Foreshadowing and Symbolism in The Glass Menagerie (Journal #5, Marking Period 2)

It has been said many times that nothing in a play, film, or novel is accidental.
The same holds true for the ominous, almost spectral, portrait of the patriarch of the Wingfield family. His portrait hangs on the wall despite Amanda's supposed dislike of him.

In your journals, please consider the following:

What is the importance of having the photograph of Laura's father showing on the wall? Do you think this will be significant later in the play? If so, how will it be important? Does the picture foreshadow anything in the play?

The Southern Gothic Gets Redacted (Journal #4, Marking Period 2)

Many Southern writers were informed by Twain's ability to weave realism, satire, and local color together. Many scholars classify him as an author who contributed to the evolution between the Gothic of Poe and the Grotesque of O'Connor.

Another aspect of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that carries in the same vein of the Southern Gothic genre is the oppression of African Americans. You can even see evidence of it Scene One of The Glass Menagerie.

In Twain's book, Jim, the ever-faithful and dutiful slave, is depicted by the author with the utmost humanity, while remaining honest in his portrayal of Jim's character as a black male in antebellum America. Through the character of Jim, Twain records the African American experience during this times period. Jim is denied much because of his skin color; however, he stands to loose contact with his own immediate kin. Likewise, Jim faces preconceptions based on his status as a black male. Twain illustrates this point through the relationship between Huck and Jim at various stages throughout the work. Huck comes to view Jim not as a black man, but as his best friend. Due to the trials that they face on the Mississippi River, Huck witnesses Jim's faithful loyalty in the most precarious of situations; thus, Huck is able to cast aside the naturalistic forces that taught him to subordinate African Americans. Instead, Huck comes to view Jim as a endearing companion, a father-figure, and a true friend.

Taking all of this into account, the news came last year that the book would have all language considered insensitive removed from the book.

My question today is:

Why is it problematic to a reading audience to have "offensive" language removed from classic books like "The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn"? Does it run the risk of erasing the historical context of the book in the eyes of the reading public?

The Glass Menagerie - Scene 4 Questions: The Thin Line (12/12/16)

As we go from children to teens to adulthood, we seldom stop to think about how difficult it can be for people to raise children in today's world. Truth be told, it was always hard.

As long as people have been young, there has always been temptation. Even more true, there has always been resentment. Are their instances where this does not exist?

Of course.

For some, raising children is not as hard as it is for others.
In the case of the Wingfield family, there is a growing hostility that threatens to destroy the line between love and hate - concern and overbearing, meddlesome behavior.

As children, we often tell ourselves that we will be different from our own parents. The truth is that's very hard to accomplish. We are the sum total of our experiences.

Southern Gothic relies heavily on the idea that parents/authority figures (especially ones like Laura Wingfield) lord over their children in a way that is overbearing because they are trying to deal with their feelings of inadequacy as people...and parents.

This is key to understanding intricate psychology that is the "push-pull" in the Wingfield family.

1. Choose one important symbol in this scene. Discuss why the symbol is appropriate to the character it is associated with.
2 Give two themes that are suggested in this scene. For each theme statement, provide supporting details.
3. Outline an unresolved conflict in this scene. Discuss why the conflict is unresolved.
4. The scene ends with Amanda making a telephone call to sell magazine subscriptions. Briefly explain why the scene ends this way.

5. What are Amanda's concerns about Tom?
6. Are they legitimate (meaning, does she have good reason to be afraid for him)?
7. Do you think her concern has in any way shaped the way he is? Explain.

8. How have your parents or guardians shaped you, in either positive or negative ways?
9. What have your parents done or said to cause you have to develop these character traits?
10. What will you do to influence your own children (or children you may already influence in some way, such as a niece or nephew, etc)?



Questions for Scene Four are due at the end of class, Wednesday (12/14/16). Please keep in mind that this is a 25 point assignment. I would like to see well formed responses and complete sentences.

The Weight (Journal #3, Marking Period 2)

In Scene Two, we discover that Laura has been lying to Amanda about something very important. Amanda's reaction is equal parts outrage and distress.

In the midst of this, we find out that Amanda belongs to the D.A.R.

What is this organization and what are they about?

Does her membership in this organization strike you as a bit strange?
Why or why not?

We also find out that Laura is literally and figuratively "crippled" under the weight of her mother's expectations for her.

On a personal level, please answer this question as well:

Have you ever done something that has disappointed someone who has great expectations for you?
Have you ever felt that you did not want what someone else wanted for you?
Was this a burden to you?
Was there some other way to handle this issue?

What became of the situation when it was settled?

The Glass Menagerie - Scene One Questions (12/5/16)

The following questions are due on Wednesday, 12/7/16. They should be shared with me using Googledocs.

1) Describe what Amanda, the mother, is expecting, the event for which she is waiting.
2) Then, speculate on how Tom and Laura might be feeling about her expectations.
3) Do Tom and Laura share her expectations? How do they react to their mother's behavior?
4) How does the dialogue and the action lead you to believe your opinion?
5) Since The Glass Menagerie is a memory play (and a Coming of Age story), it puts the reader in the place of Tom and Laura as the recipients of Amanda's smothering behavior. How might you feel if you were Tom?
6) How might you feel if you were Laura?
7) Why do you believe Laura tells Tom they should allow their mother to tell her stories, even if they have heard them before? Is this kindness or cruelty? Explain.

The Memoir Essay (Journal #2, Marking Period 2)

Writing a Memoir Essay

This play lends itself to writing what is called a memoir essay. A memoir essay takes an event from memory and shows its significance.

Begin by making a list of at least five significant memories. Usually, this assignment works best when you avoid “bad” memories and instead stick to good ones. One of my earliest childhood memories centers around sitting in the backseat of my father's car and listening to the radio whenever we went anywhere. I remember how much music shaped my childhood. I remember asking my father to buy me my first guitar because I wanted to learn how to play the songs I loved.

Think of your own memories.

Once you have a list, choose one of these to be the subject of their paper. Your essay should run one to two pages in length.

What the paper must have:

You need to use details (sight, sound, scent, touch) in order to create the scene so that a reader can visualize the setting of the memory.

You must choose whether to tell the memory in chronological order or tell it as a flashback (looking back on the memory from the present time).

You must describe the characters’ personalities and characteristics. You need to make them come alive. You should include detail, description and dialogue.

The essay should have a balance between thought and action. Things should happen in the paper, but you also need to explain the meaning behind the action.

By the end of the paper, you need to show the reader why the memory is important. For instance, using my memory of my listening to music as a child, I can give the reader some idea of the events that shaped my life. In fact, they springboard into more adult memories. I can't help but think about how music has given me everything I have in this life. I don't know where I would be without music. I really don't.