Oprah's Summer of Faulkner

A couple of summer's ago, Oprah chose three Faulkner classics for her reading group. The website is still functional and has great materials. Consider exploring answers to your As I Lay Dying questions with the video lectures and FAQs. I also highly recommend The Sound and the Fury or A Light in August for someone looking for a challenge this summer ... two more of my all-time favorite books. Click here to go to the main site.

The video lectures are interesting and you might get a kick out of the Q&A, including:

Are the Tulls' opinions Faulkner's?
Why is Jewel's mother a horse?
Why did Faulkner choose the horse and fish metaphors?
Why does Vardaman say his mother is a fish?
Why is water such a powerful 'character'?
What does Cash mean by 'it's not on a balance'?
What did Dewey Dell mean by 'I killed Darl' on p. 121?
Why were holes drilled into Addie's coffin?
What do the characters' names mean?
Are Peabody and the Bundrens' neighbors reliable narrators?
What does the italicized text mean? (cont.)
What does the italicized text mean?
How old are the Bundren children?
How old are Addie and Anse?
Is there sexual tension between Jewel and Addie?
What do Darl's 'is' and 'was' passages mean?
Why aren't Dewey Dell and Addie closer? (cont.)
Why aren't Dewey Dell and Addie closer?
How does Darl know when Addie dies?
Who is Lafe?
Why do the characters use both vernacular and educated vocabulary?
Is Jewel the most misunderstood Bundren?
Am I missing something in the road imagery?
Where does the title 'As I Lay Dying' come from?

Click here for the answers!

Week of June 2nd

Monday, June 2nd (S)
• Due: As I Lay Dying Reading #4: “The Moral Universe” (through pg. 179). Reaction to Addie (prompts on worksheets).
• Class: Discussion: “Understanding Addie” (hopefully; maybe).

Tuesday, June 3rd (U)
• Due: Keep reading. Work on logistics for your film project.
• Class: Wrap up Faulkner discussion. Documentary film analysis.

Wednesday, June 4th (M)
• Due: Class does not meet today. Sniff!

Thursday, June 5th (T)
• Due: As I Lay Dying Reading #5: “The Barn Burning” (through pg. 231).
• Class: Exercise: “Charting the Verities.”

Friday, June 6th (W)
• Due: Keep reading.
• Class: Wrap up Faulkner discussion. Documentary film analysis.

Monday, June 9th (H)
• Due: As I Lay Dying Reading #6: “Jefferson” (through pg. 261).
• Class: Discussion: “What’s in Jefferson.”

Tuesday, June 10th (F)
• Due: Work on film project.
• Class: Found poetry and Faulkner.

Wednesday, June 11th (S)
• Due: Bring your copy of As I Lay Dying to turn in.
• Class: Silent discussion of As I Lay Dying (language fails us, after all).

Thursday, June 12th (U)
• Due: Identify a source for your film (e.g., a review, an article on the subject matter from a Media Center database or other reputable source, etc). Read it, bring a printed copy, and be ready to share highlights with your group.
• Class: Time to work on group film projects.

Note: Our exam is scheduled for 8.15a on Monday, June 16th. I’ll bring the popcorn; unless we’ve made other arrangements, it is YOUR responsibility to bring a copy of the film and your written analysis. Be sure that know where to find your scene so that we don’t run out of time for everyone to present! Is that too early for popcorn, do you think?

Documentary Films

Click here to see the list of films with descriptions borrowed from Netflix.com.

I'll ask you to sign up for your preferences on Thursday. Thanks!

Week of May 26th

Monday, May 26th
• Memorial Day (no school today).

Tuesday, May 27th (T)
• Due: As I Lay Dying Reading #2: “Addie’s Death & Reactions” (through pg. 93).
• Class: 20 questions, ask Oprah’s professor.

Wednesday, May 28th (W)
• Due: Multiple perspectives creative exercise.
• Class: Share creative exercise; film lecture.

Thursday, May 29th (H)
• Due: Keep reading!
• Class: Wrap up film lecture.

Friday, May 30th (F)
• Due: As I Lay Dying Reading #3: “The River Crossing” (through pg. 165).
• Class: Unlikely heroes; voice; “Do You Speak American?”

Monday, June 2nd (S)
• Due: As I Lay Dying Reading #4: “The Moral Universe” (through pg. 179).
• Class: Understanding Addie (hopefully; maybe).

Week of May 19th

This week is a work in progress as we decompress from exams, go AWOL (okay, technically it's more like AWL) for the psych fair, etc, etc. The following deadlines are known:

• Due Wednesday, May 21st: Read As I Lay Dying through page 40.
  
• Due Thursday, May 22nd: Read As I Lay Dying through page 40 again. Because you know you need another go at that nonsense. Add notes (or guesses) to your character chart as you go.
  
• Due Monday, May 21st: Read As I Lay Dying through page 93. Add notes (or guesses) to your character chart as you go.

Again, read closely but I would rather that you came into class with lots of questions we can tease out together than having consulted a "study guide" for assistance. Figuring it out is half the fun.

Discussion

An email from Jule follows:

"I know people have been interested in making an AP English T-shirt. I was thinking, that maybe you could make a blog post about it so people could post ideas - a sort of class-brainstorming. Remember, we need to show up all the other AP's!"

Click the comments link to read more and share your thoughts.

Week of May 12th

Monday, May 12th (S)
• Due: Prompt #3 (outline or draft).
• Class: Discuss Singer prompt; log writing in portfolios; Jeopardy and reminders.

Tuesday, May 13th (U)
• Due: Get lots of sleep!
• Class: Final thoughts on the big day!

Wednesday, May 14th (M)
• Be in the Blue Gym at 7:15am with everything on your checklist!!

Thursday, May 15th (T)
• Due: Your breakfast assignment.
• Class: Celebratory breakfast.

Friday, May 16th (W)
• Due: Hang out with your parents; they’ve been missing you during AP season.
• Class: Exam debrief.

Monday, May. 19th (H)
• Due: Go see a movie or something.
• Class: Introduction to Mr. William Faulkner.