Prof. Giussani_

Estimados alumnos,

A continuación copio-pego material enviado por la prof. Giussani.

LEngua y Expresión Oral

PAGE 3

What do you make of this beginning?

1,  Text types, genres. Modernism and post modernism feature this characteristic, a variety of text types. Let’s give this aspect of the novel a number 1. From now on, make annotations on your book. Give a number 1 to any characteristic of Modernism which you find.

2, Sir Monty. Number 2 for instances of class differences, snobbery (make sure you know what ‘snobbery’ means).

3, What impression do you get of the Kippses? By focusing on their positive aspects, Jerome also tells us about what he resents in his own family. Mark those differences and special traits of the  family’s with a number 3.

PAGE 4

From what you’ve read so far, who do you think all these people are? How are they connected to each other? Support your answer

4, We begin to learn about these people’s racial origin. From now on, you’ll find many instances of racial stereotyping, racial awareness, positive and negative stereotypes, different positions related to minorities. Mark them with a 4

5, The topic of Rembrandt is introduced. Who was he? Look at some of his pictures. What do you like / don’t like about them? What do you think a scholar (a university professor, somebody devoted to research) could investigate and write about, if his field was Rembrandt? And, needless to say now, number 5 for all references to Rembrandt.

6, ‘…attachment (like, say, a letter???)’ This is just one of plenty of examples of irony in the Belsey’s conversation. Mark others with a 6.

PAGE 6

Look at the P.S. What do you think Jerome is referring to? Why do you think so?

PAGE 7

7, We are going to learn a lot about Howard and Kiki, their personalities and interests, and their feelings for each other. Sometimes that information is given explicitly, i.e, the narrator says ‘Howard felt…’ for instance; sometimes we learn about their personalities by seeing what they do (as on page 9, when Howard tells Kiki off for saying ‘ass’ twice). Number 7 for Howard and Kiki, then.

PAGE 8

Look at the long paragraph describing the family breakfast. Try to imagine it, there are many images and colours to help you.

PAGE 10

‘”The Kippses?” asked Zora loudly’ … etc. If you were an actress playing Zora, how would you say these lines? What would you do (gestures, arms movement, facial expression)?

PAGE 13

At the bottom of the page: what do you suppose they are referring to?

PAGE 15

‘Your life is just an orgy of deprivation.’ I personally like this metaphor. What does Kiki suggest? Why did she choose those words?

PAGE 16

8, Here begins a long description of the house, and how the Belseys came into it. Compare it with Howard’s family’s house. Also compare them to racial and national stereotypes and expectations. Find further references and mark them with 8.

PAGE 25

Here’s another example of a feature of Modernism and Post Modernism: the use of cultural references. Who was Phileas Fogg?

PAGE 26

In what way will Howard make a fool of himself? How will his mistake be even more painful, in the light of the kind of relationship he has with Monty Kipps? Look up the concept of ‘face,’ as in ‘saving face / face threatening / losing face’ in your copies about discourse analysis. Also, consider Kiki’s position. Would you have done what Howard did or what Kiki suggested? Why?

PAGE 28

Look at the excerpt in a smaller type. Where is it from? Why did those sentences ‘sting’?

PAGE 42

What has happened? What effect do you expect this to have in Jerome? And in Howard?

PAGE 43

‘Kiki moving to forgiveness, Jerome to bitterness.’ What does each one have to be bitter about / forgive? What does the rest of the paragraph tell you about Kiki’s pain?

9, Kiki and Jerome deal with their problems in different ways. There will be other episodes in which you will see who is a thinker and who is practical, who deals with life and who reasons about it, who is an intellectual and who is a doer. Mark them 9, and in each case, which characters work out their problems more effectively? Which ones do you find yourself sympathizing with? Why?

In this particular case, the point of view is Kiki’s. How do you think the episode would be if narrated from Jerome’s point of view?   

PAGE 46

Is this a reference to Columbine (have you seen the film ‘Bowling for Columbine’?)?

PAGE 47

Why is Kiki’s bosom ‘spellbinding’? Why does the narrator make a difference between black and white women? In what way has ‘her body directed her to a new personality’? Can you think of instances when this is true?

‘He dreaded…’ Isn’t this what many teenagers feel towards their mothers at some point?

PAGE 50

One more cultural reference. What is the Cheshire cat? Perhaps you could ask your partners who have attended Language and Culture 3!

PAGE 51

More stereotypes!

‘Sister, I could spare you a dime.’ What’s so funny about this?

 PAGE 52

And still more stereotypes!

PAGE 55

Cultural references: St John and Salome. Who are they?

PAGE 56

‘The ill pitched … etc’. If you were actors playing the couple, how would you say these lines? What would you do?

PAGE 60

Cultural ref. Who was Brutus? Why is he mentioned here?