Reading #3 The Ramsom of the Red Chief

Reading #3 The Ramsom of the Red Chief

Dear students,

It's time for our last reading "The Ransom of the Red Chief" by O'Henry.

You have already read several stories writte by O'Henry, so no need to say you should expect a surprising ending, indeed.

The story is in your anthology, but if you have  time and  internet connection, you may enjoy watching the movie. Here is the link:

http://sockshare.net/watch/JdARVyvL-the-ransom-of-red-chief.html    

Questions for analysis

Instructions:

      Please, choose at least two questions to answer and  respond to your classmates comments at least twice.

      Deadline: Monday, November 13th, at midnight.

1. How does O. Henry, the author, portray the crime of kidnapping in this story? What makes this treatment different from real-life kidnappings you know of or have read about?

2. Why do you think that Sam and Bill, the two adult characters, are friends? Are they only friends because they could make money together? Do they really like each other?  Have you ever felt like someone was only being friends with you for a purpose other than your friendship? What were their reasons? 

3. How many mischief makers are in this story? Which person do you think is the most mischievous? Explain.

4. What is ironic about how Ebenezer Dorset responds to the ransom note? Based on the text, why does he respond this way? How is this response ironic? 

 5. What message about parenting and child-rearing is O. Henry trying to express to readers? Think about what Red Chief’s dad thinks of him, and why Red Chief doesn’t want to go home. 

Reading #2: The Black Cat

Reading #2: The Black Cat

THE BLACK CAT

by Edgar Allan Poe

Dear student, 

You can either read the story you have in your course anthology or watch the video below--- or both!!!

   

   Instructions:

Please, choose at least two questions to answer and  respond to your classmates comments at least twice.

    Deadline: Monday, October 30th, at midnight.

1.  The exploration of how guilt affects people is a common theme in Poe's short stories, and 'The Black Cat' is no exception. The narrator is consumed by guilt about what he's done. He does not seem to fully realize the amount of his guilt, insisting that he is not bothered by what he has done, but his guilt manifests in subconscious ways. 

• What are some of the subconscious ways in which his guilt manifests?

 2.There are many transformations that occur in this story. Who changes the most in the story? Why do you think so?

 3.      In "The Black Cat" the unnamed narrator offers us a parade of violent acts. Eye gouging, hanging, axing – these are the gruesome highlights.

•  How did you react to the violence in the story? Was there a particular act of violence that struck you? If so, which one?

•  What do you think made the man turn violent? Do you believe him when he implies he wasn't violent before he got married and started drinking? Try to use the text to support your answer.

 4.      What’s the central idea of this story? Explain your answer.

Reading #1 The story of an hour

Reading #1 The story of an hour

THE STORY OF AN HOUR

 

A. Watch the following video 

 

B. Please, choose at least two questions to answer and  respond to your classmates comments at least twice.

1. "Now she understood that freedom is stronger than love." What do you think of this idea? What kind of freedom does Louise find? Where did she find it? 

 2. Louise thinks, "Men and women always believe they can tell others what to do and how to think." Why do you think she believes this? Do you agree with her?

3. What does Louise mean when she says, " Free, free, free!" Free from what? Today, are women more free than men, or less free?