Haikus

While reading the Japanese novel entitled Thousand Cranes, we decided to explore the haiku format one day at the beginning of class. We randomly assigned topics for the haikus based on a letter from the alphabet. I said an alphabet letter and asked the class to shout out whatever word first came to their mind, and that became a student's topic for their haiku.

Assignment: Post your haiku from class. Don't forget to include the title (aka the randomly assigned topic) and then your actual haiku. We left off at the letter P... does anyone want to add another haiku for a letter we didnt get to?

Junior Essay Thesis Statements

Assignment: Please post your thesis statements. Feel free to check out what books and topics classmates are writing about and make any appropriate comments.

Candide Discussion Part II

Assignment: Post comments to the following questions and reply to classmate responses. Check back at last week's discussion to see new posts.

What are the characters' views at the end of the novel? What does Candide mean when he says we should "cultivate our gardens"? What could the cultivation of Candide's garden symbolize and what is Voltaire's message?

How does Voltaire's use of black comedy contribute to the story? What if the novel were not comedic or morbid? What kind of effect would this have on the story? Would it be as effective in conveying its points?

Candide Discussion Questions: Food for Thought and Discussion

Assignment: Post comments to the following questions and reply to classmate responses.

How does Voltaire design the opening chapter to be recognized as a parody of the Biblical story of the Fall? Why would Voltaire be doing this?



Why do many of the characters, including Miss Cunégonde and Pangloss, presumably die and then reappear? Is there a significance to their being "brought back to life"?