan wants to die alone?What would you want if you were in his situation?

7.        Why did Amir begin crying with Farid said, “For you a thousand times over” (305)?

8.        Where are John and Betty Caldwell?

9.        Why do you think Rahim Khan lied?

10.     Where do you think Sohrab belongs?

·         Chapter 24

1.        What did Amir mean when he said, “Islamabad was the city Kabul could have become someday” (311).

2.        How much did Amir give Farid?

3.        Where did Sohrab go?

4.        Amir remembers someone once saying, “There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood” (318).What does that mean?

5.        Why does Sohrab think he might go to hell?

6.        What did Andrews at the American embassy say?

7.        Why do you think Sohrab took such longs baths every night?

8.        What does the immigration lawyer say may be Amir’s best shot at adopting Sohrab?

9.        What happened to Sohrab?

·         Chapter 25

1.        Why did Amir pray for the first time since Baba died?

2.        What was the last thing Sohrab said for almost a year? Why?

3.        What did Amir tell his family about Sohrab?

4.        What gave Amir a glimpse of hope for Sohrab’s future?

5.        What is the significance of Amir telling Sohrab, “for you, a thousand times over”?