Week 13-Short Story "Thank You M'am by Langston" Hughes

Class, just a reminder to to do the following assignment for next week.
Choose only two of the three writing assignments from the story. You must write on question number three (moral education).

1. Continue the story. Assuming the characters meet again, write a dialogue between Roger and Mrs. Jones. Describe their encounter a week later, a month later, etc. What transpired between the two of them. Be creative, it's your story. Some of you can pair and work together if you wish.
2. Write a different ending to the story. Did Roger go to jail? What else could Mrs Jones could have done to punish Roger for trying to steal her purse her?

3.Who should be responsible for the moral education of a child? Write your opinion. Be clear and decisive in your response.

Week 12-Short Story-"Thank You M'am"

Class, answer the questions below to determine how well you understand the story. Please be prepared to discuss these questions in class on Thursday 11/20.
D. Westry

After Reading
Comprehension
Answer the questions.

1.How old do you think Mrs. Jones is?
2. How does she feel about Roger? Is she angry at him? Does she like him?
3.At what point in the story does Mrs. Jones show that she cares about Roger?
4. Describe Roger's physical appearance.
5. Describe his behavior.
6. How does Mrs. Jones treat Roger initially? How does her behavior change?
6. Find examples of sentences that show Mrs. Jones understands Roger very well.

The Story of an Hour

Class, I will not see you Thursday, 11/13. I have a meeting. Take this time to go to the computer room,comment on at least four of your classmates' comments on the 8 discussion questions from The Story of an Hour. I will be checking your comments and responses. For homework next week, read the story
Thank You M'am by Langston Hughes, beginning on page 518 in your textbook. In addition, complete the comprehension questions on pages 521 and 522, questions 1 through 10.
Prof. Westry

WEEK 9-Short Story-"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin

Hi Class: To further explore the story, discuss the questions below with a partner, and write and post your answers on your blog. You should use your notes from our class discussion to answer some of the questions. In addition, each of you are required to read at least 4-6 of each other's blogs and comment on them.
D. Westry


“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Study Questions

1. The story says Mrs. Mallard “had loved him [her husband]–sometimes. Often she did not.” If she was “often” not in love with him, why did she marry him?

2. What was life like for Mrs. Mallard in the home of Brently Mallard?

3. In the report of the train accident, Brently Mallard's name was at the top of the list of fatalities (Paragraph 2). Does this information mean that Mallard was an important citizen in his community? Does it also suggest that perhaps Louise married him, in part, because of his standing in the community?

4. Do you believe Brently Mallard mistreated his wife? In answering this question, keep in mind the following: (1) In Paragraph 13, Louise Mallard recalls that Brently was kind and that "he had never looked save with love upon her." (2) However, Paragraph 8 had previously informed the reader that Mrs. Mallard's face "bespoke repression," and Paragraph 14 says Brently had a "powerful will bending her."

5. How much of Mrs. Mallard's apparent unhappiness in her marriage was her own fault?

6. After Mrs. Mallard receives news that her husband died in a train accident, she goes to “her room.” Do these two words mean that she slept separately from her husband? Does the fact that no children are named in the story indeed indicate that she and her husband slept apart?

7. Research the life of Kate Chopin (1851-1904). Then decide whether the death of her husband in 1882 influenced her when she wrote “The Story of an Hour,” published in 1894 in Vogue magazine.

8. Did author Chopin herself face problems similar to those of Mrs. Mallard?

HOMEWORK

Hi class. I forgot to mention this, read your textbook,pages 514-518. We will begin to explore literature of short stories. Pay close attention to the elements of short stories such as, characterization, setting, plot, point of view, theme and tone. Read the story, "The Story of and Hour" by Kate Chopin. See you next week.
D. Westry