Joy’s Blog

Weekly Assiganment on The Sorrows of Young Werther 01 

Have a close reading on May 22, think and answer the following qustions with proper evidences (舉故事中的實例證明). We have no word limitations this time, but be sure to make your perceptions fully expressed.  

1.     Werther says “ That the life of man is but a dream is a thought which has occurred to many people, and I myself am constantly haunted by it” at the beginning of the letter written on May 22. What is he trying to tell us, we people everywhere? If Werther also see the life of man as a dream, does his dream of life have any difference from others’? [ Be sure to give evidences to strengthen your opinions.]

 2.     How does Werther think of children? Why does he think that the happiest people in the world are like chidren? [ Be sure to give evidences to strengthen your opinions.] 

3.     What kind of person does Werther think he is? What are the characteristics of the youngWerther you learn from the letter on May 22?

Assignment Deadline(截止日): Jan. 6, 2007

Enjoy your hardwork! 

Hey, students, 

The performances you gave in yesterday’s class were so great and impressed your teachers a lot. No kidding. What you had performed was really beyond my expectations, and I am delighted and feel proud of you.  

Bravo for Jamie, Millet and Jessie’s good work! They must have spent a lot of time and efforts on their report so that they could present such a well-prepared and knowledgeable representation to us. They even bought a Chinese version Don Quixote novel! The diligence they showed must have given some inspiration to other fellow students, I believe. Wow, it’s getting more interesting to see your competitive oral reports! But,  bear in mind: be sure to HAVE FUN in appreciating and comprehending litrature. Get rid of unnecessary pressure or stress, if there is any.  

Bravo for your participation in the team discussion on Don Quixote and Sancho and their tragic flaws too! Through team discussion, you must have learned to view an issue from different aspects, learned to challenge others’ viewpoints, learned to be challenged and learned to defend yourself. That’s a very valuable experience in this class. Hope you catch up with us and enjoy it by and by. 

Forgot to give you a word at the end of the class. Let me make it up here.That is—  See U Next Year, Students!!!Happy New Year 2!!! 

Teacher Joy

Hey, students,

We’re going to start to read The Sorrows of Young Werther this week. Isn’t it great?

The whole text is planned to be finished in four to five weeks. The reading sections are seperated as following. Please read the assigned sections before attending each class.

1. May 4- May 30(Book One)
2. June 16- July 26       —————finished before 12/19
3. June 30- September 10  —————finished before 12/26
4. October 20- March 24(Book Two) —–finished before 1/2
5. April 19- December 6   —————–finished before 1/2
6. The Editor to the Reader  ————–finished before 1/9

Essay Assignment on the Divine Comedy # Give an essay on each question below. Be sure to share your opinions with clarity and completeness. Each essay is supposed to be inclusive of at least 100 words. Deadline: Dec. 19  1. In Canto V of Inferno, those who are indulged in lust are sent to the second circle of hell, including Semiramis, Dido, Cleopatra, Helen, Achilles, Paris, Tristan, Francesca and Paolo.  Choose ONE of the sinners lost in lust. Explain why Dante puts him/her into hell. 

2. Why is Dante moved to tears after Francesca’s description of love and why does he finally fall “as a dead body falls” after her personal account of her intimate relationship with Paolo?
 
3. From Dante’s presentation of Francesca and Paolo, we are encouraged to consider the place of moral responsibility in depictions of love, sex, and violence in our own day. We can certainly discuss music, television, movies, and advertising (as well as literature) in these terms. Who is more (or less) responsible and therefore accountable for unacceptable attitudes and behavior in society: the creators and vehicles of such messages or the consumers and audiences?

4. There are nine circles in Dante’s hell, which are respectively the final places for sinners as virtuous pagans, lust pursuers, gluttons, material goods lovers, the wrathful, heretics, the violent, the fraudulent and traitors. These categories sort of represent Dante’s moral views on the 15^th century Florence. As a teenager in modern 21^st century, what are the top THREE sins that impress you the most/ that you agree to the most? And what sins in modern times do you think should be included into the nine circles? Please explain briefly to both your answers.

Download the word file here: https://cestjoy.wordpress.com/wp-admin/upload.php

Hey, students!  The ppt material attached is for a more complete reference to Dante’s Divine Comedy. You can download the file and review what you have learned in class. Take a great advantage of it!

Download here:https://cestjoy.wordpress.com/wp-admin/upload.php

(COPY the address link and PASTE it onto another window. Then you will see the file Divine Comedy. Click on it and you’ll be led to another page. Click on the file name again and you’ll see the entire ppt material.)