Prompt #4: Illusion

We've been looking at some optical illusions and discussing the concept of illusion in relation to The Glass Menagerie. How do you (or don't you) see the theme of illusion play out in the play? In the lives of the different characters - Tom, Laura, Amanda, Jim, Mr. Wingfield? In Williams's stage devices? Does Williams or the characters ever break away from illusion to acknowledge the truth? If so, when and how?

Prompt #3: Flashback

Tom's narration of the play is a flashback. For this week's post, please write about a flashback of your own - silly or serious - that you feel comfortable sharing with the class.

Prompt #2: Perspective and Memory

Tennesse Williams's play The Glass Menagerie is a memory play told from the perspective of the narrator, Tom. How do you think perspective and memory might influence the way the story is told? How do perspective and memory influence the way you think about events in your own life?

Prompt #1: New Year's Resolutions

Well, it's a new semester and a new year! Did you know that the month of January is named after the Greek god Jannus? Pictures of Jannus depict him with two heads. This could be significant to us, because January often presents us with an opportunity to look backwards and forwards at the same time as we learn from the past and prepare for the future. Making resolutions, or goals, can help us figure out how to make our dreams a reality. What goals do you have for this year and/or this class? (Obviously, some goals may be too personal to post - but what goals do you feel comfortable sharing with the class?) Also, how do you plan to accomplish these goals?

Welcome to our class blog!

I'm excited to continue our study of American literature this semester! We will be reading, discussing, and writing about the literature of American authors including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. As we do this, we will explore what it means to be an American and how we can find hope - even in challenging, disappointing circumstances.

This blog will be a place where we can voice our opinions in a conversational format outside of the classroom. Most of the time our writing will be just like a blog: we will write freely, without worrying about grammar or mechanics too much. However, other times we will use the blog as a tool for peer evaluation/editing. At these times, we will carefully craft writing, post it, and give each other feedback about how we can strengthen different elements of it.

Your assignment is to write on the blog at least once a week, alternating between posting and commenting on each other's posts. I will explain and post weekly prompts for writing, but if you sometimes feel like writing about something related to readings and discussions other than my prompts, that will usually be great, too (except, for example, when I ask you to post drafts of papers, etc.!)

Our first writing prompt is explained in my next post. Enjoy!