Summer

What are you doing this summer?

COLLEGE

What college is everyone going to next year? Why did you choose to attend this college?

for those who don't have Love in the Time of Cholera

e-book: http://www.paaspk.com/Download_Free/Love_In_The_Time_Of_Cholera_Novels-2734.html
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Culture Differences in Society! FTW

While reading about this Swine Flu epidemic, I was concerned about minorities struggling in America and cases where minorities are discriminated against. In connection with the Grass Dancer and how the Sioux culture is mixed with the American culture, with an exception of San Francisco and how well we handle other cultures, the general American society does not accept the cultures of those who are not originally born in the U.S (i.e. Filipinos, Chinese, Mexicans, and etc.). Do you agree with this statement? If not, why?

Illegal Immigrants

Should illegal immigrants be sent back from where they came from or should they become naturalized? Explain

The Grass Dancer!

While reading the novel, I noticed the Backwards Style of writing Powers uses as she dates back all the way back to Red Dress' and Ghost Horse's time. Why do you think she writes backwards in time?!?! What is its significance!?!?!?

I do...

In the last week two states have granted marriage equality to all their citizens, irrespective of gender. Marriage is, or should be, both a constitutional and a human right.

Opponents of marriage equality argue that the institution cannot be changed. Yet it has had many faces over the centuries, while different cultures have varied definitions of what marriage is. Opponents of marriage equality among the religious community argue that granting equality to all will destroy the fundamental tenets of society as we know it. However, in every country and state where marriage equality is the law, the world has not come to an end., as predicted by the forces of social repression.

There is a generational divide between us...how many od my contemporaries feel about marriage equality produced Prop 8 and its passage – I would like toknow how the younger generation feels about it.

Mr. Beeche

The Grass Dancer

Upon reading chapter 1,

Why are there barely any female grass dancers?

The Grass Dancer

So far, in "The Grass Dancer", what character do you like the best? Why? And, Pick a passage that is important, and explain why this is.

The most developed character

Who is the most developed character in “Like Water for Chocolate?”

The Grass Dancer

By Wednesday please try your best to have Chapter 1 read. We will be discussing in class the fantasies involved in creating myth to explain the beginning of a culture.

Like Water for Chocolate

What do you think the title "Like Water for Chocolate" signifies? What do you think it means? Do you think it is an appropriate name for the movie? Why or why not? If not, what would you call the movie?

"Like Water for Chocolate"

What magical aspects are present in the movie “Like Water for Chocolate?” Or what connections can you make to other movies, books, or life in general?

"The Green Mile" and "The Sixth Sense"

In “The Green Mile” and “The Sixth Sense”, there are two individuals who have unbelievable gifts. Would you want to be burden with such incredible gifts?

The Sixth Sense

The film you watched this past week, The Sixth Sense, is pure Magical Realism...what aspects of the film would you use to support his statement?

Mr Beeche

The Green Mile

Do you believe that Paul Edgecombe should have freed John Coffey before his execution, or do you think that Paul was right in letting nature takes its course?

Check the homework site!

My dear students,

Please check the homework site for the updated list of explications...do not forget when your s is due and bring enough copies (16) for fellow classmates and me.

Mr. Beéche

Love

Referring to Rosaleen's question "Do you think a relationship is stronger when there is an intense passionate connection at first, or when a friendship blossoms into an intimate relationship?"

I believe that a relationship could blossom in many various situations. Regardless if there was a passionate connection at first or friendship at first, it all depends up to the couple or the individual as to where they would want to take their relationship. I can really relate to this question because my boyfriend, which I have been with for almost 5 years was just my friend at first. Never did I think I would consider him a boyfriend. But somehow our frienship grew stronger and as of now we have a strong and healthy relationship. Also if a relationship is intense at the very beginnning, that couple might be easily bored with their partner since all that excitement, curiosity, and intensity about having a relationship is done and over with. But as I said, it all depends on the couple and the choices they are willing to make to keep that relationship and bond strong.

Love in the time of Cholera

While I was reading Chapter 1 the beginning of the chapter was very slow. But as the chapter progressed Gabriel Marquez develops each individual character with great detail. So far I sort of like his writing style but at times there is just too much information, which distracts the meaning of the story. Dealing with the question about complexities in life in Hispanic America is some what present to this day. During the story Fermina’s father Lorenzo, wants her daughter to marry Dr. Urbino. The reason why he wants his daughter to marry a doctor is because he knows that he is rich and wants some part of the money somehow. This may or may not reflect not only Hispanic culture but probably cultures from around the world. The idea that the parents should determine who a person marries mainly for money. The parents want the best possible person to marry there son or daughter. In my opinion most of the time it seems girls are more pressured to marry someone with wealth or good social status. This is reverent in the story between Fermina and her father Lorenzo.

Relationships

In the novel, Fermina falls in love with Florentino and builds a strong relationship with him. She soon realizes that what is between them is nothing more than an illusion. On the other hand, when Fermina speaks with Dr. Urbino, she is disgraced with his behvior. What starts as a friendship between the two leads to something more.

Do you think a relationship is stronger when there is an intense passionate connection at first, or when a friendship blossoms into an intimate relationship?

Love in the Time of Cholera

García Márquez' novel reveals to us many of the intricacies of life in Hispanic America, its contradictions and mind-bending, reality-stretching, attachment to the absurd.

Are there any particular passages in chapter 1 that you can use to illustrate the above statement?

Mr Beéche

Pan's Labyrinth – thoughts on symbolism

As an example of Magical Realism, Pan's Labyrinth happens to be the best movie produced in this literary genre in recent years.

In class we will be discussing the symbolism found in the movie, but in particular, that represented by each one of the twelve characters: Ofelia, Ofelia's Mother, Capitán Vidal, Mercedes, The Doctor, Pedro (Mercedes' brother), The Faun, The Monster in the dining hall, The Sick Tree, The Fairies, The Labyrinth...

I invite each one of my students to share their thoughts on this movie, its characters and their symbolism and what the teaches us about Magical Realism as a whole...