A Middlebury blog
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 29th, 2011
Tolstoi gets into everyone’s mind, even Laska’s-the dog. Yet each sees the world and events in a different light. Tolstoi sees the irony, hypocrisy, and superficiality of conventions-societal, religious, legal. He also employs a technique called “defamiliarization” in which a common occurrence is presented from a unique perspective so that we the readers can experience […]
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 27th, 2011
There is lots of forgiving going around, but also haymowing, death anxiety, moth killing divorce lawyers, kids running wild, and the contrast of one family dissolving while another gets ready to tie the knot. And what about Vronsky’s suicide attempt-Anna being pregnant-and so much more? Can anyone sum up this chaos in 250-300 words?
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 21st, 2011
Tolstoi builds his novel on contrasts and comparisons, Anna and Kitty, Vronsky and Levin, Petersburg and Moscow and many more. By bringing his main characters into contact with one another he highlights them for us the reader. Choose one of the comparisons-contrasts and comment on who emerges in a more favorable light.
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 14th, 2011
One member of each group should describe in 100 words or less the project, provide a link or access to the project, identify all contributors and if possible indicate the major contributions of each to the final project. The project description and link should be posted the evening before class.
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 12th, 2011
“But here begins a new account,… It might make the subject of a new story.” Write a 250 word proposal for this sequel suggesting a title and outlining the future of Raskolnikov. Be sure to make his final dream a central part of the action or serve as a central theme of your own creation.
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 8th, 2011
The first eight respondents to the blog must provide a compelling argument as to the offensive nature of the work and reasons it should not be placed in the hands of easily influenced adolescents. Beginning with blog post #9 mount a vigorous defense of the work.
Posted in Uncategorized on Apr 5th, 2011
The novel which begins with a simple murder turns into a melting pot of characters and sub-plots: Sonya and redemption, Dunya and female courage, Porfiry and criminal investigation, Luzhin and exploitation, and even poor Raskolnikov and his search for meaning. So pick a plot and share your thoughts. or Contrast Raskolnikov’s theory of the Extraordinary […]
